USAID/OTI Peru Program Description
FY2002 Budget - $7,000,000
Following the sudden collapse of the Fujimori regime in November 2000, USAID called on the Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) to provide critical support for Peru's transition to democratic governance. In February 2001, OTI initiated a two-year, $10.5 million program to support Peru's democratic transition. In designing its program, OTI worked closely with USAID, the US Embassy, the Peruvian government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other key stakeholders. OTI has continued to hold periodic strategy workshops to review program strategies and ensure that they continue to be appropriate in Peru's changing political context. OTI works in partnership with a variety of partners, including local governmental and nongovernmental institutions and NGOs. OTI supports short-term, high-impact activities and has worked in all of Peru's 25 departments. Between February 2001 and August 2002, OTI has approved 199 projects totaling $5.9 million. OTI's total two-year grants budget is $6.6 million.
OTI's Five Program Areas are:
Civilian-Military Relations: OTI promotes improved civilian oversight of the military by providing: training and technical assistance to the Peruvian Congress to support more informed, participatory decision-making processes related to defense and security; support to improve the quality and quantity of media coverage of military; and support for civil-military dialogues to increase civil society's understanding of defense policy and the importance of civilian control over the military.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC): OTI provides technical assistance and training to TRC members and staff facilitating the TRC's work, as well as to NGOs that work in coordination with the TRC. OTI has also helped support media campaigns and other activities designed to ensure that the TRC's impact is maximized.
Decentralization and Local Government: OTI has supported public hearings and information campaigns about the proposed decentralization framework to inform civil society about new policy proposals, and to facilitate broad public participation in the policy-making process. OTI has also supported activities strengthening participatory local governance, which will be a key component of the new decentralized structure's success.
Congressional Reform: In order to ensure that the newly-elected, multi-district Congress acts as an effective balance to the executive branch, OTI has provided support to train legislators and staffers, for national and local information campaigns for citizens about the role and functions of Congress, and for activities such as public hearings and town hall meetings facilitating Congressional accountability and responsiveness to the Peruvian electorate.
Anti-Corruption: OTI promotes the development of national initiatives to combat corruption, and increases capacity of civil society and local institutions to monitor the management and use of public resources. OTI activities have included technical workshops and training events for policy makers, information campaigns for citizens, national and international conferences and seminars, and support for local-level citizen vigilance networks established to monitor the use of public resources.
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