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USAID Information:
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USAID Assistance to Haiti
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov
Press: (202) 712-4320
Public Information: (202) 712-4810
2004-005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 19, 2004
| BUDGET | FY 2001 | FY 2002 | FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
|---|
|
TOTAL IN MILLIONS | $79.024 | $54.176 | $71.064 | $52.438
(Estimated) |
USAID's principal objectives in Haiti are to alleviate poverty while building the foundations for a prosperous, democratic society. Assistance is channeled to the people of Haiti though U.S. and local non-governmental organizations.
Income Generation: USAID provides assistance to farmers, micro-entrepreneurs, and artisans throughout Haiti. Programs seek to increase access to economic opportunities for the rural and urban poor. Activities are aimed at market driven agricultural products. Improved farming techniques help over 35,000 farmers increase their revenues from target crops, such as, coffee, cacao, mangoes, avocado and yams. Haitian artisans are developing long term opportunities with Western markets. The program has created more than 6,000 short-term jobs and steady employment for approximately 2,000 artisans.
Democracy and Governance: Democracy programs focus on strengthening political parties and the independence of the media, supporting civil society organizations in advancing a judicial reform agenda, and promoting human rights. Approximately 150 civil society organizations with over 3,800 participants receive civic education training, as the need for new political leadership reaches critical levels. USAID's support to civil society has empowered groups to engage with government on matters of local and national interest.
Health: USAID uses a network of 30 local organizations to reach approximately 2.7 million Haitians and to provide assistance to expand availability and use of priority maternal and child health services. The national contraceptive prevalence rate has gone from 9 percent to over 15 percent, with even stronger gains--to 22 percent--among rural women. In addition, child immunizations are now nearly double the national average in USAID assisted areas and the percentage of women nationwide seeking prenatal consultation has increased from 68 percent to 79 percent. USAID is a lead contributor to Haiti's efforts to develop a nationwide network of voluntary counseling and testing centers (VCT). In addition, as a presidential initiative focus country, USAID is expanding this VCT network to include prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS.
Education: USAID's programs expand access to and improve the quality of primary-level education. Community-owned and managed schools have increased enrollment and reduced costs to families. Radio educational programs focusing on math and Creole reading schools, through grades 2-4, have resulted in the improvement of the subject material. These same schools participate in activities to improve teacher skills and the leadership skills of school directors and encourage newly formed parent associations to monitor schools. A future program is in the planning stages to reach the high number of out-of-school adolescents with literacy, numeracy, and life skills instruction.
Food Security: USAID uses food aid both for humanitarian purposes and as a development tool. PL 480 Title II funds account for more than one-half of USAID/Haiti's funding. This food-assisted program promotes improvements in household food security, nutrition, and the welfare of women, children, and poor, marginal farmers in six out of the nine districts of Haiti--- affecting the lives of 680,000 persons. Emergency response is also critical. During the past year, over $3 million in emergency assistance was provided to communities affected by drought and flooding.
For more information about USAID's efforts in Haiti, please visit www.usaid.gov/haiti.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
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