seminar for the new deputies elected in next year’s Legislative Assembly elections as well as the development of a hotline program for use by citizens with their elected officials.

USAID/El Salvador also is working to strengthen civil society organizations that can serve as advocates of the Salvadoran people on a variety of subjects such as anti-corruption, environmental protection, etc. Ten grants were provided to such organizations last year, encouraging active citizen participation in national governance. Finally, to promote increased transparency, USAID is supporting Government of El Salvador efforts to put in place an ethics code for public employees and to establish a government-wide ethics office.