Putting Region on the Ecotourims Map

Barahona is one of the Dominican Republic’s poorest regions, with an unemployment rate exceeding 26% and an illiteracy rate of 16%. A viable tourism industry is one of the few alternatives for the area to significantly alleviate poverty.

Mango Farmers Become Entreprenuers

Some of Latin America’s finest mangos are grown in the Dominican Republic. Yet for decades they were sold only domestically, often grown in backyards or abandoned plots, and exported only as an industrial pulp, selling at lower prices than fresh fruit.

Region Takes a Crack at Organic Nuts

An alliance between farmers and a local dessert company hopes to expand the production and use of macadamia nuts organically grown in the Yaque del Norte watershed

Southwestern Community Turns Waste into Income

USAID Dominican Republic, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the Dominican Institute for Development and Research (IDD, in Spanish), and the Mayor’s office recently came together to inaugurate an Organic Compost Plant in Juan de Herrera; the soutwestern region’s first.

Using Solar Energy to Increase Wood Quality

The Zambrana Association of Agro-forest producers uses a solar-powered kiln to dry lumber; improving the quality of wood placed in the Dominican Market

Nature Guides Nurture Safety and Development

USAID/DR assists nature guides in getting local government and community buy-in for their ecotourism enterprise

Rebuilding a Community After a Hurricane

Creating partnerships to rebuild a community destroyed by a natural disaster

Training to Reduce Maternal Mortality

The Emergency Obstetric Care courses teach health care providers improved clinical practices and improve emphatic treatment of patients.

User Services Offices Reshape the Face of Public Hospitals

The user services offices help the hospitals provide better services to their patients. 

Peer Educator Finds Pride Working with Teens in her Community

The Peer Educators work to empower teenagers, while involving parents and community leaders.

Bringing to Scale a Condom Social Marketing Program

Populations high at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS now have access to low-price, good quality condoms.

Graduate Training in Health Management

USAID is sponsoring a graduate certificate program training doctors and administrators for the new health care system

Making Quality Health Care for the Poor a Reality

USAID has helped establish 15 immunization clinics that are helping protect children from potentially deadly diseases

Public Defense Brings Hope for Poor

USAID/DR supported the creation and expansion of the country’s first Public Defense System

Judicial Training and Education

Dominican Republic trains hundreds with USAID help to improve judicial process