US embassy cable - 02ROME2629

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ANNUAL SESSION OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM EXECUTIVE BOARD, ROME, MAY 20-23, 2002

Identifier: 02ROME2629
Wikileaks: View 02ROME2629 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Rome
Created: 2002-05-31 07:54:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Tags: EAID EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF KUNR WFP UN KUNR EAID WFP UN KUNR EAID WFP UN KUNR EAID WFP UN
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ROME 002629 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
STATE FOR AS/PRM, PRM/P, EUR/WE, EUR/NE AND IO/D 
USAID FOR A/AID, AA/DCHA, AA/AFR, BHR/FFP, PPC/DP, PPC/DC 
USDA/FAS/FOR CHAMBLISS/TILLSWORTH 
GENEVA FOR RMA AND NKYLOH/USAID 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  02629  01 OF 04  310722Z 
BRUSSELS FOR KFULLER 
USUN FOR LSHESTACK 
NSC FOR JDWOKEN 
OMB FOR TSTOLL 
PARIS PASS TO USMISSION OECD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, EAGR, AORC, PREF, EAGR, AORC, PREF, EAGR, AORC, PREF, EAGR, AORC, PREF, KUNR, WFP, UN, KUNR    EAID, WFP, UN, KUNR    EAID, WFP, UN, KUNR    EAID, WFP, UN 
SUBJECT:  ANNUAL SESSION OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM EXECUTIVE 
BOARD, ROME, MAY 20-23, 2002 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
1. THE BOARD SESSION TOOK PLACE AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF EVER- 
INCREASING EMERGENCY NEEDS AND HOW BEST TO PROVIDE THE 
NECESSARY LEVEL OF RESOURCES TO ENSURE AN ADEQUATE LEVEL OF 
EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR WFP. ON PROTECTION FROM SEXUAL 
EXPLOITATION AND OTHER ABUSES OF POWER BY UN PERSONNEL IN 
HUMANITARIAN CRISES, THE BOARD FELT THAT THE UN IN GENERAL 
AND ITS AGENCIES IN PARTICULAR MUST PROMPTLY IMPLEMENT 
MEASURES TO PREVENT ABUSES AND EXPLOITATION, HOLD VIOLATORS 
ACCOUNTABLE AND ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF UN OPERATIONS. ON 
INDIRECT SUPPORT (ISC) COSTS, THE BOARD DECIDED TO KEEP THE 
CURRENT 7.8 PERCENT ISC RATE IN PLACE FOR 2002 PENDING 
REVIEW AND DECISION BY THE BOARD AT ITS NEXT SESSION IN 
OCTOBER 2002. A PLEDGING TARGET OF USD 2.67 BILLION WAS 
APPROVED FOR THE 2002-2003 BIENNIUM. FINALLY, THIS MARKED 
THE FIRST ANNUAL BOARD FOR THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JIM 
MORRIS WHO RECEIVED HIGH MARKS FOR HIS "HANDS-ON" APPROACH 
AND DEEP SENSE OF COMMITMENT TO ASSISTING THE WORLD'S HUNGRY 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  02629  01 OF 04  310722Z 
POOR, ESPECIALLY POOR CHILDREN. END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR 2001 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
2. THE BOARD APPROVED WFP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JIM MORRIS' 
ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2001, FAVORABLY ACKNOWLEDGING WFP 
ASSISTANCE TO 77 MILLION PEOPLE IN 82 COUNTRIES. 
EXPENDITURES TOTALED USD (U.S. DOLLARS) 1.9 BILLION 
(SHIPMENT OF 4.2 MILLION TONS), OF WHICH EMERGENCY AND 
RELIEF RELATED OPERATIONS ACCOUNTED FOR 86 PERCENT OF THE 
BUDGET. DONOR SUPPORT IN 2001 WAS THE HIGHEST IN WFP'S 
HISTORY. THE BOARD ACKNOWLEDGED WFP'S KEY ROLE IN AVERTING A 
CATASTROPHIC FOOD CRISIS IN AFGHANISTAN THIS PAST WINTER. 
NOTE: SINCE SEPTEMBER 11 THROUGH END APRIL 2002, WFP 
DELIVERED NEARLY 350,000 TONS OF FOOD WITHIN AFGHANISTAN, AT 
AN UNPRECEDENTED RATE AVERAGING NEARLY 1,500 TONS PER DAY TO 
ASSIST SOME 6.6 MILLION PEOPLE. END NOTE. 
 
