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West Bank and Gaza
>> Regional Overview >> West Bank and Gaza Overview ACTIVITY DATA SHEET
PROGRAM: West Bank and Gaza
TITLE AND NUMBER: More Responsive and Accountable Governance, 294-003
STATUS: Continuing
PLANNED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $10,579,507 ESF; $5,093,684 Wye*
PROPOSED FY 2002 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $12,288,433 ESF
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2003Summary: The exercise of basic freedoms such as free speech, venues for citizen input into the decision-making process, and transparent democratic decision-making continue to be key issues in the West Bank and Gaza. USAID is responding to critical governance needs and supporting Palestinian efforts to establish a democratic society. USAID supports nascent government structures, especially those related to constituent representation, rule of law and local government. Support is also provided to civil society organizations that represent citizen interests in public decision-making.
The democracy and governance portfolio includes activities that focus on the efficient and effective functioning of Palestinian Authority (PA) bodies and institutions as well as the strengthening of representative civil society organizations to constructively interact with these institutions. Additional support to strengthen the judiciary and legal profession will enhance the capacity of the judicial sector to safeguard the rights of Palestinians through due process mechanisms. A second phase local government program will help promote an enabling environment for decentralization.
Key Results: Four intermediate results contribute to this objective: (1) increased participation of civil society organizations in public decision-making and government accountability; (2) enhanced legislative capacity; (3) improved foundation for decentralized local government; and (4) enhanced judiciary system in place.
Performance and Prospects:
Strengthened Civil Society: In FY 2001 and FY 2002, USAID will broaden its support for civil society organizations that positively impact public decision-making by carrying out activities that strengthen the democratic process while providing needed services at the grassroots level. Assistance will promote increased civic and political participation of marginalized groups (e.g., women). In addition, USAID will give greater attention to capacity building among civil society organizations. Assistance will also be provided to U.S. and local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to improve the professionalism of local journalists, encourage the adoption of a suitable legal and regulatory framework for the media, and promote greater citizen participation through accurate reporting and news coverage. In FY 2001, USAID will provide $2.3 million in FY 2000 carryover funds and $9.4 million in FY 2001 New Obligation Authority (NOA) funds to support these activities. In FY 2002, USAID will provide $6.9 million in NOA funds to support these activities.
A More Responsive Palestinian Council: In FY 2001 and FY 2002, USAID will enhance the capability of the Palestinian Council (PC) to perform the functions of a legislative body. USAID will support the development of key administrative systems, increasing the PC's ability to draft and review legislation and enhancing its ability to review and monitor the Executive's budget and overall performance. USAID will also provide assistance to improve PC responsiveness to its constituents. In FY 2001, USAID will provide $1.3 million in FY 2000 carryover funds and $600,000 in FY 2001 NOA to support these activities. In FY 2002, USAID will provide $3.1 million in NOA to support this activity.
Decentralized Local Government: In FY 2000, USAID completed the first phase of planned activities in support of decentralized, democratic local governance. In FY 2001 and FY 2002, USAID plans to initiate a limited second phase, multi-year program to strengthen local governments. This program will be undertaken in partnership with the Mission's community services and village water and sanitation programs, and will focus on helping selected communities implement improved systems for municipal management. No funding is required in FY 2001. In FY 2002, USAID will provide $1 million in NOA to support this activity.
Improved Rule of Law: In October 1999, USAID awarded a contract and grant to strengthen the rule of law. In FY 2001, training will be provided to judges, prosecutors, and staff, and new procedures will be developed and tested. In FY 2001 and FY 2002, USAID assistance will support the strengthening of the legal profession by improving the capacity of the Palestinian Bar Association and promoting greater adoption of Alternative Dispute Resolution methods. In FY 2001, USAID will provide $5.1 million in Wye funds to support these activities. No FY 2001 or FY 2002 NOA will be used for this activity.
Program Management Costs: USAID will require the assistance of program-funded staff in order to manage the activities contained in this strategic objective. In addition, USAID will design new activities directly supported by funds under this objective. USAID will provide $488,938 in FY 2000 carryover funds and $600,000 in FY 2001 NOA to support these activities. In FY 2002, USAID will provide $1.3 million in NOA to support this objective.
Possible Adjustments to Plans/Wye Funding: Because of the breakdown in relations between the Palestinians and Israelis, USAID intends to make several program changes related to Wye supplemental funds. USAID will not fund the Department of Justice activities to strengthen the judiciary or support the construction of court houses as notified in USAID's FY 2001 Budget Justification. This has resulted in a $25 million decrease in Wye funds to this sector. These funds will be reallocated to support increased programming in the water resources sector (under objective 294-002).
