Applications welcome, clear writing not required

Apparently in response to a 2006 GAO report that the USAID Cuba grant program was operated in a closed manner, and where 95 percent of funds were awarded without competition, USAID seems to be opening up its grantmaking process.

The agency has issued an open invitation to a May 14 conference for anyone interested in applying for a Cuba grant. If you can’t attend, you can send a question, and the process is open until the end of the year.

The goal is to aid the development of “independent civil society in Cuba, and thereby hasten a peaceful transition to democracy.”

There’s lots of interest inside Cuba, USAID says: “Despite continuing political oppression, Cubans are increasingly aware of the promising possibilities for broader social and economic advancement and many are seeking sustained USG [U.S. government] encouragement and support during this critical juncture in their country’s history.”

But what to make of this sentence from the “overview” section, describing Cuba today?

“Increasingly active, vibrant and modern day factors are permeating the fabric of Cuban society.”