Month: October 2024

For the first time, Argentina has been included in the Civicus Monitor Watchlist, marking a warning sign about the state of civic space in the country. This webinar, organized by RACI in partnership with CIVICUS, aimed to analyze the Civicus report and explore the implications of this inclusion for civic freedoms in Argentina.

During the event, discussions focused on how the economic crisis and growing social tensions have impacted the state of civic rights in the country. The panelists provided an in-depth analysis of the measures being implemented by civil society to counter this concerning decline.

Ana María Palacios Briceño (Americas Researcher for the CIVICUS Monitor) outlined the reasons why Argentina was included in the Watchlist in 2023, emphasizing the intensification of incidents throughout 2024. She noted that constant monitoring by Civicus has been crucial in raising the alarm about the current situation and announced the release of a new report in December. Palacios stressed that the growing challenge of defending democracy and human rights in a context where civic space is shrinking will require sustained efforts from civil society.

“Argentina’s civic space is classified as ‘narrowed’ in the CIVICUS Monitor ranking because, until October 2023, restrictions on civic space occurred sporadically. In December, we will release a report with new data.”

Manuel Tufró (Director of the Justice and Security area at CELS) analyzed the rapid regression of civic freedoms in Argentina, though he emphasized that the situation is not yet comparable to that of totalitarian regimes. He noted that the delegitimization of protests and the tensions between legality and the current political reality are creating an increasingly restrictive environment. Tufró also denounced the persecution of social organizations and highlighted the existence of regional strategies to limit civic space.

“What concerns us the most: the delegitimization of protests, criminalization of protests, harassment in the digital environment, persecution of CSOs, and restrictions on participation and access to information.”

Analia Bettoni (Project Coordinator at the Institute for Communication and Development – ICD, Uruguay) focused on rights violations in the region, especially against those defending women’s rights, freedom of expression, and LGBTIQ+ rights. Bettoni pointed out the growing trend of legislative proposals aimed at restricting freedom of association and how civil society must organize to resist peacefully. She emphasized the importance of using data and tools like the Civicus Monitor to make these situations visible.

“In the region, we see a growing trend toward the introduction of laws that seek to delegitimize the work of civil society and restrict the rights of those defending key social causes.”

The webinar made it clear that there is an urgent need to protect civic space in Argentina and the region. The panelists agreed that civil society must continue its efforts to resist and highlight the attacks on civic freedoms through concrete data and strategic collaboration to amplify voices internationally. The measures taken in this context will be key to ensuring that Argentina does not continue down this worrying path toward closing its civic space.

“Activating the role of judicial protection, improving political advocacy, and raising international awareness of the country’s situation are fundamental steps to avoid demobilization and ensure civic space.” – Manuel Tufró

This webinar served as a platform for key civil society actors to discuss these challenges and seek collaborative solutions to mitigate the risks facing Argentina and the region.

Thank you to all participants! Watch the event on YouTube.

On September 25th, we conducted a training session on Resource Access and Project Management at the facilities of the Colegio Único de Corredores Inmobiliarios de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires (CUCICBA). The event was attended by more than 35 people, representing various civil society organizations, all interested in strengthening their skills and knowledge to diversify their funding sources and improve their effectiveness in submitting proposals.

During the session, key strategies for diversifying funding sources were discussed, focusing on how organizations can expand their access to funds by seeking alternatives beyond traditional donors. Additionally, recommendations were shared for developing successful proposals, emphasizing the importance of clear presentation of objectives, alignment with funders’ interests, and demonstrating sustainable impact.

The participants actively engaged, sharing experiences and learning from case studies that provided a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in resource acquisition. We offered concrete and practical tools that each organization can apply in their respective contexts to enhance their project management and planning.

This training is part of the series of capacity-building workshops we are offering throughout this semester, supported by the Government of the City of Buenos Aires, committed to the development and growth of Civil Society Organizations.

Thank you for joining us!

We are pleased to announce the winners of the second cohort of the U.S. Embassy Fund in Argentina.

