Argentina

Asociación Civil por la Igualdad y la Justicia (Civil Association for Equality and Justice or ACIJ)
$55,050
To strengthen the capacity of community groups in the villas miserias of Buenos Aires by increasing their ability to develop appropriate and effective strategies to improve their access to public services. ACIJ will provide the community groups with advice on legal and advocacy activities and will facilitate communication and cooperation between the groups on issues of common concern.

Asociación por los Derechos Civiles (Association for Civil Rights or ADC)
$64,445
To increase legislative transparency at both the national and provincial levels, and to improve oversight of presidential decrees. ADC will monitor and publicize national legislation related to constitutional rights. ADC will post the votes of legislatures that require nominal voting on its website and will report on the voting records of legislators running for reelection at the national level and in seven targeted provinces. Finally, ADC will monitor legislative oversight of presidential emergency decrees.

Center for International Private Enterprise
$143,801
To promote good corporate governance in Argentina. CIPE will work with the Center for Financial Stability (CEF) to prepare and disseminate their “Transparency and Disclosure” Index for financial and non-financial firms. Based on these findings, CEF will meet with regulators and make recommendations for improving corporate governance standards.

Ejercicio Ciudadano (Citizen Practice)
$29,885
To improve transparency and citizen participation in the October 2007 electoral process in Santa Fe Province. Ejercicio Ciudadano will create a website with relevant information on the elections and participating candidates. It will organize workshops on the electoral process and political context and will monitor and report on political parties’ compliance with campaign financing laws. Finally, Ejercicio Ciudadano and the National University of Rosario will monitor election-day voting.

El Ágora (The Agora)
$30,000
To increase the transparency of the October 2007 electoral process and the accountability of elected officials in Córdoba Province. Ágora will create a website with electoral information including candidate profiles and will facilitate agreements between citizens and candidates about public policy priorities. Agora will also monitor campaign spending and election-day voting. After the election, Agora will organize a seminar for new political leaders on citizen participation tools and innovative public policies.

Fundación Cambio Democrático (Democratic Change Foundation or FCD)
$38,505
To teach collaborative negotiation strategies to communities in Mendoza Province which are currently debating the re-opening of a uranium mine. Cambio Democrático will conduct two intensive workshops and provide technical assistance as trainees design and implement a collaborative negotiation strategy. To share this experience with other communities facing conflict stemming from natural resource extraction, Cambio Democrático will draft a best practices manual.

Fundación Familiares de Víctimas Indefensas de Mendoza (Foundation for Family Members of Defenseless Victims in Mendoza or FAVIM)
$27,650
To improve electoral transparency and citizen participation in the October 2007 electoral process in Mendoza Province. FAVIM will create a website with electoral information including candidate profiles. It will also train grassroots leaders across the province to use these electronic tools and will produce training materials that encourage an informed vote. FAVIM will partner with other organizations to monitor campaign spending and election-day voting.

Fundación Nueva Generación Argentina (Foundation for a New Generation in Argentina or FNGA)
$72,027
To strengthen the capacity of neighborhood associations and other grassroots organizations in Santa Fe Province to influence public policy by using citizen participation tools. FNGA will encourage neighborhood associations to work together to advocate for public policies at the provincial level. Using members of the neighborhood associations as trainers, FNGA will expand its work to include other grassroots organizations in Rosario.

Poder Ciudadano (Citizen Power)
$80,000
To help community groups to advocate collectively for their rights and needs at the local, provincial, and national levels of government. Poder Ciudadano will facilitate the development of the network’s action plan, which will include conducting a needs assessment; formulating public policy recommendations; developing an advocacy strategy, a media strategy, and a legal strategy; and studying the political platforms of candidates.

TOP

Bolivia

Asociación de Consejalas de Bolivia (Association of Bolivian Councilwomen or ACOBOL)
$45,055
To identify and promote best practices to encourage women’s political participation at the local level. Focusing on political parties, electoral strategies and local governance, ACOBOL will conduct a participatory diagnosis to identify practices and actors that facilitate and hinder women’s participation at the local level. ACOBOL will use the results to develop a comprehensive strategy to improve women’s participation, and will disseminate it through training workshops, posters and radio programs across the country.

Fundación Vida (Life Foundation)
$40,000
To promote the revision of national legislation to protect and defend human rights granted under the new constitution. Fundación Vida will work with young indigenous women from the remote north of Potosí to promote a greater understanding of their new rights, and revise legislation to defend these rights. Fundación Vida will also facilitate meetings between local indigenous communities, indigenous members of the Constituent Assembly and women’s organizations.

Iniciativa Ciudadana de Observación Electoral (Citizen Initiative for Election Observation or the Coalition)
$54,999
To conduct a domestic election observation effort during the upcoming Constituent Assembly referendum. The Coalition will establish and operate two call centers where information gathered by volunteers from around the country will be collected, processed and analyzed. In addition, the Coalition will consolidate its institutional structure, improve internal communication among coalition member organizations, and raise the profile and visibility of the Coalition and its observation efforts.

Instituto de Investigación y Capacitación Pedagógica y Social (Institute for Pedagogical and Social Investigation and Training or IIPS)
$49,950
To train citizens to monitor local government performance, identify community needs and participate more actively and constructively in public life. IIPS will continue working in nine municipalities in rural La Paz and expand its activities to three municipalities in neighboring Potosí. IIPS will conduct workshops on the rights and responsibilities of citizens, improving communications with local governments, and domestic violence.

Instituto Socioambiental – Bolivia (Socio-environmental Institute or ISA-Bolivia)
$44,460
To explore and reconcile two types of municipal administrative structures, local and indigenous governance. ISA-Bolivia will work with two indigenous districts to improve coordination with local authorities and identify lessons learned for other districts. Based on these experiences, it will draft a proposal for coordinating the authority and jurisdiction of indigenous districts and local governments, and will facilitate dialogue and consensus among indigenous peoples across the country.

International Republican Institute (IRI)
$200,000
To promote a system of local governance that responds to local community needs in municipalities where extractive industries are located. IRI will create synergies between local, regional and national government, local civil society actors and representatives from extractive industries to improve communications among stakeholders, promote citizen participation, and build local government capacity to meet community needs in a transparent, accountable and efficient manner.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
$50,000
To provide emerging women leaders with practical political and networking skills in order to increase their ability to participate in and influence decisionmaking processes and take on leadership roles in government, political parties and civil society. In coordination with the Simon Bolivar Andean University, NDI will implement a Political Leadership Training Academy to provide 30 women with practical skills training, emphasizing leadership, communications, planning and networking skills.