--------------------------------- 
SECURITY FOR HUMANITARIAN WORKERS 
--------------------------------- 
 
3. THE BOARD NOTED THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S ADOPTION OF 
RESOLUTION 56/255, SECTION VIII, APPROVING THE COST-SHARING 
ARRANGEMENT FOR THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY MANAGEMENT 
SYSTEM, INCLUDING WFP'S FUNDING OF ITS SHARE OF THE OFFICE 
OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY (UNSECOORD) COORDINATOR. IT 
REQUESTED WFP TO PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF 
THE GOVERNANCE MECHANISM FOR SECURITY MANAGEMENT IN THE UN 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  02629  01 OF 04  310722Z 
SYSTEM. NOTE: USDEL LEARNED THAT THE NEW HEAD (ASSISTANT 
SECRETARY-GENERAL) OF UNSECOORD WILL BE TUN MYAT, A CAREER 
 
SIPDIS 
WFP-OFFICER PRESENTLY UN HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR IN IRAQ. 
END NOTE. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
PRELIMINARY REVIEW OF THE INDIRECT SUPPORT COST (ISC) RATE 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
 4. IN 1998, THE BOARD APPROVED THE USE OF A SINGLE INDIRECT 
SUPPORT COST (ISC) RATE OF 7.8 PERCENT APPLICABLE FOR ALL 
MULTILATERAL AND DIRECTED MULTILATERAL CONTRIBUTIONS FOR 
WFP'S FOUR PROGRAM CATEGORIES: DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, 
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS (EMOPS), PROTRACTED RELIEF AND RECOVERY 
OPERATIONS (PRROS), AND SPECIAL (SO) OPERATIONS. THIS 
PRELIMINARY WFP REVIEW (SUBJECT TO A MORE COMPLETE 
ANALYSIS/SCRUTINY BY ITS EXTERNAL AUDITOR BY OCTOBER 2002) 
INDICATED AN ACTUAL EXPENDITURE OF USD 238.8 MILLION AGAINST 
AN ADJUSTED PSA (PROGRAM SUPPORT AND ADMINISTRATION) BUDGET 
OF USD 239.7 MILLION DURING THE BIENNIUM 2000-2001. 
 
5. THE BOARD DECIDED TO KEEP THE CURRENT 7.8 PERCENT ISC 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ2418 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  02629  02 OF 04  310722Z 
ACTION PRM-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AGRE-00  AID-00   AMAD-00  CIAE-00  WHA-00 
      SRPP-00  EB-00    EUR-00   UTED-00  TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00 
      NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OES-01   OIC-02   OMB-01   TEST-00  SAS-00 
        /004W 
                  ------------------B61B04  310723Z /38 
P 310754Z MAY 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3980 
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 
AMEMBASSY BERN 
USDA FAS WASHDC 2152 
USEU BRUSSELS 2668 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 04 ROME 002629 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
STATE FOR AS/PRM, PRM/P, EUR/WE, EUR/NE AND IO/D 
USAID FOR A/AID, AA/DCHA, AA/AFR, BHR/FFP, PPC/DP, PPC/DC 
USDA/FAS/FOR CHAMBLISS/TILLSWORTH 
GENEVA FOR RMA AND NKYLOH/USAID 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  02629  02 OF 04  310722Z 
BRUSSELS FOR KFULLER 
USUN FOR LSHESTACK 
NSC FOR JDWOKEN 
OMB FOR TSTOLL 
PARIS PASS TO USMISSION OECD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS:     EAID, EAGR, AORC, WFP, UN, PREF, KUNR 
SUBJECT:  ANNUAL SESSION OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM EXECUTIVE 
BOARD, ROME, MAY 20-23, 2002 
 
