Category: Novedades

We launched our Yearbook 2023, a compilation of the projects, activities, and achievements that marked our commitment to Civil Society. Throughout the year, we achieved notable milestones that strengthen our network’s impact.

We obtained the status of Consultative Non-Governmental Organization with ECOSOC at the United Nations, solidifying our international presence. Guillermo Correa ́s inclusion in the IAVE Committee strengthened our representation in Latin America. We enthusiastically welcomed 41 new Civil Society Organizations to RACI, expanding our network to over 200 members by the end of the year. Additionally, we celebrated RACI’s appointment as the national coordinator for Good Deeds Day, showcasing our commitment to positive initiatives at both local and international levels.

In the realm of social investment, 2023 was a strategic year. We maximized investment in CSOs, with notable collaborations such as the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, the New Zealand Embassy Fund in Mexico, the Karelsie Foundation, the Innovation Fund for Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Annual Social Inclusion Award. These associations enable us to manage funding for 38 projects and mobilize over $300,000 USD to drive CSO initiatives in Argentina.

Furthermore, we focused on knowledge management, producing key documents and conducting research to understand the current landscape of International Cooperation in our region. Through 243 surveys and 50 interviews in 19 countries, we provided crucial data for regional progress.

We appreciate your participation and continuous support for the growth of our country and the region.

Thank you for accompanying us!

Where is Latin America and the Caribbean located in the current scenario of International Cooperation? Is it a priority region on the donors’ agenda? What topics seem to be the most important for International Cooperation? Which populations or communities occupy a priority place?

We address these and other questions in our new research: “Trends in International Cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean.” A study that seeks to provide current information to understand the scenario of International Cooperation in our region. At RACI, we make this analysis available based on the results of an open survey at the regional level, as well as interviews conducted with different actors from civil society and international cooperation.

We hope that the proposal contributes to providing tools to civil society organizations in the region on the current scenario of International Cooperation, identifying the main challenges and recommendations when working with this type of collaboration.

The latest CIVICUS Monitor report, titled “People Power Under Attack 2023,” throws light on the growing threat to civic freedoms around the world. The Monitor has been in operation since 2017, tracking the state of freedom of association, peaceful assembly and expression in 198 countries and territories.

Each year, CIVICUS tracks the state of civic space conditions, based on data collected through local civil society organizations, regional research groups, and international human rights indices, as well as CIVICUS think tanks.

In 2023, some of the most relevant data were:

Widespread Attacks: civic freedoms are under attack in 118 of 198 countries and territories, signaling a growing limitation on the exercise of fundamental human rights.

Reduced Civic Space: Nearly one-third of the world’s population has minimal civic space, particularly impacting groups that promote democracy, better governance and environmental protection.

Threats to Freedom of Expression: Freedom of expression is the most severely impacted, affecting more than half of the recorded violations from both state and non-state sources.

In the context of the Americas, the report highlights a significant increase in state control over civic space, with abuses of punitive power affecting human rights defenders and journalists, undermining the foundations of modern democracies.

Recommendations:

CIVICUS Monitor has provided a list of recommendations that seek to create a healthy, respectable and enabling environment in which civil society activists and journalists can work freely, without fear of violence, in line with international human rights commitments, addressed to governments, the United Nations, international organizations, the private sector and donors.

We hope that this report will serve as a global wake-up call and contribute to building a more democratic 2024 around the world.

The last member visit we made this year was with the team of Mocha Celis, an organization that through actions and programs seeks to comprehensively guarantee all the rights of trans, transvestite and non-binary people, promoting a dignified and fulfilling life.

Lautaro González, Mocha Celis’ Institutional Relations Assistant, showed us each room of a building that is synonymous with support and containment for the community and introduced us to the fundamental programs that define the spirit of the organization: the Bachillerato Popular Travesti-Trans, a proposal that promotes the integration of TTNB people in formal education, and #TEJESOLIDARIO, an initiative of material support and comprehensive accompaniment in the completion of procedures and subsidies that seeks to prevent evictions and facilitate access to health.

But the work of Mocha Celis does not end there; the organization is also committed to the insertion of the community into the labor market, conducting workshops and/or training sessions to help the TTNB population access their first job, as well as acting as a liaison between companies and beneficiaries during the selection process. 

During our tour, Francisco Quiñones Cuartas, president of Mocha Celis, also showed us other spaces that are important to the organization’s comprehensive approach: from the clinic, where health professionals provide care, to the Lohana Berkins Library, where beneficiaries have access to a wide range of literature and resources on sexual diversity, to the production room, where textile workshops are held.

