Funding Dissidents: 2002

(USAID program designed to help develop civil society in Cuba) (1230)

Following is the text of a press release from the U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID), providing a May 2002 update on the
agency's Cuba program. USAID's Cuba program is designed to increase
the flow of information on democracy, human rights, and free
enterprise to, from, and within Cuba.

(begin text)

USAID/Cuba Program
May 2002

GOAL: Promote Rapid, Peaceful Transition to Democracy in Cuba, Helping
Develop Civil Society

OBJECTIVE: Increase Flow of Information on Democracy, Human Rights and
Free Enterprise, To, From, and Within Cuba

A. BUILDING SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA'S HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS

1. Freedom House: Transitions ($500,000 -- completed)
2. Center for a Free Cuba ($2,249,709)
3. The Institute for Democracy in Cuba ($1,000,000 -- completed)
4. Cuban Dissidence Task Group ($250,000 -- completed)
5. International Republican Institute ($1,674,462)
6. Freedom House: Cuban Democracy Project ($825,000)
7. Grupo de Apoyo a la Disidencia ($1,200,000)
8. Accion Democratica Cubana ($400,000)

B. GIVING VOICE TO CUBA'S INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS

1. Cuba Free Press ($280,000 -- completed)
2. Florida International University: Journalism Training ($622,000)
3. CubaNet ($833,000)
4. Carta de Cuba ($293,000)

C. HELPING DEVELOP INDEPENDENT CUBAN NGOs

1. Partners of the Americas ($172,000 -- completed)
2. Pan American Development Foundation ($553,500)
3. ACDI-VOCA: Independent Agricultural Cooperatives ($265,000 --
completed)
4. University of Miami: Developing Civil Society ($320,000)
5. Florida International University: NGO Development ($291,749)

D. DEFENDING THE RIGHTS OF CUBAN WORKERS

1. American Center for Int'l Labor Solidarity ($168,575 -- completed)
2. National Policy Association ($424,000)

E. PROVIDING DIRECT OUTREACH TO THE CUBAN PEOPLE

1. Cuba On-Line ($800,000)
2. Sabre Foundation ($85,000 -- completed)

F. PLANNING FOR TRANSITION

1. Rutgers University: Planning for Change ($99,000 -- completed)
2. Int'l Foundation for Election Systems ($136,000 -- completed)
3. U.S. - Cuba Business Council ($852,000 -- completed)
4. University of Miami: Cuba Transition Planning ($1,045,000)

G. EVALUATING PROGRAM IMPACT

1. Univ of Florida: Measuring Public Opinion ($110,000 -- completed)
2. PriceWaterhouseCoopers: Program Evaluation ($225,000 -- completed)

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A. BUILDING SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA'S HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS

1. Freedom House: Transitions

Provided 40,000 Spanish language books, pamphlets and other materials
to the Cuban people on issues such as human rights, transition to
democracy and free market economics.

2. The Center for a Free Cuba

Gathers and disseminates information concerning the human rights
situation in Cuba. Transmits the writings of Cuban human rights
activists to non governmental organizations worldwide. Sponsors travel
to Cuba by representatives of democratic societies. Distributes
pro-democracy literature on the island.

3. The Institute for Democracy in Cuba

Assisted democratic activists in Cuba, informed the Cuban people,
gathered and disseminated information from inside Cuba on human
rights. Provided 7,000 pounds of humanitarian assistance (food and
medicine) to political prisoners, their families, and other victims of
oppression.

4. Cuban Dissidence Task Group

Published and disseminated worldwide the written analysis of Cuban
democratic activists on the island. Provided humanitarian assistance
(food and medicine) to political prisoners and their families, and to
other victims of government oppression.

5. International Republican Institute

Helps create and bolster international solidarity committees in Latin
America and Europe in order to provide material, moral and ideological
support for democratic activists in Cuba.

6. Freedom House: Cuban Democracy Project

Promotes the formation of civic and political leadership in Cuba by
linking professional organizations in Cuba to one another and to those
in free democracies in Europe, North America and elsewhere.