RATE IN PLACE FOR 2002 PENDING REVIEW AND DECISION BY THE 
BOARD AT ITS NEXT SESSION IN OCTOBER 2002. IN GENERAL, THE 
BOARD FELT THAT A REVIEW OF THE OVERALL STRUCTURE OF PSA 
COSTS, INCLUDING FIXED AND VARIABLE COSTS AND A COMPARATIVE 
LOOK AT ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT BUDGETS OF COMPARABLE UN 
ORGANIZATIONS TO THE EXTENT FEASIBLE - NEEDS TO BE PURSUED. 
NOTE: THE INSISTENCE BY SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS ON THE EXPRESS 
NEED FOR A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SUPPORT COSTS IN OTHER UN 
AGENCIES DIMS THE PROSPECT FOR CONCLUDING THIS ISSUE AT THIS 
OCTOBER'S BOARD. END NOTE. 
 
6. WFP WAS TASKED WITH DOING THE NECESSARY ANALYSIS, 
INCLUDING FUNDING OPTIONS, AND PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION TO 
ITS EXTERNAL AUDITOR (THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT'S COUR DES 
COMPTES) IN ORDER TO OBTAIN RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE 
EXTERNAL AUDITOR AT THE OCTOBER 2002 BOARD MEETING. THE 
SECRETARIAT WILL CIRCULATE TO THE BOARD BY THE FIRST WEEK IN 
 
SIPDIS 
JUNE AN ANNOTATED OUTLINE OF THE DOCUMENT(S) TO BE SUBMITTED 
FOR CONSIDERATION IN OCTOBER 2002. MOREOVER, AN INFORMAL 
CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARD ON ISC/PSA IS SCHEDULED FOR 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  02629  02 OF 04  310722Z 
SEPTEMBER. 
 
7. THE ISC DISCUSSION DEMONSTRATED THAT THE MODE OF 
CALCULATING INDIRECT SUPPORT COSTS REQUIRES FURTHER 
REFINEMENT. THE U.S. POSITION REMAINS THAT WFP'S INDIRECT 
SUPPORT COSTS REFLECT A REASONABLE MEASURE OF COSTS WHICH 
WOULD USUALLY ACCOMPANY AN ACTIVITY. MOREOVER, THE U.S. 
FAVORS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DECLINING MARGINAL COSTS 
ASSOCIATED WITH DONATIONS I.E., AS THE QUANTITY OF DONATIONS 
INCREASE, THERE WOULD BE A DECREASE IN OVERHEAD COSTS ON A 
PER UNIT BASIS. ON THE MARGINS OF THE ISC DISCUSSION, IT WAS 
APPARENT TO USDEL THAT: (A) THE PRESENT WFP ACCOUNTING 
SYSTEM (WINGS) IS A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT CAPABLE OF GENERATING 
THE DATA TO ESTABLISH APPROPRIATE RATES; AND (B) THE NEW 
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JIM MORRIS AND HIS CHIEF OF STAFF MICHAEL 
STAYTON ARE SEIZED WITH THE PROBLEM AND COMMITTED TO 
SUCCESSFULLY RESOLVING IT. MORRIS RELATED THAT WFP WAS NOW 
PRODUCING (AS OF APRIL, 2002 A MONTHLY FINANCIAL STATEMENT) 
AND THAT HE IS PERSONALLY COMMITTED TO "MINIMIZING OUR FIXED 
COSTS" AND KEEPING "CASH BALANCES AT REASONABLE LEVELS." 
MORRIS REITERATED THAT: "WE NOW HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO 
BETTER IDENTIFY UNUSED PROGRAM FUNDS TO EITHER RETURN TO OR 
ASK TO HAVE THEM REPROGRAMMED BY OUR DONORS." 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
CONSOLIDATED FRAMEWORK OF WFP POLICIES: ESTABLISHING AND 
MAINTAINING A GOVERNANCE TOOL 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
8. WFP PRESENTED A CONSOLIDATED FRAMEWORK (COMPENDIUM) OF 
APPROVED WFP POLICIES WHICH THE BOARD WELCOMED. THE BOARD 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  02629  02 OF 04  310722Z 
ASKED THE SECRETARIAT TO MAINTAIN AN UPDATED VERSION OF IT 
ON THE WFP WEBSITE, INCORPORATING NEW POLICY DECISIONS AFTER 
EACH BOARD SESSION AS APPROPRIATE. 
 
