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Press Release - Draft
December 10, 2002
OAS AGENCY ANNOUNCES GRANTS TO SUPPORT DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS, SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
WASHINGTON, D.C. As part of its efforts to promote democratic development in the region, the Organization of American States (OAS) will help member states with grants worth a total $1 million to help fund 18 national and regional projects, many to tackle rural development challenges.
The primary focus areas are: technical support to small and medium businesses in traditional and new economic sectors, provision of skills training and employment to under-served groups such as the handicapped and young people. "Social development is integral to poverty alleviation in Latin America and the Caribbean," stated Ronald Scheman, Director General of the Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Development (IACD), the OAS' technical cooperation arm.
The IACD Management Board approved the financial support for these and a range of other 2003 projects submitted by the member states, during a recent meeting in Washington.
Another grant was announced, for nearly half million dollars, to support five national and regional projects focused on democratic development in the region. All but two of the programs selected were from the Caribbean. They include a project for monitoring democracy in Central America, e-government, constitutional reform, women's political training and reform of civil registries.
Regional tourism projects also stand to benefit from other grants announced.
Through funding for nearly half a million dollars, the Agency will assist four programs that are particularly focused on the regional development of ecotourism. "There is a delicate balance between tourism and preservation of the environment. The onset of ecotourism presents a benefit to both. It allows visitors to enjoy our extraordinary natural resources but gives incorporates mechanisms to safeguard those resources at the same time," declared Scheman.
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For further information contact:
Cece MacVaugh at
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