Democracy and Governance

The USAID democracy program supports the Government of El Salvador (GOES) in programs to promote the efficacy of the criminal justice system, expand access to justice, and strengthen crime prevention through community-based activities.  USAID worked with the government to prepare for justice sector reforms that take effect in October 2010 and helps to increase access to justice through expanded use of mediation to courts.

Also, USAID/El Salvador helps the GOES policy toward fighting corruption through its Sub-Secretariat for Transparency.  Priority is given to government accountability, openness and citizen participation. USAID is assisting the GOES in coordination with other stakeholders to develop a National Integrity Plan to provide specific actions to improve transparency in the use of public resources.

To address violent crime and insecurity, USAID/El Salvador has expanded crime prevention activities to high-risk communities with the participation of local authorities, community and youth leaders, NGOs and the private sector.  USAID assistance:

• Helps implement the new Criminal Procedures Code
• Contributes to improving the use of scientific evidence for convictions
• Helps improve justice sector service delivery
• Improves, establishes, and promotes good governance and anti-corruption practices within the government
• Supports the Government Ethics Tribunal policy reforms
• Develops innovative partnerships between the public and private sector to carry out community-based crime prevention programs

USAID/El Salvador works with the following institutions and organizations to implement its Strengthening Democracy Program:

Government of El Salvador:

• Strategic Affairs Secretariat (SAE)
  http://asuntosestrategicos.presidencia.gob.sv/
• Vice Secretariat for Territorial Development and Decentralization (SSDT)
• Vice Secretariat for Transparency
• National Council of Public Security (CNSP)
  www.cnsp.gob.sv/
• Ministry of Agriculture
  www.mag.gob.sv/
• Ministry of Public Works
  www.mop.gob.sv/
• Government Ethics Tribunal (TEG)
  www.teg.gob.sv/
• Legislative Assembly
  www.asamblea.gob.sv/
• Ministry of Governance
  www.gobernacion.gob.sv/
• National Council for the Judiciary (CNJ)
  www.cnj.gob.sv/
• Public Defender’s Office (PGR)
  www.pgr.gob.sv/
• Social Investment Fund for Local Development (FISDL)
  www.fisdl.gob.sv/
• Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ)
  www.csj.gob.sv/
• Executive Technical Unit of the Justice Sector (UTE)
  http://www.ute.gob.sv/
• Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE)
  www.tse.gob.sv/
• Attorney General's Office (FGR)
  www.fiscalia.gob.sv/
• National Civilian Police (PNC)
  www.pnc.gob.sv/
• Office of the Vice President of El Salvador
  www.presidencia.gob.sv/vicepresidente/index.htm
• Office of Human Rights Ombudsman
  www.pddh.gob.sv/
• Court of Accounts
  www.cortedecuentas.gob.sv/
• Corporation of Municipalities of El Salvador (COMURES)
  www.comures.org.sv/
• Local governments, municipalities

Regional:

• Central American Integration System (SICA)
  www.sica.int/

NGOs, PVOs, Private Firms:

• RTI International - Research Triangle Institute
  www.rti.org/
• CECI: Centre for International Studies and Cooperation
  www.ceci.ca/
• Fe y Alegria,
  www.feyalegria.org/
• ORMUSA – Organización de Mujeres Salvadoreñas por la Paz,
  www.ormusa.org/
• FUSALMO – Fundación Salvador del Mundo
  www.fusalmo.org/
• ASAPROSAR – Asociación Salvadoreña Pro Salud Rural
  www.asaprosar.net/
• FUMA –Maquilishuat Foundation
  www.fuma.org.sv/
• Complejo Técnico de Sales
  comtec.galeon.com/
• FUNPRES – Fundación Pro Educación Especial
  www.funpres.org.sv
• Plan International
  www.plan-international.org/
• IDHUCA – Instituto de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad Centro Americana “Jose Simeon Cañas”
  www.uca.edu.sv/idhuca/
• Creative Associates International, Inc.
  www.caii-dc.com/
• Checchi and Company consulting, Inc.
  www.checchiconsulting.com/
• Casals & Associates
  www.casals.com/
• MSD
  www.msdglobal.com
• PACT
  www.pactworld.org/
• Vanderbilt University
  www.vanderbilt.edu/
• FUNDAUNGO – Fundación Dr. Guillermo Manuel Ungo
  www.fundaungo.org.sv/
• ICMA – International City/ County Management Association
  www.icma.org/
• FUNDE – Fundación Nacional para el Desarrollo
  www.funde.org/
• Salvadoran Chamber of the Construction Industry (CASALCO)
  http://www.casalco.org.sv/

Other Donors:

• IADB - Inter-American Development Bank
  www.iadb.org/
• UNDP - United Nations Development Program
  www.undp.opg
• GTZ - German Cooperation Agency
  http://www.gtz.de/en/
• JICA - Japanese International Cooperation Agency
  www.jica.go.jp/english/
• AECID – Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation
  www.aecid.es/

Other U.S. Government agencies and offices:

• State Department, Public Affairs Office