Mexico

USAID has supported Mexico’s initiatives to modernize its criminal justice system, moving away from the written, inquisitorial form of justice to the oral, public and adversarial criminal justice system.

Overview

Mexico is a member of the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and shares a 2,000-mile border with the United States. Mexico is the 12th largest economy in the world and the third largest trading partner of the U.S. It had $11 billion in foreign direct investment and received $23 billion in remittances in 2009. Yet Mexico still faces huge gaps between rich and poor, north and south, urban and rural. Over 40% of the country’s population is poor (living on less than $2 per day), while close to 18% is extremely poor (living on less than $1 per day).

The goal of the USAID program in Mexico is to support bilateral coopera-tion to resolve challenges that face both nations. USAID programs sup-port Mexican initiatives in justice system reform, competitiveness, and sustainable development; so that Mexico can provide its citizens eco-nomic opportunities and safe communities.

Joint U.S./Mexico development activities present opportunities beyond Mexico’s borders and avenues for south/south cooperation.

USAID Mexico received $28 million in FY10 for its development coopera-tion program. The USAID program supports Mexican development and reform initiatives in the following key areas:

Programs

Governing Justly & Democratically

Strengthened Rule of Law

USAID supports Mexico’s initiatives to modernize its criminal justice sys-tem, moving away from the written, inquisitorial form of justice to the oral, public and adversarial criminal justice system. In addition, USAID sup-ports mediation and restorative justice capacity building and provides technical assistance at state and federal levels to draft comprehensive anti-Trafficking In Persons laws.

The Merida Initiative

The Mérida Initiative is a new strategy for regional security cooperation between Mexico and the United States, contributing to our bi-national ef-forts to combat organized crime. USAID funded activities encourage civil society participation in promoting reforms, increasing public security, and increasing respect for human rights.

Economic Growth

Competitiveness

USAID supports Mexican-led initiatives to improve the country’s competitiveness. The competitiveness program works with Mexican federal, state, and local government entities, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector in sustainable environmental management, more effective and efficient government, and more efficient production factors and precursor markets.

Investing In People

Prevention & Control of Infectious Diseases
USAID supports Mexican efforts to improve responsiveness, prevention and control of infectious diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.  Activities in HIV/AIDS include promoting behavior to minimize risk of contracting HIV and public policies that combat the stigma and discrimination associated with the disease. 

USAID cooperates with Mexico’s Health Secretariat and its National Tuberculosis Control program to improve planning and modernize technologies for TB detection, diagnosis, and treatment.

Higher Education
Through the Training, Internships, Exchanges and Scholarship (TIES) Program, USAID  strengthens the capacity of higher education institutions of both nations to examine mutual development problems, work in strategic alliances, develop solutions, and further strengthen Mexico’s competitiveness.

USAID offers one-year teacher training scholarships and two-year technical training programs to provide more opportunities for disadvantaged youth, particularly from rural and indigenous populations. Teachers and youth return from their U.S. training programs to their communities to implement skills gained and lead community projects.  To date, USAID has funded over 1,000 scholarships.