USAID Official Outlines Agency's Western Hemisphere Activities
<a href=usinfo.state.gov>News from the Washington File 02 April 2003 (Promotion of democracy, security and development are priorities) (6970)
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) works with other U.S. agencies and departments to promote political and economic freedom for all nations, particularly among those in the Western Hemisphere, says USAID Assistant Administrator for LatinAmerica and the Caribbean Adolfo Franco.
"The United States is committed to helping build a hemisphere that lives in liberty and trades in freedom," Franco said in April 2 testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Noting that President Bush has said that the strength of the hemispheric commitment to democracy, security and market-based development will shape the region's future, Franco outlined USAID'sefforts to bolster these commitments.
Through its programs that help governments strengthen democratic processes, promote equitable economic growth and improve health and education standards, USAID is bolstering the region's will to reform, Franco said. In turn, these reforms will move nations in the hemisphere toward eligibility for additional development assistance under the auspices of the Millennium Challenge Account.
USAID efforts to strengthen democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean include anti-corruption, rule of law, municipal governance and civil society strengthening programs, Franco noted. "USAID-supported training and technical assistance help strengthen the capacity of national and local government to demonstrate that responsible leaders can deliver benefits to communities," he added.
Sustained development, Franco said, depends on "market-based economies, sound monetary and fiscal policies, and increased trade and investment." He indicated that through support for legal, policy and regulatory reforms, USAID has worked with regional governments to enhance the environment for trade and investment -- the "twin engines for economic growth and poverty reduction."
Franco said that USAID support for trade capacity building in Latin America and the Caribbean has increased from $5 million in 2001 to more than $23.5 million in 2002, with plans to increase future funding. Among the current examples of USAID trade capacity building assistance he cited was support for eight Caribbean nations that are preparing national trade capacity building strategies.
Franco said USAID's Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean has also placed great emphasis on health and education in the region -- two of President Bush's other stated priorities.
The USAID official noted that there has been significant progress in raising hemispheric vaccination coverage and in reducing or eliminating major childhood illness. He said USAID assistance has also fostered greater discussion of the region's HIV/AIDS problem.
Because "diseases do not respect geographic boundaries," Franco said USAID health care assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean is "critical" to the health and security of the United States itself.
Addressing the state of education in the region, Franco said the quality and relevance of primary and secondary schooling "continue to cause concern."
Franco explained that USAID education and training programs "aim to improve the poor state of public education systems," adding that "USAID will continue to provide support for education reform, enhancing the skills of teachers and administrators and improving training for application in the workplace." In part, this will be accomplished through continued support for the newly-launched Centers of Excellence for Teacher Training.
In addition to the aforementioned regional efforts, USAID also works with other U.S. government agencies to address issues confronting fragile democracies in the hemisphere. Franco identified problems in Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Guatemala and Haiti as being of particular concern.
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