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USAID/Dominican Republic 

Operational Plan 

FY 2006 

June 15, 2006 
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Please Note: 

The attached RESULTS INFORMATION is from the FY 2006 Operational Plan and was assembled 

and analyzed by the country or USAID operating unit identified on the cover page. 

The Operational Plan is a "pre-decisional" USAID document and does not reflect results stemming 

from formal USAID review(s) of this document. 

Related document information can be obtained from: 

USAID Development Experience Clearinghouse 

8403 Colesville Road, Suite 210 

Silver Spring, MD 20910 

Telephone: (301) 562-0641 

Fax: (301) 588-7787 

Email: docorder@dec.cdie.org 

Internet: http://www.dec.org 

Portions released on or after July 1, 2006 
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Program Performance Summary FY 2005: Background: Leonel Fernandez completed his first year in 

office in August 2005. His administration successfully returned the economy to rapid growth, stabilized 

the collapsing electric sector and inspired hope and confidence in the population and markets. The 

administration also renegotiated a derailed IMF agreement, complied with its macroeconomic 

conditionality, although not fully with its more difficult institutional conditionality, and successfully 

renegotiated dept restructuring agreements with the Paris Club and private bond holders. Faced with 

strong competitive pressure from Central America, the Dominicans ratified the Dominican Republic - 

Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). Although growth has returned and the exchange 

rate has stabilized, a dramatically appreciated peso and soaring petroleum costs have kept prices high, 

while most salaries did not keep pace with the increased cost of living. The man on the street and the 

average business owner does not yet feel the benefits of a growing economy, while the huge gap 

between the rich and the poor continues to grow. 

Leonel Fernandez and his administration retain the support of the majority of Dominicans. The opposition 

parties have been in disarray since the last election and are only now organizing to launch a campaign to 

maintain their congressional and municipal majorities in the upcoming May 2006 election. Over the past 

25 years the Dominican Republic has made steady progress in democratic consolidation. However, 

patronage strongly affects distribution of public goods; democratic culture, institutions and governance 

are extremely weak; and the electoral and political systems are controlled by political elites. Corruption is 

widespread and impunity is pervasive. The rule of law remains shaky. Nonetheless, the creation of 

political space and legitimacy for civic advocacy continue to advance. An informed, vocal, and effective 

civil society continues to grow and to push for transparent and effective electoral administration, the 

creation of an independent judiciary, and good governance. 

The DR continues to recover from the economic, financial, and political crises caused by banking fraud 

and fiscal mismanagement in 2003. Returned economic growth, estimated at 6-7% for 2005, is 

dominated by telecommunications, a post crisis rebound in commerce and tourism. Tight monetary policy 

and fiscal discipline, in compliance with IMF conditionality, reduced inflation dramatically from 51% in 

2004 to 4.5% in 2005. However, continued financial sector corruption constitutes an enormous economic 

vulnerability and the financially fragile electric sector continues to be a drag on the economy and a social 

problem. Marginal urban and rural poor citizens are without electricity or are underserved. The business 

climate does not support a shift to greater competitiveness in a more open economy. A fragile island 

environment threatens the future of tourism and the availability of water for agriculture and industry. 

 

Basic education and health services for the majority of the population remain woefully inadequate and 

under funded. Infectious and vector borne diseases remain a social and economic problem. The HIV 

seroprevalence rate is between 1.0% and 2% in the adult population, with certain age groups and regions 

substantially higher than the national average, i.e. 5% - 8%. Resistant tuberculosis levels are the highest 

in the hemisphere. Poor quality health care results in high maternal mortality rates, 178 deaths per 

100,000 births in 2002, despite 98% of mothers being delivered with a trained attendant. Total fertility 

rate was measured at 3.0, below the average for Latin America and the Caribbean, but adolescent 

pregnancy is at 23% and adolescents constitute 30% of maternal deaths. Infant mortality is 31 per 1000 

births, but vaccination rates in rural areas continue to be low. President Fernandez has made solving 

these problems a government priority. In an effort to address the inefficiencies and inequities of the 

health care system, the country is undertaking a major sector reform. However, progress has been slow 

and funding insufficient. The quality of basic education is poor, particularly for children in rural and 

marginal urban areas, and public investment in basic education remains low. The perpetual influx of 

illegal and transient Haitians adds to the country's poverty burden and further strains already inadequate 

health and education services. 

