Home » Country & Regional Profiles » LAC Key Issues » LAC: Democracy » LAC: Environment » LAC: Trade » Press Room » Congressional Budget Justification 2006 » Economic and Social Database »
	USAID Information: USAID Country Page FY 2009 Congressional Budget Justification Selected Reports from the USAID Document Database External Links: U.S. State Department CIA World Factbook United Nations Development Programme
	Local Leaders: Democracy's Frontline [PDF 31K] Bird Watchers flocking to Guyana as a result of USAID Guyana's birding program [PDF, 512K] USAID's Strategy for Promoting Democracy and Building Markets in Latin America [PDF, 31 KB] Assessing the State of Democracy in the Hemisphere; Council of the Americas, Washington, D.C. [PDF, 33 KB]
	Advanced search... Search USAID Personnel... Search USAID Documents...

USAID/Cuba Program

May 2003

GOAL: Promote Rapid, Peaceful Transition to Democracy in Cuba, Helping Develop Civil Society

OBJECTIVE: Increase Flow of Information on Democracy, Human Rights and Free Enterprise, To, From, and Within Cuba

NOTE: As a matter of policy, USAID grantees are not authorized to use grant funds to provide cash assistance to any person or organization in Cuba.

A. BUILDING SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA'S HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS

1. Freedom House: Transitions

   Provided 40,000 Spanish language books, pamphlets and other materials to the Cuban people on issues such as human rights, transition to democracy and free market economics.

2. The Center for a Free Cuba

   Gathers and disseminates information concerning the human rights situation in Cuba. Transmits the writings of Cuban human rights activists to non governmental organizations worldwide. Sponsors travel to Cuba by representatives of democratic societies. Distributes pro-democracy literature on the island.

3. The Institute for Democracy in Cuba

   Assisted democratic activists in Cuba, informed the Cuban people, gathered and disseminated information from inside Cuba on human rights. Provided 7,000 pounds of humanitarian assistance (food and medicine) to political prisoners, their families, and other victims of oppression.

4. Cuban Dissidence Task Group

   Published and disseminated worldwide the written analysis of Cuban democratic activists on the island. Provided humanitarian assistance (food and medicine) to political prisoners and their families, and to other victims of government oppression.

5. International Republican Institute

   Helps create and bolster international solidarity committees in Latin America and Europe in order to provide material, moral and ideological support for democratic activists in Cuba.

6. Freedom House: Cuban Democracy Project

   Promotes the formation of civic and political leadership in Cuba by linking professional organizations in Cuba to one another and to those in free democracies in Europe, North America and elsewhere.

7. Grupo de Apoyo a la Disidencia

   Provides humanitarian assistance and informational materials to political prisoners and their families and other victims of repression.

8. Accion Democratica Cubana

   Provides humanitarian assistance and informational materials to political prisoners and their families and other victims of repression.

1. Cuba Free Press

   Published the work of professional and independent writers and journalists inside Cuba.

2. Florida International University

   The FIU International Media Center (IMC) trains Cuba's independent journalists to help improve their professional skills.

3. CubaNet

   Expanding its comprehensive internet on-line coverage of Cuba's independent journalists, and other national and international press reports on Cuban human rights and economic issues.

4. Carta de Cuba

   Disseminates internationally and inside Cuba the writing of Cuba's independent journalists.

1. Partners of the Americas

   Helped establish professional and institutional linkages between emerging Cuban community grassroots and professional organizations, cooperatives and other counterpart organizations around the world.

2. Pan American Development Foundation

   Establishes linkages between Cuban NGOs and counterpart NGOs operating elsewhere in the Americas, to demonstrate how NGOs function within democratic societies. Provides information and material assistance to Cuba's independent libraries.

3. ACDI-VOCA Independent Agricultural Cooperatives

   Provided technical information on cooperative development, agriculture and agro-business to independent NGOs in Cuba.

4. University of Miami: Developing Civil Society

   Facilitated access to information and training for Cuban NGOs and individuals.

5. Florida International University: NGO Development

   Trains Cuban NGO leaders in management and delivery of social services.

D. DEFENDING THE RIGHTS OF CUBAN WORKERS

1. American Center for International Labor Solidarity

   Worked with trade union movements worldwide to persuade foreign firms to respect the rights of Cuban workers in their operations inside Cuba.

2. National Policy Association

   Convened an international private sector working group to encourage companies doing business in Cuba to respect the rights of Cuban workers and to promote democracy.

E. PROVIDING DIRECT OUTREACH TO THE CUBAN PEOPLE

1. Cuba On-Line

   Transmits information on democracy, human rights and free market economics directly to the Cuban people, through the international mail system, and by electronic means.

2. Sabre Foundation

   Donated new books and other informational materials on democratic transition, free market economics and other issues to independent Cuban NGOs and individuals in order to benefit the Cuban people.

F. PLANNING FOR TRANSITION

1. Rutgers University: Planning for Change

   Supported planning for future assistance to a Cuban transition government and, eventually, to a democratically elected government in Cuba. Transmitted planning results to the Cuban people.

2. International Foundation for Election Systems

   Analyzed assistance required to support transitional elections in Cuba. Without discussing or considering the possible timing of elections, the study established guidelines, costs, and options concerning international assistance and the requirements or local administration of comprehensive voter registration and conduct of free and fair presidential and congressional elections in Cuba. USAID will disseminate its findings to the Cuban people. Posted on USAID web page: http://www.usaid.gov/regions/lac/cu

3. U.S-Cuba Business Council

   Surveyed U.S. private sector resources and plans to assist the eventual reconstruction of the Cuban economy. Conducted a conference series on Cuba's democratic free market future.

4. University of Miami: Cuba Transition Planning

   Analyzes challenges that will face a future transition government in Cuba, including: legal reform, political party formation, privatization and foreign investment, combating corruption, education reform, economic policy reform, international donor coordination.

5. Georgetown University

   Provides scholarships to the families of political prisoners and to other Cuban students who will help build independent civil society in Cuba.

G. EVALUATING PROGRAM IMPACT

1. University of Florida: Measuring Public Opinion

   Estimated public opinion, knowledge and attitudes in Cuba through interviews with recent Cuban migrants, helping to monitor USAID program impact. Report posted on USAID web page: http://www.usaid.gov/regions/lac/cu

2. PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Inc.

   Under contract, assessed the effectiveness of the USAID Cuba program. Examined progress and impediments to achieving the program objective. Made recommendations for improving program effectiveness. Final report submitted July 2000. Posted on USAID web page: http://www.usaid.gov/regions/lac/cu

Back to Top ^