Improving Basic Education
USAID is assisting the Ministry of Education (MOE) to implement reforms throughout the nation. The USAID basic education program (grades 1 – 12) has five major objectives: (1) Increase access to basic education; (2) Improve quality of teaching and learning; (3) Increase opportunities for girls’ education and community participation in schools; (4) Promote strategies and training to provide graduates sustainable employment; and (5) Strengthen Ministry of Education strategic planning. The strategies to achieve these objectives rely on using both formal and non-formal education approaches to reach out to a diverse and needy population. The project has benefited 100,000 children in primary and middle schools, 1,500 teachers, inspectors, directors, and MOE staff. In combination with CJTF/HOA, over 34 schools have been rehabilitated. In addition, a 30% increase in first year enrollment was recorded in 2005. Over 95,000 textbooks, 46,000 school kits and 150,000 integration modules have been distributed to primary school pupils. Teachers, directors and school administrators have been trained, and guidebooks have been developed for their use. Five teacher resource centers have been constructed, equipped and are in use to develop quality teaching material.
Ambassadors Girls Scholarship Program: In FY 2006, a program to support and encourage girls to enter and stay in school was launched with funds from The President’s Initiative on Girls’ Education. The funds support 1,000 disadvantaged girls throughout the rural and urban areas who may otherwise not enter primary and middle schools, including HIV/AIDS and other orphans. AGSP supports non-formal programs to encourage girls to stay in school such as school supplies, transportation, clothing and tutoring.
English Language Program: Through a grant from USAID, International Foundation for Education and Self Help (IFESH) has placed 6 English Volunteer Teachers for Africa each year, since 2004 at strategic positions at the MOA, to promote the mastery of English, which is deemed essential for the commercial success of Djibouti in a largely English speaking business world.
Fostering a Healthier Society
USAID supports the Government of Djibouti’s long-term health sector development program, which gives priority focus to increasing equitable access to health care, while increasing the quality and efficiency with the objective if reducing infant, child and maternal mortality.
In the rural areas, USAID support assisted the Government of Djibouti to: 1) increase access and supply of essential health services; 2) improve quality of services; and 3) enhance local capacity to sustain health services. These objectives are achieved through rehabilitation and equipping of 23 health posts in rural areas including building of maternity wings at rural clinics, training of over 550 health providers and community health workers, development of a training guide, establishment of 23 independent health committees that work with health providers from the Ministry of Health, and develop a health information management system for data collection. USAID has also contributed to improving routine immunization through funding to UNICEF and WHO. USAID is supporting diagnostic and care of tuberculosis in Djibouti through a grant to WHO. Similarly the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) has provided $200,000 to UNICEF to reduce impact of malnutrition on children. The program, implemented by John Snow Inc. (JSI), benefits approximately 120,000 Djiboutians, most of them women and children in the rural areas.
HIV/AIDS: As part of the Regional Outreach to Address HIV/AIDS, the ROADS Project was launched in 2006 to reduce and mitigate the effects of HIV/AID in vulnerable communities along the Transport Corridor between the port of Djibouti and Ethiopia. Two sites were selected where the project addresses the burden and impact of HIV/AIDS on these communities by providing improved health services including Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT), building the capacity of community organizations to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and support those affected by the disease including people living with HIV/AIDS as well as orphans and vulnerable children. The government of Djibouti has requested assistance on a third site. Over the next five years, in close collaboration with the French Development Agency and other donors, the USG program will build local capacity to manage programs to significantly reduce the threat of this disease.
Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSNET)
The USAID sponsored Famine Early Warning System (FEWSNET) consists of a network of countries that monitors food security. The Djibouti office, which was set up in February 2004, has produced accurate information on rainfall and the state of the environment through monthly news bulletins. The office has also produced studies of urban and rural livelihoods profiles for Djibouti; assisted the Djibouti government in the establishment of a Global Information System(GIS) laboratory; digitally mapped the entire territory of Djibouti; compiled and analyzed cereal imports; developed livestock early warning system, initiated a food security forum and developed a food security strategy. FEWSNET is also in the process of installing a flash flood monitoring and early warning system.
Food Security
Regional Livestock Export Facility: Through a grant to the African Union’s Inter African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU/IBAR), USAID constructed a pilot, modern, regional livestock marketing facility in Djibouti. The facility, which includes large holding pens, laboratory, quarantine facilities and modern veterinary services, was handed over to the Djibouti government in May 2006. It issues health certification for shipment of livestock to the Middle Eastern and other countries. The facility is a private sector initiative supported by USAID and for the use of all neighboring countries.
PL 480 Food Aid: USAID works closely with World Food Program (WFP) to develop and operate a variety of activities that support vulnerable Djiboutians through rural Food for Work activities, food for 47,000 drought victims, urban institutional feeding of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis victims, nursing and pregnant mothers, malnourished children, school feeding and relief to Somali and Ethiopian refugees in Djibouti camps. Commodities supplied include milled, bagged wheat flour, rice, edible oil, lentils, fortified wheat and dried peas. Two-thirds of the food goes to the Djiboutian, and one third to refugees in two camps.
Democracy and Governance
Based on findings and recommendations of an assessment of the governance sector in June 2006, USAID in consultation with the Djibouti government, the Regional East Africa Office, and the U.S Embassy, is implementing a three-year Democracy and Governance program which supports anti-corruption institutions to increase transparency and accountability, encourages peaceful political competition and consensus building, with all sectors of Djiboutian society and groups; supports electoral reform; develops and strengthens democratic political parties, and strengthens civil society.
Other Programs
CENSUS: USAID will support the proposed national census to be carried out in the country in the near future.
RELATIONS WITH THE MILITARY AT CJTF/HOA: USAID signed a two year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2005 with the US military at Camp Lemonier in Djibouti for collaboration in school and health infrastructure rehabilitation. USAID coordinates selection and implementation of facilities for rehabilitation through weekly meetings with the Civil Affairs Unit of the US military and bi weekly meetings with the Djibouti. So far, 23 clinics and 34 schools have been rehabilitated based on recommendations of assessments and in discussions with the government of Djibouti.