CARRIBEAN
Caribbean, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica
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Caribbean
NRECA
Training Lineman Program
In 1998, NRECA International Programs started a lineman training program with one of the utilities in the Caribbean. Initially, it was going to be a refresher course for their linemen, a course that would be four weeks in length, one week each quarter. We now have two different courses on two islands and a certified training program with a duration of four years ready to be signed.
Then there are the Virgin Islands, Dominica, St. Thomas, and St. Croix-all of which are eager to start their own lineman training courses, addressing their specific needs: apprentice, advanced, hot-line refresher, or the four-year certified program.
For 2001, NRECA also hopes to expand and introduce more training courses in the Caribbean and elsewhere. We provide a wide array of topics that are targeted to different audiences: directors, management, engineering & operations, etc. We can also customize the course depending on the specific need of a co-op and/or utility.
Land
O'Lakes Farmer to Farmer
The project supports the development of cooperative and association systems overseas through volunteer technical assistance. In the Windward Islands, especially Dominica, the project provides technical assistance for alternative high value crops for small farmers and others heavily impacted by the decline in the banana industry
Cuba
ACDI/VOCA
Alianza Nacional de Agricultores Independientes de Cuba (ANAIC)
In December 2001 ACDI/VOCA completed an eighteen month support and information exchange program that provided members of twelve Independent Cooperatives, various independent farmers and over fifty Independent Libraries with agricultural technical information, Merck Veterinary Manuals, textbooks on cooperatives, their formation and current agricultural practices etc. These materials were collected from a variety of sources in the United States, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia.
Dominican Republic
CHF
International Post-Hurricane Georges Housing Reconstruction Program
CHF channeled financial resources
and provided technical assistance to Dominican NGOs to support the construction
of homes following Hurricane Georges.
RESULTS: Grants Management: 50 subawards to 13 NGOs Houses built: 2,248
Houses repaired: 1,555 Water/sanitation services: 641 families Counterpart
leveraged: $5.3 million Employment generated: 7000 person months
NRECA
International, Ltd. Development Credit Authority
NRECA has been collaborating with AES Corporation, owner of one of the newly privatized electric utility concessions in the DR, on rehabilitating rural distribution systems on a shared-cost basis which is now being developed into a full-system program, possibly with commercial-term credit offered by local banks that would be backed by USAID-funded DCA guarantee.
NRECA
International, Ltd. National Rural Electrification Master
USAID is funding the development a comprehensive, GIS-based rural electrification plan through NRECA in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy's rural electrification superintendent.
NRECA
International, Ltd. Food for Progress
NRECA is monetizing $4.2 million worth of surplus commodities (8,000 MT of soybean oil and 1,000 MT of non-fat dry milk) in the Dominican Republic to finance improvements and repairs to rural electrification systems, including the repair of the rural electric distributions systems devastated by Hurricane Georges. Local proceeds will be placed in a rural electrification fund that will provide loans to electrify rural small businesses, processing plants, water supply and irrigation systems. Some of the proceeds will be provided to local micro-credit institutions to finance mostly U.S. electrical equipment. Rural economic growth will result in purchases from U.S. suppliers and new markets for U.S. agricultural commodities. Locally generated proceeds will be leveraged 2 to 1 with counterpart contributions and NRECA members' equipment donations.
NRECA
International, Ltd. Rehabilitation of Rural Electric Infrastructure Damaged
by Hurricane Georges (REIH)
NRECA International Ltd. recently completed a "Rehabilitation of Rural Electric Infrastructure in Hurricane-Affected Areas Project (REIH)" with $2 million in funding from USAID/Santo Domingo. The hurricane most severely affected southeastern Dominican Republic where 115 mile an hour winds destroyed homes, businesses and the electricity grid. In the towns of Boca del Yuma and San Rafael and outlying regions, the electrical distribution was completely destroyed. The project rebuilt the systems in these towns and others. The project also-- Initiated economic recovery through the promotion of productive electrical uses in commercial and agricultural applications; and Restored community services such as schools, clinics and community water systems through grid extension, internal wiring and renewable solar panels in remote villages.
AAC/MIS
AAC/MIS offers technical assistance and training opportunities to new and emerging member societies. The association responds to requests from cooperatives, credit unions and trade union movements throughout the hemisphere that ask for assistance in forming their own insurance agency, department or company.
A second major program is to foster the exchange of information and viewpoints among member societies. Meetings and training is carried out in Central, South America and the Caribbean present topics of general interest to large and small member organizations. These meetings also provide opportunities for executives and managers of member societies to exchange views and to develop supportive professional relationships. Past topics have covered subjects such as meeting changing capital requirements, investment practices, strategic alliances, fraud, and claims and techniques.
Jamaica
Land
O'Lakes Farmer to Farmer
The project supports the development of cooperative and association systems overseas through volunteer technical assistance. In Jamaica, the emphasis is alternative crops and environmental migration efforts of hillside agriculture.