Observancia – Centro Interdisciplinario (Observance – Interdisciplinary Center)
$52,000
To improve local governance and democratic practices in five municipalities of Bolivia by strengthening the capacity of local governments and civil society groups. Through tailored technical assistance and training, Observancia will help five medium-size municipalities improve the design and implementation of public projects that focus on quality of life issues. Observancia will also create a website to post training and reference materials and to facilitate discussions and exchanges among different municipalities.

Sayariy
$27,820
To increase transparency in local government spending. Sayariy will design a citizen oversight guide and apply it to three rural municipalities in the department of Chuquisaca. Sayariy will train citizen observers on the legal and transparency norms required to make local governments’ procurement, contract and investment decisions. Observers will then witness all reviews, discussions and decisions made to disburse public resources, and will write monthly reports on their findings.

TOP

Colombia

Asociación de Grupos Juveniles Libertad (Association for Youth Groups for Liberty or Grupos Juveniles)
$91,445
To work with political candidates, elected officials, government representatives and community leaders on an agenda that advances the rights of Colombia’s Afro-descendant population at the local, regional, and national level. Grupos Juveniles will continue to work with the Afro-Colombian Congressional Caucus, strengthening its ability to develop legislation that benefits the country’s Afro-Latino population. Additionally, Grupos Juveniles will work with Afro-Colombian communities to provide workshops on drafting public policy proposals, and building relations with government officials.

Centro de Estudios de Derecho Justicia y Sociedad (Center for the Study of Justice and Society or DeJusticia)
$44,558
To promote the legal defense of the human, political, social and economic rights in Colombia. Through four strategic litigation cases, Dejusticia will champion the rights of vulnerable populations and seek to establish precedent for the future protection of constitutional guarantees. Dejusticia will hold a series of training workshops and seminars with partner organizations, law students and practicing jurists to stimulate dialogue on and generate support for the use of strategic litigation in Colombia.

Center for International Private Enterprise
$159,322
To strengthen corporate governance standards in medium-sized companies outside of the major metropolitan areas. CIPE will work with the Colombian Confederation of Chambers of Commerce to develop a policy document for state-owned enterprises on good corporate governance standards and will organize consultant training courses in six cities to train medium-sized companies on implementing good corporate governance practices. Six regional seminars will be hosted on corporate governance and an expanded corporate governance website will be re-launched.

Center for International Private Enterprise
$106,494
To promote informed debate on relevant political and economic issues. CIPE will work with Foundation for Higher Education and Development (Fedesarrollo) to maintain and increase communication between legislators, academic experts, the media, and civil society by producing monthly informative policy briefs on legislative bills and reforms. Each policy brief will provide unbiased information analyzing the current socioeconomic public agenda.

Corporación Ocasa (Ocasa Corporation or Ocasa)
$40,759
To educate Colombian youth on opportunities for citizen participation and the need for increased transparency and accountability in all levels of government. Ocasa will train 30 Colombian youths from the departments of Cundinamarca or Boyacá on methodologies for citizen oversight of the government. As a follow on to the workshops and site visits, Ocasa will help the youth participants develop and implement three projects to monitor accountability and governance at the local level.

Corporación Transparencia por Colombia (Corporation for Transparency in Colombia or Transparencia)
$64,996
To promote increased transparency and accountability in municipal councils in five Colombia cities. Transparencia will partner with a local organization in each city and help the organizations design a project to monitor their respective municipal councils. Transparencia will provide technical assistance, project oversight and funding for each of its five partners. Transparencia will also hold two meetings to bring together the five organizations and promote dialogue about best practices for citizen oversight of municipal councils.

Fundación Corona (Crown Foundation)
$35,000
To build citizens’ capacity to participate in and monitor the activities of local government. Through its Bogotá Como Vamos (BCV) project, Fundación Corona will design and implement an education and outreach campaign to bring its work and resources to underrepresented and poor neighborhoods in Bogotá. The BCV project will help grassroots organizations in three parishes to increase their capacity to present an evaluation of current government projects and communicate their concerns, needs and recommendations to local officials.

Fundación Cívico Social Pro Cartagena (Foundation for Civic Society in Cartagena or FUNCICAR)
$40,081
To strengthen citizen oversight of public management of the education sector in Cartagena. FUNCICAR will train 250 Cartagena residents on mechanisms for government accountability, reform of the education system, local development, and public budget management. To complement the training, FUNCICAR will offer technical assistance to community organizations and help them design projects proposals for oversight and reform of the education system. FUNCICAR will then fund and monitor the implementation of the citizen oversight projects.

Fundacion Desarrollo y Paz (Foundation for Development and Peace or FUNDEPAZ)
$25,013
To conduct a systematic investigation on violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Nariño State. FUNDEPAZ will perform a diagnostic of the state of human rights in Nariño and hold a series of events to raise public awareness about the situation. FUNDEPAZ will use these events as a platform to establish a statewide network of human rights defenders in order to expand coverage of its early alert network.

Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa (Foundation for the Freedom of Press or FLIP)
$88,000
To provide training on access to information mechanisms as a means to strengthen victims’ rights. FLIP will partner with Instituto Prensa y Sociedad – Colombia (IPYS-Colombia) to train 125 journalists in 5 different cities and provide them with technical assistance to present access to information petitions to the government. FLIP and IPYS-Colombia will also develop a manual of best practices on access to information. The manual will be distributed to journalists and NGOs working on victims’ rights.

Fundación Seguridad y Democracia (Foundation for Security and Democracy or FSyD)
$70,000
To strengthen the capacity of the Colombian Congress to formulate security and defense policies. Per an agreement with the President of the Congress, FSyD will serve as a legislative consultant and provide technical assistance to congressional members on security and defense related issues. FSyD will conduct research, prepare analytical papers, and draft legislative proposals that respond to the needs of congressional members and to Colombia’s current political landscape.

Liga de Mujeres Desplazadas (League of Displaced Women)
$95,747
To promote new government programs and policies for displaced women and communities in the municipality of Turbaco in Bolívar State. Liga de Mujeres Desplazadas will design and implement a comprehensive methodology to monitor the municipal government of Turbaco. Liga de Mujeres Desplazadas will also develop proposals to strengthen and improve the municipal government’s existing policies.

Universidad de los Andes (University of the Andes or Congreso Visible)
$99,998
To continue supporting the Congreso Visible project, which promotes transparency and accountability in the Colombian Congress, legislative processes and in the October 2007 regional elections. Congreso Visible will strengthen its online legislative database and hold public events to analyze important developments in the legislature. Congreso Visible will also offer training workshops for civil society organizations throughout Colombia and provide them with technical assistance on how to draft legislative proposals that reflect the concerns and interests of their communities.

