The U.S. Agency for International Development is offering up to $2 million for new democracy-promotion programs in Cuba. USAID’s goals are to: “Advance the effectiveness of independent civil society groups” that are pushing for “greater human rights and freedoms,” and “Develop broader coalitions to expand civil society’s impact.” Grants will range from $500,000 to $1 … Read more
U.S. government contractors sometimes struggle to find Cubans who are willing to work with them. Cuban participants worry about the political nature of U.S. government-financed projects, according to a second batch of documents about one contractor’s work in Cuba. (See “USAID in Cuba: Code names and counter surveillance“). The U.S. Agency for International Development awarded … Read more
The U.S. taxpayer-financed National Endowment for Democracy in February published a list of organizations that received $5,077,788 in NED grants for work in Cuba in 2020. The project with the highest dollar amount was worth $650,000 and titled “Promoting Greater Access to Uncensored Information to Cubans.” The NED censored the names of 15 organizations or … Read more
U.S. Agency for International Development spending for democracy projects in Cuba dropped by 70 percent from 2014 to 2015 while the Obama administration pursued improved relations with the socialist government, records show. Spending plunged even further in 2016, hitting a low of $1,197,303 during President Obama’s final year in office. USAID spending for Cuba programs … Read more
A sprawling network of U.S. government-financed groups sends cash to thousands of Cuban democracy activists, journalists and dissidents each year. At any given moment, dozens of organizations manage democracy programs on the island. Public records reveal only fleeting glimpses of the mosaic. Some programs are so secret that the recipients of funds are never disclosed. … Read more