Category: Novedades

We extend a warm welcome to the 43 Civil Society Organizations that have joined RACI this year to support us in driving social transformation and the creation of a space where interinstitutional exchange and dialogue are fundamental.

The meeting took place at the Embassy of Canada, where we reinforced cooperation, synergy, and commitment that propel RACI forward.

We are delighted to announce that the new members of RACI are:

• Transparencia Electoral
• Tablero de Oportunidades
• Sumando Iniciativas de Cambio
• Shalom Bait Asociacion Civil De Prevencion De La Violencia Familiar
• Pumakawa
• Asociación Franciscana Pata Pila
• Asociación Civil Mocha Celis
• Minkai Para El Trabajo Solidario
• MeT [Mujeres en Tecnología]
• La Casa de Ronald McDonald
• Asociación Civil Gaia
• Fundación Vicentina
• Fundación TEMAS
• Fundacion SUMA
• Fundación San Genaro
• Fundación Mujeres en Igualdad
• Fundación María de Guadalupe
• Fundación Magis
• Fundación Kunayan
• Fundación Jean Maggi
• Fundación Gracias
• Fundación Espacios Verdes
• Fundación Coepio
• Fundación Abrazar
• Fundación El sueño de un niño
• Eco House
• Cultura Democrática
• CPA
• Asociación Civil Comunicación para la Igualdad
• Fundacion Colombres De Pie
• Centro Especializado en el Desarrollo Temprano Infantil – CEDTI
• Fundación Banco de Alimentos Tucumán
• Asociacion Civil Árabe Encuentro
• Asociación por los Derechos Civiles – ADC
• Un Árbol ONG
• Semillero Digital
• Hecho por Nosotros
• Proyecto Vaso de Leche
• Congreso Judío Latinoaméricano
• CILSA
• CEMEP- ADIS
• Asociación Civil para el Desarrollo de la Educación Especial y la Inclusión (ADEEI)
• Acción Serran

We invite you to get to know their work, their commitment to civil society, and their projects.

During our recent visit to the Aikén Foundation, we had the opportunity to learn about their work in the field of psychological support during the grieving process. Aikén provides a safe and understanding space for children, adolescents, young adults, and adults who have experienced the loss of a loved one, such as a parent, sibling, or other close relatives.

Psychological support is offered both individually and in group settings, led by specialized professionals. These age-specific groups allow participants to address their emotions, feelings, and thoughts related to the death of a family member in a caring, respectful, and open environment.

Aikén also recognizes the importance of simultaneously working with the responsible adults, aiming to help them process their own grief and learn healthy ways to support children and young adults in this situation. Additionally, they offer in-person, telephone, and virtual guidance to families both within and outside Buenos Aires, providing support in times of crisis.

Aikén’s approach is based on the understanding that grief affects the entire family, observing interactions among members to provide comprehensive support.

Moreover, the organization offers training and workshops for various populations facing crisis situations related to death and grief. These sessions are designed for schools, companies, clinics, hospitals, funeral homes, cemeteries, healthcare professionals, and the general community.

During our visit, we were received by Gabriela Real, Executive Director, who shared with us how the team is responsible for providing training to other populations and institutions that address grief comprehensively. She also explained how the foundation has grown and evolved in supporting different types of grief.

Thank you very much for having us!

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has highlighted that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is having significant impacts on Official Development Assistance (ODA). This conflict has resulted in both direct and indirect changes in the composition and pressures shaping ODA at a global level.

According to the latest OECD report, there have been significant increases in support to Ukraine, as well as in spending on hosting refugees in OECD countries, leading to ODA reaching its highest recorded level. These funds are being used to assist Ukraine in its reconstruction efforts and to provide humanitarian aid to refugees.

However, this surge in ODA directed towards Ukraine and refugees has created additional pressures elsewhere, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The demand for resources was already on the rise due to the COVID-19 crisis, and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has resulted in changes in the type and level of support required by these countries.

The report emphasizes the importance of an effective response from the international development cooperation community to this unprecedented demand. Additionally, some trends expected to impact ODA in the years 2023 and 2024 are highlighted.

In summary, the war between Russia and Ukraine is generating significant impacts on Official Development Assistance. The OECD underscores the need to address this growing demand and adapt development strategies to ensure that every ODA dollar has the maximum impact in the affected countries.

Read the full report here.

Recently, part of our team has been involved in a planning meeting for the pilot of the renowned Kettering Foundation’s new fellowship. This gathering brought together inspiring leaders from various parts of the world in a collaborative effort to design and implement this project.

The fellowship will span six months and RACI has been invited to play an active role in this initiative, working closely with other international organizations.

The Kettering Foundation, globally recognized for its work in promoting dialogue and active citizenship, has provided us with this opportunity to contribute our expertise and knowledge to strengthen democracy in Latin America.