TOP

Cuba

Afro-Cuban Alliance
$70,150
To promote discussion about the conditions of Afro-Cubans and Afro-Cuban issues. The Afro-Cuban Alliance will continue to publish a quarterly journal, Islas, distributed inside and outside the island. The journal seeks to inform Cubans of African descent on the island and in exile about civil rights, the hidden history of slavery and racial discrimination in Cuba, the experience of civil rights movements, and how to organize to bring change.

Asociación Encuentro de la Cultura Cubana (Association for the Discovery of Cuban Culture)
$215,000 *
To promote free debate and discussion about Cuban politics and the future of Cuba. Endowment support will enable Encuentro to publish its quarterly journal, continue its web-based daily newspaper, “Encuentro On-Line,” and enhance its virtual Cuban community through the development of new chat-rooms.

Bibliotecas Independientes de Cuba (Independent Libraries of Cuba or BIC)
$143,166*
To promote intellectual freedom and debate inside Cuba. BIC will continue to provide material assistance to independent libraries in Cuba and promote international awareness of the library movement. BIC staff will travel to Latin America and Europe to meet with libraries, universities, think tanks, and other organizations to enlist their support for individual libraries and the libraries movement.

Center for a Free Cuba
$55,000*
To provide humanitarian assistance and emergency relief to political prisoners and their families. Assistance will go to family members of the nearly 300 prisoners detained in Cuba because of their political beliefs.

CubaNet
$42,000
To support independent journalism and promote freedom of expression in Cuba. CubaNet will continue to compensate independent journalists in Cuba who provide news and analysis of the situation in Cuba for publication on the CubaNet website. CubaNet will also continue to work with its colleagues around the world to provide additional support, training, and international solidarity to independent journalists.

Directorio Democratico (Democratic Directory or Directorio)
$350,000
To promote access to objective information and news in communities around Cuba. Directorio will continue to offer radio programming devoted to community development and local news. The station will reach out to youth and women as well as moderate elements of Cuban leadership through programs that promote greater awareness of citizen participation, entertainment and events at the local level.

Disidente Universal de Puerto Rico (Universal Dissident of Puerto Rico or Disidente)
$65,000*
To increase the flow of independent information to Cuba and within Cuba. Disidente will publish and distribute in Cuba its monthly journal, El Disidente, and maintain its website, www.disidenteuniversal.org, containing articles and editorials from activists living on the island, dissidents living in exile, and international news organizations. The website also maintains an up-to-date list of political prisoners in Cuba.

Grupo Internacional para la Responsibilidad Social Corporativa en Cuba(International Group for Corporate Social Responsibility in Cuba or GIRSCC)
$228,256*
To promote labor rights and defend independent labor unions and workers in Cuba. GIRSCC will conduct an international campaign to inform international investors and organizations about the violation of labor conventions in Cuba, including holding its annual conference on corporate social responsibility in Costa Rica. GIRSCC will produce a report on labor rights in Cuba and will continue to provide training and material support to Cuban labor activists in their efforts to organize and monitor working conditions.

People in Need (PIN)
$120,400*
To enhance the capacity of independent journalists and civil society groups to interact with the European public and donors. Building on its work with independent journalists in Cuba, PIN will start a long-distance internship program between 10 major Eastern European media outlets and independent Cuban journalists. Additionally, PIN will train independent civil society groups to apply for grants from the European Union’s multiple grant-giving mechanisms.

People in Peril
$37,000*
To create a curriculum to enhance the critical thinking skills of Cuban youth and young adults. Over the past two years, People in Peril supported the development of independent research on the state of the educational and economic system in Cuba. People in Peril will work with its partners to create a curriculum based on the report of the educational research group.

Red Feminista Cubana, Inc. (Cuban Feminist Network)
$95,000*
To promote women’s rights in Cuba. Through its contacts with women’s movements around the world, Red Feminista will collect and send materials to Cuba for independent women activists and will hold a series of training programs for them. Red Feminista will continue to support its women’s network within Cuba, which it disseminates information on the strategies and activities of women’s movements in other countries.

TOP

Ecuador

Asociación de Mujeres Municipalistas de Ecuador (Association of Municipal Councilwomen or AMUME )
$56,000
To strengthen the capacity of municipal councilwomen and other female officials to effectively perform their jobs. AMUME will support its call center which provides long-term and emergency support to female elected officials. The resource center will provide technical, political, and legal advice in response to specific questions and requests from female elected officials across the country. Additionally, AMUME will promote networking and collaboration among female officials.

Centro de Educación y Promoción Popular (Center for Education and Popular Participation or CEPP)
$67,464
To educate the broader Afro-Ecuadorian community on a consensus platform focusing on cultural heritage, collective and individual rights, and civic education and citizen participation. CEPP will reach out to local and provincial Afro-Ecuadorian organizations, civil society groups, government officials and the public in general in seven provinces with the largest Afro-Ecuadorian population. CEPP will educate these actors on the platform and encourage them to adopt and incorporate its principals in their organizational or governmental plans.

Centro sobre Derecho y Sociedad (Center for Law and Society or CIDES)
$56,000
To educate grassroots leaders on their political, economic and social rights, and to strengthen the Afro-Artisan Collectors of Marine Products Federation (Federation or FEDARPROBIM). CIDES and the Federation will work to consolidate its organizational structure, increase its ability to advocate for its members, and build constructive relationships with the local government. CIDES and the Federation will educate the broader Afro-Ecuadorian community on their economic, social and cultural rights, and on local government functions, leadership and negotiation skills, and development, implementation and oversight of community projects.

Fundacion Acción para el Desarrollo Comunitario (Action Foundation for Community Development or ACDECOM)
$61,583
To assist ten, Afro-Ecuadorian, community development groups in seven counties in Ecuador. Since 2005, ACDECOM has supported the development of these groups and helped them prepare a series of community development plans. This year, ACDECOM will assist these groups to implement their plans; obtain legal registration; build constructive relationships with local and national governments; and network with other NGOs, community groups, and national and international organizations.

Fundación Q’ellkaj (Q’ellkaj Foundation or Q’ellkaj)
$92,000
To increase the participation and inclusion of indigenous youth in local government and the local decision making process. This year, Q’ellkaj will assist its youth networks to implement local political agendas, developed during a previous NED grant, in collaboration with their local government, business community and civil society groups. Additionally, Q’ellkaj staff will develop a strategic plan and formalize its training, electoral observation and public awareness programs.

TOP

El Salvador

International Republican Institute
$131,000
To encourage political parties to become more transparent, inclusive and responsive to citizens’ needs. IRI will work with political parties to strengthen their party platforms, develop policy proposals to address public concerns, and help parties communicate their ideas and messages to their constituents. IRI will train legislators and party officials in constituent service administration, communications strategy, message and platform development, public opinion research, and issue management.