--------------------- 
URBAN FOOD INSECURITY 
--------------------- 
 
9. THE BOARD AGREED THAT WFP FOOD ASSISTANCE IN EMERGENCY 
AND DEVELOPING SETTINGS SHOULD ADDRESS URBAN FOOD SECURITY 
WHEN APPROPRIATE. THE BOARD SUGGESTED A SET OF WFP 
GUIDELINES TO ASSIST COUNTRY OFFICES IN PROGRAMMING MORE 
EFFECTIVELY IN URBAN SETTINGS. 
 
10. THE LARGER PROBLEM FOR WFP IS THAT ITS DEVELOPMENT 
PORTFOLIO HAS FALLEN FROM ALMOST USD 1 BILLION A DECADE AGO 
TO USD 273 MILLION IN 2001. GERMANY, A SUPPORTER OF 
DEVELOPMENT FOOD AID, SUGGESTED FOR 2003, AN INDEPENDENT 
EXTERNAL EVALUATION OF WFP'S DEVELOPMENT PORTFOLIO (WHICH IT 
IS WILLING TO PARTIALLY FUND). THE NETHERLANDS VOICED 
SUPPORT FOR SUCH A STUDY. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ2419 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  02629  03 OF 04  310723Z 
ACTION PRM-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AGRE-00  AID-00   AMAD-00  CIAE-00  WHA-00 
      SRPP-00  EB-00    EUR-00   UTED-00  TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00 
      NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OES-01   OIC-02   OMB-01   TEST-00  SAS-00 
        /004W 
                  ------------------B61B13  310723Z /38 
P 310754Z MAY 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3981 
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 
AMEMBASSY BERN 
USDA FAS WASHDC 2153 
USEU BRUSSELS 2669 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 04 ROME 002629 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
STATE FOR AS/PRM, PRM/P, EUR/WE, EUR/NE AND IO/D 
USAID FOR A/AID, AA/DCHA, AA/AFR, BHR/FFP, PPC/DP, PPC/DC 
USDA/FAS/FOR CHAMBLISS/TILLSWORTH 
GENEVA FOR RMA AND NKYLOH/USAID 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  02629  03 OF 04  310723Z 
BRUSSELS FOR KFULLER 
USUN FOR LSHESTACK 
NSC FOR JDWOKEN 
OMB FOR TSTOLL 
PARIS PASS TO USMISSION OECD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS:     EAID, EAGR, AORC, WFP, UN, PREF, KUNR 
SUBJECT:  ANNUAL SESSION OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM EXECUTIVE 
BOARD, ROME, MAY 20-23, 2002 
 
PROTECTION FROM SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION IN 
HUMANITARIAN CRISES 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
11. A LARGE NUMBER OF BOARD MEMBERS COMMENTED THAT THE 
PROBLEM OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IN HUMANITARIAN CRISIS 
SITUATIONS NEEDS TO BE DIRECTLY FOCUSED ON BY THE UN IN 
GENERAL AND UN AGENCIES IN PARTICULAR. A NUMBER OF DONORS 
(LED BY USDEL) INSISTED THAT THE UN HIRE MORE WOMEN 
EMPLOYEES FOR UN-LOCAL HIRE JOBS, DEPLOY MORE WOMEN 
INTERNATIONAL STAFF AND MAINSTREAM WOMEN'S CONCERNS INTO UN 
OPERATIONS. SPECIFICALLY IN WEST AFRICA, IT WAS HIGHLIGHTED 
THAT THE INVESTIGATION (PRESENTLY BEING CONDUCTED BY THE 
UN'S OFFICE OF INTERNAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES (OIOS)) NEEDED TO 
BE QUICK, OPEN AND THOROUGH IN ORDER TO ASSURE THAT THE 
PROBLEM HAD BEEN ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED AND JUSTICE DONE. 
 
