59994 Yemen Meeting of the Ministry of Planning & Development with Donors on Qat Peer Gatter Country Department III Sustainable Development Department Middle East and North Africa Region Document of the World Bank Quote: Gatter, P. (1999 g): Yemen: Meeting of the Ministry of Planning & Development with Donors on Qat. Minutes of a Meeting with Deputy Minister for Macro-Planning and Studies, Dr. Mutahar al- Abbasi. Document of the World Bank (July 19, 1999), 4 pp. . 1 . . In a Meeting at the Ministry of Planning and Development with the Deputy Minister for Macro-Planning and Studies, Dr. Mutahar al-Abbasi, the work of the World Bank on Qat was discussed. Dr. al-Abbasi presented the decisions of last weeks cabinet meeting on Qat and defined the roles his ministry and the World Bank could play in implementing the cabinet decisions. 1. The Cabinet One of the topics on the agenda of last weeks cabinet meeting was Qat. For the first time the cabinet passed a decree on the issue. This should be signed this week and Dr. Abbasi will send us a copy. In the center of the discussion was, who will be responsible for Qat issues, what will these activities focus on, and what institutions could be involved in this process. The cabinet came to the conclusion that there is an urgent need for an assessment of the impact of Qat on social, economic, and environmental matters (including water), and decided to hand the responsibility to coordinate research in these fields and to mobilize resources over to the Ministry of Planning and Development and the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation. The decree also called for strengthening the Qat Research Unit (AREA) and have it play a more active role. However, the cabinet stressed that it does not want the research unit to monopolize research activities, but wants to have the universities involved. According to the cabinet the activities on Qat should be undertaken in a coherent way. The cabinet also apparently agreed on a "national conference" on Qat. 2. Dr. Abbasi's Commentary Dr. Abbasi considered that Qat is now very much on the national agenda. Problems that should be especially addressed are the question of water use and pesticides. The latter in the light of rising cancer cases in Yemen and their effect on the environment. Alternatives to Qat cultivation were also identified as being vital, for the high number of people that depend in their livelihood on Qat. Dr. Abbasi, reflecting the cabinet discussion, said that the approach to Qat should not be pro or against Qat,. It should be a rational approach to avoid tensions. This approach should take into consideration the long tradition of Qat chewing and the many dimensions of the phenomenon (historical, social, political, economic...) that made the issue for such a long time untouchable. 2 Non-Governmental Involvement Dr. Abbasi, again reflecting the cabinet discussion, acknowledged that the government cannot address this serious and very complex issue itself and is reliant on the help of others. It was discussed on how the private sector, NGOs, civil society, the press, women, youth organizations and religious leaders could be involved in its aims. The activities on Qat should have a strong institutional setup and should be lead by a strong organization. Financing How and from where resources could be made available for these activities was also raised by Dr. Abbasi (co-financed/cost sharing projects with possible involvement of Dutch, German, American donors), and how labor could be divided up. The World Bank was identified as being able to help with mobilizing donors. Role of the Ministry of Planning and Development Deputy Minister Abbasi made it clear that the government and his ministry are determined to implement the cabinet decisions and that there is an overall political support for activities on Qat. This support also extends to the activities of the World Bank. In order to start activities Dr. Abbasi said that the work recently carried out by the World Bank could serve as a basis for further action. The Bank could help the Ministry of Planning to develop a proposal/agenda that could be discussed with the government and provide a framework for what can be done in 1, 5, and 10 years. This action plan, however has to be very reasonable, rational, and constructive in order not to divide the people. It should be looked into, on how to get the Qat issue on the agenda of each ministry, put it in the thinking of youth clubs, and convince religious leaders to involve it in the khutbas at the Friday prayer. Existing projects, as on water, should be made sensitive to Qat. National Conference A national conference is according to the Ministry of Planning now a very important step to guarantee government support and commitment. It will be a clear sign for the political will of the government to become involved and active (also to producers, merchants, and consumers). In addition it will a national conference would provide recommendations and an agenda for further action that could be embedded in a government policy on the issue.. Qat Forum The Ministry of Planning gave its green light to start with the constitution of such a forum. This forum should be neutral and open to anyone, even to the sheikhs and farmers, that are an important factor in the Qat issue. Not only the government should be involved, but also civil society. The forum should be a kind of a think tank. Represented should also be the Ministries of Health, of Education, Youth and Sports, Culture and Information. 3 The role of the forum could be: 1.) to prepare studies, exchange information, etc., and 2.) prepare a National Conference 3. Steps to take At the last meeting on Qat held at the World Bank on July 11, 1999 a founders committee for a Qat forum was constituted. Its first meeting was hosted by the NGO Oxfam on July 18, 1999. First views were exchanged and it was decided to wait for a sign from the government in favor of such a forum before further activities. After the Ministry of Planning and Development informed the World Bank on the cabinet decision to found a Qat forum and the ministries interest in being involved in such a forum, the World Bank agreed with Oxfam to hold a second informal founders meeting on Thursday, July 22, 1999 and agree on the focus, first activities and a name for this forum, that can be presented to a larger meeting next week. In the beginning this forum should focus on two major activities. The first is to coordinate activities on Qat, share information and guide research. The second is to prepare a national conference on Qat. The Ministry of Planning and development agreed to join such a meeting and advised the World Bank to also invite a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture. A preliminary date was arranged for this meeting (Monday, July 26, 1999). It could take place under the joint chairmanship of the Ministry of Planning and the World Bank. Alternatively, another international agency such as UNDP could co-chair with the Ministry of Planning. Since the cabinet proposed to integrate in this meeting not only government institutions, but also NGOs and donor organizations, it would be recommendable to invite representatives of these organizations. These should include the FAO, UNDP, the Dutch and German government representatives. On the recommendation of the Ministry of Planning the Organization for the Protection of Consumers (whose chairman is the Minister of Information) should also be represented. 4