Country Fact Sheet Cuba Table of contents

Donor Aid

1. Overview

See overview of donor intervention per thematic area in annex 2.

Main multilateral and multistate organisations are the UN and EU. In terms of State to State development cooperation Spain is the most important players. However, most cooperation is through indirect cooperation actors as NGOs and universities.

2. EU – Cuba – Indicative Cooperation Programme 2011-2013

The overall objective of this programme is to contribute to the sustainable economic and social development of Cuba. This objective is to be pursued through support to be provided in the sectors of:

• 
  Food security (€10 million)
  
• 
  Environment and Adaptation to Climate Change (€7 million)
  
• 
  Expertise exchanges, training and studies (€3 million)
  

These funds can be complemented by projects and programmes financed under the DCI and EDF regional programme

Priority 1: Food security

Responding to national food insecurity through appropriate measures is a clear and declared priority of the Cuban authorities.

At the core of this national priority lay processes of both transfer of the key role in food production from state-owned companies to cooperatives and individual producers, and decentralisation of the decision-making process for the production and distribution of foodstuffs from the central to the municipal level.

1. Main priorities and goals

The main priority of this component is to contribute to the continued and sustainable economic and social development of Cuba, in particular supporting production and diversification of Cuban agriculture in a sustainable way.

2. Specific objectives and target beneficiaries

The specific objective of this programme is to contribute to the improvement of Cuban food security, through increased economic sustainability of local production focusing on small scale agriculture. Direct beneficiaries will include cooperatives and smallholders as well as municipalities. Indirect beneficiaries will include Cuban population in general terms, benefiting from the increased and diversified access to foodstuffs.

3. Expected results

The indicative expected results of this sector are:

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  diversification and increase of smallholder (including urban and sub-urban) farmers’
  

products’ supply;

• 
  modernisation of the agricultural sector through strengthened food processing commercialisation, marketing and distribution;
  
• 
  supporting the sustainability of food production by reducing the dependency on fossil fuels through the promotion of bio-fuels and small-scale renewable energy generation capability;
  
• 
  consolidation and strengthening of the decentralised approach to food supply and the chain of getting goods to the markets;
  
• 
  improved farmers’ capacity and access to innovation, new technologies and exchange of relevant experiences in the sector.
  

4. Programmes to be implemented in pursuit of these objectives and type of assistance to be provided

Programmes in the sector could include i.a. training and capacity building, supply of inputs and equipment, technical assistance, scientific cooperation, small scale production and processing infrastructure.

5. Integration of cross-cutting themes

Gender will be taken into account as a cross-cutting issue during both the identification and the implementation phases of all the priorities of the National Indicative Programme. With this aim, the European Union Delegation will liaise with the relevant women associations and stakeholders in the country. Special attention will be paid to assess the links between poverty and gender and propose actions accordingly. At project identification level, specific measures will be taken to ensure adequate attention to gender issues, with possible inclusion of a related budget and expected results where relevant. Such strategy would be monitored and assessed as the rest of the actions included in the projects As regards food security and agricultural production, empowerment of women and girls is a necessary pre-condition for programmes' sustainability. The Food Security sector is already identifying (under the DCI Food Security Thematic Programme and Food Facility programmes in Cuba) and will continue to identify women-headed households and female producers among priority target groups.

Programmes will ensure that women will be fully represented in decentralised decision making and that investments are prioritised taking into consideration their capacity to remove specific constraints faced by women in the households. More generally, attention will be given to issues of access and participation of people and organisations concerned by actions as well as non-discrimination towards vulnerable groups.

Similarly, environmental sustainability of all development activities is also a key element for achieving lasting poverty reduction and sustainable development. Thus, environment and sustainable management of natural resources will be integrated into all projects' activities. In this particular sector, actions will be designed so as to support sustainable development, promoting where possible low-inputs, organic productive methods.

6. Financial envelope:

The total indicative budget planned is €10 million.

7. Activities under other EU budgetary instruments in the country

The Commission will or is already supporting food security projects under the Food Security Thematic Programme (FSTP) 2009 (€16.5 million) and the Food Facility (€11.7 million). These on-going or planned activities are fully coherent with the objectives and interventions planned in the NIP (see CSP – Chapter 3). It is intended that support under FSTP will continue during the period of 2011-2013. Complementarity between the NIP and thematic programmes will be ensured through appropriate coordination between geographic and thematic Annual Action Plans. Given the scale of needs, complementarity can easily be ensured by expanding programmes into other provinces/municipalities and/or by combining different implementing partners.

3. United Nations – UNDP Programme

Cuba is one of the 51 founding States of the United Nations. Over the past four decades it has played a significant role in all United Nations forums. Cuba is an active partner of the United Nations operational system for development and welcomed the first international office of that agency when the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) opened its office in Havana in 1950.

