2009 annual report

Latin America Regional

American Center for International Labor Solidarity
$505,000
To improve trade unions’ capacity in Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru to organize workers and bargain around workplace and economic sector issues, incorporating new subjects resulting from regulatory reform. The Solidarity Center will assist trade unions to increase inclusion of traditionally marginalized workers and build leadership skills with new and young members. The Solidarity Center will support trade unions to participate effectively in social dialogue forums, and build cooperation with national coalitions, international rights organizations, and sector-specific global union federations.

American Center for International Labor Solidarity
$320,000
To improve Colombian and Venezuelan trade unions’ capacity to organize workers and bargain around workplace and economic sector issues, with a particular focus on workplace-level unions and industrial federations. Additionally, the Solidarity Center will assist trade unions to increase inclusion of traditionally marginalized workers and build leadership skills of new members. The Solidarity Center will promote new union leadership committed to reforming structures and practices that will enhance autonomy, governance and internal democracy.

Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)
$242,013
To broaden understanding and discussion of democratic, market-oriented themes in Latin America among policy and opinion makers and to reinforce a regional network of market-oriented think tanks. CIPE and partner organization Instituto de Ciencia Política will produce and distribute Perspectiva magazine in eleven Latin American countries including Cuba, hold training seminars for journalists, maintain a website and Spanish language blog, and organize roundtable discussions with students and young leaders on economic issues.

Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL)
$300,000
To protect the rights of victims and contribute to ending impunity in cases of human rights violations through case litigation and hearings before the Inter-American System (IAS). CEJIL will promote human rights by litigating paradigmatic cases before the IAS, training local human rights organizations and government officials in four Andean countries on the use of the IAS and international law, as well as strengthening the IAS itself.

Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS)
$73,979
To strengthen the capacity of human rights organizations and legal clinics in the Argentine provinces by undertaking joint actions, including strategic litigation, advocacy and the use of international mechanisms. Additionally, CELS will work to consolidate the human rights legal clinics established in Paraguay over the past two years by providing technical assistance and helping to create a specialized manual.

Centro Global para el Desarrollo y la Democracia (CGDD)
$76,964
To position the Social Agenda developed by the Presidential Forum in public opinion and main decision-making and policy institutions in the region. CGDD will present the Social Agenda to the Forum in a regional conference in Lima in October 2009 and at the Ibero-American Summit in Lisbon, Portugal in November 2009, and will monitor and assess the implementation of the recommendations of the Agenda.

Centro para la Implementación de Políticas Públicas para la Equidad y el Crecimiento (CIPPEC)
$65,000
To strengthen accountability mechanisms in conditional cash transfer programs in Latin America and encourage the use of practical tools to improve transparency and accountability in the programs. CIPPEC will analyze various accountability systems in social welfare programs across Latin America and promote best practices. CIPPEC will also conduct a telephone survey of officials and civil society actors in countries across Latin America and will produce a report on the results of the survey.

Consorcio Justicia, Inc. (Consorcio)
$106,065
To advance the consolidation of a regional civil society network committed to promoting democracy in Latin America. Consorcio will lead the network’s efforts to engage the Organization of American States and other international organizations. Consorcio will also facilitate new strategies for strengthening the network’s internal structures and processes. Lastly, Consorcio will work with members of the network to defend civil society in Central America.

Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF)
$84,000
To strengthen the capacity of human rights organizations in Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru to use national and international legal mechanisms to improve the situation of vulnerable populations and to enhance the ability of DPLF’s Equal Access to Justice program to build bridges between conventional and alternative justice systems. DPLF will coordinate a meeting of legal and policy experts in each country to assess the state of alternative justice systems. DPLF will also host a roundtable discussion and conference in Washington, DC.

Fundación Poder Ciudadano (Poder)
$55,000
To encourage compliance with standards for identity documentation set by the Organization of American States (OAS). Poder will design a methodology to measure states’ compliance with OAS standards for identity documentation, which will be applied to at least eight Latin American countries. Based on the findings, Poder will identify best practices regarding systems of registration, identification and documentation and will share them during a regional seminar.

Instituto de Defensa Legal (IDL)
$76,000
To promote better relations and the effective exchange of experiences among human rights and democracy civil society organizations in Latin America on the use of independent media, strategic litigation, and public policy advocacy. IDL will build coalitions through these exchanges and by convening an international meeting with Latin American nongovernmental organizations at the end of the program.

Instituto Prensa y Sociedad (IPYS)
$92,069
To strengthen and monitor journalistic coverage of the November 2010 election and to improve the defense of freedom of expression in Peru. IPYS will promote greater regional and international attention to threats against journalists and violations of freedom of expression and the press in the Andean region. IPYS will protect and strengthen the skills of journalists in Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia.

International Republican Institute (IRI)
$1,500,000
To provide public officials with skills that facilitate good governance, strengthen the ability of citizens to perform oversight of government and improve communication between governments and the public. IRI will conduct technical assistance with municipal and state government partners and civil society organizations in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. Partners will share lessons learned through best practices exchanges and enroll in IRI’s Good Governance Online University.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI)
$325,000
To strengthen the leadership skills and ability of emerging political leaders to promote the modernization and renewal of parties in Ecuador, Mexico and Peru. NDI will conduct a three phase program consisting of an in-country training program, a regional leadership development seminar for 18 exemplary participants of the in-country training programs, and technical assistance to participant party-reform projects to be implemented in their respective countries.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI)
$250,000
To expand NDI’s Political Party Network initiative on party reform and to encourage parties to adopt more effective practices. The program will focus on helping democracy deliver improvements in the quality of citizens’ lives by facilitating access to comparative information, tools and techniques on party reform and good governance, and by strengthening the existing informal network of reform-minded party leaders to provide greater opportunities for exchanging ideas.

Red de Seguridad y Defensa de América Latina Asociación Civil (RESDAL)
$211,150
To improve the oversight capacity of civil society groups, academics, and state institutions working on defense and security issues. RESDAL will generate information and analysis about regional security challenges, including comprehensive studies of public security institutions in Central America and the fourth edition of the Comparative Atlas of Defense in Latin America. Additionally, RESDAL will offer internships to three young professionals from across the region.

Trust for the Americas (Trust)
$72,772
To promote legislative reform and raise awareness of freedom of expression and access to information issues in Central America. Trust will build the long term sustainability, independence, and cohesion of the Regional Alliance to Promote Freedom of Expression and Access to Information (Alliance) and work to strengthen the independence of the Alliance by decentralizing its activities, encouraging horizontal cooperation and improving communication among its members.