In confidence
The Americas (Bolivia*, Brazil, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America*, Chile, Colombia, Cuba*,
Ecuador, Falkland Islands*, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay*, USA, Venezuela)
7.52 A mix of Council operations and programmes characterizes the region, which contains the USA and major aid recipients; features a number of non-Represented countries in Latin America where, nonetheless, the Council is active through collaboration with the anglophile 'culturas'; and contains an area of near total inactivity in Central America. Aid project administration, English language work and interchange programmes are the salient features of Council work in the region, with the notable exception of the USA (and, to a lesser extent, Canada) where the size and nature of operations are largely ad hoc, responsive and unrelated to either country's importance to Britain. The
steadily growing importance of English language work in Latin America is reflected in ODA's increasing support for language projects.
7.53 With the aim of maintaining the Council's role in aid work and developing an appropriate level of cultural relations with both North and South America, the principal objectives are: ⚫ to improve professional standards and management skills in Latin American 'culturas'
• to increase the country programme for the USA to £1 million plus
⚫ to achieve matching funding in all new exchanges programmes
• to increase the Council share of ODA project work over 1989/90 levels.
7.54 Brazil and Mexico are the priority countries in terms of Council operations; the USA has priority in current planning and in terms of overall political and economic importance. Particular attention will be given to building up the new Council presence in the Caribbean and ensuring that initial targets are met. The re- establishment of programmes in Argentina will take high priority as Anglo-Argentine relations normalize.
7.55 Increased resources for the area have changed the baseline in a number of countries during 1989/90 and will alter it further in 1990/91. £0.41 million of the increased government grant was allocated recurrently to the region in 1989/90. Achievements in the first year include:
• a new office in the Caribbean, based in Jamaica
Financial forecast for the Americas
All figures in £ million
Income
ODA agency
FCO agency
Other agency
Revenue
Government grants
Total
1990/91
1991/92
1992/93
1993/94
751
7
7
5
5
1
1
1
1
3
4
5
5
9
6
6
25
25
24
25
Expenditure
Staff and running costs
Americas
Staff and running costs UK
47 5
5
45
4
4
44
British Council programmes
3
3
3
3
Agency
13
13
13
14
Total
25
25
24
25
Table 7
21
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