Challenges: The Dominican Republic’s greatest challenges are maintaining and consolidating its 

economic recovery, enhancing its competitiveness in the face of the increased economic openness that 

will come with DR-CAFTA, and improving governance in institutions that assure the delivery of critical 

services to its citizens, including justice, security, health, education, and a transparent and reliable 

environment for doing business. The DR must also reduce the growing gap between rich and poor by 

opening opportunities to low income Dominicans. A failure to meet these challenges will rapidly 
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undermine the country’s fragile democracy and social stability. The greatest obstacle to meeting these 

challenges is widespread corruption and impunity. Survey results in 2004 put the Dominican Republic at 

the top of the list of 11 Latin American countries in terms of public perception of corruption. The country 

scored 85th out of 158 countries on the Transparency International index in 2005, continuing a generally 

negative trend since 2002. Addressing corruption is particularly difficult given the intertwined problems of 

patronage politics, non-existent internal controls, impunity, and a lack of fundamental understanding of 

public sector and business ethics. It is further complicated by the growing influence of the narcotics trade 

and international crime. The fact that the country shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, the only 

“failed state” in the Western Hemisphere, adds to the development challenges. The DR serves as a 

source of employment and public services for large numbers of Haitians, while the porous border creates 

a real challenge in controlling illegal activities such as smuggling of drugs, arms and aliens into the 

country. The unrest in Haiti adds to historic tensions between the two sides of the island. 

USAID programs help Dominicans meet these challenges through the development and implementation 

of policies that enhance private sector led growth and open opportunities to low income Dominicans. 

USAID works to strengthen governance and help build effective, transparent institutions that confront 

corruption in every sector we support. USAID focuses on strengthening policies, institutions, and 

governance that improve the business climate, facilitate long term trade and investment, encourage 

productive job creation, and facilitate small business development. This includes work with institutions 

involved in trade, business regulation and registration, tourism, niche-market agriculture, financial 

mediation, electric power regulation and service provision, environmental protection, and basic education. 

USAID also works to improve institutions involved with elections and the political process, justice, 

preventing or prosecuting corruption and providing basic health care and disease prevention services, 

particularly to low income mothers, children and other vulnerable groups. In each area USAID works with 

both public sector institutions and with organized civil society advocating for change and overseeing 

public sector performance. 

Key Achievements: USAID continued to play a significant role in supporting the development of laws, 

policies and institutions that will sustain our achievements over the long-term in the political, economic 

and social sectors of the Dominican Republic. USAID support this year for the ratification and 

implementation of DR-CAFTA, the development of civil society advocacy groups that are actively 

combating corruption, the initiation of a social security family health insurance program for the poor, and 

laws to protect the environment demonstrate the institutional and systemic impact of our work. Policy 

dialogue and public diplomacy carried out by senior USAID staff have strongly influenced policy 

formulation, institution building and the push for good governance in the Dominican Republic this year. 

Democracy and Governance: Strengthening democratic culture and government effectiveness are major 

challenges for development in the Dominican Republic. USAID has been instrumental in supporting civil 

society strengthening across sectors through targeted assistance to advocacy groups and technical 

assistance for drafting and debate of laws focused on transparency, accountability and social 

participation. Steady progress was evident this year in the ability of civil society to identify governance 

problems, inform citizens, promote public debate, push for policy reform, and demand accountability. This 

impact was especially noted in anti-corruption and political party reform. Participation Cuidadana (PC), a 

USAID supported NGO, was instrumental in building consensus among diverse groups on political party 

reform around principles of majority rule, ethics, and parameters for political party finance. USAID 

supported NGOs were also instrumental in pushing for legislation that will encourage citizen oversight of 

public expenditure. These NGOs are exceedingly more vocal and adamant that perpetrators of 

corruption such as the bank fraud scandal of 2003 are brought to justice and they continue to keep anticorruption issues on the front page of the news. There is growing evidence that civil society is having 

greater impact on the accountability of public officials. Significant progress was made in administrative 

reform of all three branches of the justice system through USAID support in the design and 

implementation of a new criminal procedure code that introduces a US style advocacy based justice 

system. This code represents one of the most significant transformations of the Dominican justice system 

in terms of protection of human rights and improving criminal justice service delivery. Criminal case 

processing times have been reduced by 33% in twelve months. USAID was also responsible for doubling 

the size of the public defense office. This has already led to a four fold increase in the number of 
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indigents served. 

