Terms of Reference for the Partnership for Prosperity Good Partner Award Program

Released by the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs
June 9, 2003

Purpose

The Partnership for Prosperity Good Partner Award is designed to recognize the important role that U.S. and Mexican enterprises and institutions play in advancing the goals of the Partnership for Prosperity –- to boost the social and economic well-being of Mexican citizens, particularly in regions where economic growth has lagged. The Good Partner Award honors exemplary efforts of U.S. and Mexican enterprises and institutions, both large and small, in the furtherance of the goals of the Partnership for Prosperity, a U.S.-Mexico Presidential initiative.

Nomination Process

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico and the Mexican Embassy in the United States, through the Award working group drawn from the Partnership Executive Committee, will be encouraged to nominate candidates for the Award. In addition, the process will be self-nominating. The first call for nominations, announcement of the criteria, and nomination guidelines (length, e.g. two pages, and format, e.g. submitted in both English and Spanish) would be announced in June at the proposed Partnership for Prosperity conference in San Francisco. The deadline for the 2003 nominations will be September 30, 2003. In succeeding years, the call for nominations will be scheduled for spring in anticipation of Award Presentation Ceremonies in conjunction with end-of-year Binational Commission Meetings or other suitable events.

Management

The Partnership for Prosperity Principals will oversee the program through a working group drawn from the Executive Committee and co-led by the State Department’s Office of Commercial and Business Affairs and Government of Mexico’s Minister for Economic Affairs at the Mexican Embassy in Washington in concert with Mexico’s Politicas Publicas Office in Presidencia. The co-leads will seek guidance from the Principals, consult with other members of the working group, and enlist the assistance of other members of the working group or the larger Executive Committee as needed.

Due Diligence

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (DOC/ITA) will conduct due diligence and vet the U.S. nominees. The appropriate GOM Economia legal advisers will conduct due diligence and vet the Mexican nominees.

Selection Process

The Partnership for Prosperity Principals’ Award working group, drawn from the Executive Committee, will comprise the Selection Committee to review award candidates from both the United States of America and Mexico. The Principals may invite others to participate in the selection process as they deem appropriate. Selection of awardees will be by consensus. Each year, awards will be made to at least one U.S. enterprise or institution, and one Mexican enterprise or institution.

Award Criteria

The Partnership for Prosperity delivers concrete results that matter to real people. This initiative leverages private sector resources and expertise. The Good Partner Award Program recognizes these accomplishments. Nominations for the Good Partner Award will be based on efforts and achievements that have occurred in Mexico during a one-year period preceding the nomination of the candidate and which fall into one or more of the following categories:

• Contribution to overall growth and sustainable economic development, including job creation
• Innovative ventures, including linking U.S. and Mexican institutions
• Community development, including but not limited to education and vocational training programs, environmental programs, philanthropy, and volunteerism
• Implementation of public-private sector initiatives that benefit lesser developed areas

An appropriate award trophy will be designed for presentation to the winners. The design will be selected by both U.S. and Mexican Principals, with the cost equally shared by the respective agencies. Copyright protection will be sought for the chosen design for use only by the Good Partner Award Program.

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