The experience gained through this fellowship will further enhance our work in the region and enable us to continue making a positive impact.

Stay tuned for our upcoming updates.

We present a new joint proposal aimed at promoting inclusion, raising awareness among people, and encouraging reflection on accessibility.

In collaboration with various organizations within RACI, “Señas En Acción” (SEA) has proposed an innovative campaign with the objective of bringing visibility to our work and that of our members, promoting inclusion and awareness throughout society. We believe that achieving a significant impact on the community requires active participation.

Our proposal aims to involve all participating organizations, allowing them to contribute ideas and action plans, making them feel like active and co-creators in the process.

In addition to focusing on accessibility, we recognize the importance of addressing other diversity-related issues, such as the intersection of gender and disability. By broadening our perspective, we seek to generate a deeper and more meaningful impact.

Throughout the campaign’s development, we will be sharing guides and practical tips that our members wish to disseminate. We want these tools to be accessible and useful for all individuals and organizations.

Your organization can also be a part of it! We extend the invitation to all interested NGOs to join this initiative.

Stay tuned to our social media channels, where we will be sharing all the information.

We welcomed our members to AMIA, where we reviewed all our activities, shared updates, and discussed new projects. During the assembly, we continued to explore strategies to address the challenges in the sector and took the opportunity to introduce new organizations that are eager to be part of our network.

The participation of our volunteers is essential, and they are always invited to attend such events and engage with the team. We asked one of our volunteers, Magdalena Kalbermatten, to share her perspective on this experience.

As a current volunteer at RACI, I had the opportunity to participate in the July 2023 Assembly of Members held at AMIA. There, I personally met the RACI team and several civil society organizations that are members of the network. My role at the assembly was to record the attendance of representatives from different NGOs who attended the meeting. It was my first time attending such a gathering, and I found it to be a great experience that allowed me to get to know a new facet of Argentine society: the world of the third sector and civil society organizations.

During the Assembly of Members, I could appreciate the remarkable transparency that characterizes RACI. From my perspective, the meeting served as an accountability session for RACI’s actions during the semester. It was a pleasure to witness the open dialogue between RACI members and the team, how they shared their concerns about the challenges facing the third sector, and how they aimed to improve NGOs in general. Moreover, I believe it is essential to highlight how much RACI members care about the network’s well-being and continuously seek ways to innovate, improve, and provide the best opportunities to its members. In this regard, it is worth mentioning that RACI has been conducting in-person and virtual visits to its member NGOs to further strengthen and deepen their relationships.

In a nutshell, I consider the Assembly of Members as a space where RACI demonstrated its commitment to and connection with the participating NGOs, as well as its determination to continue working together and cooperating to achieve its objectives.

Thank you very much, RACI, for this opportunity. I hope to continue collaborating with the team.

At RACI, we are committed to strengthening democracy in our region, and that’s why we invite you to join the second meeting of our dialogue series.

In this new dialogue, we will explore fundamental topics such as representation, social participation, the role of civil society, freedoms, and freedom of the press.

The event will take place virtually via the Zoom platform on August 3, 2023, at 11:30 am Argentina time (GMT -3).

We are pleased to announce the participation of distinguished specialists:

• Carmen Olaechea, with 33 years of experience in civil society, supporting organizations in strategic development and promoting art as a tool for social transformation. She is the President of the Cambio Democrático Foundation in Argentina and a member of various international advisory boards.
• Ana Cabria Mellace, a lawyer and mediator from Tucumán, with over 20 years of work in dialogue, participation, and conflict transformation. She is the Director of the Cambio Democrático Foundation and a consultant for the United Nations Development Programme, where she has coordinated peacebuilding programs and participated in dialogue processes and network strengthening in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Jose del Tronco Paganelli, Doctor in Political Science, with Honorable Mention from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, is a professor-researcher at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO) in Mexico. He has specialized in the study of democracy and public policies from a citizen participation perspective and has developed multi-stakeholder dialogue methodologies in various fields.
• Paula Moreno, President of FOPEA (Argentine Forum of Journalism). Journalist-Director of EQSnotas.com. Producer and Host of FM SOL.

During the event, we will hold a roundtable discussion to foster a genuine, open, and inclusive dialogue to achieve constructive consensus that promotes democratic development in our region.

Spaces for the event are limited, so don’t miss out! Register now via the registration link.

Once your registration is completed, you will receive access details to join the virtual event.

ALCEM

We virtually visited ALCEM – the Association for Multiple Sclerosis Combat, where we had a conversation with Susana Giachello, the founding president of ALCEM, Paula Henestroza, the Coordinator of the Social Department, and Noemí Romero, in charge of Radio ALCEM. They shared with us the organization’s history and its main activities, including workshops, seminars, and events aimed at informing and, above all, breaking myths and prejudices surrounding multiple sclerosis (MS).