12. STEPS TAKEN TO DATE BY WFP ARE AS FOLLOWS: 
 
-ALL STAFF, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL, HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF 
UN RULES AND WFP'S "ZERO-TOLERANCE" POLICY WITH REGARD TO 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  02629  03 OF 04  310723Z 
SUCH ABUSES OF POWER; 
-IN WEST AFRICA, WFP IS RE-DEPLOYING AND RECRUITING STAFF TO 
INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN MONITORS; 
-WFP IS ASSIGNING MORE INTERNATIONAL STAFF TO MONITOR 
ACTIVITIES AND WILL EMPLOY 10 EX-PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS IN 
GUINEA; 
-MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING WITH NGOS ARE BEING REVISED TO 
SET CLEARER STANDARDS OF CONDUCT TO PREVENT ABUSES; 
-ALBEIT NO WFP INTERNATIONAL STAFF WERE MENTIONED IN THE 
INITIAL REPORT PREPARED BY CONSULTANTS FOR SAVE THE CHILDREN 
AND THE OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, WFP IS 
COMMITTED TO "FOLLOWING UP VIGOROUSLY ON ALL ACCUSATIONS." 
 
----------------------------- 
WFP PLEDGING TARGET 2003-2004 
----------------------------- 
 
13. THE BOARD APPROVED A PLEDGING TARGET OF USD 2.67 BILLION 
FOR THE BIENNIUM 2003-2004 (DEVELOPMENT, EMERGENCIES (EMOPS) 
AND PROTRACTED RELIEF AND RECOVERY OPERATIONS (PRROS). THE 
AMOUNT CORRESPONDS ROUGHLY TO THE 2001-2002 TARGET OF USD 
2.6 BILLION AND IS ALREADY CONTAINED IN THE PREVIOUSLY 
APPROVED 2002-2005 STRATEGIC AND FINANCIAL PLAN. THE UNITED 
STATES AGREED WITH THE POSITION ADOPTED BY THE BOARD THAT, 
IN GENERAL, "PLEDGING CONFERENCES (INCLUDING THIS ONE 
SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 2002) HAVE OUTLIVED THEIR 
USEFULNESS." THE BOARD URGED THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO 
DECIDE IN FAVOR OF CEASING TO CONVENE PLEDGING CONFERENCES 
OF THIS NATURE AT UN HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK. 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  02629  03 OF 04  310723Z 
 
------------------------------------------- 
HOUSING ALLOWANCE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 
------------------------------------------- 
 
14. THE BOARD REVIEWED THE LEVEL OF ALLOWANCES OF THE WFP 
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND DECIDED THAT THE HOUSING ALLOWANCE 
SHOULD CONSTITUTE REIMBURSEMENT OF THE ACTUAL COSTS OF A 
SUITABLE PROPERTY, CURRENTLY SET AT USD 127,000 PER ANNUM, 
INCLUSIVE OF SERVICES AND UTILITIES. FURTHER, COSTS SHOULD 
BE INDEXED AGAINST THE ITALIAN RETAIL PRICE INDEX AND 
REVIEWED AT FIVE-YEAR INTERVALS BY THE BUREAU AND THE BOARD, 
BEGINNING WITH THE THIRD REGULAR SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE 
BOARD IN 2006. THE REVIEW WOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT MARKET 
RATES AND THE ALLOWANCES PAID TO THE OTHER AGENCY HEADS 
(FAO, IFAD) IN ROME. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
OCHA REPORTS ON THE CONSOLIDATED APPEALS (CAP) PROCESS 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
15. THE UN'S OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ2420 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  02629  04 OF 04  310723Z 
ACTION PRM-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AGRE-00  AID-00   AMAD-00  CIAE-00  WHA-00 
      SRPP-00  EB-00    EUR-00   UTED-00  TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00 
      NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OES-01   OIC-02   OMB-01   TEST-00  SAS-00 
        /004W 
                  ------------------B61B1D  310724Z /38 
P 310754Z MAY 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3982 
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 
AMEMBASSY BERN 
USDA FAS WASHDC 2154 
USEU BRUSSELS 2670 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 04 ROME 002629 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
STATE FOR AS/PRM, PRM/P, EUR/WE, EUR/NE AND IO/D 
USAID FOR A/AID, AA/DCHA, AA/AFR, BHR/FFP, PPC/DP, PPC/DC 
USDA/FAS/FOR CHAMBLISS/TILLSWORTH 
GENEVA FOR RMA AND NKYLOH/USAID 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  02629  04 OF 04  310723Z 
BRUSSELS FOR KFULLER 
USUN FOR LSHESTACK 
NSC FOR JDWOKEN 
OMB FOR TSTOLL 
PARIS PASS TO USMISSION OECD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS:     EAID, EAGR, AORC, WFP, UN, PREF, KUNR 
SUBJECT:  ANNUAL SESSION OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM EXECUTIVE 
BOARD, R 
OME, MAY 20-23, 2002 
 
