HONDURAN ELECTIONS: USAID TECHINCAL ASSISTANCE TO

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002348

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/PPC, WHA/USOAS, AND DRL/PHD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CEN AND DCHA/DG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM HO
SUBJECT: HONDURAN ELECTIONS: USAID TECHINCAL ASSISTANCE TO
SUPREME ELECTORAL TRIBUNAL AND NGOS

REF: (A) Tegucigalpa 2253 and previous


1. USAID has earmarked USD 123,000 of Bureau of Democracy,
Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA) core funds
under DCHA's contract with the International Foundation for
Election Systems (IFES) to provide almost three months of
services from a highly regarded and experienced Spanish
elections expert, Rafael Lopez-Pintor, and two months of
services from an elections information technology
specialist, Jaime Vargas, for the November general
elections. DCHA also provided USD 65,000 to IFES to provide
Mr. Lopez-Pintor's assistance with the February 2005
primaries, significantly impacting the transparency and
openness of the TSE decisions and processes. Mr. Lopez
Pintor has been working since September with the Supreme
Electoral Tribunal (TSE) to develop strategic approaches to
implementing the new elections law. Mr. Lopez-Pintor
completed (a) an assessment of the TSE's organizational and
administrative ability to conduct national elections, and
(b) is providing direct advisory services to the TSE.
Vargas has helped set up the information center for the
quick count and tallying of the ballots with the TSE
personnel.


2. USAID is also using about USD 216,000, converted from
local currency trust fund resources, to fund a Cooperative
Agreement with the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights.
As such, the Center for Electoral Assessment and Promotion
(CAPEL) is providing advisory assistance to (a) the GOH and
NGOs in developing a national voter education program, and
to (b) the GOH implementing the elections in accordance with
the new law.


3. USAID's Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)
provided USD 150,000 in financial assistance to electoral
activities in support of the Ruling Justly Strategic
Objective. This was added to USD 250,000 of USAID SROL
funds and USD 150,000 of Economic Support Funds for use in
the primaries. Specifically, funds were obligated on August
30, 2004 through an amendment to a Cooperative Agreement
with the Federation of Development Associations of Honduras
(FOPRIDEH),an NGO umbrella organization, in preparation for
the February 2005 primaries. FOPRIDEH has been working,
with USAID assistance, on electoral reform for several
years, and was instrumental in building public and
Congressional support to change the electoral laws.
FOPRIDEH signed an agreement with the TSE to formalize joint
cooperation during the 2005 election cycle, with FOPRIDEH
centering its program on a civic education campaign (media
and leaflets). The goal of this effort was to familiarize
voters with the new voting systems used for the primaries as
required by the new law and to promote a dialogue on the
role and importance of civil society and political parties
to democracy in Honduras.


4. On November 3, 2004, USAID, through the Strengthened
Rule of Law Program (SROL),agreed to a GOH request to use
USD one million (in local currency funds) to support the TSE
during the 2005 elections. A Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) was jointly signed with the Organization of American
States (OAS) and the GOH Ministry of Finance (MOF) in order
to collectively support the electoral process.
Specifically, USAID funds were used during the run up to the
February primaries for training, elections materials, an
elections manual, a domestic election observers program, and
in support of the National Registry of Persons (RNP). USD
245,000 in remnant funds was reprogrammed for the November
general elections for a training of the trainers program for
poll workers.


5. Given the importance of the elections, USAID also made
the difficult decision to re-allocate USD 750,000 from the
previously allocated 2006-08 justice sector activities with
FOPRIDEH due to the foreseen negative impact of not having a
voter education program and domestic election observers.
While this will limit other projects FOPRIDEH will be able
to do in the future, given the lack of other available
funding and the urgency of this issue, this was deemed
essential.

Ford