These projects reflect a commitment to innovation, inclusion, and institutional strengthening across various areas of social impact. Below, we highlight the selected initiatives:

• Universidad Nacional de La Plata : This project seeks to integrate university capacities into the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the capital region by collaborating with international experts and developing innovation tools.
• CILSA : This initiative promotes a bilingual education model (Argentinian Sign Language and Spanish) for the Argentine deaf community, providing training for teachers and healthcare professionals, and fostering inclusion and empowerment.
• Educar 2050 –.: The project aims to strengthen human rights and diversity in the Argentine educational system by training 2,500 teachers and promoting the exchange of best practices with U.S. experts.
• CIPPEC – Strengthening Public Governance with AI: This project encourages the adoption of artificial intelligence in subnational governments in Argentina, in collaboration with the University at Albany, to improve public governance.
• Fundación Poder Ciudadano – School of Integrity (EdI): It provides a training space to enhance informed citizenship on corruption, focusing on ethics, transparency, and participation, particularly for vulnerable groups.
• Fundar – Data for the Narrative: A course for journalists and communicators that teaches how to use data to improve the quality of information and combat misinformation, using the Argendata platform.

Congratulations to all the organizations for their dedication and effort in implementing these transformative projects!

At RACI, we are closing a key cycle with the completion of our 2020/2025 Strategic Planning, and we have already begun outlining the new horizon for the 2025/2030 period.

Throughout this process, we held two essential meetings to define the new roadmap for the organization. The first meeting was in person, where we had active participation from our members. This space allowed us to strengthen ties and discuss strategies to maximize RACI’s impact on public agendas, making significant progress in building the new strategic plan.

The second meeting was held virtually, ensuring that all member organizations of the network, regardless of their location, could contribute their ideas and perspectives. As a federal network, it is crucial that no one is left out of this conversation, and we reaffirm our commitment to including all voices in shaping RACI’s future.

Thank you for being part of this collaborative and transformative process!

We want to thank everyone who participated in the second meeting of the Strategic Planning Module, part of our training cycle “Transform Your Work: Strengthening Tools for CSOs.”

The panel featured the remarkable participation of Agustina Cavanagh, Ana Cabria Mellace from Fundación Cambio Democrático, and María Georgina Fernández from Creactiva, who shared their insights on how to think strategically within an organization, the planning process, and the key elements to carry it out effectively.

During the session, essential topics were addressed, such as the importance of building on the organization’s past to project a solid future, creating a safe space for exchanging ideas, and fostering a true sense of belonging within the team. Each presentation provided concrete tools to strengthen the work of Civil Society Organizations.

At RACI, we actively participated as National Coordinators of Good Deeds Day in Argentina in the 6th Regional Conference of Good Deeds Day, held in Panama City from September 24th to 26th, 2024. This event brought together leaders from across Latin America with the goal of expanding the GDD network, fostering creative solutions to social challenges, and strengthening alliances between organizations and communities in the region.

On Tuesday, September 24th, the first Philanthropy and Generosity Day for Latin American Leaders was held, organized by Good Deeds Day LATAM and GivingTuesday LAC. During the event, the first Generosity Report in Latin America and the Caribbean was presented, and practical workshops focused on new strategies to inspire and promote philanthropy in each country were conducted.

As national coordinators of Good Deeds Day in Argentina, we took this opportunity to connect with key leaders in the region. Our participation included discussions on generosity, philanthropy, collaboration, and innovation, with the goal of continuing to build a stronger and more engaged network in the region.

Thank you for having us!

On September 17th, RACI had the honor of participating as a speaker in the training session Trends in International Cooperation: Keys to Project Proposal Writing, organized by Fundación León and the Office of the State Attorney of the Province of Tucumán.

The event, held at the Rosita Avila Theater, was attended by State Attorney Federico Nazur and the Director of International Relations of the Governor’s Office, Florencia Gramajo. Specialists and representatives from various organizations also attended the session, addressing key topics to optimize project proposals in the field of international cooperation.

During the training, the importance of aligning proposals with current trends and international evaluators’ expectations was highlighted, with the aim of maximizing opportunities for success in securing funding. Key aspects of South-South and Triangular cooperation were discussed, as well as opportunities for local organizations within the framework of new global financing dynamics.

We thank everyone who registered and participated in this learning opportunity and extend special recognition to Fundación León for inviting us to share this space for collaboration and strengthening the work of CSOs. Initiatives like this reinforce our commitment to capacity building in the field of international cooperation and strengthening civil society across the country.