TOP

Guatemala

Asociación de Comités de Desarrollo Campesino (Association of Committees on Rural Development or CODECA)
$30,770
To promote greater citizen participation in local development by having young leaders initiate a process of planning and project development in five of CODECA’s member communities. The young leaders trained during last year’s program will help rural and indigenous communities organize to advocate for their rights and engage in the democratic process. Additionally, CODECA will develop a long-term strategic plan.

Fundación Centroamericana de Desarrollo (Central American Development Foundation or FUNCEDE)
$55,400
To strengthen the capacity of the developmental council system of Sololá to function more efficiently and effectively. FUNCEDE will expand its technical assistance with the departmental development council of Sololá to include seven municipal planning offices. FUNCEDE will help the planning offices and the development council design and implement strategic plans and public policies that address citizens’ needs.

International Republican Institute
$217,000
To strengthen political parties and encourage participation in the September elections. IRI will work to increase civil society participation in the political party reform process through a voter education campaign and will provide candidates and political parties with polling and data analysis and help them effectively communicate their messages. IRI will work to increase the participation of youth, women and indigenous groups in the political process.

MesoAmerican Centre for Sustainable Human Rights Action (CEMAS)
$97,990
To partner with seven grassroots human rights organizations to train community youth in leadership, democracy, and human rights. Based on the knowledge and skills these young leaders acquire through a series of workshops, they will lead discussions with other young people in their communities. Through this program, CEMAS will help build the capacity of smaller, grassroots, human rights organizations. CEMAS will also facilitate discussion and cooperation among human rights organizations in Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico.

TOP

Haiti

Associación Femmes Soleil d’Haiti (Haitian Sun Women’s Association or AFASDA)
$30,744
To improve women’s understanding of the political and electoral process in four rural municipalities in the north of Haiti. AFASDA will develop radio sketches on civic education and air them on community radio. AFASDA will identify and train facilitators to organize women’s groups to listen to and discuss the contents of the sketches. Finally, AFASDA will invite female Members of Parliament to the region to meet with their constituents.

Association des Jeunes pour le Développement de Cité Soleil (Youth Association for Development in Cité Soleil or AJDECIS)
$27,500
To strengthen the leadership and conflict resolution skills of grassroots leaders in Cité Soleil. AJDECIS will identify grassroots organizations in Cité Soleil and encourage them to participate in the program, identify priorities for the area, and participate in discussions with government officials and civil society organizations to improve living conditions.

Coordination des Comités d’Initiatives de la Commune des Gonaives (Initiative Coordination Committee for the Commune of Gonaives or CCICG)
$24,065
To train local elected officials and grassroots leaders in Gonaives on community mediation and the peaceful resolution of conflict. Participants will be able to mediate minor conflicts locally, preventing cases from backlogging the judicial system. CCICG will also strengthen its institutional capacity by establishing a permanent office and making a resource center available to the community.

Cercle Divers
$25,000
To train newly-elected local authorities in the Department of the South-East. Cercle Divers will train local authorities and grassroots leaders on the roles and responsibilities of local governments, and will facilitate discussions on a local development agenda. Cercle Divers will also conduct a civic education campaign though community radios, and conduct a weekly radio program with local authorities.

Centre de Formation et d'Appui au Développement (Center for Citizen Training and Development Support or CEFCAD)
$165,440
To strengthen the capacity of grassroots organizations and local elected authorities and to improve collaboration between local authorities and their constituents. CEFCAD will work in 16 new districts providing training and building the capacity of citizen groups and local authorities to facilitate dialogue and identify community priorities. CEFCAD will continue to support the work of previous districts, and will provide administrative and technical assistance to new NED grantees.

Comité d’Initiative de la 3eme Section du Limbé (Initiative Committee of the 3rd Section of Limbé or CI3SL)
$28,000
To improve relations between local government officials and residents in the third district of Limbé. CI3SL will train members of grassroots organizations and local officials and will help participants work together to identify and carry out a small community development project. The project will re inforce the training themes, address a real need in the community, and offer a significant management experience for local elected officials.

Coordination Nationale des Organisations de Base (National Coordination for Grassroots Organizations or CONOB)
$36,564
To strengthen the capacity of grassroots leaders and local elected officials in conflict-ridden neighborhoods to identify community needs and priorities and conduct participatory planning. Through working in six conflict-ridden neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince, CONOB will continue to work with 50 grassroots leaders, will conduct focus groups to assess community needs, will train 20 local elected officials on participatory planning, and will facilitate meetings between elected officials and their constituents.

Fondation Espoir (Foundation Hope)
$139,226
To help young leaders plan and implement programs and projects that propose feasible, realistic solutions to their community’s problems. Fondation Espoir will help youth associations capture development assistance for their projects by creating four “Project Zone” centers and providing specialized technical support. Focusing on five main issues, Fondation Espoir will help youth design projects that address the concrete needs of their communities and will facilitate networking opportunities with both potential donors and the media.

Fondation Secours Gaël Painson (Gaël Painson Aid Foundation)
$81,362
To conduct a civic education campaign in 20 remote and rural villages of Haiti. Through a civic education traveling caravan, the Foundation will organize day-long visits to villages in the northwest and the plateau central to promote citizen rights and responsibilities, peaceful conflict resolution, and protection of the environment. The Foundation will visit each village three times to re inforce its civic education message.

Grand Front National des Etudiants Haitiens (National Front of Haitian Students or GRAFNEH)
$35,659
To strengthen the advocacy skills and of youth in four departments of Haiti. GRAFNEH will engage youth in positive and constructive dialogues on the future of the country, and help them draft a youth agenda to be presented to local government authorities. GRAFNEH will also work with youth in the Port-au-Prince area to promote a peace and non-violence campaign.

Jurimédia
$39,755
To promote a local democracy and human rights agenda in the North Department. Jurimédia will identify and train a cadre of young leaders to conduct workshops on democracy and human rights issues in the 19 municipalities in the department. These youth will facilitate the drafting and implementation of actions plans to improve local governance and human rights conditions in each municipality.

Rassemblement National des Citoyens Organisés pour le Développement d’Haïti (National Assembly of Citizens Organized for the Development of Haiti or RANCODHA)
$61,400
To strengthen the institutional and coalition building capacity of 45 grassroots organizations in three conflict-ridden neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince. Working in Bel Air, Cité Soleil and Cité Militaire, RANCODHA will strengthen the capacity of grassroots leaders, facilitate better relations among rival groups, and encourage them to use peaceful means to advocate for their demands. RANCODHA will also promote and facilitate better and more frequent communication between citizens and their elected officials.