Eleven of the 15 United Nations agencies have offices in Cuba. In all, the United Nations agencies have carried out more than 1,300 projects over the past 30 years, for a total of US$350 million. The collaboration of UN agencies, funds, and programs (UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP, UNESCO, PAHO/WHO, FAO, WFP), as well as NGOs (i.e., Doctors without Borders of the Netherlands and Spain, Physicians of the World of France, MediSwiss, a group of Italian volunteers, Hivos of the Netherlands, and Unitarian University, among others) have worked on the development of the National Action against HIV/AIDS Framework through the project “Strengthening of the National Multisectoral Response for the Treatment and Prevention of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the Republic of Cuba.” This project was financed by the Global Fund, which approved this 5-year project for Cuba in the amount of US$26.15 million (January 2003).

Due to the economic situation of the 1990s, in 1992 a system was organized within the National Health System to receive donations from a variety of different sources. Its results have proven significant in terms of increasing the mobilization of internal and external resources for the health sector, disbursed primarily through projects and their rational use for specific objectives, via planned and controlled processes.

Cuba has promoted the Technical Cooperation among Countries as a tool for horizontal cooperation, understanding, and solidarity. Within the policy framework implemented by PAHO/WHO, Cuba has launched 67 projects within a period of 12 years, working together with countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

WHO strategic agenda

Drawing on Cuban health research, development proposals and challenges, the types and content of development assistance and associations, PAHO/WHO technical cooperation and its special features in the country, and WHO policies at the global and regional levels, a set of joint cooperation priorities were identified that have defined Cuba’s health strategies. These strategies will be supported by PAHO/WHO and their main efforts and resources will concentrate on the following

Cooperation Modalities:

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  support for the development and dissemination of scientific research and technological innovations;
  
• 
  identification, systematization, and documentation of best practices and experiences for decision-making;
  
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  support for information and knowledge management;
  
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  evaluation of public health policies, programs, and interventions;
  
• 
  support for the formation and participation of partnerships and national and international networks;
  
• 
  decentralized cooperation for local capacity building;
  
• 
  mobilization of resources to strengthen strategic actions for national health development.
  

National Policies:

briefly, will emphasize on:

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  improving health system response capacity, quality, and efficiency through development of the primary health care approach and polyclinic system;
  
• 
  providing universal education, training, and upgrading of human resources via new teaching scenarios and cutting-edge programs;
  
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  controlling the risks and harm from infectious and no communicable diseases, addictions, and violence;
  
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  harnessing scientific and technological innovation for health;
  
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  promoting international solidarity.
  

The technical areas of the Ministry of Public Health have worked to make these policies health system priorities and to incorporate them into work strategies. Other sectors working on public health problems have designed and based their strategic work partnerships with the health system on these policies and priorities. The agencies of the United Nations system have defined and selected their priorities on the basis of country cooperation, especially with the National Health System and the priorities it has established.

Cooperation Priorities

for the next 3-year period (2008-1010) are as follows:

• 
  contribute to the development of policies to promote health and the quality of life;
  
• 
  help strengthen the National Health System by improving primary health care, with special emphasis on the development of Municipal Health Bureau (Dirección Municipal de Salud) and the Polyclinic;
  
• 
  support national efforts to improve the quality of health services, emphasizing accreditation, technological adaptation, regulation, and strengthening of the regulatory authority;
  
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  Support the national priority of improving the integrated public health surveillance system, with special emphasis on early warning and forecasting capability, in accordance with the provisions of the International Health Regulations;
  
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  contribute to the strengthening of the health sector and intersectoral action to respond to the aging of the population;
  
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  support the strengthening of the new model of human resources education in primary care and the Polyclinic system, with emphasis on the use of new technologies in education, information, and communication;
  
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  support the development of Primary Environmental Care, within the framework of the updating of sector analyses of water, sanitation, and solid waste, with emphasis on the identification and management of environmental health hazards;
  
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  promote scientific exchanges and the dissemination and use, as appropriate, of the results of the institutions of the Scientific Pole and WHO Centers of Excellence and Collaborating Centers;
  
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  support the enhancement of programs that contribute to the fulfillment of national nutrition and food security strategies;
  
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  support the enhancement of national procedures for evaluating the National Maternal and Child Program, with emphasis on actions to reduce maternal mortality;
  
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  contribute to the development of national procedures for evaluating programs on the most prevalent no communicable diseases and support the national social communication strategy;
  
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  support compliance with and national procedures for evaluating the Program of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control and enhancing capacity to meet the challenges of emerging and re-emerging diseases;
  
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  support National Health System initiatives for preventing and mitigating the health impact of disasters on the population;
  
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  support international health cooperation by promoting successful Cuban experiences in other countries and facilitate the country’s access and participation to innovative projects in the development of international health policy and international and regional agreements in health.
  

4. AECID in Cuba

AECID in Cuba strongly focuses on rural development in Eastern Cuba. The “Programa de Desarrollo Rural el Oriente Cubano (Programa Oriente Rural)” aims at contributing with local development processes in the rural sector and support the Cuban's governments actions in this respect. The idea is to stimulate processes of change and local development in 5 provinces of eastern Cuba (Guantánamo, Santiago, Granma, Holguín y Las Tunas).