7. Grupo de Apoyo a la Disidencia

Provides humanitarian assistance and informational materials to
political prisoners and their families and other victims of
repression.

8. Accion Democratica Cubana

Provides humanitarian assistance and informational materials to
political prisoners and their families and other victims of
repression.

B. GIVING VOICE TO CUBA'S INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS

1. Cuba Free Press

Published the work of professional and independent writers and
journalists inside Cuba.

2. Florida International University

The FIU International Media Center (IMC) trains Cuba's independent
journalists to help improve their professional skills.

3. CubaNet

Expanding its comprehensive internet on-line coverage of Cuba's
independent journalists, and other national and international press
reports on Cuban human rights and economic issues.

4. Carta de Cuba

Disseminates internationally and inside Cuba the writing of Cuba's
independent journalists.

C. HELPING DEVELOP INDEPENDENT CUBAN NGOs

1. Partners of the Americas

Helped establish professional and institutional linkages between
emerging Cuban community grassroots and professional organizations,
cooperatives and other counterpart organizations around the world.

2. Pan American Development Foundation

Establishes linkages between Cuban NGOs and counterpart NGOs operating
elsewhere in the Americas, to demonstrate how NGOs function within
democratic societies. Provides information and material assistance to
Cuba's independent libraries.

3. ACDI-VOCA Independent Agricultural Cooperatives

Provided technical information on cooperative development, agriculture
and agro-business to independent NGOs in Cuba.

4. University of Miami: Developing Civil Society

Facilitates access to information and training for Cuban NGOs and
individuals.

5. Florida International University: NGO Development

Trains Cuban NGO leaders in management and delivery of social
services.

D. DEFENDING THE RIGHTS OF CUBAN WORKERS

1. American Center for International Labor Solidarity

Worked with trade union movements worldwide to persuade foreign firms
to respect the rights of Cuban workers in their operations inside
Cuba.

2. National Policy Association

Convenes an international private sector working group to encourage
companies doing business in Cuba to respect the rights of Cuban
workers and to promote democracy.

E. PROVIDING DIRECT OUTREACH TO THE CUBAN PEOPLE

1. Cuba On-Line

Transmits information on democracy, human rights and free market
economics directly to the Cuban people, through the international mail
system, and by electronic means.

2. Sabre Foundation

Donated new books and other informational materials on democratic
transition, free market economics and other issues to independent
Cuban NGOs and individuals in order to benefit the Cuban people.

F. PLANNING FOR TRANSITION

1. Rutgers University: Planning for Change

Supported planning for future assistance to a Cuban transition
government and, eventually, to a democratically elected government in
Cuba. Transmitted planning results to the Cuban people.

2. International Foundation for Election Systems

Analyzed assistance required to support transitional elections in
Cuba. Without discussing or considering the possible timing of
elections, the study established guidelines, costs, and options
concerning international assistance and the requirements or local
administration of comprehensive voter registration and conduct of free
and fair presidential and congressional elections in Cuba. USAID will
disseminate its findings to the Cuban people. Posted on USAID web
page: http://www.usaid.gov/regions/lac/cu

3. U.S-Cuba Business Council

Surveyed U.S. private sector resources and plans to assist the
eventual reconstruction of the Cuban economy. Conducted a conference
series on Cuba's democratic free market future.

4. University of Miami: Cuba Transition Planning

Analyzes challenges that will face a future transition government in
Cuba, including: legal reform, political party formation,
privatization and foreign investment, combating corruption, education
reform, economic policy reform, international donor coordination.

G. EVALUATING PROGRAM IMPACT

1. University of Florida: Measuring Public Opinion

Estimated public opinion, knowledge and attitudes in Cuba through
interviews with recent Cuban migrants, helping to monitor USAID
program impact. Report posted on USAID web page:
http://www.usaid.gov/regions/lac/cu

2. PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Inc.

Under contract, assessed the effectiveness of the USAID Cuba program.
Examined progress and impediments to achieving the program objective.
Made recommendations for improving program effectiveness. Final report
submitted July 2000. Posted on USAID web page:
http://www.usaid.gov/regions/lac/cu

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)