Regional development support

Each project component will encompass policy studies, information gathering and dissemination, technical and management training, and TA. To promote efficient energy use, ROCAP will provide a grant to the Central American Research Institute for Industry (ICAITI) to provide training and TA to programs that involve the private sector in power development. ICAITI will also provide TA to public utilities on market realities and demand management, and develop an energy strategy for Central America as a whole. Health and nutrition activities will be directed, initially, toward the Regional Nutrition Institute (INCAP), which will be strengthened -- via a project subgrant -- with respect to financial self-sufficiency as well as in more technical areas relating to health and nutrition. ROCAP will recruit a personal services contractor to survey educational and training needs in the formal academic system and for on-the-job industrial and managerial training. The contractor will also support training activities under a variety of ROCAP projects, including participant follow-ups under the Central American Peace Scholar Program, etc. ROCAP will also provide a Development Program Grant to the Federation of Private Sector Entities of Central America and Panama (FEDEPRICAP) to support the newly formed Central American Federation of Private Universities, which consists of 11 universities and related institutions, in such areas as institutional networking and information sharing. In the areas of shelter and basic infrastructure, the project will finance long-term advisors to serve on the staff of the Regional Housing and Urban Development Office and to provide TA to A.I.D. Missions. A portion of TA funds may be used to improve the management information systems of indigenous organizations involved in shelter and infrastructure. Finally, the project will finance a WID officer for ROCAP along with such activities as a regional newsletter, research on women"s issues, and information networking. FEDEPRICAP will collaborate in some WID activities. Amendment of 8/3/92 redefines the project purpose to include information dissemination as a key objective; eliminates activities in education and training and in shelter and urban development; deletes WID as a separate component while integrating WID into other project activities; and extends the PACD 14 months, to 8/30/96. The amendment adds $2.5 million to establish a Regional Information Clearinghouse that will compile and disseminate information, providing reference and analytical services to regional institutions, donors, and U.S. agencies active in Central America. The additional funding will also support an ancillary Regional Support Fund to finance studies, seminars, training, short-term TA, etc. (PD-ABE-745)