VZCZCXRO2362
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHDS #2902/01 3441012
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 101012Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7103
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUEWMFD/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 7990
RUEPADJ/CJTF HOA PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 002902 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/RSA, IO/UNP 
LONDON FOR PLORD 
PARIS FOR WBAIN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL UN AU
SUBJECT: USAU: AFRICAN UNION, UNECA HOLD PARTNERS DIALOGUE 
WITH DONORS 
 
THIS MESSAGE IS FROM USAU AMBASSADOR MICHAEL A. BATTLE. 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: From December 1-2, the AU and UNECA hosted a 
Partners Dialogue in Addis Ababa, bringing together 15 donor 
nations and other entities to discuss how to create a more 
strategic and equitable partnership between the AU/ECA and 
donors.  Key themes that emerged included: the need for a 
strong Africa that engages in the broader global community; 
the desire to move from a donor-recipient dynamic to genuine 
partnership with a range of donors; financing mechanisms and 
the controversial option of budget support; and the vital 
importance of supporting regional integration and a 
continental vision.  Conference participants reiterated their 
support for the AU and its initiatives, though precise 
mechanisms for implementing this support were not agreed 
upon.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (U) The African Union (AU) and the UN Economic Commission 
for Africa (ECA) held the first Partners Dialogue (previously 
called the Donor Support Group) in Addis Ababa from December 
1-2.  Fifteen donor nations participated, along with 
representatives from the European Union (EU), World Bank, 
African Development Bank, and New Partnership for Africa's 
Development (NEPAD).  The need for a strong Africa that 
participates actively in the global community emerged as one 
of the conference's key themes, addressed by both AU 
Commission Chairperson Jean Ping and ECA Executive Secretary 
Abdoulie Janneh, as well as others.  Janneh noted that Africa 
should have a say in international solutions to global 
problems such as climate change, governance, and peace and 
security issues.  Consequently, he recommended that Africa be 
involved in international fora and become a recognized member 
of the Group of 20 (G-20). 
 
¶3. (U) As the conference title suggests, the nature of the AU 
and ECA's partnership with donors was another key theme.  The 
conference included sessions for the AU to present its 
strategic plan and for ECA to share its business plan, with 
the idea that this exercise would symbolize a turning point 
in donor relations by unveiling clear priorities upfront 
rather than allowing them to be donor-driven.  Many donor 
nation representatives reiterated their support for the AU's 
priorities, and underscored the need to move from a 
donor-recipient dynamic to a genuine partnership based on 
mutual benefit and trust. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Several speakers brought up the value of linking 
assistance to a country's comparative advantage.  As 
examples, AU Commissioner for Economic Affairs Maxwell 
Mkwezalamba cited China's focus on infrastructure and India's 
on Information Communication Technology (ICT), an interesting 
comment given that neither country was present.  Following 
the conference, several participants noted that certain 
donors were conspicuously absent, notably China, South Korea, 
and India.  In a subsequent meeting of AU partners, Portugal 
indicated its annoyance at not having been invited to 
participate in the conference.  Clearly, the Partners 
Dialogue not only raised the issue of the nature of AU/ECA 
partnerships with donors, but also of whom the donor category 
should include. 
 
¶5. (SBU) In discussing partner cooperation, the issue of 
financing arose repeatedly.  Certain countries, including 
Norway, Denmark, and the United Kingdom (UK), would like to 
move from project support to untied program and budget 
support, and they urge others to do the same.  They argue 
that this approach lowers transaction costs, increases 
efficiency, and allows the African Union Commission (AUC) to 
have a flexible, yet predictable budget.  Many nations, 
however, registered their apprehension, including Japan, 
Italy, and Finland, which wants to see proof of the AU's 
financial management accountability before considering such a 
measure.  Due to internal regulations and funding mechanisms, 
partners such as Canada, the U.S., and the World Bank cannot 
agree to budget support at this time.  AUC Deputy Chairperson 
Erastus Mwencha acknowledged that the AU is not ready to move 
to budget support yet in any case, as his organization does 
not have the human resources or administrative capacity to 
manage it. 
 
¶6. (U) The importance of regional integration and AU/ECA 
collaboration with Africa's Regional Economic Communities 
(RECs) emerged as another key conference theme.  Participants 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00002902  002 OF 002 
 
 
agreed that RECs have a vital role to play in peace and 
security issues, trade, infrastructure development, and 
virtually all pan-African initiatives.  Both Ping and Janneh 
spoke of the need for a continental vision that can be 
drilled down to regional and national levels.  They noted 
that the EU was one of the few organizations engaged in 
long-standing partnerships with regional bodies, and 
encouraged partners to embrace a regional approach. (Note: 
Ping lauded the U.S. for its Peace and Security support, 
noting that the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) would not have 
survived without it. End Note.) 
MUSHINGI