Program Data Sheet
516-001

USAID MISSION: Cuba
PROGRAM TITLE: Civil Society Developed (Pillar: Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance)
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE AND NUMBER: Civil Society Developed Through Information Dissemination, 516-001
STATUS: Continuing
PLANNED FY 2002 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $5,000,000 ESF
PRIOR YEAR UNOBLIGATED AND FUNDING SOURCE: $3,002,000 ESF
PROPOSED FY 2003 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $6,000,000 ESF
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996     ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2004

Summary: USAID's program to develop civil society includes:

• dissemination of information concerning democracy, human rights, and free market economics;
• nonfinancial support for democratic and human rights groups on the island;
• funding visits to Cuba by international human rights monitors;
• assistance with plans for a future transition government in Cuba; and
• transmission of such plans to the Cuban people.

Inputs, Outputs and Activities: FY 2002 Program: USAID will use FY 2002 funds to contribute to the achievement of the strategic objective through activities which:

1. Increase solidarity with Cuba's human rights activists by continuing to provide nonfinancial informational support for their use;
2. Give voice to Cuba's independent journalists by supporting CubaNet's web page with reports by Cuba's independent journalists;
3. Foster independent Cuban NGOs by facilitating exchange visits between Cuba, the U.S. and third countries;
4. Defend the rights of Cuban workers by establishing contacts with Cuban rank and file workers, bringing pressure to bear on the Cuban government to respect workers' rights;
5. Reach out to the Cuban people by directly transmitting accurate information on democracy, human rights and free enterprise via newsletters, faxes and e-mails to Cuban citizens; and
6. Provide transition planning by working with U.S. universities, U.S. and Cuban NGOs, and independent Cuban individuals, to develop specific plans for assistance to a future transition government in Cuba. Transmit these plans to the Cuban people via radio, fax, e-mail, and in hard copy.

Planned FY 2003 Program: USAID plans to use FY 2003 resources to expand this objective. USAID will bolster solidarity with Cuba's human rights activists; significantly increase the transmission of information to the Cuban people; improve the skills of Cuba's independent journalists; and increase monitoring of program impact.

Performance and Results: The goal of this program is a revitalized Cuban civil society, which will help reconcile conflicts and prepare the population for peaceful democratic change. Additional USAID programming will lead to a better-informed Cuban population, increased reporting of human rights violations, and strengthened civil society. Continued progress will contribute to the U.S. foreign policy goal of peacefully transforming Cuba into a country where civil society plays a key role in shaping and helping smooth the way for a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.

The USAID Cuba Program, working through its grantees, made significant progress during FY 2001 in meeting its special objective of increasing the flow of accurate information on democracy, human rights and free enterprise to, from, and within Cuba. The Program also provided needed support to democratic and human rights groups in Cuba, and humanitarian assistance to victims of political repression and their families. These efforts, as they are continued and enlarged upon during FY 2002 and FY 2003 should substantially revitalize Cuban civil society, help reconcile conflicts, and prepare the population for peaceful democratic change.

By the end of FY 2001, grantees had reported achievements in the following six areas:

1. Human Rights Activists. Program grantees provided 35,669 books and other informational materials to more than 250 human rights activists in Cuba. Program grantees provided 16,414 pounds of food and medicine to families of political prisoners and other victims of government repression in Cuba.
2. Cuba's Independent Journalists. Program grantees disseminated 2,600 articles by Cuba's independent journalists internationally and within the island.
3. Independent Cuban NGOs. Program grantees facilitated 12 exchange programs that strengthened independent Cuban NGOs.
4. Cuban Workers. Program grantees established contacts with Cuban rank and file workers, and helped bring pressure to bear on the Cuban government to respect workers' rights.
5. Outreach to the Cuban People. Program grantees directly transmitted accurate information on democracy, human rights and free enterprise to 275,000 Cuban citizens.
6. Transition Planning. Program grantees worked with U.S. universities and NGOs, and with independent Cuban individuals and NGOs, to develop specific plans for assistance to a future transition government in Cuba. Program grantees transmitted these plans to the Cuban people via radio, fax, e-mail and in hard copy.

Principal Grantees: Prime grantees are The University of Miami, Center for a Free Cuba, Pan-American Development Foundation, Florida International University, Freedom House, Grupo de Apoyo a la Disidencia, Cuba On-Line, CubaNet, National Policy Association, and Agricultural Cooperative Development International/Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (ACDI/VOCA). In addition, another principal grantee, International Republican Institute, has a sub-grantee, Directorio Revolucionario.

US Financing in Thousands of Dollars