Economic Growth: The efforts of the Dominican Republic to successfully transform to a more competitive 

economy are critical to its future prosperity and stability. USAID economic growth activities were 

instrumental in assisting the country in this transformation process. The ratification of the DR-CAFTA was 

the most significant achievement this year. The USAID sponsored training of government officials in 

select trade topics and the analysis of the impact of the agreement played an important role in fostering 

overall support for ratification. This agreement will increase transparency and reduce corruption, which, 

with more permanent access to the U.S. economy, will lead to increased investment, exports and growth. 

USAID has also begun to support the GODR on several of the most salient implementation issues of DRCAFTA in such areas as intellectual property rights, customs and public procurement. 

USAID is at the forefront in promoting economic policy reform and business growth activities that will 

increase and expand the benefits of trade to all sectors of Dominican society. USAID work in reducing 

bureaucratic regulations associated with firm registration and bankruptcies has significantly streamlined 

company registration processes from 78 to 32 days and is shrinking the time and cost associated with 

bankruptcy, therefore, making it easier to do business. USAID support to improve competitiveness in the 

tourism and agriculture sectors is paying dividends in expanding the benefits of trade through business 

growth and the resulting creation of jobs. For example, USAID support to expand agricultural exports to 

niche markets and further develop the tourism industry paved the way for increased private investments, 

contributed to the creation of 1,694 jobs this year, expanded niche market vegetable exports to $50 

million, and increased new tourist arrivals by 90,000, hotel occupancy rates to 87% and enhanced 

revenues by 3-5% ($6-19million) in targeted tourism destinations. These activities have resulted in 

increased direct investments of $2.26 million in agriculture and over $10.0 million in tourism. 

USAID programs continued to make progress in the energy and financial sectors. The number of 

households and businesses newly connected to electricity expanded through USAID support to 4093. 

USAID also remained a key actor in energy sector policy reform through our support of the Energy 

Revitalization Program (ERP). The ERP was a key factor in the approval this year of the International 

Monetary Fund stand-by agreement and the $150 million World Bank energy sector loan. USAID’s rural 

electrification program also leveraged $4 million in additional funds to expand activities of electricity 

distribution to rural areas. This support has helped stabilize the electric generation and distribution system 

and reduced blackouts. USAID was instrumental in completing development of a more transparent 

securities trading system and in initiating trading of government bonds through that market. 

Environment: The continued strengthening of environmental laws, regulations and norms through USAID 

support is ensuring that the economic growth generated is environmentally sustainable. USAID is 

providing support in the development of laws for proper regulation of the nation’s coastal marine 

resources and promotion of the country’s rich bio-diversity. USAID has also actively worked with local 

authorities to develop and issue municipal ordinances on such topics as water quality, air pollution and 

noise reduction. In addition to providing valuable training to strengthen the capabilities of the 

environment ministry staff, USAID also supported increased NGO and private sector involvement in the 

sector through 26 matching grant programs that leveraged over $600,000 in private resources aimed at 

clean and environmentally sustainable production objectives. These programs are focused on areas such 

as eco-tourism, alternative energy production and watershed protection. 

Education: A revised USAID basic education strategy focused on improved testing, teacher education 

and educational materials was completed this year. USAID’s enhanced attention to educational quality 

will further support the transformation of the Dominican Republic to a more competitive economy. USAID 

and USDA also jointly managed the McGovern-Dole Food for Education program. This program has 

supported renovation of school buildings and water systems and the advancement of health and nutrition 

in 22 schools. 

Health and Population: USAID is a leader in the battle against HIV/AIDS in the Dominican Republic. 

USAID provided direct support to six HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics, provided HIV tests to over 117,000 

individuals and advanced community and home based care programs for children and their families 
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affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. USAID also plays an instrumental role in HIV/AIDS prevention 

programs where forty NGOs are allied behind 22 USAID prevention programs. USAID support for the 

National Tuberculosis Control Program is beginning to show improved results with the confirmed cure rate 

reaching 74.7%. USAID is also at the forefront of advances in health sector administrative reform. 

USAID technical assistance and training led to noticeable improvements in the organization, 

management, financing and service delivery of health care provided by 14 hospitals and their feeder 

primary care centers supported by our program. One participating hospital, Ramon Santana, was 

recognized by the European Union and the Dominican Association of Entrepreneurs as one of the 

Government’s best run organizations, and the only one from the health sector. USAID had further 

institutional development success in supporting the launch of a new and innovative social security family 

health insurance program that targets the poor in one of the poorest regions of the country. There are 

plans to expand this program nationwide through increased government and donor support. USAID 

programs helped reduce maternal mortality and improved maternal health services in four municipal and 

two teaching hospitals by reconditioning maternity wards and training providers in emergency obstetric 

care and new management techniques for the last stage of pregnancy. 

