CENTRAL AMERICA AND MEXICO (CAM) REGIONAL STRATEGY
In FY 2004, USAID/W approved our current five-year Country Plan under the CAM Regional Strategy. Within this framework, our programs aim to achieve the overarching regional goal of a more democratic and prosperous Central America and Mexico, sharing the benefits of trade-led growth broadly among their citizens.
USAID/Panama developed its Country Plan in close consultation with the host government, NGO partners, other USG agencies and other donors. Sister missions with bilateral programs under the Regional Strategy include Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico and El Salvador. The Regional Program also falls under the CAM Regional Strategy.
The CAM Regional Strategy marks a major shift in how USAID development assistance is provided. For instance, it
Focuses on contributing to the achievement of national level impact, and is deliberately structured to encourage good performance by partner countries.
Requires each mission to make strategic choices that focus each program on a select number of approaches and interventions.
Gives greater focus to implementation of sound policies that address the key constraints to development.
Places good governance as a crosscutting theme and an essential part of each objective.
Provides a single framework, strengthening the linkages between regional and bilateral efforts.
Proposes, as a resource allocation tool, the creation of a Performance Fund, to reward good performers and to provide an incentive to those that lag behind.
The strategy maximizes operational efficiency through a reduction in management units, streamlined procurement, and creation of a regional services hub—management improvements that will enable the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Bureau to work effectively within an environment of constrained staffing and operating expense resources.
Overarching Regional Goal
A more democratic and propserous Central America and Mexico, sharing the benefits of trade-led growth broadly among their citizens.