1

USAID/Guinea 

Operational Plan 

FY 2006 

June 2, 2006 
2

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 
3

Program Performance Summary FY 2005: Under USAID/Guinea’s current Country Strategic Plan (FY 

1998 - 2006), results have been achieved in the sectors of health, education, natural resources 

management and democracy and good governance. Selected social indicators in USAID-funded regions 

are higher than national levels. Progress has been made in capacity building, economic opportunities 

and diversification, protecting the environment and improving community participation in the delivery and 

quality of social services. Civil society organizations are beginning to influence dialogue on key political, 

social, and economic issues of national importance. Yet despite these successes, Guinea suffers today 

from the woes of living under 47 years of authoritarian rule: dire economic, political and social conditions. 

In the past decade key national indicators have stagnated or declined. Poverty has increased by 10% 

since 1994/95. Guinea has been experiencing double digit inflation for several years. In 2004 the 

inflation rate was about 27% and it did not slow down in 2005. Guinea is ranked 160 out of 177 on the 

UNDP Human Development index. 

The political and economic situation in Guinea has deteriorated over the last seven years, stagnating and 

in some cases reversing advances made in the years following the fall of the Sekou Touré regime. 

Following the rebel incursions in 2000/2001, the Government of Guinea (GOG) began investing heavily in 

arms and increasing its defense budget to secure its borders and protect its territorial integrity. As a 

result of these real and perceived threats, the ruling party became increasingly centralized and 

exclusionary in its decision-making, and corruption and impunity rose accordingly. Due to the GOG’s 

inability to service its debt and its increasingly poor governance record, critical donor assistance from the 

IMF, World Bank, and the EU among others was suspended, which exacerbated economic decline. 

With the suspension of donor support, relative peace in the sub-region, and in an effort to redress the 

stagnant economic and political situation, in December 2004 President Lansana Conté appointed a new 

Prime Minister to preside over a series of economic and political reforms. Although there are questions 

as to how far the current regime will go, significant reform efforts were made in FY 2005, including: 

implementing a rigorous economic reform agenda under a Staff Monitored Program with the IMF; joining 

the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative; announcing local elections characterized by freedom of 

movement and media time for opposition candidates and the creation of an Autonomous National 

Electoral Commission; opening radio and television media to private ownership; and creating a new 

Ministry of Economic and Financial Control, under which is housed the revitalized National AntiCorruption Agency. A major indicator of the GOG’s willingness to continue its reform agenda will be 

holding more transparent local elections in December 2005. 

Noteworthy to Guinea’s future was the signing in 2005 of agreements with Global Alumina and 

Alcoa/Alcan for the building of two alumina refineries in Guinea. Combined these agreements total over 

$4 billion USD and represent the largest private investment in sub-Saharan Africa since the ChadCameroon oil pipeline. 

Foreign assistance to Guinea from multilateral and bilateral donors represented on average 85% of 

Guinea’s investment budget during the periods 1990 - 2003. Donor funded programs are linked to 

achieving the three objectives under Guinea’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP): (1) boosting 

economic growth; (2) developing basic services and equitable distribution to such services; and (3) 

improving governance and institutional and human capacity-building. A second generation PRSP will be 

developed in 2006 that will give greater priority to governance issues and more rational and realistic 

allocation of funds for social sectors and other expenditures. Overall, there is good donor coordination at 

the sectoral levels, as evident through the HIV/AIDS working group, the Education for All committee, and 

the donor group for the local elections. In 2005, with the support of USAID and other donors, the GOG 

has take steps to improve upon donor coordination and effectiveness in Guinea. 

The primary U.S. foreign policy objectives in Guinea are to maintain regional stability and promote 

democracy and good governance. USAID’s 2005 programs were focused on strengthening Guinea’s 

education system and community participation in education, improving health status in Upper Guinea and 

increasing access to HIV and family planning information and services nationwide, promoting natural 

resource management and more efficient agricultural production, improving democratic local governance 

in targeted regions, and strengthening civil society nationwide. 
4

Challenges: Due to internal and external factors, Guinea is identified as a country vulnerable to crisis. 

