US embassy cable - 04ROME952

UNCLAS  ROME 000952 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
COTONOU FOR AMBASSADOR NEILL AND USAID DIRECTOR THOMAS 
STATE FOR AS/IO HOLMES, PRM/P, AF/W AND IO/EDA BEHREND AND 
KOTOK 
USAID FOR DAA/DCHA GRIGSBY, DCHA/FFP LANDIS, AFR/WA 
USDA/FAS FOR CHAMBLISS/TILSWORTH/GAINOR 
GENEVA FOR AMBASSADOR MOLEY, RMA LYNCH AND NKYLOH/USAID 
USUN FOR AMBASSADOR NEGROPONTE AND MLUTZ 
BRUSSELS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS AND USAID/LERNER 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN AND AFRICA DIRECTORATE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, EAGR, AORC, PREF, KUNR, WFP, UNHCR 
SUBJECT: WFP BOARD APPROVES BENIN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT VALUED 
AT U.S. DOLLARS (USD) 16.5 MILLION - 23,669 METRIC TONS 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. The WFP Executive Board, at its first regular session 
(February 23-26), approved Benin's development project 
10308.0 entitled Promotion of Formal and Non-Formal 
Education of Children and Youth. The project is for five 
years (July 2004-June 2009), with a total cost to WFP of USD 
16.5 million, and a cost to Government of USD 1.27 million. 
Beneficiaries are estimated at 68,300 (of whom 32,800 are 
girls). Over the life-of-project, WFP will supply (subject 
to the availability of funds) a total of 23,669 metric tons 
of food aid. 
 
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Background 
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2. Benin (ex-Dahomey, with a population of approximately 7 
million) is one of the least developed countries (LDCs) in 
the world, given its limited natural resources and a poorly 
developed infrastructure. In March 2003, the World Bank and 
the IMF agreed to support a debt reduction package for Benin 
under the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) 
Initiative. Debt relief under HIC amounts to approximately 
USD 460 million. Beni received USD 27.1 million in 2002 and 
was slate to receive USD 32.9 million in 2003. HIPC is 
expcted to reduce Benin's debt-to-export ratio, freeig up 
resources for education, health and other ati-poverty 
programs. 
 
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U.S. interventionin support of approval of WFP's Benin 
developmentproject Promotion of Formal and Non-Formal 
Educaion of Children and Youth 
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3. Herewith th essence of the supportive U.S. intervention: 
 
-enin is a country of hope that is putting into practice 
ideas of development and democracy that willensure 
sustainable development for its people inthe future. 
 
-In USDEL's view, the benefits of (articularly) girl's 
education are well establishd. It is associated with a host 
of crucial development outcomes and can help break the 
poverty cycle between generations. As per UNICEF/Benin, the 
50 percent primary net enrolment rate for girls shows that 
half of the school-age population is not in school. In 
addition, UNICEF concludes, the majority of those girls who 
do enroll, drop out of school before the end of the primary 
cycle. USDEL notes the clear intent of WFP and UNICEF to 
work together on non-formal education, and we would urge the 
same joint UN team effort in the primary education sector. 
 
-WFP is encouraged to coordinate closely with USAID/Benin, 
that has long-standing major investments in the health and 
education sectors. In USDEL view, WFP and its UN sister 
Agencies have a key advocacy role to play in the eradication 
of child labor and child trafficking in the region. 
 
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Support to WFP's development portfolio in Benin 
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4. The U.S. has provided USD 1.72 million in developmental 
food assistance through WFP in support of its on going 
"Development of Primary Education and Support to Girls 
Education" (Benin 10094.0). Japan has provided USD 1.34 
million, and Germany, USD 1.27 million. Finland, Norway, 
 
 
Denmark, Italy and Australia have also contributed. 
 
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Executive Board approval 
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5. The WFP Board approved Benin development project 10308.0 
entitled Promotion of Formal and Non-Formal Education of 
Children and Youth. The project is for five years (July 2004- 
end June 2009), with a total cost to WFP of USD 16.5 
million, and a cost to Government of USD 1.27 million. 
Beneficiaries are estimated at 68,300 (of whom 32,800 are 
girls). Over the life-of-project, WFP will supply (subject 
to the availability of funds) a total of 23,669 metric tons 
of food aid.   Hall 
 
 
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	2004ROME00952 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED