Note: This document may not always reflect the actual appropriations determined by Congress. Final budget allocations for USAID's programs are not determined until after passage of an appropriations bill and preparation of the Operating Year Budget (OYB).
| FY 1998 Development Fund for Africa | $14,000,000 |
| FY 1998 P.L. 480 Title II | $986,000 |
The U.S. interest in supporting Guinea's economic and political development is based on the country's role as a useful and stabilizing force in the region. In addition to supplying troops for U.S.-supported peacekeeping efforts in Liberia and in Sierra Leone, Guinea accommodates a large refugee population from Liberia and Sierra Leone. Rich in mineral resources and agricultural products, Guinea also provides new investment opportunities in agriculture, mining, and telecommunications for U.S. investors attracted by the success of its ongoing economic and political reforms.
Guinea is one of the poorest countries in West Africa and ranks 160 out of 174 countries reported in the 1996 United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Human Development Report. Despite this poverty, Guinea has made significant progress in the past nine years in establishing a constitutional democracy, liberalizing its economy, and maintaining a respectable annual growth rate of 4.1%.
Guinea's human resources base and domestic economy are still recovering from twenty-six years of authoritarian rule. During that era, civil society and the private sector were stifled, while transport, power, and communication systems deteriorated. The once-prosperous agricultural sector was devastated, and the education system produced poorly trained teachers, technicians and civil servants who could neither manage the economy nor the government. High infant mortality rates, low life-expectancy rates and one of the lowest per-capita income levels in the world reflect the legacy of that authoritarian regime.
These indicators, however, mask the impressive progress made since 1984 when this regime was replaced by a new government that decided to undertake a program of dramatic political and economic reforms. The new Government of Guinea (GOG) negotiated an economic structural adjustment program with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund which led to the liberalization of the economy, restrained public sector spending, controlled inflation, and stabilized the exchange rate. Primary school enrollment increased significantly from 27.5% in 1991 to 43% in 1995, while girls' enrollment rose from 17% to 28% during this period. Rural primary school enrollment increased by 7.8% in 1995 alone. In the health sector, a national population policy was adopted that supports reducing the rate of annual population growth and facilitates the provision of family planning services in over half of the country's public health centers.
Guinea's first presidential elections, held in 1993, were well-organized but significantly flawed according to international observers. As a result, USAID placed Guinea on the "watch list" of countries that were making insufficient progress toward democratization. Legislative elections held in June, 1995 were considered peaceful and organized by a USAID-sponsored assessment team, but not completely satisfactory. Nevertheless, 37 of 114 seats were won by opposition members. The strong role played by Guinea's multi-party legislature in the national budget review, the lively and critical independent print media, and the resilience of Guinea's democratic legislative and judicial institutions following the military mutiny of February 1996 all indicate that Guinea is making substantial progress toward democratization. In July 1996, a new government was installed with a mandate to curb corruption, improve state finances and strengthen economic management. Already the government has taken impressive steps to streamline state finances and root out corruption.
This progress shows that Guinea has the potential to become both an economic and political success, although effective government institutions and public confidence in them will take a long time to rebuild. The country is richly endowed with agricultural and mineral resources. As a result of government-implemented economic reforms and USAID activities, the agriculture sector has grown in recent years, creating higher rural incomes that in turn are boosting overall economic activity, particularly trade. The value of rural entrepreneurs' assets increased 240% in areas affected by these activities between 1994 and 1995, while the volume of goods transported between major markets increased from 4.5 metric tons to 33.6 MT per week during this period.
However, without an improved human resource base and reduced dependence on mining sector revenues, economic growth and democratization in Guinea cannot be sustained. USAID has therefore focused on primary education and agriculture, while supporting a program to reduce population growth and enhance the health of Guinean people. Taking into account both the low development base Guineans are starting from and the current positive trend toward economic growth and democratization, it is estimated that USAID assistance will be required for another twenty to twenty-five years to ensure sustainability. Guinea is now well-positioned to become a strong development partner and, with continued assistance, can achieve its development goals.
In 1995, Guinea's largest bilateral donor was France, followed by Japan and then the United States, which provides approximately 7.2% of all bilateral assistance. Germany is also a major donor. Multilateral donors include the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, the European Union, and the African Development Bank.
USAID aims to improve the economic and social well-being of all Guineans by strengthening the private sector, particularly grass roots organizations, and developing human capacity. Supporting education and human resources development will not only allow Guineans to contribute to economic growth, but also will enhance their ability to participate fully in the transition to democracy. Enhanced family planning services and a maternal child health program will reduce pressure on the country's resources and slow the rate of environmental degradation. Overall, continued development assistance to Guinea will help ensure that the GOG continues on the path to democratization and economic liberalization. In 1998, the program will continue direct support to U.S. private voluntary organizations (PVOs) to develop civil society, improve governance, and reinforce a market-based economy.
Guinea's traditional reliance on its mineral exports has undermined sustainable, broad-based economic growth due to an unpredictable world market and the limited number of Guineans who benefit from mining activities. Because an estimated 80% of Guineans are engaged in agricultural production, the country's potential for developing a comparative advantage in this sector is high. By reducing barriers to agricultural production and marketing, and thereby increasing rural incomes, USAID efforts can benefit the greatest number of Guineans while fueling growth nationwide.
By constructing 900 kilometers (about 562 miles) of rural access roads, USAID has succeeded in substantially reducing transportation and marketing costs in rural areas. The cost of transporting agricultural goods on these roads has decreased 35%. Travel time between markets has decreased by 86%, and the value of produce in markets served by these roads has increased 39%. USAID has supported 32,490 loans (averaging $243) to rural entrepreneurs, two-thirds of which are women. The overall repayment rate is an impressive 98%. The value of these clients' assets has doubled. These achievements have led directly to a greater flow of goods and services in affected regions. However, transport, cold storage and packing costs remain major obstacles and limited credit options for large-scale enterprises constrains agricultural growth. Financial sector policy reform and improvements in financial services are needed, as well as transparent rules for the establishment of private businesses to lower the cost of agriculture-related services.
In order to promote lending to commercial agribusinesses, USAID established the Agricultural Marketing Loan Guarantee Fund which provides training and insures 50% of the value of commercial bank loans to members of the Agricultural Marketing Foundation, a farmers association. The Foundation has engaged the GOG in a dialogue on export and other agriculture-related policies. Although nascent, these two institutions, the Agricultural Marketing Loan Guarantee Fund and Agricultural Marketing Foundation, have the potential to promote export contracts successfully and help modernize agricultural production and marketing techniques.
Guinea's high illiteracy rate is another major constraint to economic growth and development. A 71% illiterate population means poor management in the public and private sectors, limited ability to take advantage of agricultural export opportunities, reduced capacity to understand and use family health services, and slower adoption of democratic principles. USAID's emphasis on increased primary school enrollment and female education is fundamental for improving growth in agricultural productivity and microenterprise development, especially in view of the significant role women play in these areas. Expanded family education also will contribute directly to lowered fertility rates and improved health status.
Remarkable progress made in the education sector since 1990 reflects both the GOG's commitment to education reform and the success of a collaborative donor effort. USAID has provided both budgetary and technical assistance to the Ministry of Education, resulting in a reallocation of GOG resources that has doubled the budget for primary education, improved staff planning and management, and led to the redeployment of over 1,800 teachers to the primary school level. Primary school enrollment has increased by approximately 173,000 new students, with increases of more than 60% in the number of girls and rural children starting first grade. With an estimated 4% average annual increase in the gross enrollment rate, some 155,000 new students will be enrolled in FY 1996. However, delays in the transfer of funds from the central budget to the ministerial level, a lack of adequate internal controls, high repeater and drop-out rates, and cultural biases against girls' education remain obstacles. Future funds, therefore, will be used to continue the policy and management reforms already undertaken by the GOG, to sustain growing enrollment and graduation rates, and to improve instructional quality. An important aspect of quality improvement, a standardized achievement testing system will measure progress.
USAID/Guinea plans to use $2.5 million for child survival, $2.5 million for population and $1.0 million for HIV/AIDS prevention. Guinea's population growth rate, estimated at 3.0% in 1995, constrains progress toward economic development and democratization by increasing pressure on already scarce resources. USAID supports reduced fertility and reducing the spread of disease by distributing family planning commodities through public and private sector facilities, and creating awareness of family planning options and HIV/AIDS through mass media information campaigns. USAID support was considered critical for the GOG's adoption of a national population policy advocating smaller family size. USAID's program of working with religious leaders on messages on family planning and disease prevention has resulted in active support from prominent religious leaders. These efforts have provided 30% of the population access to family planning services. Condom sales have more than quadrupled during the last five years.
Reproductive behavior changes slowly. A more sustainable approach is an integrated program of maternal child health and family planning services. Therefore, FY 1998 funds will be used to continue existing activities and to put in place a comprehensive program addressing Guinea's deplorable health profile, particularly mothers' and children's health. This program will be integrated into and strengthen existing health-care systems, including the private sector, thereby increasing the sustainability of national health care provision.
USAID works with rural populations in watersheds in the ecologically fragile Fouta Djallon Highlands, the source for four major rivers in West Africa. The program improves the management of natural resources to prevent the negative effects of environmental degradation such as soil erosion and the depletion of water resources. These activities have already resulted in the improvement of local wells that make potable water available throughout the year, reducing the spread of disease and enabling women to devote more time to farming and natural resource conservation activities rather than fetching water. Villagers have also participated actively in the government effort to protect the tropical forests. Conservation activities eventually improve the quality and quantity of water supplies in the neighboring countries bordering the four rivers. This is a multi-donor effort in which USAID focuses on three of the twelve watersheds.
USAID will continue its environment protection activity which aims at: (1) strengthening local capacity for sustainable natural resource management, (2) achieving sustainable increase in farmer's production and incomes, and (3) creating enabling conditions for sustainable impact.
USAID's experience worldwide is that the transition from a statist to a democratic society hinges on the role of advocacy groups that can champion democratic principles and influence institutional behavior. Solid economic growth requires the decentralization of decision-making processes to include citizens at the local level. Activities in this area will therefore focus on increasing the participation of all Guineans in the nascent democratization process and helping to develop an environment of good governance.
Both Guinea's high illiteracy rate and legacy of authoritarian rule pose obstacles to the development of a democratic society. USAID therefore plans to strengthen the capacity of local-level citizens' groups organized to achieve local development objectives and represent their members' interests through training in basic literacy and management skills, as well as democratic principles. USAID will support training and workshops that focus on good governance and encourage participation in political life and decision-making processes in FY 1998. Through these interventions, the USAID program will promote greater citizen participation in the political process and increased accountability.
USAID has already forged partnerships with 88 rural cooperative associations. To date the enthusiasm and willingness of these associations to adopt participatory and self-reliant principles and to contribute their own resources is very encouraging. Several cooperatives have already created financial oversight committees, increased their participation in general assemblies, prepared internal rules of order for their meetings, become more active in rural development committees, and demanded more transparency from their executive boards. USAID and development partners anticipate that democracy instituted in this manner at the local level will transcend to the national level.
Food security in Guinea is impaired by low income levels, poor market access, poor nutritional practices and population pressures. USAID therefore is using P.L. 480 Title II resources to monetize vegetable oil for investment in a program to promote food security. Specifically, the program aims to improve maternal health, child nutrition, food production, and utilization and consumption practices through community education and training. These activities are implemented by two U.S. PVOs, Africare and Opportunities Industrialization Centers, International.
| Encouraging Broad-based Economic Growth | Stabilizing Population Growth and Protecting Human Health | Protecting the Environment | Building Democracy | Providing Humanitarian Assistance | TOTALS | |
| USAID Strategic Objectives | ||||||
| SO1. Growth in Agricultural Markets - Dev. Fund for Africa - P.L. 480 Title II |
600,000 --- |
--- --- |
--- --- |
--- --- |
--- 335,000 |
600,000 335,000 |
| SO2. Increased Use of Essential Family Planning and Maternal/Child Health and Sexually Transmitted Disease/AIDS-Prevention Services and Practices - Dev. Fund for Africa - P.L. 480 Title II |
--- --- |
6,000,000 --- |
--- --- |
--- --- |
--- 651,000 |
6,000,000 651,000 |
|
SO3. Increased Enrollment in Primary School with an Emphasis on rural and Female Participation Dev. Fund for Africa |
5,000,000 | --- | --- | --- | --- | 5000,000 |
| SP1. Fostering Civil Society Dev. and Good Governance - Dev. Fund for Africa |
--- | --- | 1,100,000 | --- | --- | 1,100,000 |
|
SP2. Protecting The Environment - Dev. Fund for Africa |
--- | --- | 1,100,000 | --- | --- | 1,100,000 |
| Totals - Dev. Fund for Africa - P.L. 480 Title II |
5,600,000
--- |
6,000,000 --- |
1,100,000 --- |
1,300,000 --- |
---
986,000 |
14,000,000 986,000 |
USAID Mission Director: John B. Flynn
Purpose: To increase growth in agricultural markets by improving the current policy and regulatory environment, increasing efficiency of agricultural product transport, developing effective financial and investment services, and promoting product marketing.
Background: Agricultural development offers the best opportunity to reduce the Government of Guinea's (GOG) dependence on revenues from the mining sector. The agriculture sector accounts for 24% of Guinea's gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 80% of the labor force. While agricultural output in Guinea compares favorably with that of other sub-Saharan African countries, public expenditures for agriculture have not generated the expected increases in value-added activities and overall productivity.
USAID Role and Achievements to Date: USAID supports growth in agricultural markets through three main activities: (1) constructing rural roads to open isolated productive areas to local and regional markets, (2) providing training and loans to rural microentrepreneurs, and (3) enhancing the capacity of the GOG and the private sector to improve agricultural marketing and production.
As a result of these activities, more than 900 kilometers of rural roads have been built. Transportation costs and transport time have been decreased by over 35%, and more goods are available at lower costs. 32,490 microenterprise loans have been made; two-thirds of the enterprises are owned and operated by women. The number of lending branches has more than doubled, increasing from 6 to 14. To date the repayment rate on loans is 98%. The value of beneficiaries' assets has doubled. Their consumption and buying power have increased, and they are generating employment for thousands of individuals in rural areas. Simultaneously, the USAID-supported Agricultural Marketing and Investment Foundation (AMIF) is promoting agribusiness development through market analysis and business services. In order to promote lending to larger agribusinesses, USAID established the Agricultural Marketing Loan Guarantee Fund to provide training and lending insurance for 50% of the value of commercial loans made to members of the AMIF.
Finally, USAID supports better agricultural sector management through improved planning, monitoring and evaluation of policy impact, increased government accountability, and enhanced transparency of the decision-making process. Under these activities, the Ministry of Agriculture's financial and management systems improved, while Guinea's Central Bank developed a framework for supervising, monitoring, and regulating private financial institutions to increase the amount of credit available to medium and large-sized rural businesses.
Description: USAID supports activities designed to reduce excessive transportation costs in moving agricultural produce to markets, to improve access to credit, and to foster an improved policy and regulatory environment. USAID is also using P.L. 480 Title II resources to monetize vegetable oil for investment in programs to promote food security.
USAID works with the Ministry of Agriculture and small and medium-sized construction firms to rehabilitate secondary roads in 13 areas throughout the country. These roads will open agricultural areas affecting approximately 279,000 farm families. The use of locally available firms improves local capacity to provide ongoing maintenance of these roads.
In addition to lowering transportation costs, this activity contributes to sustainable agricultural production by improving market access to rural producers. Funding for management and entrepreneurial training and lending in rural areas is channelled through a U.S. private voluntary organization (PVO), which collaborates with a local nongovernmental organization (NGO). Through USAID-funded training and technical assistance, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Central Bank's management, planning and policy reform practices have become more supportive of agricultural production and trade.
Host Country and Other Donors: The World Bank finances agricultural marketing and export promotion. The World Bank, European Union, and the French assistance programs support rural infrastructure programs, including road construction.
Beneficiaries: Studies show that when women prosper, children benefit. Approximately 5,000 women and their children have prospered as a result of the small enterprise lending program. Similarly, the opening of previously isolated areas has benefited more than 1,000,000 agricultural producers (the majority of whom are women) by allowing them to increase marketing activities while providing greater access to services such as health, education, and tools and other agricultural inputs.
Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: USAID implements these activities through U.S. for-profit firms (Sheladia; Chemonics; DevTech), U.S. private voluntary organizations (Volunteers in Technical Assistance, Africare), Guinean non-governmental organizations (NGOs), U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers, and the Ministry of Agriculture.
|
Major Results Indicators |
Baseline |
Target |
| Decrease in travel time (%) on rehabilitated rural roads |
0% (1994) |
48% (1998) |
| Agriculture exports of coffee |
11,200 mt (1990) |
28,000 mt (1997) |
| Agriculture imports of fertilizer |
3,425 mt (1988) |
9,100 mt (1997) |
| Agricultural Marketing Foundation | ||
| Membership (members) |
520 (1995) |
800 (1997) |
| Female members (%) |
10 |
20 |
| Exports per AMF member |
0.25 mt (1994) |
1.70 mt (1997) |
| Packaging imports per AMF member |
5 ea. (1994) |
5 ea. (1997) |
| Number of microenterprise loans |
8 1,375 (1992) |
15,355 (1998) |
| Value of loans (000 Guinea Francs) |
206,800 (1992) |
3,115.8 (1998) |
| Female members (%) |
61% (1992) |
68% (1998) |
ACTIVITY DATA SHEET
PROGRAM: GUINEA
TITLE AND NUMBER: Increased Use of Essential Family Planning and Maternal/Child Health and Sexually Transmitted Disease/AIDS -Prevention Services and Practices, 675-S002
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 1998: $6,000,000 DFA; $651,000 P.L. 480 Title II
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1991; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2004
Purpose: Increased use of essential family planning/maternal child health and HIV/AIDS-prevention services and practices.
Background: Infant, child, and maternal mortality rates in Guinea are among the highest in the world. Even so, the population continues to rise rapidly. Annual population growth was estimated at 3.0 for 1995 - higher than for any previous period. The total fertility rate of 5.7 children per woman of reproductive age (1992 DHS) coupled with a very low contraceptive prevalence (1.7 percent) suggest that the population growth rate will not be declining significantly in the near future. While the rate of HIV infection for the population as a whole remains relatively low at roughly 1%, the proportion of women infected has increased by 39% over the past eight years. Although Guinea has made major advances towards establishing a sustainable primary health care system and providing essential drugs through cost-recovery mechanisms, the system remains plagued by marked deficiency of facilities, equipment and appropriately trained personnel -- which translates to very limited access to relatively poor quality services.
USAID Role and Achievements to Date: Since 1991 USAID has successfully put in place the foundation to reduce population growth. USAID has integrated family planning services into 106 of the 150 national primary health system facilities. Over two million people in remote and sparsely populated regions of the country now have access to family planning services, and public knowledge of family planning and STD/AIDS prevention has increased markedly in Guinea due almost entirely to USAID's information, education and communication (IEC) strategies. A nationwide network of commercial outlets for family planning and AIDS prevention products has also been established. This network has sold over ten million retail condoms through the private sector during the past five years, with sales increasing by at least 25 percent just this year.
Description: USAID's population program in Guinea currently targets two areas: improving the care system; and distributing contraceptive products and services through a private sector social marketing system. These activities are implemented through a U.S. non-governmental organization in partnership with local NGOs. In FY 1997 the Mission will begin implementation of the Family Planning and Health activity. This new activity will build on recent success in increasing demand for family planning products and services and will utilize experience in social marketing and public sector integration to establish a broader range of family health services. USAID will continue to use monetized proceeds from P.L. 480 vegetable oil for investment in programs to promote nutrition.
Host Country and Other Donors: USAID and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) are the two major donors supporting family planning in Guinea, each conducting similar activities in their respective target regions. The United Nations Children's' Fund (UNICEF) is the principal provider of assistance for integrating primary health care services into the national health system. The World Bank is providing credit to the GOG for a variety of activities in the two non-USAID supported regions of the country. The German Development Bank has approached USAID on possible co-financing of social marketing activities. Other donors include the European Community, the African Development Bank, the Italian Cooperation and Japan.
Beneficiaries: Women and adolescents of child-bearing age and adults are the primary beneficiaries of USAID's assistance. Over two million adults now have access to USAID-supported health centers in the most remote regions of the country, and nearly 40,000 packages of condoms are supplied to Guinean couples per year. Under the planned new activity, children under five years of age and pregnant women will become direct beneficiaries of child survival and maternal health interventions.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: USAID currently implements its activities under this strategic objective through Population Services International, a U.S. private voluntary organization, with a local partner NGO. Implementation of the planned new activity will be determined through a competitive process.
|
Major Results Indicators |
Baseline |
Target |
| Increase in Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (%) |
2 (1992) |
5 (2001) |
| Increased use of immunizations services (children 5) (%) |
55 (1995) |
80 (2001) |
| Improved prenatal care (tetanus immunization %) |
39 |
TBD |
| ORT use rate (%) |
42 (1992) |
85 (2001) |
ACTIVITY DATA SHEET
PROGRAM: GUINEA
TITLE AND NUMBER: Increased Enrollment in Primary School with an Emphasis on Rural and Female Participation, 675-S003
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 1998: $5,000,000 DFA
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1995; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2002
Purpose: To increase enrollment and the quality of education in primary school, particularly for rural and female children, by developing the administrative and financial management capacity of the Ministry of Education (MEN), increasing community participation in education financing and decision-making processes, developing instructional materials, and training teachers.
Background: An insufficiently trained human resource base is one of the key constraints to broad-based economic growth and sustainable development in Guinea. Constraints to equitable and accessible education in Guinea include delays in the transfer of funds from the national treasury to MEN, high repeater and drop-out rates, and cultural biases against girls' education. The government's need to reduce budgetary expenditures also can limit needed education spending, for example, on the expansion of primary education facilities.
USAID has been assisting the Government of Guinea (GOG) to implement its education sector reform program (PASE) by providing budgetary incentives and technical assistance for MEN to more efficiently manage its financial and human resources for primary education. The second phase of this activity, while reinforcing accomplishments of phase one, is focusing on increasing local community participation in education policy planning and financing as well.
USAID Role and Achievements to Date: As a result of USAID's support for this multi-donor effort, the gross enrollment rate for primary school children rose from 28% in 1990 to 44% in 1995, while first grade enrollments increased 35% over the same period. The GOG's allocation for its education sector budget rose from 13% of the national budget in 1989 to over 26% in 1995, while primary education's share of this budget rose by 2% over the same period. Girls' enrollment rates rose from 17% to 28% and rural childrens' rates rose from 20% to 34% between 1990 and 1995.
Description: The Education Sector Reform Program and the Fundamental Quality and Equity Levels' Activity help leverage a greater share of GOG expenditure for primary education and provide critical training in administration, finance, curriculum development and teaching. The Mission will continue to provide education policy assistance to the Ministry while training teachers, delivering educational materials to primary school students and instructors, and working with communities and NGOs to ensure better school management and education financing at the local level. These combined activities will ensure increased enrollment rates, improved quality of teaching and learning, improved equity, and ultimately a more literate work force.
Host Country and Other Donors: The World Bank is providing $43 million during the next five years for education sector reforms. USAID has committed $20 million, and the French Cooperation is financing approximately $5 million in education assistance over this period. The World Bank finances school construction, school nutrition programs, textbook production, and school management micro-projects. The French Cooperation provides technical advice on monitoring and evaluation of program impact, personnel issues, and curriculum reform, particularly at the secondary level. Donors coordinate their activities through a series of joint reviews and periodic meetings to collaborate on technical and policy issues. The GOG provides office space for technical advisors and pays the salaries of all Guinean participants in USAID's education activities as part of its contribution.
Beneficiaries: The direct beneficiaries of USAID assistance in the education sector are the approximately 1.1 million primary school-aged children in Guinea and 11,600 primary school teachers.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: USAID implements activities through Institutional Contractors, two U.S. PVOs, and local NGOs.
|
Major Results Indicators |
Baseline |
Target |
| Gross Enrollment Rate |
28% (1990) |
47% (1997) |
| Girls' Enrollment Rate |
17% (1990) |
34% (1997) |
| Rural Enrollment Rate |
21% (1990) |
39% (1997) |
| First Grade Enrollment |
34% (1990) |
55% (1997) |
| Girls' Share of First Grade Enrollment |
34% (1990) |
41% (1997) |
| Education Share of GOG budget |
13% (1989) |
25% (1997) |
| Primary Education Share of Education Budget |
34% (1989) |
40% (1997) |
ACTIVITY DATA SHEET
PROGRAM: GUINEA
TITLE AND NUMBER: Fostering Civil Society Development and Good Governance, 675-SP001
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 1998: $1,300,000 DFA
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1995; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2000
Purpose: To strengthen the capacity of Guinean citizens to participate more fully and equitably in Guinea's social, economic and political life.
Background: Guinea launched a critical transition to multi-party democracy and a liberal economy in 1984 that continues today. This process is made difficult by the legacy of 26 years of authoritarian rule. During this time, civil society and democratic institutions were repressed, private sector activities and initiatives all but destroyed, the development of autonomous voluntary organizations stifled, and human rights trampled. Democratization under the government that succeeded this regime has permitted the development of an active, but still vulnerable, independent press, the emergence of human rights organizations, and the creation of political parties, a national electoral commission, a multi-party elected national assembly, and detailed procedures for conducting national and local elections. A military mutiny in February 1996 has led to increased appreciation for democratic institutions, and the creation of a Prime Minister position. The Prime Minister appointed a government of technocrats which hold promise for badly needed administrative and judicial reform. The transition from a statist to a democratic society also has given private firms, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), rural development associations, and women's groups much freedom to organize and manage their own affairs.
USAID Role and Achievement to Date: A democracy and governance (D/G) assessment providing essential information on Guinean governance structures and political institutions, was completed in 1994. A U.S. private voluntary organization, Africare, completed an in-depth study of local community organizations in the North-central (Upper) Region of Guinea in 1995. The study provides the information and recommendation on how to effectively develop long-term sustainable local-level organizations. USAID followed up these studies by providing funds to the U.S. PVO, National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA), to work with local-level organizations in the Coastal (Maritime) Region to train members in how to organize and manage their organizations in a democratic manner and how to use their organizations to become more involved in political and economic decisions impacting their lives and communities.
Description: USAID is implementing this special objective in the Coastal (Maritime) Region of Guinea where there is a high concentration of local associations as well as other USAID activities that will benefit from the training and other components of this project. These interventions will strengthen the capacity of local-level organizations and associations to articulate, advocate, and represent their community interests and to influence the Government of Guinea's (GOG) plans and policies. Women are one of the groups targeted by this activity. To help strengthen the crucial role women play in Guinea's economic and social life, training in financial management, democratic principles, decentralized decision-making, and good governance practices are an important goal of this special objective.
Host Country and Other Donors: USAID does not work directly with the central government on the D/G area, although it has supported the GOG's decentralization policies through training, primarily local government officials and staff. USAID also collaborates with other donors working to strengthen NGOs and other grassroots organizations throughout Guinea. Other donors working in NGO development are the European Union, Canada, Germany, the UNDP, and the World Bank, which focuses on governance issues.
Beneficiaries: The project's beneficiaries include all members of local organizations associated with the project plus the communities and clients they serve in the Maritime region of Guinea.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: The National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA).
|
Major Results Indicators |
Baseline |
Target |
| Grassroots level groups organized along democratic lines |
0 (1996) |
200 (2000) |
| Literate members involved in local/government issues |
0 (1996) |
34% (1997) |
| Number of people trained in mobilization of local resources, accountability and basic organizational management |
0 (1996) |
4,250 (2000) |
ACTIVITY DATA SHEET
PROGRAM: GUINEA
TITLE AND NUMBER: Protection of the Environment, 675-SPO02
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 1998: $1,100,000 DFA
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1991; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 1999
Purpose: To improve the management of natural resources for profitable and sustainable agricultural production in the fragile agro-ecological watersheds in the Fouta Djallon Highlands of Guinea where the sources of the four major rivers in West Africa are located.