While USAID and the donor community expectantly monitor and support what appears to be a reform era, 

Guinean citizens continue to suffer terribly from dire conditions. Turning Guinea around is an immense 

challenge that requires further bold measures in restoring macroeconomic stability and combating 

rampant corruption and poor governance. Remaining on track under its Staff Monitored Program with the 

IMF is vital if Guinea is to qualify for a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility, which would provide 

access to much needed foreign currency and possible substantial debt relief. Continued reform will be 

challenging as day-to-day operations are still very much guided by habit formed under 47 years of 

authoritarian rule, and there exists a decisive split amongst reformers and spoilers. Civil unrest or the 

sudden departure of the President, who is in ill health, also threatens the reform process. Poor 

infrastructure, policies and human and institutional capacity continue to be obstacles. 

Key Achievements 

In its eighth year of implementation, USAID’s current strategy in Guinea continues to make progress 

under each of its strategic objectives. Overall, the Guinean technical ministries are very cooperative and 

supportive of USAID programs. 

Natural Resource Management (NRM): USAID’s principle implementing partner closed out a six-year 

long cooperative agreement in 2005 so NRM activities under this strategic objective were reduced. 

Nevertheless, the co-management model promoted by this activity was written into the national forestry 

code (not yet ratified) in 2005 and the amount of land under sustainable management by 2005 was 

124,609 hectares. Over 80% of the village savings and loans set up by this project graduated and are 

now operating autonomously. In 2005, a new program promoting agricultural marketing got started. This 

activity identified four Guinean agricultural products and the producers, processors, and exporters 

involved. In 2006 it will strengthen each link along the value chains for these products with the ultimate 

objective of increasing incomes without increasing pressure on natural resources. During the year, P.L. 

480 programs had an important impact on reducing post harvest losses and the number of food insecure 

months in their impact zones. USAID’s activities in cashew production were boosted this year when a 

sector-based chamber of commerce was developed. This will increase communication within the sector 

which will improve production practices and reduce costs. 

Health: According to Guinea’s 2005 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) key health indicators have 

stagnated and/or declined since 1999, despite the efforts of USAID and other donors. Maternal mortality 

which was 528 in 1999 has jumped to 847 per 100,000 live births. This is largely attributable to the failure 

of the health system to provide adequate prenatal and emergency obstetrical care, coupled with poor 

nutritional status of women in their reproductive years. Nevertheless, improvements are reflected for 

selected indicators in USAID’s geographical zones. These include increases in the number of pre-natal 

visits, higher contraceptive prevalence rates and DPT3 coverage, and measurable improvements in the 

quality of services provided by health centers. P.L. 480 partners reduced severe malnutrition in their 

target zones. Through USAID’s micronutrient initiative, vitamin A distribution reached 100% of the 

targeted populations. The fortification of bread flour was successfully piloted and legislation put in place 

to operationalize the program permanently. One hundred percent of eligible infants and children were 

reached by the USAID-supported national polio immunization campaign. While HIV prevalence among 

the general population is relatively low, groups such as miners, transport workers, commercial sex 

workers and pregnant woman in urban areas experience significantly higher rates. In 2005 USAID 

supported the opening of four urban voluntary counseling and testing centers for HIV/AIDS and continued 

national “Abstinence, Be Faithful and Use Condoms” (ABC) programs. 

Basic Education: USAID remains one of the largest bilateral contributors to Guinea’s Education for All 

program, taking a lead technical role in promoting quality in basic education. USAID/Guinea’s 

longstanding investment in Parent Associations (PTAs) has paid off at the policy level. In FY 2005 the 

GOG issued an official announcement validating and reinforcing the powers of PTAs with regard to 

school management. In 2005, USAID strengthened and trained over one thousand individual PTA and 

regional PTA federations. Also, with USAID’s support, the Ministry of Education began developing a 
5

policy and action plan for HIV/AIDS in the education sector. USAID continued to strengthen the 

educational system by training over 26,000 primary school teachers, over 800 education authorities, and 

208 school principals. For the first time in Guinea, educational services at the prefectoral and regional 

levels were able to generate their own statistical data in 2005 as a direct result of USAID’s support in this 

area. Over 8,600 girls’ scholarships (Africa Education Initiative plus others) were distributed in 2005. 

