Mexico

Through economic incentives and technical assistance to small farmers, the Conservation Coffee Alliance (between USAID, Conservation International and Starbucks Coffee Company) collaborates on biodiversity conservation, economic support for small-scale coffee farmers and sustainable production of high quality coffee in México and Latin America.

Overview

Mexico is a member of the North America Free Trade Agreement and shares a 2,000-mile border with the United States.  Mexico, the 14th largest economy in the world, and second largest trading partner of the United States, had $11 billion in foreign direct investment, and received $23.9 billion in remittances in 2007. Mexico faces huge gaps between rich and poor, north and south, urban and rural. Over 40 percent of the country’s population live on less than $2 per day while close to 18 percent live on less than $1 per day.

The goal of USAID programming in Mexico is to support bilateral cooperation to resolve challenges that face both the U.S. and Mexico. USAID’s programs support Mexican initiatives in justice system reform, competitiveness, and sustainable development, so that Mexico can provide its citizens economic opportunities and safe communities.

Joint U.S.-Mexico development activities increase the understanding between our two peoples and open opportunities beyond Mexico’s borders for south-to-south cooperation. USAID supports Mexican development and reform initiatives in the following key areas:

Programs

Governing Justly & Democratically

Competitiveness and Rule of Law
USAID supports Mexican leaders seeking to improve competitiveness through increasing access of local governments to capital markets, government innovation programs, and improved public financial management. USAID also assists in efforts to create more effective civil and criminal justice systems, increased access to justice through court-sponsored mediation centers, and enhanced professionalism by reforming legal education and professional standards. As part of the Merida Initiative, USAID promotes the rule of law and human rights by supporting implementation of Mexico’s new justice system, police reforms, and community mobilization.

Economic Growth

Natural Resources and Energy Efficiency
USAID supports Mexican institutions’ efforts to manage and conserve natural resources through the introduction of best practices that improve economic opportunities for areas with exceptional biodiversity. This includes promotion of conservation coffee, certified timber products, and sustainable tourism, as well as other practices that protect the environment while increasing local economic benefits. In collaboration with Mexican public and private sector activities, USAID supports development of community-based natural resource management plans in targeted watersheds, focusing on sustainable forestry and watershed management. In addition, fire management and prevention, pollution reduction, energy efficiency, and renewable energy are integral components of the USAID’s goal to improve natural resource management. As water is scarce in most of Mexico, USAID watershed improvement activities in the poorest regions, and along the border with the U.S., help link the efforts of local, state, and federal partners. Activities are implemented through U.S. and Mexican NGOs and private contractors, in close collaboration with the Government of Mexico.

Access to Finance
USAID’s Micro and Rural Finance program seeks to increase economic growth, promote small business creation, and reduce poverty through the deepening of the Mexican financial sector. USAID aims to overcome the lack of access to financial services needed by micro and small businesses, small agricultural producers, and the large majority of rural households. Activities have a dual focus: strengthening micro-finance institutions, including credit unions, and the services they offer; and improving the enabling environment for rural financial market development. The activities also focus on small producers, rural areas, and remittances, allowing for a close link to USAID/Mexico’s overall goal of improving rural prosperity by better integrating small rural producers into growing markets.

Investing In People

Infectious Diseases
USAID supports initiatives to improve responsiveness, prevention, and control of infectious diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB). Activities in HIV/AIDS include promoting healthier behavior and public policies that combat stigma and discrimination associated with it. USAID cooperates with Mexico’s Health Secretariat and its National Tuberculosis Control program to improve planning and modernize technologies for TB detection, diagnosis, and treatment.

Higher Education
USAID supports the Training, Internships, Exchanges, and Scholarships (TIES) program, creating partnerships between U.S. and Mexican higher education institutions to address development problems, such as access to microfinance, watershed management, and border health. Currently, there are 64 university partnerships that have led to improved workforce, trade capacity, and competitiveness in Mexico. USAID also supports one and two-year technical training programs in the U.S. for disadvantaged, rural, indigenous teachers and youth who return to their communities to implement skills gained and lead community projects. There have been over 975 scholarships provided through TIES.