USAID Assistance to Central America
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov/
Press: (202) 712-4320
Public Information: (202) 712-4810
2004-018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 25, 2004
Contact: USAID Press Office
|
Resources | FY 2000
Actual | FY 2001
Actual | FY 2002
Actual | FY 2003
Actual | FY 2004
Current | FY 2005
Requested |
|---|
Total Program Funds
(In thousands of dollars) | $11,350 | $12,722 | $19,792 | $29,802 | $21,437 |
$28,290 |
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Regional Central America Program, currently based in Guatemala City, Guatemala, supports regional programs in the areas of expanded trade, rural economic diversification, environmental management and disaster mitigation, as well as containing HIV/AIDS. These programs assist bilateral missions in implementing activities that cover several countries.
Trade: USAID promotes an open trade and investment policies and capacities, permitting Central America to take greater advantage of trading opportunities presented by an increasingly integrated world economy. USAID supports the acceleration of Central America's own World Trade Organization consistent regional economic integration and the region's steps towards a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). USAID also works to improve the functioning of regional labor markets and protection of labor rights. This program provides significant assistance in trade capacity building for the nations negotiating the U.S.-Central America Free Trade Area (CAFTA).
Environment: The Regional Environmental Program for Central America (PROARCA) supports sound environmental management and conservation. The program improves protected area management in the Meso-American Biological Corridor, expands markets for environmentally sound products and services and promotes local capacity and private sector participation in natural resource management. This includes activities to prevent forest fires, reinforce early warning systems and disaster preparedness, manage key watersheds and develop appropriate policy and legal frameworks for improved environmental management.
HIV/AIDS: USAID is strengthening Central American organizations to deliver HIV/AIDS services and information by assisting them to implement appropriate policies, reduce risky behaviors in high-prevalence groups and to deliver comprehensive care to people living with HIV/AIDS. USAID supports advocacy and policy dialogue, community-based program planning and increased awareness among high risk groups.
Rural Diversification: USAID encourages both farm and non-farm economic diversification by using public and private sector alliances to address the need for more varied income and employment opportunities in rural areas. The program is developing alliances to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of quality coffee exports and increase nontraditional exports. The program works to enhance coffee quality at the farm and mill levels, improve business practices and marketing and develop appropriate policies. The program also provides focused market analyses, improves information on market entry requirements, harmonizes standards and regulations and establishes regional alliances for non-traditional exports.
For more information about USAID's efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean, please visit our website at http://www.usaid.gov/locations/latin_america_caribbean.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
Back to Top ^
|
RSS Feed for Recent USAID Fact Sheets