Democracy and Governance: In 2005 USAID’s primary local governance implementer closed out and the 

civil society implementer scaled back its activities due to funding shortfalls. By the end of its cooperative 

agreement, USAID’s local governance partner had strengthened 576 community based organizations’ 

capacity to engage with their local authorities. In addition, this US PVO left in its wake a capable and 

registered local non-governmental organization (NGO). Ten civil society organizations, strengthened by 

USAID, carried out a civic education campaign which reached 174,114 people. USAID’s interventions led 

to the creation of a national association of professional organizations which committed itself to reviewing 

and revising the laws regulating professional organizations and successfully advocated for the release of 

an arrested lawyer. USAID/Guinea’s democracy and governance activities in 2005 helped pave the way 

for civil society participation in local elections to take place in December 2006 by generating interest, 

informing citizens of their voting rights, and equipping civil society organizations to act as formal election 

monitors. 

Cross cutting issues: Literacy training continues to be an important cross cutting issue in Guinea. In 

three of four strategic objectives literacy is an essential tool for helping local community members 

participate more meaningfully in USAID’s programs. In FY 2005, USAID provided literacy trained to 

11,172 persons, of whom 56% were women. In our education programs, where the bulk of literacy 

training took place, the pass rate on the final exam was 73%. HIV/AIDS prevention education is also a 

cross cutting activity carried out in all USAID/Guinea’s strategic objectives. In 2005 more than an 

estimated 420,000 persons heard an HIV prevention message delivered by USAID partners. USAID’s 

health activities work extensively on HIV but there are also important HIV activities under the education 

program which helped the GOG draft, budget, and plan for an HIV policy in the education sector. Another 

important cross cutting topic is the strengthening of civil society organizations. All of our strategic 

objectives work with and strengthen local organizations. In 2005 over 2,788 grassroots community based 

organizations were trained and strengthened by USAID/Guinea. In addition, USAID worked with 68 

regional or national level civil society organizations and NGOs. Many of these groups helped implement 

USAID programs and their increased capacity has been acknowledged by other donors and the GOG. 

Gender: USAID/Guinea continues to recognize the pivotal role that men play in decision making on 

family planning and reproductive health issue. Health programs target men and male religious leaders for 

training in these areas. USAID’s community based distribution program for family planning commodities is 

currently dominated by male distributors so USAID is making a special effort to recruit women distributors 

by creating more incentives for them. USAID also acknowledges the importance of literacy training for 

women to enable them to participate in USAID-supported community-based organizations. Under two of 

USAID’s strategic objectives, literacy training is offered in sex differentiated classes to allow women to 

feel more comfortable. Girls’ education is a priority for USAID/Guinea, which in addition to awarding girls’ 

scholarships, implemented complementary activities like finding women mentors for girl students and 

encouraging family members to reduce the domestic chores of girl students so that they can dedicate 

more time to school attendance. In 2005, the majority of USAID-supported micro-credit clients were 

women. While women were under-represented in USAID’s rural civic education outreach activities their 

participation was almost equal to that of men in the capital city. 

Public-Private Alliances and Presidential Initiatives: In 2005 USAID/Guinea had two active public-private 

alliances (PPA). In collaboration with the Guinean Chamber of Mines and the National HIV Committee, a 

study of the impact of HIV on the mining sector was completed. The study will be used to make the case 

for the introduction of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment into the employment policies of mining 

companies. Under the Cashew Public-Private Alliance with Kraft Foods, USAID/Guinea guided the 

development of a cashew chamber of commerce based in Conakry. In addition, Kraft Foods sent a 

representative to Guinea to help in the formulation of a mission strategy in the cashew sector. This 

strategy includes identification of promising cashew varieties, the development of agronomic packages to 
6

increase cashew yields, and linking buyers and sellers. USAID/Guinea benefits from the President’s 

Africa Education Initiative. Under this initiative in 2005, USAID awarded 6000 girls scholarships, provided 

training to over 26,000 teachers and developed textbooks for third and fourth graders. 

