US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA2348

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002348 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/PPC, WHA/USOAS, AND DRL/PHD 
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CEN AND DCHA/DG 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KDEM, HO 
SUBJECT: HONDURAN ELECTIONS:  USAID TECHINCAL ASSISTANCE TO 
SUPREME ELECTORAL TRIBUNAL AND NGOS 
 
REF: (A) Tegucigalpa 2253 and previous 
 
1.  USAID has earmarked USD 123,000 of Bureau of Democracy, 
Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA) core funds 
under DCHA's contract with the International Foundation for 
Election Systems (IFES) to provide almost three months of 
services from a highly regarded and experienced Spanish 
elections expert, Rafael Lopez-Pintor, and two months of 
services from an elections information technology 
specialist, Jaime Vargas, for the November general 
elections.  DCHA also provided USD 65,000 to IFES to provide 
Mr. Lopez-Pintor's assistance with the February 2005 
primaries, significantly impacting the transparency and 
openness of the TSE decisions and processes.  Mr. Lopez 
Pintor has been working since September with the Supreme 
Electoral Tribunal (TSE) to develop strategic approaches to 
implementing the new elections law.  Mr. Lopez-Pintor 
completed (a) an assessment of the TSE's organizational and 
administrative ability to conduct national elections, and 
(b) is providing direct advisory services to the TSE. 
Vargas has helped set up the information center for the 
quick count and tallying of the ballots with the TSE 
personnel. 
 
2.  USAID is also using about USD 216,000, converted from 
local currency trust fund resources, to fund a Cooperative 
Agreement with the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights. 
As such, the Center for Electoral Assessment and Promotion 
(CAPEL) is providing advisory assistance to (a) the GOH and 
NGOs in developing a national voter education program, and 
to (b) the GOH implementing the elections in accordance with 
the new law. 
 
3.  USAID's Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) 
provided USD 150,000 in financial assistance to electoral 
activities in support of the Ruling Justly Strategic 
Objective.  This was added to USD 250,000 of USAID SROL 
funds and USD 150,000 of Economic Support Funds for use in 
the primaries.  Specifically, funds were obligated on August 
30, 2004 through an amendment to a Cooperative Agreement 
with the Federation of Development Associations of Honduras 
(FOPRIDEH), an NGO umbrella organization, in preparation for 
the February 2005 primaries.  FOPRIDEH has been working, 
with USAID assistance, on electoral reform for several 
years, and was instrumental in building public and 
Congressional support to change the electoral laws. 
FOPRIDEH signed an agreement with the TSE to formalize joint 
cooperation during the 2005 election cycle, with FOPRIDEH 
centering its program on a civic education campaign (media 
and leaflets).  The goal of this effort was to familiarize 
voters with the new voting systems used for the primaries as 
required by the new law and to promote a dialogue on the 
role and importance of civil society and political parties 
to democracy in Honduras. 
 
4.  On November 3, 2004, USAID, through the Strengthened 
Rule of Law Program (SROL), agreed to a GOH request to use 
USD one million (in local currency funds) to support the TSE 
during the 2005 elections.  A Memorandum of Understanding 
(MOU) was jointly signed with the Organization of American 
States (OAS) and the GOH Ministry of Finance (MOF) in order 
to collectively support the electoral process. 
Specifically, USAID funds were used during the run up to the 
February primaries for training, elections materials, an 
elections manual, a domestic election observers program, and 
in support of the National Registry of Persons (RNP).  USD 
245,000 in remnant funds was reprogrammed for the November 
general elections for a training of the trainers program for 
poll workers. 
 
5.  Given the importance of the elections, USAID also made 
the difficult decision to re-allocate USD 750,000 from the 
previously allocated 2006-08 justice sector activities with 
FOPRIDEH due to the foreseen negative impact of not having a 
voter education program and domestic election observers. 
While this will limit other projects FOPRIDEH will be able 
to do in the future, given the lack of other available 
funding and the urgency of this issue, this was deemed 
essential. 
 
Ford