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Grants >>
Latin America and the Caribbean Program Highlights
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While these protests and resignations interrupted democratic order, they also brought to light the existence of a large and motivated sector of the citizenry that is dissatisfied with business as usual and advocates for dramatic political change. As ten Latin American countries hold national and local elections in the next 12 months, significant changes are expected in the political landscape of the region. It remains to be seen how political parties will respond and adapt to these changes, and what role a growing and increasingly organized civil society movement will play in this new context. This year, the Endowment continued to focus on supporting democratic solutions and increasing constructive citizen involvement in the political process. NED emphasized support for efforts to improve and increase citizen participation in politics, promote more effective and transparent government, and protect and promote human and political rights. In April 2005, Ecuadorian President Lucio Gutierrez was ousted by Congress in response to citizen outrage and his questionable dissolution of the Supreme Court. While Congress had originally backed Gutierrez's actions, it later withdrew its support in the face of overwhelming public disapproval and vigorous street protests. In 2005, NED worked with Afro-Ecuadorians and indigenous groups to encourage constructive political participation and to increase their organizational and political capacity. Centro de Educación y Promoción Popular (Center for Popular Education and Promotion) and Centro sobre Derechos y Sociedad Civil (Center for Law and Society) trained Afro-Ecuadorian government and civil society leaders in leadership and management skills, promoting citizen participation and improving government response to community concerns. Fundación Q'ellkaj (Foundation Q'ellkaj) held a series of training sessions to help newly elected officials and other indigenous leaders represent their constituents' interests more effectively. The Center for International Enterprise (CIPE) worked with its local counterpart, the Ecuadorian Institute for Political Economy, to foster national debate on critical economic issues facing Ecuador, including free trade and globalization. Regional and ethnic divisions along with continuous street protests have destabilized Bolivia and threatened its democratic institutions. Traditionally marginalized and underrepresented groups, particularly poor, rural, and indigenous communities, took to the streets to protest a substantial economic gap and unrepresentative political institutions, especially traditional political parties and their leadership. Their mobilization effort successfully ousted both a democratically elected president in late 2003 and his successor, Carlos Mesa, in June 2005. In the face of this crisis, the Endowment focused on providing opportunities for dialogue between community organizations and the government at the national and local levels. Instituto de Investigación y Capacitación Pedagógica y Social (Institute for Research and Education and Social Training) worked with community organizations in the rural areas of the La Paz region to develop their capacity to participate in and influence local government. The project's success has prompted numerous requests for training from other local governments and community groups. Fundación Pusisuyu worked to promote the recognition of community justice, and to improve coordination between the national judicial system and practitioners of community justice. NDI worked to promote cross-sector dialogue at the national level in Bolivia, particularly between the indigenous community and political parties. Venezuela continued to present a unique challenge to democracy in the region. The executive branch increased its power and influence over other branches of government and the private sector through the enactment of new libel, indecency, and currency laws, and through politically motivated criminal charges. NED supported groups from all sectors of society that seek to increase citizen involvement and oversight of local and national government, the judiciary, the media, and human rights cases. Acción Campesina (Farmers in Action) worked with farming communities and local governments to develop and present consensus-based policy proposals for agriculture and rural development at the local, state, and national levels. Instituto Prensa y Sociedad- Venezuela (Press and Society Institute- Venezuela) continued to monitor threats and attacks against journalists, and published a report on freedom of expression and information in 2004. Cuba remained the only closed society in the region. While Fidel Castro maintained strict control over the country, dissatisfaction with his government continued to grow, triggering the dissident movement to find more avenues within Cuba's tightly-monitored society to disseminate its message to the general public. The Endowment supported an increasingly diverse set of initiatives in Cuba, including groups working with independent journalists, unions, libraries, think tanks, women's groups, and Afro-Cubans. These groups worked to present a realistic view of working conditions, education, and equality in Cuba, in contrast to the utopian image that Castro projects to Cubans and the international community. The Afro-Cuban Alliance published its first quarterly bilingual journal on the experiences and challenges of Afro-Cubans in and outside the island to widespread acclaim. Partners of the Americas and Red Feminista Cubana (Cuban Feminist Network) worked to educate independent women's groups on job skills, communication and networking techniques, and human rights awareness in addition to connecting Cuban women with their counterparts in Latin America. Bibliotecas Independientes (Independent Libraries) continued to send support and supplies to independent libraries on the island and to advance support for the library movement in the international community. In a climate of increasing instability and polarization, Haiti is preparing for its first presidential elections after the fall of Aristide, to be held in January 2006. NED focused on supporting groups that promoted citizen participation, voter education, and conflict resolution. NED worked with groups in urban and rural areas to develop local capacity to advocate for and create change at the local and national levels. Centre de Formation Citoyenne et d'Appui au Developpement (Center for Citizen Training and Development Support or CEFCAD) worked in rural areas to form democratic community groups aimed at improving local conditions and implementing development projects. With the goal of increasing constructive local participation in identifying and resolving problems, CEFCAD provided these groups with training on democratic leadership, community outreach, project planning, and project management. Fondation Espoir worked to educate and involve Haitian youth in local and national politics, conflict management, and community development projects through a series of workshops and a national youth conference. The Endowment continues to view regional programs as an important part of its work in Latin America and an opportunity to share experiences and exchange ideas. NDI continued training young political party leaders from Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Peru on how to strengthen their parties through increased transparency and internal democracy. The Solidarity Center supported several regional and sub-regional projects to develop union capacities, exchange information, and promote democratic governance within the unions. NED grantee Afro-America XXI began projects in Honduras, Peru and Venezuela to promote the participation of Afro-Latinos in their local and national governments. Afro-America XXI held workshops on institutional strengthening, leadership and civil rights for grassroots Afro-Latino groups and helped participants develop relationships with local governments.. * Indicates Department of State Funding Beyond NED's Annual Appropriation |
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