For more information on USAID programs in Guinea, please go to USAID/Guinea’s website: 

http://www.usaid.gov/gn 
7

FY 2006 Program 

SO: 675-006 Inclusive Governance Reform Advanced 

Establish & Ensure Media Freedom & Freedom Of Information 

Establish and Ensure Media Freedom and Freedom Of Information ($650,000 DA, $375,000 CSH): 

Following the August 2005 presidential decree liberalizing broadcast media in Guinea, USAID began 

promoting expansion of sources of information available to Guineans. USAID is helping to advance 

independent media by training journalists, strengthening the national communication council, providing 

technical assistance and start-up grants to community radio stations, and developing radio programming 

that relays messages in priority areas such as HIV/AIDS prevention, education, agriculture, biodiversity 

and good governance. Principal contractors and grantees: to be determined. 

Promote And Support Anti-Corruption Reforms 

Promote And Support Anti-Corruption Reforms ($975,000 DA, $623,000 CSH): USAID is increasing 

citizens’ knowledge of corruption to stimulate demand for change. The program is strengthening anticorruption CSOs and the government anti-corruption agency. The program is also addressing priorities 

such as financial and management accountability and transparency in the education, health and 

agriculture sectors. Principal contractors and grantees: to be determined. 

Reduce Transmission & Impact Of HIV/AIDS 

Reduce Transmission and Impact of HIV/AIDS ($3,900,000 CSH): USAID is working to decrease the 

incidence and prevalence of HIV/AIDS in high-risk groups through technical assistance and training that 

focuses on prevention, testing, and treatment. Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centers are being 

established and HIV/AIDS education is being incorporated into school health, adult literacy and national 

health education programs. The program also assists in improving the health sector’s workforce 

development and commodity and logistical supply system for family planning and HIV/AIDS services. 

Principal contractors and grantees: to be determined. 

Strengthen Civil Society 

Strengthen Civil Society ($3,009,000 DA, $503,000 CSH): USAID-funded training, technical assistance 

and sub grants strengthen the technical capacities and efforts of CSOs to hold public officials and 

administrators accountable for their actions, to actively engage in oversight of the government, and to 

advocate for key reforms. CSOs include parent associations, village health committees, and agricultural 

associations. Participants learn about the importance of behavior change in their subject area at the 

same time as civic rights and responsibilities so they can demand better accountability from teachers, 

health worker, extension agents and government authorities. P.L. 480 resources improve village-level 

food security and nutritional status, while promoting a vibrant civil society made up of informed and 

educated citizens. Principal contractors and grantees: to be determined. 

Support Democratic Local Government & Decentralization 

Support Democratic Local Government and Decentralization ($3,221,000 DA, $1,347,000 CSH): USAID 

is advancing decentralization efforts by providing training and technical assistance to local and national 

government institutions to improve technical and management capacity, legal and regulatory frameworks, 

and two-way interactions with civil society. Under the Africa Education Initiative (AEI), USAID is providing 

pre-service and in-service training to over 26,000 primary school teachers and administrators, as well as 

supporting education reform efforts to improve the quality of instruction and the learning environment. 

USAID provides training and technical assistance to increase GOG capacity in improving its agricultural 
8

marketing, extension services and policies. Principal contractors and grantees: to be determined. 

Activities notified under this strategic objective are part of a new strategy statement that is pending 

approval. Should funding levels or activities in this data sheet change substantially once the strategy 

statement is approved, a new notification will be submitted prior to the obligation of any funds. 

FY 2007 Program 

SO: 675-006 Inclusive Governance Reform Advanced 

Establish & Ensure Media Freedom & Freedom Of Information 

Establish and Ensure Media Freedom and Freedom Of Information: ($429,000 DA, $200,000 CSH). 