Integrated Programming and Cross Cutting Issues: Institutional strengthening, improved governance and 

fighting corruption are addressed in all program components. Taking advantage of synergies, some 

efforts are the result of joint programming by multiple USAID partners. USAID’s principal anti-corruption 

partner has jointly programmed pilot anti-corruption efforts with USAID’s justice reform partner assisting 

the Attorney Generals Office and with USAID’s health partner working on management reform with 14 

hospitals in eastern Dominican Republic. The Public Ministry activity is piloting procedures for 

implementing a draft public procurement law USAID helped develop to improve governance and meet 

DR-CAFTA requirements. The piloted procedures will serve as a model for implementing new 

procurement legislation in all public institutions. The hospital pilot is developing tools for detecting and 

preventing corruption in public hospitals and measuring resulting cost savings. Collaborative 

programming between USAID’s justice sector and anti-corruption partners assures that organized civil 

society strongly advocates for legislation that is drafted with USAID technical assistance, thus, facilitating 

passage and reinforcing democratic processes. 

Collaboration between USAID’s trade capacity building and environmental protection activities is helping 

assure that Dominican commitments relating to environment under the DR-CAFTA are met. Similarly 

joint efforts by USAID tourism and environmental protection programs are addressing the challenge of 

rapid growth in the tourism sector without destroying the environment it depends upon. Collaborative 

work between USAID supported tourism activities in eastern tourism destinations and USAID health 

sector activities is helping control malaria. USAID support for implementation of DR-CAFTA intellectual 

property rights requirements takes advantage of USAID health sector assistance to coordinate actions 

between relevant offices in the Ministry of Trade and Ministry of Health to resolve problems of intellectual 

property violations in the pharmaceutical industry. 
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FY 2006 Program 

SO: 517-008 Increased Sustainable Economic Opportunities for the Poor 

Achieve Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education 

Achieve Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education ($1,568,000 DA). Under the newly revised 

education strategy, USAID continues to work on the implementation of policy reforms, but is shifting its 

primary focus to increasing teacher effectiveness through materials design and training. The McGovernDole Food for Education Program will be completed as of May 31, 2006 and USAID does not plan to 

continue this program based on regional priorities. Principal contractors and grantees: State University of 

New York, World Bank Institute, and American Chamber of Commerce in the Dominican Republic 

(AMCHAM). 

Improve Economic Policy and the Business Environment 

Improve Economic Policy and the Business Environment ($1,140,000 DA). USAID is funding and 

supporting compliance with CAFTA-DR commitments. USAID is also supporting activities to streamline 

company registration and develop bankruptcy procedures; implement the phytosanitary and food safety 

regulations necessary for enhanced agricultural trade; collaborate in the development of a national 

tourism strategy; and assess policy and regulatory constraints to small and medium enterprise financing 

in preparation for eventual Development Credit Authority activities. USAID is continuing activities to 

increase transparency in the public trading of Dominican securities. Principal contractors and grantees: 

Chemonics International and Boston Institute for Developing Economies (BIDE). 

Improve Private Sector Competitiveness 

Improve Private Sector Competitiveness ($740,000 DA). USAID is working with 11 existing clusters in the 

agribusiness and tourism sectors to be more competitive. Efforts are continuing to support diversification 

of the tourism sector into specific niche activities from the current focus on a low-cost, all-inclusive 

vacation model. There is increased collaboration between the competitiveness and environmental 

activities to meet the environmental challenges posed by increased growth in both tourism and 

agricultural exports. Principal contractors: Chemonics International and International Resources Group 

(IRG). 

Improve Sustainable Management Of Natural Resources & Biodiversity 

Improve Sustainable Management of Natural Resources & Biodiversity ($787,000 DA). USAID is 

supporting the continued development of environmental norms and standards, and the strengthening of 

public institutions charged with environmental management and protection at the national and local 

levels. Increased attention and resources are being devoted to address environmental issues related to 

CAFTA-DR and tourism growth. Principal contractor: International Resources Group. 

