The head of the European Development Fund office in Santo Domingo announced a donation of 54 million euros to assist basic education programs. Manuel Caceres Troncoso told the press that the resources would be channeled through the National Indicative Program for 2002-2007. The money is part of the effort to reduce poverty. Caceres said that European experts Jean Claude Buchet, Irene Lorisika and Oscar Amargos are currently in the Dominican Republic to begin consultations on how to provide better access to primary education in the poorest areas of the country. According to Caceres Troncoso, the programs will also include NGO participation as well as Civil Society groups with ties to education.