During their recent campaign on World MS Day (May 30) under the slogan “Let’s Make the Invisible Visible,” they aimed to raise awareness about the existence of MS in society. ALCEM is dedicated to advocating for the rights of people with multiple sclerosis in the country. From the moment of diagnosis, ALCEM supports patients in coordination with their Medical Advisory Board and Reference Centers throughout the country.

In addition to providing advice and assistance on health issues, they also offer support in employment, social security, and family situations through personalized communication with professionals in the social and legal fields.

The organization promotes fundamental values such as empathy, social inclusion, healthy habits, and quality of life. Their team of professionals possesses profound knowledge of multiple sclerosis and the necessary experience to offer solutions in the health, social, and legal domains.

ALCEM provides a meeting space where they organize annual and free activities for people with multiple sclerosis. These activities are essential for reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, decreasing cognitive impairment, and improving the well-being of participants.

Pilares Association

As part of our efforts to strengthen collaboration and support our members, the RACI team visited Pilares Association in Pilar, where we had a conversation with Agustina Magenties, the Executive Director, and Claudia Perna from the Fund Development team. They shared information about their projects and the Educational Support programs.

The organization aims to bridge the educational gap and prepare students to enter secondary school with a strong foundation, ensuring that all children have access to quality education.

Pilares de Aprendizaje is a program developed in collaboration with the School of Education at Universidad Austral. It provides primary school students in vulnerable situations with the opportunity to strengthen their academic paths.

During our visit, we witnessed the transformative impact that Pilares Association has on the community. Through educational programs and comprehensive support, the organization works to develop individuals’ skills and capacities, promoting their autonomy.

Thanks for having us!

With only seven years left until the deadline of the 2030 Agenda, we present this report with data to assess the progress and obstacles in efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) halfway through their implementation.

The Atlas of Sustainable Development Goals 2023 provides interactive narratives and data visualizations on the 17 SDGs. It highlights trends within each target and introduces concepts on how some of the SDGs are measured.

Some of the stories covered in the 17 SDGs include progress and challenges in eradicating extreme poverty, the impact of COVID-19 on global health, rebuilding educational systems after COVID-19, pressures on freshwater resources, sustainable transportation for a livable future, development assistance as a catalyst for progress, among others.

Regarding the SDG 17 on partnerships to achieve the goals, it calls for revitalizing global partnerships for development, which depend on increased and sustained resource mobilization. From 2019 to 2022, official development assistance experienced a sharp increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. However, excluding these unique events, support to the world’s poorest countries was lower than pre-pandemic levels.

Progress towards the SDGs requires significant investment in programs, policies, human capital, and infrastructure. Official development assistance (ODA) from foreign governments plays a crucial role in supporting the development of less wealthy countries. In this regard, we call for collaboration and partnership to achieve the agenda’s goals. Through bilateral flows, as well as the involvement of non-governmental and multilateral organizations, including the United Nations and the World Bank, this assistance reaches recipient governments, providing them with the necessary support to drive their sustainable development. Together, we can make significant progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Atlas is ground on the World Bank’s World Development Indicators database, as well as a wide range of relevant data sources, including international organizations, scientists, and researchers from around the world.

The Atlas of Sustainable Development Goals 2023 was produced by the World Bank’s Development Economics Data Group (DECDG) in collaboration with various units within the World Bank. The Sustainable Development Goals Fund (SDG Fund) and the KDI School of Public Policy and Management provided generous financial support.

We invite you to read the report!

We invite you to register and participate in the second meeting of the Multi-Actor Dialogues Cycle. Perspectives and Narratives: Challenges of Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean.

At RACI, we have been promoting this cycle with the aim of motivating and generating enriching conversations that provide innovative proposals and alternatives to improve and enhance democratic processes in the region.

In February, we held the first meeting, and now we want to invite you to participate in the second dialogue, which will focus on democracies in Latin America and the Caribbean today, exploring aspects such as representativeness, social participation, the role of civil society, freedoms, and freedom of the press.

Please note that the meeting will take place virtually via Zoom on August 3, 2023, at 11:30 AM Argentina time (GMT -3).

During this cycle, distinguished academic experts from civil society, the private sector, and the public sector in Latin America and the Caribbean will share brief presentations, either individually or in panels. After the presentations, we will have a conversation in which participants can engage through dynamics that promote genuine dialogue and open and inclusive communication. We aim to achieve consensus that drives democratic development.

Don’t miss out, as spots are limited! Find the registration link here. Through it, you will receive the access details to join.

Thank you for your attention, and we look forward to your participation.