The Institutional Strengthening Unit of the Executive Secretariat of CICAD promotes the development of institutional capacities in OAS member states by facilitating the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of public policies, plans and strategies. This covers areas such as institutional coordination, alternatives to incarceration, social integration, alternative development, decentralization of policies, and cooperation for institutional strengthening with civil society.
The Unit carries out the following activities, programs, and projects:
Drug Policies, Strategies and Action Plans Program
Assistance with the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of national drug policies, plans, and strategies at both the national and sub-national levels.
Click here to access national drug policies, strategies, and plans of OAS member states.
Alternatives to Incarceration for Drug-Related Offenses Program
Promotion of alternatives to incarceration as part of a public health, human rights, and gender approach, including drug treatment courts, case management, and social integration strategies.
Comprehensive and Sustainable Alternative Development (AD)
CICAD assists member states in promoting national programs to reduce the illicit cultivation and illicit production of drugs through comprehensive and sustainable alternative development measures, where applicable, including the promotion of technical discussions on how to mitigate and reduce the impact of illicit crops and drug production on the environment, social welfare strategies and targeted attention, according to the particular needs of sub-national regions.
CICAD supports the Group of Experts on Comprehensive and Sustainable Alternative Development (known by its Spanish language acronym, GEDAIS).