TOP

Mexico

American Center for International Labor Solidarity
$500,000
To strengthen democratic and independent worker organizations that reflect the composition of the workforce and represent the concerns and interests of workers in the auto-parts, telecommunications, and ports sectors. The Solidarity Center will continue to conduct workshops, provide technical assistance and facilitate communication among unions. Additionally, the Solidarity Center will work to improve the capacity of independent unions to use international labor rights instruments as well as share experiences and skill-building with key international allies.

Centro de Derechos Humanos y Asesoría a Pueblos Indígenas (Center for Human Rights and Assistance for Indigenous Peoples or CEDHAPI)
$34,550
To promote human rights among the Chatino indigenous group of Oaxaca State. Through a series of intensive workshops, CEDHAPI will train a network of human rights defenders to serve as references for their communities. The human rights defenders will gain the ability to disseminate information about human rights, to document human rights violations, and to access experts about protection of these rights.

Centro de Encuentros y Diálogos (Center for Meetings and Dialogue or CED)
$48,100
To foster avenues for citizen participation and consensus building with government officials at the municipal and state levels in Morales State. Through citizenship schools in eight municipalities, CED will train citizens on the design and implementation of public policy. CED will facilitate discussion of the current state-level citizen participation law and possibilities for regulating its implementation. CED will also sponsor radio programs where citizens can interact with their local authorities.

Colectivo de Investiga ción, Desarrollo y Educación entre Mujeres (Collective for Investigation, Development, and Education among Women or CIDEM)
$56,200
To promote women’s participation in media and improve women’s rights, especially in rural areas. CIDEM will conduct training workshops for 60 indigenous and non-indigenous women radio broadcasters to strengthen their political and technical capacities. To promote public policies that protect women, workshop participants will design and implement regional advocacy plans.

Consejo Regional Indígena y Popular de X’pujil (Indigenous and Popular Regional Council of X’pujil for Citizen Input CRIPX)
$30,000
To facilitate citizen forums, identify community priorities, and discuss ideas for municipal reform in 24 communities in Calakmul, Campeche State. Through a consultative process, CRIPX will draft a citizen proposal for local government reform to promote a more open and consultative government structure. The proposal will also advocate for increased citizen input into and oversight of public projects and the use of natural resources.

Libertad de Información México (Freedom of Information Mexico or LIMAC)
$57,000
To promote freedom of expression and protection for journalists in Mexico. LIMAC will draft a book documenting freedom of expression violations and aggression against journalists as well as the government response. LIMAC will also continue to advocate for reform of defamation legislation at both the federal and state levels and will litigate or provide advice on judicial cases regarding access to information and freedom of expression.

Seguridad Ciudadana (Citizen Security)
$45,510
To help improve public security by basing policy recommendations on data and statistics. Seguridad Ciudadana will design indicators to evaluate the performance of the public security sector. Based on these findings, Seguridad Ciudadana will formulate public policy and budget allocation recommendations to decrease impunity and increase public security.

Servicios para una Educación Alternativa (Services for an Alternative Education or EDUCA)
$40,000
To encourage indigenous participation in municipal government in Oaxaca. EDUCA will conduct workshops to train participants to use existing citizen participation tools and will provide tailored technical assistance to four indigenous municipalities. EDUCA will also coordinate a study of indicators of indigenous participation so that municipalities and NGOs can more effectively target reforms to increase citizen participation.

TOP

Nicaragua

Comisión Permanente de Derechos Humanos de Nicaragua (Permanent Commission on Human Rights in Nicaragua or CPDH)
$40,950
To improve access to justice in Matagalpa, Jinotega, Managua and Estelí. CPDH will monitor citizen’s access to the local judicial system. Volunteers will work with judicial officials to respond to cases in which citizens lack adequate access to the judicial system. CPDH will also disseminate information and hold events to educate the media, members of the judicial branch and citizens about the weaknesses in and possible reforms to the judicial system.

Fundación Iberoamericana de la Cultura (FIBRAS) a.k.a. Movimiento por Nicaragua (Ibero-American Foundation for Culture or Movement for Nicaragua)
$78,000
To strengthen its national network and educate its volunteers on government oversight. Movimiento will continue to prepare its volunteers to be active citizens by conducting monthly educational seminars for members in each of its chapters. Additionally, Movimiento will work to improve communication among its 10 chapters and develop a long-term strategic plan.

Hagamos Democracia (We Make Democracy or Hagamos)
$80,000
To assist citizens in monitoring their elected officials and the laws proposed and enacted by both the legislative and executive branch. Hagamos will host public forums for newly-elected representatives and their communities. Additionally, Hagamos will continue to monitor and report on the activities of the National Assembly and the executive branch with a renewed focus on the repercussions of proposed and enacted laws on democratic institutions.

Instituto de Estudios Estratégicos y Políticas Públicas (Institute for Strategic Studies and Public Policy or IEEPP)
$66,900
To conduct analysis and trainings on issues of security and defense. IEEPP will concentrate on four areas: research, information dissemination, technical assistance, and information exchange with Central American counterparts. IEEPP will continue to provide high quality research and technical assistance to civilians in government and the NGO community, and to support civilian capacity to control and monitor Nicaraguan security and defense policy.

Instituto Nicaragüense de Estudios Humanísticos (Nicaraguan Institute for Humanistic Studies or INEH)
$64,885
To promote informed citizen participation and transparency in local government in eight municipalities. INEH will invite community leaders, municipal authorities, and young people to participate in a series of four workshops on citizen participation and oversight, access to information laws, and Nicaragua’s legal framework. INEH will provide technical assistance and advice to participants as they implement the lessons learned in the workshops in their communities.

TOP

Paraguay

Centro de Análisis y Difusión de la Economía Paraguaya (Center for Analysis and Diffusion of the Paraguayan Economy or CADEP)
$55,000
To generate and discuss recommendations to improve public policies in five key areas related to Paraguay’s social, economic, and political development. CADEP will solicit respected experts to draft policy papers on critical development issues, being certain to incorporate the input and feedback of political actors and other civil society organizations. CADEP will then widely distribute the policy papers and will hold forums to reinforce candidates’ commitment to implementing the proposed policies.

Centro de Información y Recursos para el Desarrollo (Center of Information and Resources for Development or CIRD)
$49,770
To improve transparency and citizen participation in the April 2008 general elections in Paraguay. CIRD will work with 120 volunteers throughout the country to create a database with relevant information about a majority of the national candidates and to develop and promote a “citizen’s agenda” that clearly states the electorate’s top priorities.

Instituto de Derecho y Economía Ambiental (Institute for Law and Environmental Economy or IDEA)
$34,972
To promote increased accountability and effectiveness of the Attorney General’s Office (AGO). IDEA will establish, under its own auspices, an Office of Accountability for the AGO that will receive public comments about the performance of the AGO. IDEA will examine the performance of the AGO focusing on the degree of autonomy with which the prosecutors handle cases; the degree to which the AGO prosecutors proactively investigate cases; and exposure of anti-ethical or corrupt practices.

