Guyana

Successful beneficiary from the Micro-Enterprise Loan Program applies her trade for income. In Guyana, USAID has worked diligently to establish and build local partnerships. The Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED), a financial institution established 20 years ago with support from USAID, is one of these partners. USAID has worked with IPED to establish a Micro-Financing Project for People Living with HIV/AIDS in an effort to help HIV/AIDS-affected individuals become more productive and independent.

Overview

Guyana has a small, open economy with a domestic market limited by a modest population of approximately 770,000. A former British colony and the only English-speaking country in South America, Guyana faces many development challenges: an especially vulnerable economy, rising crime, poor security, continued out-migration, an HIV/AIDS prevalence of 2.5 percent, human trafficking, and a political climate that threatens the country’s ability to consolidate democratic governance. 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 August 2007, Guyana signed a $6.7 million Threshold Country Plan (TCP) agreement with the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Implementation of the two-year TCP program began in January 2008. The program focuses on providing technical assistance and support to improve Guyana’s fiscal and financial management infrastructure and policies by strengthening tax administration and expenditure controls; create an enabling and more business-friendly environment that would reduce the time and cost for business registration; and assist with improving Parliament’s fiduciary oversight of the GOG’s budget operations. The TCP program’s main partners are the Guyana Revenue Authority, Deeds Registry, Ministry of Finance, Guyana Office for Investment, and parliamentary committees. USAID’s current programming in Guyana promotes activities in the economic growth, democracy and governance, and health sectors, seeking to support the GOG and the people of Guyana in efforts to overcome developmental challenges facing the country.

Programs

Governing Justly & Democratically

USAID supports democracy and governance in Guyana to encourage and facilitate dialogue and consensus-building among key stakeholders; strengthen private sector and civil society organizations; encourage greater citizen participation governance processes; encourage processes in support of free, fair, and non-violent local and national elections; and support improved access to justice through the use of mediation and provision of legal aid services. USAID also supports the GOG in efforts to combat trafficking-in-persons. Principal partners include the private sector, political parties, civil society organizations, Guyana Elections Commission, and Neighborhood Democratic Councils.

Economic Growth

USAID programs focus on improving Guyana's economic competitiveness and providing support for economic and institutional reform to tap the country’s considerable potential as an exporter of value-added products. USAID activities are aimed at implementing a market-led approach that provides Guyanese firms with the tools and information needed to increase their visibility and presence in North American and European export markets. The four targeted sub-sectors include wood products, birding tourism, agri-business, and aquaculture. USAID concentrates on initiatives that identify international buyers and help 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.

Investing In People

Guyana is a focus country under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). USAID’s PEPFAR health program in Guyana focuses on reducing HIV transmission, mitigating the impact of illness, and strengthening the public healthcare system. Under this program, USAID supports the GOG, civil society, and private sector by strengthening and expanding existing efforts to sustain a continuous, integrated, and effective response to HIV/AIDS. USAID supports marketing efforts that target the entire public through behavior change communication, aiming to reinforce healthy lifestyles and mobilize the community to access prevention programs, testing, and treatment services. For persons living with HIV/AIDS, as well as those orphaned or vulnerable to the disease, USAID provides care and support services, in addition to lifesaving anti-retroviral medications. USAID programs also assist in strengthening coordination and collaboration among key players, including governmental and donor agencies.