Note: This document may not always reflect the actual appropriations determined by Congress. Final budget allocations for USAID's programs are not determined until after passage of an appropriations bill and preparation of the Operating Year Budget (OYB).
ACTIVITY DATA SHEET
PROGRAM: LAC REGIONAL
TITLE AND NUMBER: Strengthened Regional Trends that Deepen Democracy, 598-S005
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCES: FY 1999: $7,000,000 DA; $19,300,000 ESF; $2,000,000 INC
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1995; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2000
Purpose: To help consolidate and deepen democracy in the LAC region by funding institutions, networks and exchanges essential to emerging regional democratic trends and by working with LAC missions so that Summit of the Americas commitments and other policy priorities are developed into programmatic initiatives in the region.
Background: With the exception of Cuba, the countries of the hemisphere are now headed by democratically elected leaders. Through the 1994 Summit of the Americas and the planning process of the 1998 Summit, leaders have reaffirmed their strong commitment to supporting democratic trends: protection of human rights, citizen participation in nation-building, reform of judicial structures, political parties and legislatures, strong and democratic local governance, and improved accountability and responsiveness at every level of government. At this time, there is a unique opportunity to deepen and make permanent these commitments, which are under challenge by rising crime rates, drug trafficking, and societal inequalities and poverty.
USAID Role and Achievements to Date: Based on a strategy to reinforce regional trends that deepen democracy, the Democracy and Human Rights (DHR) team actively participated in preparing new democratic initiatives for the Summit of the Americas planned for April 1998. In justice and human rights, DHR supported and participated in a strategic review of the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights (IIDH), a highly respected human rights training institution, and coordinated a meeting with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State Madeline Albright, and Latin American women human rights activists, convened by IIDH. This led to a renewal of our assistance, and a stronger orientation towards women's rights. In response to the growing devolution of authority to local governments, DHR worked with other donors and USAID missions to develop a new local governance program to begin in FY 1998. DHR also supported the Inter-American Mayors Conference in Miami, and re-oriented the Regional Financial Management Improvement Project to address financial management concerns in municipalities, while continuing to coordinate national-level projects. To build on the growing strength and activism of civil society groups, the Inter-American Democracy Network, through Partners of the Americas, has provided technical assistance and training to over 80 civil society organizations in the region. With increased south/south collaboration, the network can have greater impact on civil society participation in the political process. DHR sponsored the fourth RESPONDACON teleconference, which provided an important forum for highlighting anti-corruption efforts in the hemisphere, and mobilized civil society organizations in the region in support of further reform.
Description: The program focus is based on the policy framework established at the Summit of the Americas and through the New Transatlantic Agenda with the EC to protect and expand human rights and democracy by using regional institutions and mechanisms to complement bilateral USAID programs. It has three main components:
Strengthening regional mechanisms to promote human rights and rule of law -- Responding to a Summit initiative, USAID will launch with other donors and countries a hemispheric-wide effort to promote more professional and independent judicial systems, focusing on training and networking. In human rights, the regional program will support IIDH programs to better incorporate women's human rights into all human rights training and work on specific gender issues in democratic development through a hemispheric conference. IIDH will continue to build, through its Center for the Promotion
of Electoral Assistance, nations' capabilities to provide legitimate, free and fair elections professionalizing electoral processes, and will strengthen its core programs in justice training.
Strengthening regional mechanisms to improve public sector legitimacy -- Capable, democratic government institutions build long-term support for democractic governance and create greater potential for broader participation in decision-making. The LAC regional program builds directly from two Summit initiatives in the areas of financial accountability/anti-corruption and decentralization/local democracy-building. The Regional Financial Management Project (run as a part of regional donor consultative activity) will be expanded to include local as well as national governments, as local gov-ernments are given new resources to manage with greater control over them. It will also continue to foster professional associations of public accountants and other key governmental personnel involved in financial management, support anti-corruption NGOs, and provide public fora for discussion of anti-corruption issues. A new initiative in building local democracy and decentralization will help build regional capacity to strengthen local governments and leadership, develop new linkages to con-stituencies, support policy reform for financial reform and improve local governance in important areas.
Strengthening regional mechanisms to promote pluralism and the growth of civil society -- The recently established Inter-American Democracy Network of NGOs will continue to expand, creating a website and placing special emphasis on incorporating women-led NGOs. The Office of Regional Sustainable Development will begin to link in its programming NGOs in the area of democracy-building to those in environment, education, and other areas at the local level.
Economic Support Funds (ESF) -- The regional democracy program will provide ESF to those nations where it is critical to consolidate democracy, support human rights, and promote economic reform and equitable growth. ESF funds also provide support for institutional strengthening and development of various aspects of judicial and police systems in the hemisphere. In Cuba, for example, USAID will provide assistance through appropriate NGOs for support of individuals and organizations to promote the development of civil society and nonviolent democratic change. In El Salvador, USAID will promote more effective legal/judicial protection for all citizens, with emphasis on municipal development, effective citizen pressure for rule of law and due process, effective citizen access to the legal system, a more effective police force and responsive judicial system, and increased timeliness in the administration of justice. In Nicaragua, USAID will focus ESF resources on the democracy sector to support rule of law efforts (e.g., developing improved criminal and civil codes, fostering a better human rights situation through supporting the Human Rights Ombudsman Office and the community peace commissions, and opening more access and participation for citizens through civil society efforts).
International Narcotics Control (INC) Funds -- These funds will continue to support the Administration of Justice program in Colombia.
Host Country and Other Donors: The Democracy and Human Rights program works closely with the 33 other signatories to the Summit of the Americas Principles to develop a program furthering hemispheric democratic goals. The regional program works closely with the IDB in public sector areas of financial accountability, and this year will expand its coordination into decentralization and judicial professionalization. Other major participants in democratic development include the European Union, Organization of American States, United Nations, World Bank, and bilateral donors.
Beneficiaries: As human rights practices improve and democracies are strengthened, direct beneficiaries are the citizens of LAC countries. The United States benefits as U.S. national security interests are closely tied with improved regional stability and democracy.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: Partners in LAC's regional democracy efforts include bilateral/multilateral donors (European Union, World Bank and IDB), regional organizations (IIDH and CAPEL), U.S. PVOs (Partners of the Americas and the Carter Center), a U.S. contractor (Casal & Co.),
and LAC countries themselves. LAC NGOs participating in these activities include PARTICIPA (Chile), Conciencia (Argentina), Poder Cuidadano (Argentina), Institute for Investigation and Political Self-Formation (INIAP), and the University of the Andes (Colombia).
Major Results Indicators: Baseline (1995) Target (2000) Number of strengthened national and regional electoral bodies 5 11 Number of countries adopting integrated financial management systems 2 6 Number of multilateral donor-supported accountability projects 0 15 Public confidence level in media in targeted LAC countries 38% 50% Number of LAC NGOs participating in regional network 5 80
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