Semillas para la Democracia (Seeds for Democracy or Semillas)
$30,075
To improve municipal management and transparency and to encourage more effective public policies in two Paraguayan cities. Semillas will conduct workshops for both government officials and civil society representatives on tools to improve citizen participation in municipal governance. Additionally, Semillas will provide technical assistance and follow-up for as participants use these new skills.

TOP

Peru

Asociación de Jueces para la Justicia y la Democracia (Association of Judges for Justice and Democracy or JUSDEM)
$50,000
To become a public voice for reform-minded judges and to consolidate its institutional capacity. JUSDEM will design an effective internal and external communication strategy that promotes integration and cohesion among its members, and raises the association’s public profile. JUSDEM will provide training opportunities for Peruvian judges on human rights law, the formulation and application of public policies, and judicial-media relations.

Asociación Negra de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos (Association of Afro-Peruvians for the Defense and Promotion of Human Rights or ASONEDH)
$40,000
To train Afro-descendant leaders and to promote increased political participation in Afro-Peruvian communities. ASONEDH will hold training workshops in six departments on minority rights, human rights, combating discrimination, engaging the state, and community development strategies. ASONEDH will organize a national governance school to discuss Latin American social movements, the formation of civil society networks, interaction with political parties, and a national development agenda for Afro-Peruvian communities.

Ciudad Nuestra (Our City)
$39,713
To establish a pluralistic and permanent mechanism to monitor the performance of the municipal government of Lima. Working in partnership with Bogota Cómo Vamos, Cómo Vamos Lima will adapt the organizational model and monitoring methodology of the Bogota partner to the local context, and will establish a multi-sectoral consortium to monitor and assess the performance of the Lima municipal government.

Comisión Diocesana de Servicio Pastoral Social (Diocesan Commission of Pastoral Social Services or CODISPAS)
$36,495
To strengthen local government capacity to manage public resources from extractive industries in an effective and transparent manner. COSDIPAS will work with ten municipalities that receive significant resources from extractive industries and will strengthen the technical and management capacity of local government officials. CODISPAS will also train journalists and civil society organizations to conduct oversight activities and promote increased media coverage of local government spending.

Comisión de Solidaridad, Desarrollo y Justicia (Commission of Solidarity, Development and Justice or COSDEJ)
$34,994
To promote greater respect for human rights in local offices of the Peruvian National Police in Lambayeque Department. COSDEJ will conduct training seminars and workshops on how to comply with national and international human rights standards. Additionally, COSDEJ will work to improve citizen relations with law enforcement officers and raise public awareness about the importance of police respect for human rights.

Consejo Nacional para la Ética Pública (National Council for Public Ethics or Proética)
$59,090
To train newly-elected regional and local officials to implement their anti-corruption programs and to train civil society to monitor their performance. Anti-corruption plans will address the key areas of (1) public contracts and procurement; (2) institutional controls; (3) transparency and access to public information; and (4) accountability and citizen participation. Proética will train civil society representatives to collect information on the implementation and will provide recommendations for improving transparency.

Consejo de la Prensa Peruana (Council for the Peruvian Press)
$70,000
To promote transparency and accountability in regional and local government. The Council will provide follow-up training for regional and local government officials in municipalities in Cusco and Arequipa, and hold a series of public hearings to provide citizens with information about their rights under the access to information law. The Council will also conduct a national transparency campaign to raise citizen awareness on the access to information law.

Consorcio de Investigación Económica y Social (Consortium of Economic and Social Research or CIES)
$47,900
To help newly-elected regional authorities in Arequipa implement policy recommendations made during the pre-electoral period. With the Catholic University Santa Maria, CIES will promote greater collaboration between government officials and academics with expertise in governance and public administration. CIES will identify indicators and benchmarks for strengthening key areas of governance and will provide technical assistance to the regional government to design and implement related projects.

Consultores en Planificación ( Planning Consultants or COPLAN)
$25,030
To promote citizen participation in local government in Arequipa State. COPLAN will work with 60 university students in Arequipa to promote and enhance citizen participation at the local level. These students and COPLAN staff will provide training on participatory budgeting, access to information, and citizen participation to community leaders in 10 rural communities and five larger municipalities.

Foro Nacional/Internacional (National/ International Forum)
$9,500 (Supplemental)
To promote pluralism and a long-term development strategy through the dissemination of research, case studies and best practices in a medium easily accessible to the public. With NED support, Foro Nacional has produced a television series depicting the successes and challenges of Peruvians in reducing poverty and overcoming underdevelopment. The programs are currently being broadcasted on public television. Supplemental support will enable Foro Nacional to improve and update its current website and upload the television series.

Instituto de Defensa Legal (Institute for Legal Defense or IDL)
$55,906
To improve access to legal identification for poor and rural populations and to promote the reform of procedures governing the issuance of identification cards in Peru. Working with the National Identification and Civil Registry (RENIEC), IDL will conduct a field study in the department of Huancavelica to identify the main challenges facing undocumented citizens and offer a comprehensive proposal to revise the Reniec’s legal framework and administrative structure to ensure citizens’ right to a legal identification.

International Republican Institute
$400,000
To improve good governance at the local level to ensure that political, social and economic priorities are based on broad community consensus and that the voice of the poorest and the most disenfranchised is considered. The program will focus on accountability, transparency, anti-corruption measures, effective public sector management, and participatory development. IRI will work to increase the extent to which resources reach their intended beneficiaries.

J.M. Arguedianos Training Center
$30,000
To encourage greater youth participation in the political process by training 80 young leaders. The Center will work with adolescents and young adults, community youth organizations, and local government authorities in four districts in Junín. The Center will conduct a leadership school on civic education and democratic values and will help participants design and advocate for local public policies.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
$366,980
To help political parties become more responsive, representative and able to develop and implement effective anti-poverty strategies at the regional and national levels. NDI’s program will enhance the capacity of national political parties, regional movements and elected officials to identify poverty reduction needs and develop policy proposals and, at the same time, will help them become more representative and responsive to the social and economic needs of youth.

Socios Peru – Centro de Colaboración Cívica (Peruvian Members – Center for Civic Collaboration)
$39,900
To improve communications and build consensus between local government officials and civil society leaders in two municipalities that receive significant resources from foreign extractive industries. Socios Peru will strengthen the capacity of public officials to design and manage public investment projects, and will encourage and train citizens to use existing participation and accountability mechanisms.

