In 2021, RACI collaborated with the co-management of the New Zealand Embassy Fund in Argentina and Paraguay. RACI received a total of 269 applications from Argentina (230) and Paraguay (39).
Of the project proposals received, the largest number of applications corresponded to the “Economic and Social Inclusion” axis, followed by “Gender Equality”, “Community Development (particularly indigenous and rural)”, and “Climate Change and Resilience”.
Once the project evaluations were completed, the organisations selected by the New Zealand Embassy were Tierra Libre – Instituto Social y Ambiental; The Foundation for the protection of children, educational development and the scout movement – Fundemos – Fund Scout; the Guarani Indigenous Women’s Organisation of Macharety; and the Civil Association Taba Isiriri – Pueblos del Arroyo.
Tierra Libre – Instituto Social y Ambiental presented the project “Advancing the water security of the families of the Nivaĉle ethnic group of Bajo Pilcomayo, Chaco Paraguayo”, with the aim of reducing the water stress in the community, complementing the infrastructure to increase the water reserve, in order to prevent critical situations due to droughts in this community.
The Foundation for the protection of children, educational development and the scout movement applied with the project “Building in Menstrual Health” which seeks to strengthen the economic independence of menstruating people, understanding menstruation as a matter of equity, social and environmental justice; and to generate in the Community Management Centres a space for accompaniment and support for women and the LGBTQI+ community.
The Guaraní Indigenous Women’s Organisation of Macharety presented the project “Sustainable Bee Honey Production and Conservation Practices for the Chaco Environment” focused on developing a model of sustainable production and commercialisation of honey in the forests of the Macharety community based on the traditional knowledge of the women.
The Civil Association Taba Isiriri – Pueblos del Arroyo presented the project “Collection and purification of rainwater and use of alternative energies in Almafuerte, Misiones”, which seeks to promote access to safe water through the implementation of a rainwater collection and purification system in family homes and educational institutions, and to socialise access to alternative energies, with the installation in public spaces of light columns and the charging of mobile devices with photovoltaic solar energy.