VZCZCXRO1160
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHDS #2644/01 3101204
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 061204Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6758
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEWMFD/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 7982

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 002644 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/FO AND AF/RSA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON PGOV IO PREL AU
SUBJECT: USAU: UNECA EXECUTIVE SECRETARY DISCUSSES DONOR 
SUPPORT FOR AU, UNECA 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: USAU Ambassador Battle and Under Secretary 
General Abdoulie Janneh, Executive Secretary of the UN 
Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), affirmed the 
partnership between the USG and the UN system in support of 
African development priorities.  Janneh shared information 
about two upcoming fora for coordination and information 
sharing among donors, the African Union (AU) and UNECA.  The 
first of these is an informal "think tank" created for select 
Ambassadors from donor countries to exchange ideas with 
Janneh and AU Deputy Commissioner Erastus Mwencha.  The 
second is the Donor Support Group, scheduled for December 
1-3.  Janneh also shared his views on key priorities for 
donor support to the AU and UNECA, including advancing 
intra-regional African trade, and efforts to address climate 
change and development.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------- 
AU/UNECA "THINK TANK" 
--------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) On November 2, USAU Ambassador Battle and USAID 
African Union (AU) Desk Officer called on the Executive 
Secretary of UNECA, Abdoulie Janneh.  Janneh's Chief of 
Staff, Adeyemi Dipeolu, was also present.  The first issue 
discussed was a newly-formed "think tank," to meet later in 
the week, comprised of select Ambassadors and representatives 
from donor nations, AU Deputy Commissioner Mwencha, and 
Janneh.  The purpose of the group is to generate ideas to 
help the AU and UNECA improve institutional performance. 
Similar meetings were held to assist the AU in developing its 
strategic plan, and were valuable in providing an informal 
setting for Mwencha and Janneh to brainstorm with donor 
country ambassadors on issues that impact the AU and UNECA. 
Janneh indicated that the initial "think tank" meeting would 
have a loose agenda to allow for a free exhange of ideas. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Janneh said that the AU is "gaining credibility by 
the day" with the regional integration agenda coming together 
and Africans beginning to transcend their differences and 
speak with one voice on key issues.  He noted the partnership 
between the AU and UNECA, indicating that while the AU has 
been forced to focus on crises, UNECA has provided a high 
level of capacity in social and economic affairs.  He 
stressed that while UNECA is a UN institution, it is also 
"Africa" and shares the same program as the AU. 
 
------------------- 
DONOR SUPPORT GROUP 
------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) On the subject of the Donor Support Group meeting, 
to take place December 1-3, Janneh noted that a team is in 
place to organize the event and the agenda is virtually set. 
To begin, the AU will provide an overview of its strategy. 
In turn, UNECA will present its business plan and the 
Regional Economic Communities (RECs) will present an 
integrated, continent-wide agenda.  AU Commissioners will be 
available for a question and answer session.  Meeting 
organizers seek donor participation at the policy 
decision-making level.  Locally-based, technical staff are 
expected to manage the implementation of any commitments 
made.  The AU strategy, UNECA business plan, and budgets for 
both organizations will be available in advance to allow 
donors to study them and reach decisions regarding support. 
Janneh indicated that support would be sought across the full 
spectrum of the strategic plan, but that pledges of funding 
are not expected at the meeting, in most cases.  Instead, 
program areas will be developed and described, and donors can 
then commit to aligning around them.  Janneh cited the area 
of trade as an example; participants might consider the 
question of how to support the AU and RECs to increase access 
to global markets and intra-African trade. 
 
¶5. (SBU) In discussing how funding would be provided, Janneh 
explained that the AU's total budget is projected at USD 784 
million over four years, a portion of which member states 
will contribute.  Donor support will be sought for the 
remaining funds needed.  From the AU's perspective, support 
ideally would be made available through a common fund with a 
proportion of resources left flexible and untied.  Janneh 
acknowledged the financing restrictions that donors face, and 
registered his hope that donors unable to provide budgetary 
support would indicate the reasons.  To support the AU, UNECA 
will seek funds to cover any gaps in reaching a targeted 
budget of USD 100 million over three years. Looking at the 
ongoing process that hopefully will result from the Donor 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00002644  002 OF 002 
 
 
Support Group meeting, a donors-only group is working on 
terms of reference for membership.  (Janneh expects that the 
name will change to the "Partner Support Group.")  Criteria 
could include a minimum commitment to support the AU or 
UNECA, for example USD 300,000 per year, to be established by 
the donors. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Expanding upon areas in which donors might 
productively engage with the AU and UNECA, Janneh highlighted 
climate change and intra-regional trade.  To date, UNECA has 
done substantial work with the AU and the African Development 
Bank to set up the Africa Climate Policy Centre (ACPC), which 
centralizes climate change information.  On trade, the AU and 
UNECA are trying to push a common voice in negotiations, 
while the RECs will implement trade agreements. 
AMBASSADOR MICHAEL A. BATTLE 
MUSHINGI