TOP

Asociación Civil Libertad Ciudadana (Civil Association for Citizen Freedom)
$37,200*
To improve the capacity of community journalists to serve as community leaders and advocates for democratic values. Libertad Ciudadana will work to improve communication between community journalists and the local population through a series of workshops on public management of information. Libertad Ciudadana will work to reduce social tensions by coordinating a series of meetings between business sector representatives, municipal government officials, traditional media outlets, community journalists, and civil society leaders.

Instituto Prensa y Sociedad– Venezuela (Press and Society Institute or IPYS – Venezuela)
$102,856
To defend and promote the protection of freedom of expression and freedom of the press in Venezuela. IPYS-Venezuela will maintain and expand its alert network to provide coverage in nine cities across Venezuela. The alert network monitors and investigates violations of freedoms of expression and press, and prepares reports that are distributed to international audiences. IPYS-Venezuela will also present three training workshops on investigative journalism, interview techniques and online research databases for journalists throughout Venezuela.

International Republican Institute
$100,000
To help strengthen democracy in Venezuela, and to overcome strong political polarization among democratic organizations. IRI will facilitate two meetings for regional and national party leaders to reach agreement on issues of national importance and establish a program agenda that responds to the needs of Venezuela’s citizens. IRI will also help participants develop an effective public relations campaign and encourage dialogue between parties working to support and strengthen democracy in Venezuela.

Accountability
$35,000
To strengthen citizen oversight of public policies and promote increased citizen participation in Venezuela. This project will train 300 individuals on the legal framework of citizen oversight, the conceptual design of accountability programs, and best practices for monitoring public services. These workshops will bring together people with a diverse range of political and socioeconomic affiliations. This project will also work with citizen groups to develop and implement five citizen oversight projects.

Civic Education
$21,300
To promote community leadership, pluralistic political discourse, and consensus building. This project will hold a series of public events to strengthen community leadership and to advance dialogue between public officials and their constituencies. This project will also introduce a new training program for student leaders at as a means to encourage greater student participation in community service and development projects.

$26,750
To strengthen corporate social responsibility and increase private sector involvement in the social development issues. This project will identify priorities for private sector philanthropy and promote partnerships between private companies and non-governmental organizations working on democracy, human rights and rule of law issues. This project will also advocate for government policies that would provide benefits to companies that fund NGOs and social development initiatives.

$32,800
To promote increased participation, especially among women and young adults, in all spheres of local government. This project will train community leaders and members in issues of leadership, participation and public policy. This project will bring together community leaders for a working conference to discuss the status of democracy in Venezuela.

$33,030
To train and assist students as they complete community service projects. By increasing the technical capacity of youth and student populations to implement community service projects, this project hopes will help students establish links across the Venezuela’s socioeconomic divide and address longstanding class tensions present throughout the country.

$34,660
To strengthen women’s leadership and providing women leaders with key training on communication strategies, democratic participation and public policy formulation. This project will then work with participants to help shape current legislation that addresses the challenges facing women in their communities.

$44,154
To promote greater youth participation in community service projects and help strengthen the personal development of Venezuela’s youth. This project will hold weekly meetings for youth on issues of democracy, citizen participation, social service and sociopolitical understanding. This project will also hold a series of four working retreats, which will provide youth with an opportunity to perform community service and work directly with local populations.

$43,820
To identify and train 800 women leaders from lower and middle class communities on political leadership, social and community action, and entrepreneurship. This project will develop a national database of women’s organizations to promote greater communication and collaboration between emerging women leaders. This project will facilitate the creation of community development agendas to address the challenges facing Venezuelan women.

$65,000
To strengthen community planning institutions, their ability to address the priorities and concerns of the local populations, and their interaction with local government officials. This project will provide technical support and conduct training activities for community councils in three regions of Venezuela. Additionally, in order to facilitate greater integration with traditional institutions of municipal governance, this project will coordinate a series of meetings between CCPPs and local mayors and municipal councils.

Freedom of Information
$45,888
To develop a community news agency as a means for processing and diffusing pluralistic information and multiple perspectives about Venezuela’s poor urban communities. Community leaders will be trained in basic journalistic skills and become the correspondents for the agency. The agency will provide conventional media with objective news about life in the poor sectors of Venezuela.

Human Rights
$45,000
To defend and promote the rights of indigenous peoples. This project will organize workshops to provide indigenous peoples with leadership training and help them establish strategic agendas to advance the sociopolitical and economic development of their communities. This project will also work to build ties between Venezuela’s indigenous populations and indigenous communities from other countries.

$50,000
To promote and defend democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Venezuela. This project will strengthen the human rights instruction at and promote greater inter-institutional collaboration between public universities throughout Venezuela. This project will also offer human rights training for professors and legal practitioners. Lastly, to raise greater international awareness about the state of human rights and democracy, this project will organize a two-day conference, which will include presentations by internationally recognized human rights experts.

NGO Strengthening
$50,500
To carry out a program that will contribute to strengthening the role of civil society in Venezuela and promote a culture of reconciliation and tolerance. The program is based on the discussion and understanding of the values and principles of a democratic culture. It will combine elements of a broad conceptual perspective with the experiences and challenges facing the NGOs in Venezuela in their everyday struggle to promote democratic values in a polarized environment.

$83,835
To work with community action networks that monitor local government programs, promote citizen participation, and implement community development projects. This project will work to bolster the capacity of civil society networks and their members through a series of activities aimed at strengthening network management, leadership capacity and the exchange of best practices.

$86,400
To strengthen actors and procedures committed to the defense of democracy , rule of law and political freedoms. This project will work with emerging non-governmental organizations to bolster their institutional capacity and strengthen their ability to serve as effective advocates for the principles of democratic governance. This project will also carry out a comprehensive evaluation of access to information procedures and develop a legislative proposal to improve existing access to information mechanisms in Venezuela.

TOP

Regional

AfroAmerica XXI (AAXXI)
$105,548
To work with Afro-descendant leaders in Honduras, Panama and Venezuela. AAXXI will establish leadership schools exclusively for Afro-descendant elected officials and community leaders in the three target countries. AAXXI will also work with Afro-descendant legislators in the three countries to initiate the formation of a legislative body modeled after the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus.

American Center for International Labor Solidarity
$200,000

To support freedom of association in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. ACILS will continue to assist workers in these countries in building new unions, representing workers and negotiating collective bargaining agreements. Additionally, ACILS will continue to focus on promoting leadership among traditionally under-represented workers.

American Center for International Labor Solidarity
$400,000
To promote participation of marginalized worker groups in unions, workplaces and public policy arenas in Brazil and the Americas. Working in Brazil, the Solidarity Center will build the capacity of under-represented groups to effectively advocate their interests, and promote public policies that address their concerns. The Solidarity Center will then promote networking and exchanges between Latin American unions and the Brazilian labor movement on approaches to building mass-based constituencies and advocating for marginalized workers.