Background: Population pressure, poverty and unsustainable exploitation of natural resources have caused serious environmental degradation in the watersheds of the Fouta Djallon Highlands of Guinea. This degradation has been accentuated by continued forest destruction, soil erosion, loss of soil fertility and the lack of investment in conservation measures, and if left unchecked, will adversely affect the well-being of Guineans and the people of the neighboring countries (Niger, Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Nigeria, Guinea Bissau) whose livelihood depends on the rivers which originate from the Fouta Djallon Highlands.
USAID Role and Achievements to Date: As a result of USAID natural resource management (NRM) activities in three of the watersheds in the Fouta Djallon Highlands, national and local capacity to plan, implement and evaluate activities to conserve community natural resource base has been strengthened. Resource user groups with good male/female representation are established in most villages and they are participating actively in the management of common resources. To date, 241 government personnel and over 800 local community resource users have been trained in natural resource management, sustainable production, and village enterprises. Twenty-nine community resource user groups consisting of 140 members (43% women) are active. Villagers have applied improved NRM practices and technologies to reduce soil degradation, improve soil fertility, conserve water and increase productivity. More than 50,000 meters of rock contour barriers have been installed on 83 hectares of farm lands. Compost has been increasingly produced and used in crop production. Sustainable production of cash crops and development of profitable village enterprises have increased family incomes. For example, onion production increased from nil in 1992 to 160 metric tons in 1996, bringing substantial new incomes to producers, most of whom are resource-poor women.
Many capped springs and improved wells have been completed and maintained by beneficiary villagers. By making potable water available throughout the year, these structures not only reduce human diseases related to unhealthy drinking water but also help release women from time- consuming water fetching, especially during the dry season. Women now have more time to care for their families and participate in natural resource management or income generating activities. These improved water sources now serve almost 60 percent of the target watersheds' population.
Description: USAID activities in the three watersheds (1) strengthen the partnerships between USAID, the Guinean government services, national NGOs and village-level organizations, (2) empower the local populations to manage their natural resources; (3) transfer sustainable agricultural and NRM technologies and practices to resource users, and (4) develop viable village enterprises. The strategy is to help the watershed inhabitants improve their living conditions, primarily by increasing their incomes from enterprises that are "environmentally friendly." This approach prevents the over-exploitation of the fragile environment and provides local income for reinvestment in conservation technologies.
Host Country and Other Donors: Natural resources management in Guinea is a multi-donor effort. The United Nations Development Program, France, Germany, Canada, and European Union support activities in ecologically fragile Fouta Djallon Highlands as well as in other regions of Guinea for promoting environment protection and sustainable agriculture. The Government of Guinea contributes significantly to this activity in the form of counterpart funds generated from a recently completed USAID P.L. 480 Title III Program and through in-kind contributions such as personnel salaries and facilities.
Beneficiaries: Although the entire population of the three target watersheds have benefited from the NRM activity, women have benefitted the most since they are the focus of most interventions. Gender issues such as access to land, credit and training opportunities, reduction of work load, participation of income-generating activities, and management of community resources have been addressed. The benefits are also expected to reach beyond the population of the immediate area. The success of the activity in improving water levels and river flows in the countries down-stream will contributes to sustainable economic activities in agriculture, livestock and fisheries throughout the region.
Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: USAID implements these activities through U.S. for-profit firms (Chemonics; Tropical Research and Development), Guinean non-governmental organizations, U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forests.
|
Major Results Indicators |
Baseline |
Target |
| Areas of Protected forests in target zones |
10,017 ha (1992) |
19,067 ha (1998) |
| Number of forest sities and water resources managed by village-level organizations |
25 (1992) |
124 (1998) |
| Areas under sustainable agriculture practices |
0 ha (1992) |
35 ha (1997) |
| Number of village-level organizations managing forest and water resources |
0 (1992) |
38 (1997) |
| Number of villages adopting sustainable agricultural and NRM practices |
0 (1992) |
2,400 (1997) |
|
Volume of marked key products
|
0 mt (1992) 0.1 mt (1992) |
160 mt (1997) 3 mt (1997) |
|
Yields of key cash crops
|
10 mt/ha (1993) 10mt/ha (1992) |
30 mt (1997) 15 mt (1997) |
| Increase in incomes |
na (1992 |
61 mil. GF (1997) |