At the end of our meeting we exchanged views on the current situation and future projects. 

Thank you for having us! Don’t forget to visit their social networks.

RACI had an outstanding participation in the International Civic Forum 2023, organized by the International Civil Society Centre held in Brussels, Belgium, on November 29-30. The main objective of this event was to explore sectoral areas of action and identify possible ways at both the individual and organizational level to strengthen the anticipatory capacity of civil society organizations.

The fundamental purpose was to improve the process, thus inspiring new ways of thinking and acting within Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). In addition, the groundwork was laid for the implementation phase of the ‘Anticipating the Future of Civil Society’ initiative, an operational space dedicated to developing a solid methodology that can be replicated and widely adopted, thus strengthening the civil society sector.

The event yielded extremely positive results, providing knowledge that will be applied in RACI’s Strategic Planning 2025-2030. In addition, bilateral meetings were held with representatives of European Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and staff members of European Union (EU) agencies.

On November 30, we had the privilege of holding the third meeting of the “Cycle of Multi-stakeholder Dialogues” organized by the Regional Center for Innovation for Change in Latin America and the Caribbean. In this instance, we explored the intricate relationship between democracy, human rights and environmental preservation.

We had the outstanding participation of Tamara Taraciuk Broner, Director of the Peter D. Bell Rule of Law Program at the Inter-American Dialogue, and Daniel Barragán, member of the International Center for Research on Environment and Territory (CIIAT) of the University of the Hemispheres.

Taraciuk Broner shared her reflections on democracy and human rights in Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting the complexities that cut across diverse territories. She emphasized the crucial importance of an independent judiciary and freedom of the press as vital tools to safeguard democratic integrity in the region. Her presentation concluded with an invitation for citizens to take innovative action, thinking beyond conventional boundaries and working to achieve democratic consensus.

Daniel Barragan provided essential perspectives by reframing the relationship between environmental rights and nature in the context of resources as driving forces for development in the countries of the region. He emphasized: “The connection between human rights and nature is direct, both intrinsic and bidirectional. Ensuring a healthy environment and recognizing the rights of nature is essential to preserving human life and fundamental rights”.

This space proved to be propitious to continue weaving alliances and sharing experiences that promote concrete actions towards a more just and sustainable future. We appreciate the active participation of our distinguished speakers and look forward to continuing to build bridges of dialogue in future meetings.

Let us move forward together towards a horizon of democracy and well-being for all in our region!

In November, the conversation on the 2030 Agenda took place, evaluating the actions implemented and the challenges in the continuous search for actions to promote human rights in Argentina. During this event, the presentation of the RACI/UN SDG Platform was highlighted and the challenges and successes in the implementation of the SDGs by NGOs such as Cultura de Trabajo, Pata Pila and Fundeps were discussed.

The event included the participation of the UN, represented by Tamara Hahnt, Director of the UN Office in Argentina, who addressed the update of the new SDG agenda in the country. In addition, Pablo Basz, Strategic Partnerships and Development Finance Officer, shared the importance of Argentina’s commitment and highlighted the relevance of actions at the local level.

During the discussion, the three dimensions of sustainable development in Argentina were explored: economy, development and environment. This has been part of the 2030 Agenda since January 2016, with the aim of eradicating poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring peace and prosperity for citizens.

Outstanding Achievements in Argentina: Ownership, Adaptation, Federalization, Territorialization

Pablo Basz emphasized the importance of Argentina’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda and the need for follow-up and review of the implementation of the goals. Territorial importance was highlighted, as development policies generated more direct impacts and mechanisms as a basis for citizen participation to be implemented.

SDG-RACI Platform: Democratizing Information

Through RACI, the SDG-RACI Platform was created in August 2017. It aims to democratize information on the work of Civil Society Organizations in Argentina. To date, 421 projects have been developed.

Significant NGO Actions in Relation to the SDGs

The foundations Cultura de Trabajo, Pata Pila and Fundeps presented their actions focused on the SDGs:

Cultura de Trabajo highlighted its work equalizing opportunities in access to employment, and discussed its efforts with the SDGs: End Poverty, Gender Equality and Reducing Inequalities.

Pata Pila, a foundation that works to address the problems affecting families living in extreme poverty in Argentina, explained how to address these structural problems from three axes: following the SDG guidelines in: nutrition and human promotion, social economy and entrepreneurship, infrastructure works and access to water.