Increase Trade and Investment 

Increase Trade and Investment ($850,000 DA). USAID is supporting analysis and training to help the 

export sector identify and take advantage of new trade opportunities presented by CAFTA-DR as well as 

assisting those sectors negatively impacted adjust to the post CAFTA-DR world. USAID is also providing 

technical assistance to the Dominican government to implement actions required to comply with CAFTADR. Principal contractors: Chemonics International and Nathan Associates. 

FY 2007 Program 

SO: 517-008 Increased Sustainable Economic Opportunities for the Poor 
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Achieve Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education 

Achieve Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education ($1,723,000 DA). USAID will continue activities to 

improve the quality of primary education through public-private partnerships, improved school 

management and effective teacher training. Principal contractors and grantees will remain the same. 

Improve Sustainable Management Of Natural Resources & Biodiversity 

Improve Sustainable Management of Natural Resources & Biodiversity ($953,000 DA). USAID plans to 

continue to help develop environmental norms and standards and strengthen public institutions charged 

with environmental management and protection at the national and local levels. Principal contractor: 

International Resources Group. 

Increase Trade and Investment 

Increase Trade and Investment ($1,333,000 DA, $10,000,000 ESF). USAID plans to continue assistance 

to improve tourism competitiveness, help rural areas adjust to DR-CAFTA through support for rural 

diversification via expanding markets for niche agricultural and industrial exports (sectors served by small 

and medium businesses that employ the Dominican poor) and tourism and encourage small business 

development. Trade capacity building will assist the public and private sectors in export promotion. 

USAID will continue technical assistance to expand and develop new energy partnerships for rural 

electrification. Principal contractors and grantees: Chemonics International and NRECA. The 

implementing agencies for the ESF resources described above will be determined after consultation with 

the Department of State. 

FY 2006 Program 

SO: 517-009 More Participatory, Representative and Accountable Democracy Achieved 

Promote And Support Anti-Corruption Reforms 

Promote and Support Anti-Corruption Reforms ($350,000 DA, $1,230,000 ESF). USAID activities seek to 

prevent, detect, and sanction corruption in government institutions. USAID is training a complex crimes 

investigation unit, implementing a pilot competitive public procurement system in the Attorney General’s 

office, establishing Freedom of Information offices in six government agencies, supporting the National 

Anti-Corruption Commission as well as the passage of new laws for public financial administration and 

public procurement. USAID is financing a study documenting corruption in the justice sector, schools, 

public hospitals, and motor vehicle administration. New activities are beginning such as social audits of 

public works projects, whistle blowing activities, citizen oversight committees, and the design of a mass 

media campaign. USAID continues to fund activities in congressional monitoring and civil society 

advocacy to increase the transparency of political party finance and civil registry operations. Principal 

contractors and grantees: DPK Consulting, Casals, and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), 

Citizen Participation (Participación Ciudadana) and Justice Foundation (Fundación Institucionalidad y 

Justicia). 

Promote and Support Credible Elections Processes 

Promote and Support Credible Elections Processes ($750,000 DA). USAID is supporting free and fair 

Congressional and Municipal elections in May 2006 by training 3,500 domestic observers and a cadre of 

international observers, conducting a get-out-the-vote campaign, reporting on preparing for the elections 

and reducing political tension, and supporting candidate workshops and debates. USAID continues to 

support activities to build institutional sustainability of the country’s leading advocacy NGO, Citizen 

Participation (Participación Ciudadana). Principal grantee: Citizen Participation. 
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Strengthen Democratic Political Parties 

Strengthen Democratic Political Parties ($600,000 DA). USAID is training 500 young political party 

leaders to strengthen understanding of good governance, accountability and efficient government service 

delivery. USAID is emphasizing the need for the implementation of the career civil service law by 

distinguishing politics from good public administration, and stress the importance of oversight, audit, and 

internal controls in democratic governance. Principal grantee: Citizen Participation (Participación 

Ciudadana), a local NGO. 

Strengthen the Justice Sector 

Strengthen the Justice Sector ($280,000 DA; $750,000 ESF). USAID’s activities continue to focus on 

training public defenders, prosecutors, and judges in the oral accusatorial criminal justice system. USAID 

is intensively supporting the public prosecutor’s office and court system in seven pilot districts to 

implement re-engineered administrative management systems that are consistent with the 

implementation of the new criminal procedures code. USAID is supporting legal assistance and aid 

through local NGOs and lead development of a new Alternative Dispute Resolution system. New activities 

are beginning that establish internal inspection offices and focus on increasing transparency within the 

justice sector. Principal contractor and grantee: DPK Consulting and local NGOs; Citizen Participation 

and Justice Foundation. 

