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Congressional Budget Justification FOREIGN OPERATIONS Annex: Regional Perspectives
Fiscal Year 2012 TOC Return
Cuba
Foreign Assistance Program Overview
U.S. assistance provides humanitarian assistance to prisoners of conscience and their families,
strengthens civil society by supporting civic action movements and coalitions, and promotes
fundamental freedoms, namely freedom of expression.
Request by Account and Fiscal Year
($ in thousands)
FY 2010
Enacted
FY 2010
Actual
FY 2011
CR
FY 2012
Request
ADJUSTED TOTAL (Enduring + War Supp)
Economic Support Fund
20,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
*
*
20,000
20,000
Non-War Supplemental
TOTAL
0
20,000
0
20,000
*
*
0
20,000
Request by Objective by Account, Program Area and Fiscal Year
FY 2010
Actual
($ in thousands)
Cuba
2 Governing Justly and Democratically
Economic Support Fund
2.1 Rule of Law and Human Rights
2.4 Civil Society
FY 2011
CR
20,000
20,000
20,000
5,000
15,000
FY 2012
Request
*
*
*
*
*
20,000
20,000
20,000
4,000
16,000
Request by Program Area and Fiscal Year
FY 2010
Actual
($ in thousands)
Cuba
2 Governing Justly and Democratically
2.1 Rule of Law and Human Rights
2.4 Civil Society
of which: Objective 6
6.2 Administration and Oversight
20,000
20,000
5,000
15,000
1,285
1,285
FY 2011
CR
FY 2012
Request
*
*
*
*
*
*
20,000
20,000
4,000
16,000
2,000
2,000
Governing Justly and Democratically
Cuba is the only non-democratically elected government in the Western Hemisphere, and one of
the most politically repressive countries in the world. In view of these challenges, U.S. assistance
for Cuba aims to empower Cuban civil society to advocate for greater democratic freedoms and
respect for human rights.
Economic Support Fund (ESF): The promotion of democratic principles remains the core goal of
U.S. assistance, and there is an increased effort to manage programs more transparently, focus
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efforts on the island, and widen the scope of the civic groups receiving support. U.S. assistance
aims to strengthen a range of independent elements of Cuban civil society, including associations
and labor groups, marginalized groups, youth, legal associations, and women’s networks.
Programs are designed to increase the capacity for community involvement of, and networking
among, civil society organizations. U.S. assistance supports information sharing into and out of
Cuba, as well as among civil society groups on the island, including through the use of new
technology. To advance the cause of human rights in Cuba, the United States supports Cuban
efforts to document human rights violations, provides humanitarian assistance to political prisoners
and their families, and builds the leadership skills of a future generation of civil society leaders.
The United States also supports the dissemination of information regarding market economies and
economic rights.
Performance Information in the Budget and Planning Process
Performance Monitoring and Evaluation: The Cuba program included several program
evaluations and assessments in FY 2010. The findings significantly informed FY 2011 and
FY 2012 budget and planning decisions, including the decision to support efforts most likely to
have a direct impact on the island.
Conducting performance monitoring and evaluation on the Cuba program presents unique
challenges. Traditional monitoring and evaluation mechanisms cannot be relied upon, given the
sensitive context in which the program operates. Thus, the program works closely with
implementing partners to ensure accurate and complete reporting of project activities, to identify
ways to consolidate information obtained from different sources about the services delivered by
grantees and contractors, and to measure outputs and program impact through alternative means.
In FY 2011, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State
are working closely with grantees and contractors to ensure performance management is
incorporated in the program design and program implementation stages. During the lifetime of
programs, implementing agencies work closely with implementing organizations to ensure outputs
and outcomes are measured and on target to be achieved. Additionally, USAID and the
Department of State conduct internal quarterly program reviews to discuss challenges and
successes and ensure programs are on track to meet goals and objectives.
Use of Performance Information to Inform Budget and Programmatic Choices: The Department
of State and USAID worked jointly throughout FY 2010 to identify the most successful
programming areas to date, as well as topics for future year programming most likely to achieve
impact in Cuba. In particular, supporting freedom of information and enhanced communication
among Cuban civil society have been identified as priority activities for current and future-year
assistance funds.
Moving forward, the Cuba program will continue to include several implementing bureaus from
the Department of State and USAID, which offer complementary strengths to ensure a
well-managed program focused on outcome-based achievement.
Relationship Between Budget and Performance: FY 2012 resources will be used to support
activities that have demonstrated greatest success and impact. In response to increasingly more
vibrant and vocal pro-democracy movement on the island, U.S. assistance would be used to support
nascent pro-democracy groups while enhancing information sharing opportunities through the use
of technology and new media.
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