Brief
History of French Guiana-Caribbean Interdepartmental Funds of Cooperation
(FIC � Fonds Interministériel de Coopération)
Review
The
FIC, created by the 18th July 1990 decree, is a tool
dedicated to favour the integration of the French Departments of
America (DFA � Départements Français d�Amérique)
in their geographic, economic, cultural, social and political environment
of the Caribbean countries.
Funds
management is provided by the Prefect of Guadeloupe, with preliminary
consultation with the Secretary of State for Overseas Territories,
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGCID) represented in the Caribbean
by the cultural and scientific consultant of regional cooperation,
based in Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic, and by the Prefectures
of Martinique and French Guiana.
Financing
comes from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs (DGCID) as decentralized
credits (chapter 42-12 article 70).
Objectives
The
FIC is aimed at promoting the decentralized exercise of regional
cooperation and at intervening in part-financing with exterior contributions.
It
must allow the DFA to form a real alliance with French cooperation
politics in the Caribbean, based on partnership and development
cooperation.
It
is one of the essential tools of regional cooperation, to which
it participates as a State support to cooperation lead by overseas
territories, by bilateral actions of the different diplomatic posts
of the region and by multilateral organizations to which France
participates.
Orientations
and priorities
Regional
cooperation orientations come within the scope of the general outline
drawn by the Interdepartmental Committee of International Cooperation
and Development (CICID � Comité Interministériel de
la Coopération Internationale et du Développement)
and in the action plans of the Caribbean ambassadors.
The
Prefect of Guadeloupe, in the exercise of the duties he has been
attributed by the 23rd May 1996 decree, is responsible
for the implementation of these orientations in the FIC management,
guaranteeing the necessary consultation with other Prefectures,
territorial communities concerned and diplomatic posts.
Specifications
Each
project which complies with the calendar and the orientations and
priorities above mentioned, according to the DFA concerned, must
be submitted to the Prefectures of Guadeloupe, French Guiana and
Martinique.
It
must include a projected budget specifying:
- the
nature of the financial deal (subsidy asked to the FIC and partner
participation)
- the
estimate of the spending breaking down (with written agreement
of the partner).
The
project must include at least one DFA and one Caribbean country.
If
a report is not complete, it will be sent back to the addresser
(cf. project form in annex).
You
can also download the form from the home page cooperation in the
Internet, on the following site: http://pro.wanadoo.fr/coopération.caraibes/.
Calls
for projects
Calendar
2000: the decision-making committee will have 2 meetings, one in
March and the other one in October.
Submission
of the reports to the local commissions gathered by the prefectures
of Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana: before the 31st
March 2000 for the first commission, and before the 30th
June for the second session.
Annual
meetings of the decision-making committee: at the end of March 2000,
at the end of October 2000.
Signature
of the prefect orders with prior notice of the decentralized financial
controller:
April-May
2000: first decision-making committee
November-December
2000: second decision-making committee.
Agreement
and payment by money order accounting of the subsidy in 2 series
of 50%.
Process
of project submission
Each
request must be deposited in the regional prefecture (Guadeloupe,
Martinique or French Guiana) with a complete file composed of:
A request
filled in according to the attached model
A notice
from the embassy of the country concerned.
NB:
part-financing is compulsory but does not necessary imply a 50/50
collaboration.
This
participation can also be in kind with the condition that an agreement
between the two parties defines this arrangement.
Modes
and criteria of selection
Under
the authority of the Guadeloupe Prefect, a work commission, composed
of central administration representatives (MAE-Ministry of Foreign
Affairs-, DOM-TOM-French overseas departments and territories-),
of decentralized services of the State, the region, the department
and the embassies of the region meets together according to the
pre-established calendar.
The
commission
- reminds
the state of the current projects and work programs,
- checks
the conformity of the projects with general orientations of the
French cooperation in the area.
- checks
the respect of form rules (plan, financing and part-financing,
starting up, etc�)
- evaluates
the interest of welcome countries according to the prior notice
of our diplomatic posts.
- establishes
an annual assessment of the works carried out.
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