FY 2007 Program 

SO: 517-009 More Participatory, Representative and Accountable Democracy Achieved 

Promote And Support Anti-Corruption Reforms 

Promote and Support Anti-Corruption Reforms ($150,000 DA, $1,500,000 ESF). USAID plans to continue 

support for social audits, whistle blowing, and other citizen oversight activities. Grants to journalists and 

media organizations to improve quality of investigative reporting will be initiated. A mass-media, citizeneducation campaign to encourage Dominicans to denounce and resist petty corruption will be launched. 

USAID would continue pilot activities to help the government respond to freedom of information act 

(FOIA) requests and implement new procurement legislation. USAID will support advocacy aimed at 

reducing corruption in the emission of national identity cards and improving service delivery in the 

registrar’s offices. USAID support will continue for civil society advocacy to increase transparency of 

political party finance and congressional monitoring to document voting patterns, attendance, and 

committee deliberations. Principal contractor and grantees will remain the same. 

Promote and Support Credible Elections Processes 

Promote and Support Credible Elections Processes ($950,000 DA). USAID will continue to support 

Participación Ciudadana’s institutional sustainability, with the goal of completing USAID assistance in FY 

08. Funds will be used to support domestic and international observation efforts for the 2008 Presidential 

elections and for local monitoring of elections preparations and issue-oriented campaigning. USAID plans 

to complete the training program for young political leaders. Principal grantee will remain the same. 

Strengthen the Justice Sector 

Strengthen the Justice Sector ($900,000 DA, $500,000 ESF). USAID plans to continue to support 

activities for the implementation of the accusatorial criminal procedures code with an alternative dispute 

resolution system. USAID will support activities to detect, prevent, and sanction corrupt behavior in the 

justice sector and continue assistance for training investigative forensics teams for criminal cases in a few 
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judicial districts. Principal contractors and grantees will remain the same. 

FY 2006 Program 

SO: 517-010 Sustained Improvement in the Health of Vulnerable Populations in the Dominican 

Republic 

Improve Child Survival, Health & Nutrition 

Improve Child Survival, Health & Nutrition ($422,000 CSH). USAID helps build cold chain capacity, 

develop norms for quality services, and encourages community support for the Government of the 

Dominican Republic’s (GDR) expanded immunization program. In water and sanitation, an external 

evaluation will inform USAID's decision about future work in this sector. USAID is working with the 

National Water Authority to expand the “Total Community Participation” model of rural water 

management. Principal contractor: Family Health International (FHI). 

Improve Maternal Health & Nutrition 

Improve Maternal Health & Nutrition ($1,000,000 CSH). USAID is training staff in emergency obstetric 

care, provide technical assistance to reduce maternal mortality in seven hospitals (a GDR presidential 

priority), and train hospital managers. Principal contractor: FHI. 

Prevent & Control Infectious Diseases Of Major Importance 

Prevent & Control Infectious Diseases of Major Importance ($1,613,000 CSH). USAID continues to 

support the detection and treatment of tuberculosis with grants to the Pan American Health Organization 

(PAHO) and local NGOs. USAID interventions in tuberculosis are well coordinated with other donors, 

including the Global Fund. Principal contractor: Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO). 

Reduce Transmission & Impact Of HIV/AIDS 

Reduce Transmission & Impact of HIV/AIDS ($6,138,000 CSH). USAID is supporting NGO prevention 

activities, particularly with at-risk populations. USAID is providing technical support to strengthen the 

network of Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Centers, and the Government’s program to prevent 

mother to child transmission (PMTCT). USAID is helping build the capabilities of public and private 

treatment facilities. With other donors, USAID is strengthening the Ministry of Health information system. 

USAID is supporting NGOs working with persons living with HIV/AIDS and with orphans and vulnerable 

children (OVC). USAID is supporting a condom social marketing program. Principal contractor: FHI. 

Support Democratic Local Government & Decentralization 

Support Democratic Local Government & Decentralization ($1,815,000 CSH). USAID is supporting and 

strengthening the management capacity of the Ministry of Health offices and hospitals and bolstering the 

ministry's capability to implement family health insurance under the new Social Security system. USAID’s 

continued assistance is based on the recommendations of an external evaluation of the Health Sector 

Reform strategy. Principal contractor: Abt Associates. 