AFFAIRS (OCHA) REPRESENTATIVE ROSS MOUNTAIN PROVIDED TO THE 
BOARD AN UPDATE ON THE UN'S CAP PROCESS OVER THE PERIOD 1992- 
2001. HIS MAIN CONCLUSIONS: 
-COHERENCE WITHIN THE HUMANITARIAN COMMUNITY IS STRAINED BY 
THE NUMBER OF "ACTORS," E.G., THE NUMBER OF NGOS PROVIDING 
RELIEF HAS GROWN FROM 938 IN 1972 TO 26,881 IN 1999; 
-CRISIS OFTEN MOVE FASTER THAN ORGANIZATIONS' CAPACITY TO 
RESPOND; 
-ALTHOUGH THE UN HAS RAISED USD 17 BILLION THROUGH CAP 
APPEALS OVER THE PAST DECADE, ONLY ABOUT A THIRD OF 
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IS CHANNELED THROUGH THE UN. IN 
2001, 27.8 PERCENT OF OVERALL HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE WENT 
THROUGH THE CAP, WHICH MOUNTAIN CATEGORIZED AS PART OF A 
"FALL IN UN MARKET SHARE;" 
-THERE IS AN INEQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES BETWEEN 
DIFFERENT CAP COUNTRIES; 
-FINALLY, THAT DONORS ARE GENERALLY MORE SUPPORTIVE OF FOOD 
ASSISTANCE THAN FUNDING THE NON-FOOD ELEMENTS OF THE CAPS. 
NOTE: MOUNTAIN WAS RETICENT TO COMMENT ON THE QUALITATIVE 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  02629  04 OF 04  310723Z 
ASPECTS OF THE CAP PROCESS AND WHY DONORS IN GENERAL WERE 
NOT MORE SUPPORTIVE OF USING UN AGENCIES AS THEIR MAJOR 
CONDUIT FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE. END NOTE. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
16. THE U.S. CONTINUES TO PROVIDE A HIGH SHARE OF WFP'S 
BUDGET (SOME 63 PERCENT IN 2001) AND WFP IS HEAVILY RELIANT 
ON THE U.S. TO MEET THE EVER GROWING NUMBER OF HUMANITARIAN 
CRISIS WORLDWIDE. IT IS EVIDENT THAT MOST OTHER DONORS ARE 
EITHER SATISFIED OR RESIGNED TO MAINTAINING THEIR PRESENT 
LEVEL OF CONTRIBUTIONS. FOR 2002, WFP'S SECOND LARGEST 
DONOR, THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, WILL MODESTLY RAISE ITS 
"CORE" SUPPORT TO WFP FROM 90 MILLION EURO (USD 79.2 
MILLION) TO 100 MILLION EURO (USD 88 MILLION); CANADA AND 
JAPAN HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY SLASHED SUPPORT. THE MAJOR 
CHALLENGE OF THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JIM MORRIS, WHO 
RECEIVED HIGH MARKS FOR HIS "HANDS-ON" APPROACH AND DEEP 
SENSE OF COMMITMENT TO ASSISTING THE WORLD'S HUNGRY POOR 
(ESPECIALLY POOR CHILDREN), IS GOING TO BE GETTING WFP'S 
OTHER DONORS TO DO A LOT MORE. THE FIRST "LITMUS" FUNDING 
TEST FOR EXPANDED DONOR SUPPORT WILL BE THE FOOD CRISIS IN 
SOUTHERN AFRICA, WHICH RECEIVED, ALONG WITH NORTH KOREA, 
AFGHANISTAN, PALESTINIAN TERRITORY AND ANGOLA, MAJOR 
RESOURCE "BILLING" DURING THE ANNUAL BOARD SESSION. 
HEILEMAN 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
> 
 2002ROME02629 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED 


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