US embassy cable - 05DHAKA3419

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 003419 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AA/ANE 
ALSO FOR DAA/ANE 
ALSO FOR ANE/AMS 
ALSO FOR ANE/ESA 
 
E.O.: 12958: N/A 
TAGS: BG, AODE, AMGT, ABLD, ASEC, KMRS, KSPR 
SUBJECT: NSDD38 - USAID STAFFING IN DHAKA, BANGLADESH 
 
Ref:  State 121976 
 
1.  The following provides a formal NSDD-38 
proposal to change the size, composition, or 
mandate of full-time, permanent USG positions in 
Dhaka, Bangladesh.  This is an action request.  In 
accordance with the provisions of NSDD-38, 
USAID/Bangladesh seeks to create a Project 
Development Officer position for an International 
Development Intern (IDI) in the Program Office. 
USAID/Bangladesh requests approval under NSDD-38 
for this new position.  This will result in an 
increase in US Direct Hire staffing, but not an 
increase in total USAID Mission staffing. 
 
2.  The USAID program remains central to the 
bilateral relationship between the US Government 
and the Government of Bangladesh.  Furthermore, the 
USAID/Bangladesh program overall remains one of the 
Agency's largest and most complex transformational 
development programs.  However, the re-engineering 
process in the 1990s left the Mission with a small 
Program Office relative to other missions of 
comparable size and weakened Mission programming 
and project development capacity.  To address this 
situation, the recent USAID Mission Management 
Assessment specifically recommended strengthening 
the Program Office by adding additional staff with 
expertise in this area.  This need is of a long- 
term nature and will persist as more newly- 
recruited and less experienced staff are posted to 
the field. 
 
3.  As provided in paragraph 3e of the referenced 
cable USAID/Bangladesh has eighteen USDH positions 
with NSDD-38 approvals: 
 
-1.  Mission Director 
-2.  Deputy Mission Director 
-3.  Legal Officer 
-4.  Supervisory Program Officer 
-5.  Project Development Officer 
-6.  Food for Peace Officer 
-7.  Supervisory Private Enterprise Officer 
-8.  Supervisory Agriculture Development Officer 
-9.  Supervisory Health/Population Development 
Officer 
-10.  Supervisory Health/Population Development 
Officer 
-11. Controller 
-12. Supervisory Executive Officer 
-13. Supervisory Contracting Officer 
-14. Contracting Officer 
-15. Democracy Officer 
-16. General Development Officer 
-17. Deputy Executive Officer 
-18. Population/Health Development Officer - FSO 3; 
(New Position, NSDD-38 request submitted April 21, 
2005, please see Dhaka 01865) 
-19. Project Development Officer - FSO 4 (New IDI 
position, NSDD-38 request submitted in this cable) 
 
4.  NSDD-38 Request questions:  Post resource 
requirements to support this new position would be 
additive.  The IDI Project Development Officer is 
NOT a resident in Bangladesh, but rather a US 
Direct Hire (USDH), full-time, permanent (FTP) 
position.  The person will have a diplomatic 
passport with privileges and immunities.  This 
Project Development Officer will report to the 
USAID/Supervisory Program Officer.  Post responds 
below to NSDD-38 request questions set forth in 
paragraph 10 of the referenced cable. 
 
5. A) The Project Development Officer IDI position 
is not listed in the most recent MPP, although this 
position will support a broad range of mission 
goals as identified in the MPP and was identified 
as a critical need in the recent USAID Mission 
Management Assessment. 
 
6. B) Presently there are no other staff resources 
at post who are performing or could perform the 
function. 
 
7. C) USAID/Bangladesh has determined that the 
function of the Project Development Officer cannot 
be adequately accomplished through the use of TDY, 
Foreign National, Contract, or other local hire 
personnel.  The recent USAID Mission Management 
Assessment noted a dearth of staff skilled in 
project design and recommended strengthening the 
Mission's complement of project development 
professionals to better support the whole range of 
development programming in Bangladesh. 
 
8. D) Post will provide administrative support as 
an ICASS member, as well as office space.  The 
specific, one-time and recurring costs total USD 
$365,445 over a two-year period, are outlined 
below. 
 
-                          Year 1   Year 2   Total 
Post assignment             5,000    -       5,100 
UAB, POV, Freight          15,000           15,000 
Training                   10,000   10,000  20,000 
Rent                       19,355   19,355  38,710 
Utilities                   6,019    6,019  12,038 
Residential Security        6,000    6,097  12,097 
Residential Furniture 
Appliance, and generator   95,000    -      95,000 
R&R                         3,750    3,750   7,500 
Home leave/transfer to 
Washington                          30,000  30,000 
MEDIVAC/EVT                 5,000    5,000  10,000 
ICASS                      60,000   60,000 120,000 
TOTAL:                    225,224  140,221 365,445 
 
USAID/Bangladesh can commit these resources; 
telephone number 880-2 885-5500 x 2782. 
 
9. E) Post management has determined that the 
current security program is sufficient for the 
addition of this single position.  The position 
combined with existing Mission resources would 
enhance current Mission programming in all sectors. 
Post concludes that the benefit of this position 
outweighs the incremental security risks associated 
with additional staffing. 
 
10.  Timing:  Post anticipates arrival of the USDH 
Project Development Officer o/a September, 2005. 
 
11.  The Charge d'Affaires concurs with 
USAID/Bangladesh's proposal to establish a U.S. 
Direct Hire Project Development Officer position in 
Dhaka. 
CHAMMAS