Support Family Planning 

Support Family Planning ($1,733,000 CSH). USAID is building the capacity of family planning NGOs, with 

technical and material resources, to provide quality maternal health and family planning services to 

vulnerable populations. USAID provides technical support to the Committee on Contraceptive Security 
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(CCS) and to the Ministry of Health to improve the logistics and information systems for ensuring 

contraceptive availability. Principal contractors: FHI. 

FY 2007 Program 

SO: 517-010 Sustained Improvement in the Health of Vulnerable Populations in the Dominican 

Republic 

Improve Child Survival, Health & Nutrition 

Improve Child Survival, Health & Nutrition ($325,000 CSH). USAID plans to continue assistance to the 

national vaccination program and to work with other donors to ensure a continuing supply of vaccines. An 

external evaluation of the water and sanitation program will provide useful analysis to determine future 

USAID involvement in the sector. Principal contractor: FHI. 

Improve Maternal Health & Nutrition 

Improve Maternal Health & Nutrition ($880,000 CSH). USAID will expand its assistance to reduce 

maternal mortality to all participating hospitals, including the second major maternity hospital in Santo 

Domingo, and a second regional hospital. USAID will continue to work with the national committee for 

contraceptive security and expect to have a sustainability strategy in place to ensure the local availability 

of a variety of methods. Principal contractor: FHI. 

Prevent & Control Infectious Diseases Of Major Importance 

Prevent & Control Infectious Diseases of Major Importance ($1,320,000 CSH). USAID, in collaboration 

with Global Fund resources, plans to expand the DOTS treatment regimen for tuberculosis. USAID will 

also provide technical assistance to strengthen the Ministry of Health monitoring and information system. 

Principal contractors will remain the same. 

Reduce Transmission & Impact Of HIV/AIDS 

Reduce Transmission & Impact of HIV/AIDS ($5,138,000 CSH). USAID plans to continue to support 

prevention activities, through NGOs, and strengthening the Government’s Voluntary Counseling and 

Testing (VCT) program, as well as the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT). As the lead 

bilateral donor, USAID will continue to provide technical assistance to strengthen the Ministry of Health’s 

monitoring and information systems. Principal contractors and grantees will remain the same. 

Support Democratic Local Government & Decentralization 

Support Democratic Local Government and Decentralization ($2,200,000 CSH). USAID plans to continue 

supporting the implementation of the family health insurance program in the eastern part of the country 

with a new technical assistance contractor, focusing on institutional strengthening and more active civil 

participation. Implementation details will depend on an analysis of USAID’s experience to date and the 

priorities of the DR Government. A new principal contractor will be competitively selected. 

Support Family Planning 

Support Family Planning ($1,475,000 CSH). USAID plans to continue to build the capacity of family 

planning NGOs and the Ministry of Health with technical and material resources, to provide quality and 

sustainable maternal health and family planning services to vulnerable populations in preparing for 

country graduation. Principal contractors: FHI. 
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Results Framework 

517-008 Increased Sustainable Economic Opportunities for the Poor 

Program Title: Economic Prosperity and Security 

 8.1: Improved conditions for a more competitive economy 

 8.2: Improved policies for environmental protection 

 8.3: Improved quality of basic education 

517-009 More Participatory, Representative and Accountable Democracy Achieved 

Program Title: Democracy, Governance and Human Rights 

 9.1: More Representative and Effective Electoral and Political Processes. 

 9.2: Increased Transparency of Public Administration. 

 9.3: More Effective and Fair Criminal Justice System. 

517-010 Sustained Improvement in the Health of Vulnerable Populations in the Dominican 

Republic 

Program Title: Family and Workforce Health 

 10.1: Increased use of services and practices to prevent and mitigate HIV/AIDS in at risk population 

 10.2: Sustainable, effective reproductive health/family planning services provided by public and private 

sectors 

 10.3: Increased use of selected, effective child survival services 

 10.4: Increased efficiency and equity of basic health care services at the local level 

517-xxx Stable Democratic Institutions with Enduring Civil Society 

Program Title: Transparent, Accountable Democratic Institutions 

517-yyy Increased Economic Prosperity with Greater Equity 

Program Title: Increased Economic Prosperity with Greater Equity 

517-zzz Improved Quality and Equity of Health Services and Basic Education 

Program Title: Quality and Equity of Health Services & Education