 Country Program Materials
2011 Congressional Budget Justification
The CBJ summarizes USAID activities and funding in Guinea.
USAID/Guinea Links
 Budget Budget Fact Sheet (pdf,41kb)
Country Profile (92kb, pdf)
Recent
Publications & Reports
USAID/Guinea Mission
Web Site:
guinea.usaid.gov
Mission Director:
Nancy Estes
Local Address:
USAID/Guinée
c/o American Embassy Conakry
P.O. Box 603
Transversale No. 2
Centre Administratif de Koloma
Commune de Ratoma
Conakry, Republic of Guinea
Tel: 224-3046-8715, 8716, 8717
Fax: 224-3046-8714, 8805
From the US:
USAID/Conakry
2110 Conakry Place
Dulles, VA 20189-2110
Contact
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USAID programs in Guinea seek to promote women’s rights.
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Guinea
Overview
Despite being one of Africa’s richest countries in natural resources, Guinea’s people live in poverty. Guinea ranks 170 out of 182 counties in the United Nations Development Program’s Human Development Index. Guinea is also undergoing a critical period of political transition that is fraught with both challenges and opportunities. With the death of President Lansana Conte in December 2008 that ended his 24-year rule, the people of Guinea have a chance to break with a half century of corrupt autocracy and set their country on a solid course toward good governance, democratic reform, and economic growth. The military government that seized power following Conte’s death, however, postponed planned elections and brutally cracked down on protestors. A joint civilian-military transition government formed in February 2010 has publicly committed to hold elections in 2010. Still, political stability in Guinea remains fragile and the path to democracy is uncertain.
Conakry
Promoting a transition to democratic, civilian rule is the U.S. Government’s highest priority in Guinea. USAID supports the electoral process and promotes good governance and decentralization to bring improved services to the Guinean people. USAID assistance also includes a health program focused on HIV/AIDS prevention, and improving maternal and child health and reproductive health, as well as a program to improve food security and nutrition.
Programs
Governing Justly and Democratically
USAID is working in Guinea to strengthen democratic processes and institutions, fight corruption, help national and local government become more efficient and accountable, and build the capacity of civil society and media. Legislative and presidential elections offer opportunities for Guineans to set their country on a democratic track. In coordination with other donors and Guinean election authorities, USAID assistance enabled the registration of more than 4 million eligible voters using a biometric system. Guinea now has one of the best, most fraud-proof voter registries in west Africa. USAID is also strengthening the National Independent Election Commission's management capacity, promoting civic engagement, training election officials, supporting voter education, especially for women and youth, and encouraging women candidates.
USAID-supported voter education efforts have already reached more than 2 million people.
In governance, USAID focuses on the community. USAID has trained thousands of local government officials, council members, and members of civil society on the decentralization law, participatory budgeting, and anti-corruption methods. Programs have also assisted local governments in raising their own revenue and publishing budgets and accounts. As a result, citizen participation in local governance has increased significantly, leading in some cases to corrupt councilors being voted out of office and corrupt practices sanctioned.
Investing in People: Health
USAID seeks to improve health service delivery to reduce maternal and child mortality, increase contraceptive use, and maintain a low HIV/AIDS prevalence—which is now only 1.5 percent. To keep the HIV/AIDS rate from rising, USAID supported 26 centers that have tested and counseled more than 52,000 people. Three hospitals now provide USAID-supported obstetric fistula care, and more than 300 women were successfully treated for fistula in 2009. In addition, USAID helped fund measles vaccination and distribution of vitamin A supplements and de-worming medicine for approximately 2 million children. As a result of USAID support, 532 health centers now offer family planning services; 429 USAID-trained workers provide family planning supplies and services to hard-to-reach communities; and over 1 million contraceptives have been distributed to health facilities. USAID-assisted locations now have an estimated contraceptive prevalence rate of 13 percent—versus the national average of 6 percent.
Economic Growth
Subsistence farmers make up 90 percent of Guinea's rural population. However, many of these small farmers use practices that neither conserve resources nor meet their families' food and income requirements. USAID's goal is to increase farmers' access to and use of improved agricultural technologies, market information, and land management practices to boost their productivity and incomes. In addition, USAID is working to increase farmers' participation in the decision-making processes that affect their natural resource base, agricultural production, and livelihoods. In 2009, USAID assistance led to improved incomes and nutrition for 7,775 vulnerable rural households.
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