Prime Minister briefed on USAID/Haiti program.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001347 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR ADOLFO FRANCO, AA/LAC EB/IFD/ODF EB/IFD/OMA INR/IAA/MAC TREASURY FOR JEFFREY LEVINE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON PGOV HA SUBJECT: Prime Minister briefed on USAID/Haiti program. ¶1. SUMMARY: Ambassador Sanderson and USAID/Haiti Acting Mission Director met with Haiti's Prime Minister and the Minister of Planning and External Cooperation (Plan) on July 14, 2006. The purpose of the meeting was to provide an in- depth brief on USAID program results achieved (2004-2006) and planned assistance under the extension of the Interim Cooperation Framework (ICF). This meeting also provided an opportunity to highlight how USAID assistance will support the Preval Administration's development priorities, particularly those related to the Social Appeasement Program (SAP). The Prime Minister emphasized the importance that the Preval Administration attaches to Government of Haiti (GOH) and donor coordination and collaboration. This will be a key GOH message at the July 25th donor's conference. END SUMMARY. USAID Delivers under the ICF ¶2. USAID staff reviewed its major development accomplishments achieved under the ICF, a donor coordination mechanism created to channel substantial foreign assistance to the Interim Government of Haiti from 2004 to 2006. Haitians benefited from USAID assistance through improved healthcare and primary education; short-term job creation and employment; micro-enterprise development; public sector institution strengthening; justice sector reform and civil society development; elections support; and food security and disaster assistance. The Prime Minister acknowledged the breadth, scope, and importance of USAID assistance, stating the results delivered had improved the lives of Haitians. This acknowledgement was important, due to public GOH comments that donor results have not been commensurate with the nearly one billion dollars of assistance disbursed during the past two years. USAID supports the Social Appeasement Program and the Five- Year Development Plan ¶3. At the July 25th Donor's Conference in Port-au-Prince, the GOH will officially unveil its development vision and launch its development program for Haiti. This vision will include an immediate-term (the SAP) and medium-term (the Five-Year Plan) development agenda for Haiti. The July 14th meeting gave USAID the opportunity to preview how its on- going and future assistance will support the GOH's vision. USAID will help create jobs and employment opportunities to spur national productivity, focusing particularly on vulnerable groups in disadvantaged and conflict-prone zones; continue to provide and improve basic social services, like healthcare, education, and potable water; and strengthen national, provincial, legislative and local government institutions to improve their ability to provide public sector services and accountability to Haitian citizens. Greater Donor Coordination and Collaboration: The New GOH Mantra ¶4. The Prime Minister expressed a clear desire to strengthen communication and collaboration with all donors. He also asked that donors work more closely to coordinate assistance by sector and geographic location. The GOH, to the greatest extent possible, would like to ensure that all provinces and communes receive a basic package of social services that includes health, education, potable water, sanitation, and access to roads. To begin this mapping exercise, the GOH will ask all donors to clarify where they are funding programs, at what cost, and with what implementing agencies. USAID has already provided this information. Commission Mixte: Not What Haiti Needs ¶5. The Prime Minister raised the idea of a commission mixte to enhance USG and GOH communication with respect to U.S. foreign assistance. The Ambassador responded that the work of a commission mixte, a concept tried in many parts of the world, is not the best vehicle for maintaining a flexible, responsive aid program in Haiti. She suggested that closer communication at the working level between our two governments would yield more productive results given the GOH's coordination concerns. The Prime Minister agreed and asked the Minister of Plan to ensure all channels of communication are open and utilized to coordinate assistance with USAID and Embassy Port-au-Prince. USAID has already PORT AU PR 00001347 002 OF 002 held many meetings with the new GOH, including the Ministries of Plan, Health, Education, Justice, Environment, Commerce, Finance, Public Works, Youth and Tourism, in addition to the newly-installed Parliament. With donor coordination such a high priority for the Preval Administration, this meeting was useful in demonstrating USAID's past and present responsiveness to the GOH's development agenda, and its amenability to continue to strengthen coordination with the new Government. SANDERSON