|
Since
its creation in 1961, USAID has become the principal US agency operating
worldwide in support of democracy, health, economic development, humanitarian
assistance and food security. USAID works through non-governmental
and international organization and in cooperation with host governments
to improve living conditions in the developing world.
The
Republic of Guinea is abundantly rich in natural resources. It possesses
over one third of the world’s known reserves of bauxite, which is
used to produce aluminum, and a considerable quantity of gold, diamonds,
uranium, and iron ore. In addition, Guinea’s soil, water and climate
conditions give the country enormous agricultural potential. However,
factors such as political instability, corruption, lack of a well
defined fiscal policy and lack of a rational use and distribution
of resources are hampering economic growth, resulting in a population
that largely lives in condition of poverty.
USAID
takes on these challenges by promoting programs that strengthen democracy
and economic growth, that invest in people and provide health and
humanitarian assistance.
Democracy
Democratic
stability and good governance are the keys to helping the people of
Guinea achieve their potential. USAID is working to improve good governance
by promoting fiscal transparency and accountability. USAID's projects
aim to train state national institutions to improve their efficiency
by responding to Guinean needs, and is also involved at the grass
roots level, working with Rural Development Communities, Community-based
organizations (CBO), local government councils, and NGOs to increase
community participation in the democratic process. Also, in order
to improve governance and better control corruption in Guinea, USAID
is providing substantial assistance to the GOG to create a Communication
System among the GOG’s ministries ; 13 departments are now connected
with each other, and some have launched their own web connections
designed to improve the efficiency of public services.
The Mission is providing strong support to the election and political
processes. As such, funds have been allocated to the CENI (National
Independent Electoral Commission) and MIS (Ministry of Security).
In addition, the Mission has allocated funds for women’s rights, training
of women in the political processes and also to enable them to participate
as candidates in the elections.
USAID considers female genital cutting and early forced marriages
as major violations of women’s human rights, as well as a serious
health risk, and consequently has allocated substantial resources
to educate the population to combat and reject these practices.
Education
USAID is engaged in promoting education in Guinea, particularly in
increasing access to schools for girls. USAID programs provided teacher
training to over 25,000 teachers in Grades 1-6 in FY 2004, and in
2007 distributed textbooks and teaching guides to all the primary
schools in Guinea. Also, in 2007 USAID brought adult literacy training
to over 12,000 Guineans, most of them women, a group that has traditionally
been denied equal access to education.
In combining education and democratic principles, USAID works closely
with the Ministry of Education to promote a curriculum that teaches
middle school students their rights and duties as citizens as well
as the value of good governance.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, USAID supports vocational
training programs for youth in order to prepare them to find jobs
in the mining and other work sectors.
Economic
Growth And Agriculture
USAID
is helping Guinea to meet its agricultural, forestry, and fishing
potential. USAID has assisted farmers to increase agricultural production
through stronger management practices. The initiative has helped launch
over 2,800 new businesses and provided farmers with access to effective
and practical agricultural technologies that will increase harvests,
and will improve their economic condition.
USAID is jointly working with the Ministry of Agriculture's Department
of Water and Forestry to improve the management of forests and strengthen
the philosophy of Forest Co-Management, providing the population that
resides near the forest with technical assistance to better manage
their natural resources.
Health
Health
care constitutes a serious challenge in this country where life expectancy
is 49 years and HIV and malaria threats are serious matters.
USAID is working to improve medical facilities, train health care
providers, and strengthen government institutions and civil society
in the management of health care resources.
USAID is providing assistance to reinforce the national pharmaceutical
system through the distribution of condoms, vaccines, malaria treatments
and nutrition to affected populations. In the area of maternal and
child health protection, USAID supports the National Midwifery School.
It also promotes fistula prevention and repair, HIV/AIDS prevention
and treatment, and provides resources to put an end to the practice
of female genital cutting and early, forced marriages.
|
Population |
July
2005 estimate: 9,402,000(83rd) |
Capital |
Conakry |
Official
Language |
French |
Government |
Republic |
Area |
Total:
245,857 sq km |
GDP(2005
estimate) |
Total:
$18.879 billion (111th) |
HDI
(2004) |
0.445
(low) (160th) |
Currency |
Guinean
Franc (GNF) |
|
|