American Center for International Labor Solidarity
$639,991
To strengthen unions’ capacity to involve workers at their workplaces and in broader economic and political arenas in the Andean region. Tailoring its activities to the realities of each Andean country, the Solidarity Center will support basic organizing, collective bargaining and public policy advocacy to cope with the changes of economic modernization and public sector reform.

American Center for International Labor Solidarity
$329,247
To strengthen unions’ internal democratic mechanisms and the ability of trade unions to organize and represent workers. ACILS will work with unions in the telecommunications, print media, and mining/metal sectors across the region to exchange concerns and experiences. ACILS will also assist union efforts to strengthen their membership base and engage in collective bargaining.

American University
$170,000
To strengthen human rights legal education in Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua. In Venezuela and Bolivia, American University will continue working with universities to institutionalize human rights education, train human rights practitioners, and invite them to participate in its Inter-American Moot Court Competition and the Summer Academy on Human Rights in Washington, D.C. The Academy will also implement a pilot project in Nicaragua, assessing opportunities to develop partnerships with local law schools.

American University
$94,965
To defend freedom of expression in Latin America through the use of strategic litigation. The American University Freedom of Expression Program will work with Diego Portales University in Chile to litigate two cases before the Inter-American System on Human Rights. AU will also establish new impact litigation units in Argentina and Guatemala and will present its Best Practices Report in Argentina and Chile.

Asociación Civil SER en el 2000 (Civil Association SER in 2000 or SER)
$116,000
To promote the capacity of civilians in the area of security and defense. SER will continue the research and training activities of its regional network of NGOs, academics, and state institutions in Latin America working in the field of civil-military relations, defense, and security. SER and the regional network will produce case studies of the defense budgeting process in Uruguay and El Salvador and a report on the defense ministries in Argentina and Brazil.

Centro Global para el Desarrollo y la Democracia (Global Center for Development and Democracy
or CGDD)
$67,872
To facilitate a pluralistic regional forum with former presidents, leaders of business, labor and civil society to define a new regional agenda to address the issues of democracy, economic growth and social inclusion. Through preliminary meetings and a regional forum, CGDD will facilitate the drafting of a new social agenda for the Hemisphere, and will seek the support and consensus of key figures in Latin America, including former heads of state, prominent scholars, labor and private sector leaders, among others.

Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL)
$150,000
To promote and defend human rights in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. CEJIL will present and litigate paradigmatic cases before the Inter-American System for Human Rights (IAS); train local human rights organizations and government officials on the use of the IAS and international law; and strengthen the IAS by increasing the involvement of NGOs. Through these activities, CEJIL hopes to compel these governments to implement judicial reforms to comply with international human rights standards.

Center for International Private Enterprise
$200,332
To identify and share best country practices derived from CIPE-sponsored efforts throughout the region. Through a regional conference and publications, CIPE will help its partners define the most effective democratic, market-oriented reforms and devise strategies with a lasting impact on the institutional framework of their respective countries.

Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (Center for Legal and Social Studies or CELS)
$95,000
To strengthen the capacity of human rights organizations and raise awareness of human rights violations in the interior of Argentina and in Paraguay. CELS will offer an annual litigation and advocacy course and targeted technical assistance to human rights legal clinics in Paraguay and three provinces in Argentina. Two Paraguayan human rights defenders will participate in a month-long internship at CELS and four human rights activists from Latin America will attend CELS’ litigation and advocacy course.

Comisión Andina de Juristas (Andean Commission of Jurists or CAJ)
$114,816
To increase the transparency and accountability of the judicial systems in Peru and Bolivia. Building on its previous projects, CAJ will consolidate its judicial accountability initiative in Peru, and will transfer its methodology and know-how to a local partner in Bolivia, the Red de Participación y Justicia. Through financial and technical assistance, CAJ will help establish local judicial accountability committees and foster the disclosure of judicial rulings and decisions.

Consorcio Justicia, Inc. (Justice Consortium, Inc)
$110,050
To spearhead the formation of a Latin American democracy network. The Justice Consortium will contact Latin American participants from past World movement for Democracy assemblies and reach out to new members in order to develop a network of committed democracy activists, practitioners, and scholars. Consorcio will coordinate the activities of the network’s provisional steering committee and organize a meeting for more than 50 civil society leaders in Panama in February 2008.

Corporación Participa (Participate Corporation or Participa)
$99,993
To work with Poder Ciudadano in Argentina and Acción Ciudadana in Guatemala to design and implement a methodological tool, the Regional Index of Congressional Transparency, that will allow comparative analysis of the levels of congressional transparency in Argentina, Chile and Guatemala. The Index will enable representatives and civil society organizations to set a standard for the legislatures in the region regarding transparency, access to information and citizen participation.

Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF)
$80,000
To strengthen its Equal Access to Justice initiative and provide litigation, advocacy and organizational assistance to local human rights organizations in Bolivia, Guatemala and Peru. DPLF will conduct assessment trips to each country and organize a workshop on a relevant human rights issue for each target country. B y the end of this project, DPLF will be poised to offer substantial technical assistance to its local Bolivian, Guatemalan and Peruvian counterparts.

International Republican Institute
$482,533
To train elected officials, their management teams and local civil society groups to improve governance in Bolivia and Colombia. This program will train government officials on implementing good governance policies, will strengthen the ability of civil society groups to demand government accountability and establish mechanisms to participate in government decision-making processes, and will build upon existing state and municipal associations to sustain, institutionalize and disseminate good governance best practices.

Instituto Prensa y Sociedad-Perú (Institute of Press and Society or IPYS)
$109,407
To protect journalists and freedom of expression in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru. IPYS’s “Alert Network” enables journalists to report threats or attacks, which IPYS then investigates and publicizes, and provides legal assistance. Using its network of media monitors throughout Latin America, IPYS will serve as the Latin America coordinator for the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX).

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
$183,530
To strengthen political parties in Bolivia, Mexico and Peru by providing young, reform-minded political party leaders with leadership skills and practical strategies for advancing reform and modernization efforts. Through a leadership development seminar and individualized follow-on projects, NDI’s Political Leadership Program works to strengthen the capabilities of emerging political leaders to promote modern, transparent and responsive political parties.

Trust for the Americas
$83,210
To coordinate training workshops and provide tailored technical assistance to Central American organizations involved in the Regional Network to Promote Freedom of Expression and Access to Information. The Trust will work with its partners in the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. The Trust will use this year to consolidate the Network by encouraging cohesiveness and consensus-building among the member organizations throughout the hemisphere.

* Indicates Department of State Funding Beyond NED's Annual Appropriation