Guyana

Papayas grown on demonstration farm: Updated technologies such as drip irrigation, greenhouse cultivation, improved post-harvest handling practices and better seed / varieties have been introduced with USAID’s assistance.

Overview

Guyana has a small, open economy with a domestic market limited by a very modest population of 748,486.  A former British colony and the only English-speaking country in South America, Guyana faces development challenges including a lack of political consensus on important developmental issues,  high levels of out-migration of skilled workers, an HIV/AIDS epidemic that places a heavy demand on an already burdened health sector, and a high crime rate. Despite these challenges, an important opportunity exists as a result of the Government of Guyana’s (GOG) stated commitment to pursue political and economic reform. 

In February 2010, USAID completed implementation of a $6.7 million Millenium Challenge Corporation Threshold Country program that focused on providing technical assistance and support to improve Guyana’s fiscal and financial management infrastructure and policies by strengthening tax administration and expenditure controls. It also focused on the creation of a more business-friendly environment which would reduce the time and cost to register a business, worked at improving Parliament’s fiduciary oversight of government budget operations, and enhanced government procurement.

Programs

Governing Justly & Democratically

USAID supports the government of Guyana’s efforts to enhance and improve governance systems and institutions and democratic processes.  In the areas of rule of law and human rights, USAID's support is directed at enhancing the efficiency of the judiciary by encouraging greater use of mediation as a means of resolving civil cases, training of justice sector personnel, and extending the computerized case information system.   Support in the area of good governance focuses on capacity building for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of local government bodies following elections.  Encouraging processes in support of free, fair, and violence-free local and national elections is one of the focal points of USAID's support in the area of political competition and consensus building.  The other focal point is creating an enabling environment for interaction and continued engagement of key stakeholders including political parties, private sector, and civil society, on issues of national importance.  USAID also supports the GOG in its efforts to address issues related to trafficking in persons (TIP). 

Economic Growth

USAID’s economic growth activities are centered on improving Guyana's private sector and export competitiveness and providing support for economic and institutional reform to tap the country’s considerable potential as an exporter of value-added products, in a sustainable manner.
Activities are aimed at increasing investments and non-traditional value- added exports in four subsectors: wood products, aquaculture, agribusiness, and ecotourism.  The program uses a market-led approach to strengthen the targeted sub-sectors, working with investors, strategic buyers, and “anchor firms” in Guyana to invest in new capacity, technology, and standards.  This approach also concentrates on initiatives to identify international buyers, penetrate export markets, enable firms and supply chains to respond to market opportunities, and improve the capacity of sector-specific organizations to provide firms with the support needed to take advantage of export opportunities. 

  In the last year, the Government of Guyana has made a strategic link between its future economic development and its rich natural resource base, especially in the form of its pristine forests. During the year, the Government issued a Low Carbon Development Strategy, began implementation of a Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Readiness Plan (R-PP), and signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Norway to receive payments over the next five years in exchange for progress in implementing the R-PP. USAID is providing strategic technical support and capacity building to the Guyana Forestry Commission in R-PP implementation through a Participating Agency Partnership Agreement (PAPA) with the United States Forestry Service (USFS).

Investing In People

Guyana is a focus country under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).  In partnership with the Guyana Ministry of Health (MOH), the USAID Health program is focused on prevention, treatment, care, and support services for persons living with HIV/AIDs, as well as those orphaned or vulnerable, The program also strengthens public health systems, and enhances civil society and the private sector response to HIV/AIDS.  Present program priorities include prevention programming that ensures safe motherhood, promotes abstinence and faithfulness, as well as targeted approaches for at-risk populations. Comprehensive care and support programs focus on improving the quality of life of persons living with HIV.  Interventions for health systems strengthening focus on strengthening health information systems and promoting data use for decision making, improving health commodity management systems, and building health care worker capacity to respond to HIV/AIDS and other diseases and conditions that impact the health of Guyanese.