Fundeps, an organization that aims to promote public policies on human rights, based on the SDGs: Health and Well-Being, Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Climate Action, Underwater Life, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and Partnerships for Achieving Goals.

This event reaffirmed the commitment of Raci and the country’s NGOs to the 2030 Agenda and highlighted the remarkable progress and challenges in the implementation of the SDGs in Argentina.

 We thank all participants for contributing to this meaningful dialogue!

José Luis Barrios, a volunteer in RACI’s membership area, shared his experience regarding this year’s final directors’ meeting. 

“In this encounter I was able to get to know on a personal level many of RACI’s team members, and the main representatives of the Civil Society Organizations that are also members of the network. As a student of International Relations I understand that cooperation is a fundamental factor in an increasingly interconnected world; and in this sense, I was able to observe first hand the importance of these assemblies, where RACI showed with total transparency the objectives, research, and concerns of all those present, showing clearly that they have distinct goals to achieve its objectives,” said José.

In this meeting participants discussed, among other topics, the mid-term evaluation of the network’s five-year strategic plan, a review of the activities carried out from July to October 2023, as well as the presentation of RACI’s Past Presidents’ Committee and a joint reflection on the country’s situation and the electoral context.

“At all times we wanted those in attendance to share their feedback on what was presented and to hear all ideas about future objectives and what has been done throughout the year in order to improve even further. Among the actions that RACI has carried out over the year, I would like to highlight one that demonstrates the commitment to the members of the network: the visits to CSOs. I found this very interesting as it allows RACI to see the state of the network members in order to help strengthen them, as well as to listen to their recommendations. Finally, I can only say thank you for this great experience which allowed me to be part of RACI, it was very nice to see how RACI cares about its members and maintains a dialogue with everyone to improve day by day”. concluded José.

Discover Semillero Digital, a path to an inclusive digital future!

We met with the team at Semillero Digital, which is dedicated to empowering economically disadvantaged youth through the digital revolution. 

The organization’s goal is clear: to open the doors to the digital workforce so that everyone, regardless of their social background, can improve their quality of life by harnessing the potential of technology.

The organization is dedicated to providing free education in cutting-edge digital disciplines such as digital marketing and e-commerce. But it doesn’t stop there. It accompanies young people in vulnerable situations in their search for employment in the digital world, especially those who lack the resources to access this training. How does it do this? Through strategic partnerships with committed organizations that already work in the most needy neighborhoods and provide training for young people’s employability.

At Semillero Digital, volunteerism is a fundamental part of its success. It invites professionals to join its teaching and mentoring team. This creates an enriching environment for students as they have access to quality teachers, dedicated mentors, and a talented team to guide them through their transition at Semillero. This process of learning, training and development culminates with the achievement of their first formal digital job.

The community of professionals at Semillero Digital shares a deep belief that decent work and education are fundamental rights, not exclusive privileges. 

CADENA: Changing realities through humanitarian aid

We met with the CADENA Argentina team where we talked about their work, projects and goals.

CADENA, a non-profit civic association, is committed to preventing and responding to crises and disasters around the world by providing direct aid to those who need it most.

To be part of CADENA is to dare to change the world through humanitarian aid.

The organization’s mission is to promote a culture of prevention and inclusion to transform realities and build resilient, just and equitable communities for all.

 The organization carries out mano a mano missions, challenging indifference and seeking the active participation of people in the process of change for those most in need. 

CADENA has a rescue team, “Go Team”, trained in Israel and composed of 40 active members highly trained in all types of rescue operations. In addition, CADENA implements programs to rebuild homes, medical centers and schools affected by crises and disasters around the world. It also provides vital support for the economic recovery of affected areas.

On Monday, November 6th, we had the honor of welcoming professional referents to the coworking space of the Fundación Navarro Viola. On this occasion, we were joined by Gabriela Boyer, representative of the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) for Chile and Uruguay, and director of the Strategic Initiative for Community Philanthropy. She was joined by Carolyn Smalkowsky, IAF representative for Argentina. Florencia Alvarez, responsible for local liaison and support, also attended the meeting.

During the meeting, we held a dialogue with our members on the current context and reality of Argentine civil society. Among the participants were representatives of outstanding organizations such as Fundación Huésped, Asociación Conciencia, Educar 2050, Vida Silvestre, AMIA, CIPPEC, ELA – Equipo Latinoamericano de Justicia y Género, Banco de Alimentos, Fundación Pro Vivienda Social, and Fundación Poder Ciudadano.

We appreciate the visit and the exchange of ideas that will strengthen our commitment to community and social development!