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Guinea
>> Regional Overview >> Guinea Overview Program Data Sheet
675-004
USAID MISSION: Guinea
PROGRAM TITLE: Democracy and Governance (Pillar: Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance)
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE AND NUBMER: Improved Local & National Governance through Active Citizen Participation, 675-004
STATUS: Continuing
PLANNED FY 2002 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $1,263,000 DA
PROPOSED FY 2003 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $1,385,000 DA
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1998 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2005Summary: The USAID Democracy and Governance program in Guinea is made up of:
- training for more effective citizen participation in local government;
- technical assistance to promote more responsive political processes; and
- technical assistance to strengthen civil society organizations.
Inputs, Outputs and Activities: FY 2002 Program: USAID will use FY2002 Development Assistance resources from the Democracy and Governance sector to continue activities that have shown results under the current USAID program. USAID will train more than 250 citizen associations (comprised of 15-120 members, more than half women) in civil rights and responsibilities. This training will support their subsequent engagement with local government to ensure that budgets are managed transparently and improved infrastructure and public services are delivered. Technical assistance will be provided to four political parties and more than 9,000 party members to engage the opposition, ruling parties, and the administration in a dialog to promote transparency in the upcoming legislative elections, and to create more responsive political processes. Political party youth and women will be trained to enable them to participate more fully in the decision-making structures of their parties and ensure their representation in the national assembly. USAID will provide technical assistance and training-of-trainer workshops in order to reach more than 300 civil society organizations that will deliver civic education programs and conduct a public information campaign on the electoral process, the government, and the legal system in Guinea. USAID will continue to support conflict mitigation activities focusing on peace-building in support of regional conflict prevention, and identifying and addressing sources of conflict within Guinea to ensure its continued stability.
Planned FY 2003 Program: USAID plans to request FY 2003 resources to continue training citizens in local government in a new region of Guinea. USAID also plans to facilitate greater dialogue for the peaceful resolution of differences between rival parties, and between political parties and the administration, in order to ensure transparent and peaceful legislative and presidential elections. Technical assistance to national non-governmental organizations will strengthen local organizations so they can counterbalance the power of the administration and support citizen advocacy of government at all levels. Funds would also be used to train citizens in their legal, constitutional, and human rights through a combination of civic education campaigns and community training. At least 80% of the population would be reached through the rural radio broadcasts of this civic education campaign.
SUBMISSION OF THIS PROGRAM DATA SHEET CONSTITUTES FORMAL RENOTIFICATION OF USAID'S INTENT TO OBLIGATE FY 2002 RESOURCES FOR THE ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED ABOVE. Performance and Results: USAID influences the democratic process from the bottom up through training citizens, locally elected officials, and central government technical services. From the top down, USAID facilitates dialogue and builds government capacity to respond to citizen needs. A more democratic Guinea will be an important force for sub-regional stability. The highly successful conflict prevention workshop that brought together representatives of the government, military, religious organizations, political parties, and civil society to identify potential sources of conflict in Guinea resulted in immediate changes being made by the President, thus, reducing tensions and responding to citizen concerns about security. Prior to the referendum, USAID coordinated donor efforts to ensure that a number of proposed constitutional amendments were dropped by the administration, thereby guaranteeing the integrity of the National Assembly and the continued separation of powers.
The USAID-sponsored Conflict Prevention Workshop identified several sources of conflict, among them the vacant Supreme Court seat and the absence of decisions from that body for two years. Within two weeks of the workshop, President Conte filled the seat. USAID works with the government, civil society, political parties, and traditional leaders to expand the role of civil society in Guinea's development and foster the creation of umbrella organizations and federations capable of counterbalancing central government control. USAID uses an innovative model of civic education that works with local economic associations to link concepts of civil rights and responsibilities with tangible economic benefits. Training of citizens' economic associations in their rights and responsibilities has led to improved tax revenues for local government as participants have engaged in development planning, and responded positively to the clear correlation between payment of taxes and improvements in local service and infrastructure delivery. At the same time, citizens' economic associations are gaining access to loans for expanded agricultural and business activities through a credit activity.
Political parties are increasingly engaged in positive dialogue as their contact with the population increased through National Democratic Institute-sponsored political fora held in 31 of 33 prefectures. This dialogue, aimed at promoting the concept of social partnership, helped reduce tensions and increase understanding that political adversaries are not necessarily enemies - an important civic education lesson for Guinea. In one instance, participation swelled to 1,400 people. Edited versions of the debates were translated into local languages for broadcast throughout Guinea.
Citizens are increasing their influence over government. In 23 districts, nine local government entities and one urban district carried out 37 concrete action plans developed and planned by citizens. Also, 278 citizen economic associations analyzed and planned activities with the national agricultural extension service in 15 local government districts. Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: USAID activities will be implemented through the Cooperative League of the U.S.A. (CLUSA) which trains citizens in their rights and responsibilities; the National Democratic Institute (NDI) which will work with political parties and the administration; and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) which trains national NGOs. Additional funding for IFES' work with civil society is being provided by a Canadian non-governmental organization in support of a national council of civil society organizations supporting civil society organizations activities throughout the country.
US Financing in Thousands of Dollars
675-004 Improved local and national governance through active citizen participation DA DFA ESF Through September 30, 2000 Obligations 12,808 100 1,250 Expenditures 7,952 0 500 Unliquidated 4,856 100 750 Fiscal Year 2001 Obligations 1,298 0 0 Expenditures 1,016 0 435 Through September 30, 2001 Obligations 14,106 100 1,250 Expenditures 8,968 0 935 Unliquidated 5,138 100 315 Prior Year Unobligated Funds Obligations 0 0 0 Planned Fiscal Year 2002 NOA Obligations 1,263 0 0 Total Planned Fiscal Year 2002 Obligations 1,263 0 0 Proposed Fiscal Year 2003 NOA Obligations 1,385 0 0 Future Obligations 3,000 0 0 Est. Total Cost 19,754 100 1,250
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Last Updated on: May 29, 2002 |