USAID will continue to support the liberalization of media by providing technical assistance and training to 

private community radio stations, investigative journalists, and radio programming in priority areas. 

Principal contractors and grantees: to be determined. 

Promote And Support Anti-Corruption Reforms 

Promote And Support Anti-Corruption Reforms: ($700,000 DA, $521,000 CSH). USAID will continue to 

support CSOs, the anti-corruption agency, and line ministries in their reform efforts to combat corruption. 

Principal contractors and grantees: to be determined. 

Reduce Transmission & Impact Of HIV/AIDS 

Reduce Transmission and Impact of HIV/AIDS ($3,700,000 CSH): USAID will continue working to 

decrease the incidence and prevalence of HIV/AIDS in high-risk groups and improving the commodity 

and logistical supply systems for family planning and HIV/AIDS services. 

Strengthen Civil Society 

Strengthen Civil Society: ($1,660,000 DA, $200,000 CSH). USAID will continue to strengthen the ability 

of CSOs to promote governance reform, participate in and monitor the quality of education and health 

services, and the rational use and public access to natural resources. P.L. 480 resources will continue to 

improve village-level food security and nutritional status, while promoting a vibrant civil society. Principal 

contractors and grantees: to be determined. 

Support Democratic Local Government & Decentralization 

Support Democratic Local Government and Decentralization: ($1,740,000 DA, $850,000 CSH). USAID 

will continue to improve decentralization efforts and the performance of local and national government 

institutions. USAID will expand its teacher training under the AEI, as well as support to the GOG in the 

implementation of its Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM) program. Principal contractors 

and grantees: to be determined. 

All family planning assistance agreements will incorporate clauses that implement the President’s 

directive restoring the Mexico City Policy. 
9

Results Framework 

675-001 Increased use of sustainable natural resource management practices 

Program Title: Improved Natural Resource Management 

 IR 1.1: Natural resource management planning skills acquired and applied by community-based 

organizations 

 IR 1.2: Farm productivity increased 

 IR 1.3: Small and micro enterprise activities increased 

 IR 1.4: Favorable policy environment established 

675-002 Increased use of essential Family Planning, Maternal and Child Health, and STI/HIV/AIDS 

services, products, and practices 

Program Title: Family Planning and Health (FPH) 

 IR 2.1: Increased access to essential FP, MCH and STI/HIV/AIDS-prevention services and practices 

 IR 2.2: Improved quality of FP, MCH and STI/AIDS prevention services, products, and practices 

 IR 2.3: Increased behavior change and demand for FP, MCH and STI/HIV/AIDS preventions services, 

products, and practices 

 IR 2.4: Increased effective response among donors, GOG, community organizations, NGOs, and the 

private sector in addressing critical health systems constraints 

675-003 Quality basic education provided to a larger percentage of Guinean children, with 

emphasis on girls and rural children 

Program Title: Basic Education 

 IR 3.1: Improved sectoral strategic planning, management and decision-making in basic education 

 IR 3.2: Improved instruction in basic education 

 IR 3.3: Improved community participation in basic education 

 IR 3.4: Improved regional and gender equity in basic education 

675-004 Improved local and national governance through active citizen participation 

Program Title: Democracy and Governance 

 IR 4.1: Effective citizen participation in local governance 

 IR 4.2: More responsive political processes 

 IR 4.3: Increased articulation of citizen interests by target civil society organizations 

675-006 Inclusive Governance Reform Advanced 

Program Title: Democracy and Good Governance 

 IR 1: Increased demand for government transparency, accountability, and effectiveness 

 IR 1.1: Improved civil society participation in governance, health, education, and NRM 

 IR 1.2: Increased citizen access to information 

 IR 1.3: More free and fair elections 

 IR 2: Improved performance of local and national government institutions 

 IR 2.1: National anti-corruption efforts advanced 

 IR 2.2: Capacity and systems of targeted GOG insititutions improved