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Success Stories
USAID assistance has contributed significantly to the Polish success
story. USAID began office operations in Poland in 1990. The program
focused on: 1) development of a strong market economy and private sector;
2) development and strengthening of institutions necessary for sustainable
democracy; and 3) improvement of the basic quality of life in selected
areas. From 1989 to 1990 USAID assistance was predominantly focused
on humanitarian assistance and stabilization programs, and far less
than on transformation and development of an adequate institutional
and legislative framework. This was considered by the GOP as a first
phase of assistance calling it "fast emergency aid." The second
phase of assistance, which commenced thereafter, addressed the process
of transforming the economy and the social-political system into a free
market economy.
Nobody doubts that the changes that have occurred in Poland since 1989
have been radical. They were often so rapid and deep that it was enough
to leave the country for a few months, at times even just weeks, and
you would come back to somewhere entirely different.
As the assistance program ended, we also tried to summarize some of
our greater achievements: in our close-out publication "USAID
and the Polish Decade", chronologically,
and with examples of impact of various activities
in fields such as private business development, housing and local government,
energy efficiency and environment, and special programs. They are only
examples, but they should give you a flavor of what is possible when
a foreign assistance program is able to work in a country wishing to
make most of that assistance.
You can find more detailed information on some of these specific assistance
programs in the Assistance Projects section
of this website. And the USAID-funded Development
Experience Clearinghouse gives you access not only to over 350 reports
regarding Poland , but also thousands of other reports and documents
regarding USAID’s work throughout the world.
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