The four main intervention areas are:

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  support of local policies in the context of rural development in small communities and cities;
  
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  strengthening of cooperatives in the agricultural sector (livestock and crop agriculture) and of initiatives regarding the diversification of production as a way to stimulate local market provisions and import substitution;
  
• 
  promote initiatives in the rural sector in terms of stimulating value chain development;
  
• 
  in all its actions gender equality is being placed on the agenda, as well in the context of local development plans as in the context of economic development processes.
  

Beneficiaries: men and women from small rural comunities in 5 provinces in eastern Cuba, approximately 3.967.371 persons of which 1.445.536 are women.

The Project is also looking at the possibilitiies for universities and research centres, student organisations to contribute with the implementation of the project which is running from 2011 to 2014.

Another sector of interest of Spanish cooperation with Cuba deals with Environment, climate change and habitat.

3 main strategic focus areas can be distinguished:

1. Water ressources and management with special interest on water provision and basic sanitation.

The interventions are to be seen in the context of the Fondo de Agua y Saneamiento Básico of the Spanish cooperation.

2. Promotion of renewable and efficent energy, based on renewable energy sources and adapted technologies.

Region: eastern southern coastline of Cuba (PRODESCO), in particular 5 municipalities in the province of Guantánamo (Maisí, Niceto Pérez, Imias, San Antonio del Sur and Guantánamo), 3 in the province of Santiago de Cuba (San Luís, Santiago de Cuba and Guamá) and 2 in the province of Granma (Pilón and Niquero).

Actors: municipal and provincial authorities but also the institution CUBASOLARhigh-leven adn specialised in the matter. Priority: looking at sustainable energy use and adequate use of renewable energy sources.

 3. Risk management and desaster prevention.

Most projects on this matter are situated in the context of the Fondo España-PNUD “Hacia un Desarrollo Integrado e Inclusivo en América Latina y el Caribe”.  

Social development

The social development programme of AECID supports the strengthening of Cuban basic social services which are universal and free for the population.

In the area of education the general objective is to strengthen the National Educational System through a collaboaration with Minesterio de Educación (MES) in the following areas:

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  la evaluación y actualización crricular, promoviendo el desarrollo de competencias transversales como la educación en valores, en sexualidad y géneros, el desarrollo sostenible y la utilización de las TIC;
  
• 
  los procesos y resultados de enseñanza-aprendizaje mediante el apoyo a:
  
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  la formación inicial y permanente del personal docente, incluidos los y las de la vía no institucional, y de la administración educativa.
  
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  el trabajo investigativo
  
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  la dotación de recursos educativos básicos, que incorporen las actualizaciones e innovaciones apoyadas.
  
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  la rehabilitación y mejora de las condiciones de vida que brinda la escuela;
  
  • 
    los procesos de participación en la educación;
    
  • 
    la integración educativa y social de niños, niñas y jóvenes con necesidades educativas especiales o en situación de desventaja social;
    

In the health sector, general support is given to the health policies of the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP). The following action lines were defined:

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  El fortalecimiento de las capacidades del Sistema Nacional de Salud en el área de la gestión de la salud pública
  
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  El apoyo a acciones dirigidas a la disminución y control de los factores de riesgo más importantes que afectan la salud de la población a través de otros Programas que cuentan con el apoyo de  la Cooperación Española
  

Gender and development

Gender is a transversal issue for all AECID activities in Cuba and the goal is to achieve full equality between men and women . The goal is to achieve full human and citizens rights for women through emancipation and empowering activities.

Cultural Heritage Programme (in Spanish)

La cooperación en la preservación del patrimonio persigue los objetivos de desarrollo humano y social prioritarios de creación de riqueza y mejora de las condiciones de vida, a través de la puesta en valor y gestión sostenible del patrimonio cultural, estableciendo las condiciones para que esas mejoras beneficien especialmente a la población de menores recursos. Además, favorece el desarrollo de las capacidades culturales y la preservación de las identidades y la diversidad cultural.

Con estos fines, el Programa Patrimonio para el Desarrollo (P>D) se integra como programa multisectorial  cuyo eje central de actuación se centra en la puesta en valor y gestión sostenible del patrimonio cultural para el desarrollo socioeconómico, que, en general, se concreta en planes de desarrollo socioeconómico y mejora social mediante la puesta en valor y gestión sostenible de bienes de interés patrimonial.

En efecto, el patrimonio cultural es también un recurso potencialmente generador de actividad e ingresos. En algunos casos constituye de hecho la fuente principal, cuando no prácticamente única, de desarrollo económico, ofreciendo una perspectiva más allá de la simple supervivencia a la comunidad, siempre que dicho recurso sea gestionado sosteniblemente y con criterio social y participativo.

En el caso de Cuba, las actuaciones que cuentan con el apoyo de P>D se ejecutan a través de las distintas Oficinas del Historiador y Conservador en la isla (La Habana, Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Camagüey y Santiago de Cuba), con las que se promueve su articulación horizontal e intercambio de experiencias a través de la Red de Oficinas de Centros de Históricos de Cuba.

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