Brief History of French Guiana-Caribbean Interdepartmental Funds of Cooperation (FIC � Fonds Interministériel de Coopération)

Review

The FIC, created by the 18^th 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 23^rd 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:

1. the nature of the financial deal (subsidy asked to the FIC and partner participation)
2. 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 31^st March 2000 for the first commission, and before the 30^th 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

1. reminds the state of the current projects and work programs,
2. checks the conformity of the projects with general orientations of the French cooperation in the area.
3. checks the respect of form rules (plan, financing and part-financing, starting up, etc�)
4. evaluates the interest of welcome countries according to the prior notice of our diplomatic posts.
5. establishes an annual assessment of the works carried out.