Other Donor Programs: While several donors support programs in the democracy and governance area, USAID has been a leader in the design and provision of assistance, especially in the area of civil society. The World Bank, United Kingdom (U.K.), Denmark, European Union (EU), and Australia are supporting initiatives related to legal reform and the justice sector that complement the areas in which USAID works. The U.K. provides limited assistance to the Palestinian Council. The World Bank, United Nations Development Program, EU and other donors support the development of local government entities.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: USAID is implementing this activity through U.S. contractors (Associates in Rural Development; World Learning; Chemonics International; and DPK), U.S. NGOs (Meridian International Center; AMIDEAST; Americas Development Foundation; International Republican Institute), and grants to local NGOs.
* Of the $9,189,000 FY 2000 ESF Wye Supplemental carryover, $5,093,684 is being notified for this activity. The remaining $4,095,316 was previously notified.
FY 2002 Performance Table
West Bank and Gaza: 294-003
Performance Measures:
Indicator FY97
(Actual)FY98
(Actual)FY99
(Actual)FY00
(Actual)FY00
(Plan)FY01
(Plan)FY02
(Plan)Indicator 1: Citizen approval ratings of Palestinian Council (PC) 55.5 55.0 53.3 NA 61.0 64.0 67.0 Indicator 2: Percentage of total bills passed that are initiated by the PC 0 30 36 27 30 30 30 Indicator 3: Percentage of specific PC requests for information at the committee and plenary levels that are formally ersponded ti by the Executive Authority 26 31 28 15 40 40 40 Indicator 4: Key laws, policies, reforms, etc., initiated by civil society organizations (CSOs) and accepted, reviewed and acted on by the PA 46.3 55.8 59.2 NA 65.8 70.8 75.8 Indicator Information:
Indicator Level (S) or (IR) Unit of Measure Source Indicator Description Indicator 1: IR Percentage of positive approval ratings of PC on oindexed scale of 0 to 100 Center for Palestine Research & Studies (CPRS) This indicator has been removed, in line with USAID West Bank/Gaza's attempt to "ratchet down" indicators so that they are in the manageable interest of the Mission's work. This indicator will no longer appear in any R4 documents. Indicator 2: IR Percentage of total bills passed that are drafted by the PC Associates in Rural Development (ARD) Target was not achieved due to the nature of the Intifada and its affect on the political process in the West Bank and Gaza. Indicator 3: IR Percentage of requests which receive responses (cumulative) Associates in Rural Development (ARD) Formal responses are defined as written or oral responses recorded in official PC documents that represent the Executive Authority position on an issue. Target was not achieved due to the nature of the Intifada and its affect on the political process in the West Bank and Gaza. Indicator 4: IR Percent of key laws, etc., Initiated by CSOs that are accepted, reviewed and acted on by PC or EA Center for Palestine Research & Studies (CPRS) This indicator has been removed, in line with USAID Wst Bank/Gaza's attempt to "ratchet down" indicators so that they are in the manageable interest of the Mission's work. This indicator will no longer appear in any R4 documents. U.S. Financing
(In thousands of dollars)
Obligations Expenditures Unliquidated Through September 30, 1999 0 DA 0 DA 0 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 CSD 41,752 ESF 24,930 ESF 16,822 ESF 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 DFA 0 DFA 0 DFA Fiscal Year 2000 0 DA 0 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 15,585 ESF 9,669 ESF 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 DFA 0 DFA Through September 30, 2000 0 DA 0 DA 0 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 CSD 57,337 ESF 34,599 ESF 22,738 ESF 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 DFA 0 DFA 0 DFA Prior Year Unobligated Funds* 0 DA 0 CSD 9,189 ESF 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 DFA Planned Fiscal Year 2001 NOA 0 DA 0 CSD 10,580 ESF 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 DFA Total Planned Fiscal Year 2001 0 DA 0 CSD 19,769 ESF 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 DFA Future Obligations Est. Total Cost Proposed Fiscal Year 2002 NOA 0 DA 0 DA 0 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 CSD 12,288 ESF 40,000 ESF 129,394 ESF 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 DFA 0 DFA 0 DFA * Of the $9.189 million FY 2000 ESF Wye Supplemental carryover, $5,093,684 is being notified for this activity. The remaining $4,095,316 was previously notified.
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Last Updated on: May 29, 2002 |
