Open Society Foundations LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN In Latin America and the Caribbean, the Open Society Foundations’ work ranges from drug policy reform and reducing violence, to promoting government transparency and media freedom, to expanding the participation of women in politics. Overview Our History Our Work EN Offices and Foundations JavaScript chart by amCharts 3.21.15 1 2 3 4 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Bogota, Colombia Mexico City, Mexico Port-au-Prince, Haiti Foundation offices Geographic program offices By the Numbers $80.6M 2020 EXPENDITURES FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN 5.9% PERCENTAGE OF GLOBAL EXPENDITURES 16.4% AVERAGE ANNUAL CHANGE IN EXPENDITURES SINCE 2016 Expenditures by Year 88 66 44 22 0 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Explore our full expenditures by theme and region OUR HISTORY In 1995, the Open Society Foundations launched the Fondasyon Konesans ak Libéte (FOKAL) after the restoration of Haiti’s first democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, following three years of military rule. Our first office in the region opened in Brazil in 2013, overseeing a growing portfolio of grant making on issues including drug policy, violence reduction, and equality issues. A second office opened in Mexico City in 2018. Highlights of Our Work in Latin America and the Caribbean Helping Haiti Recover from a Devastating Earthquake 2010 Supporting Justice for One of Central America’s Most Murderous Generals 2013 Explore our history and timeline A solar panel installer for Open Society Foundations grantee Revolusolar checks solar panels on a roof in the Babilonia favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on May 11, 2021. © Pilar Olivares/Reuters/Newscom OUR WORK Spearheaded by our Latin America Program, our work in Latin America and the Caribbean is wide-ranging and includes issues such as government transparency, media freedom, reducing violence, and increasing women’s political participation. Responding to COVID-19 Nurses examine a man in his home for symptoms of COVID-19, in São Paulo, Brazil, on April 19, 2020. © Andre Lucas/picture alliance/Getty The COVID-19 pandemic has hit countries across Latin America—but with particular severity in Brazil, where President Jair Bolsonaro has opposed the kind of public restrictions that have been shown to slow the spread of the virus. We have responded with emergency funding for a range of responses across the region; in Brazil, we are supporting community groups in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro that are spreading awareness about preventive measures and delivering relief supplies; in Colombia, we are backing an initiative to protect people of African descent and others on the country’s Pacific coast; in Mexico, we are helping fund a drive to make public data about the pandemic—and the medical capacities of individual states—fully open to the public. Drug Policy Reform A group of women at work in a coca plantation in the Bolivian town of Arapata. © Susana Giron/Cordon Press/Redux In Colombia, our Global Drug Policy Program funds efforts to develop beneficial commercial uses for coca leaf that can benefit small-scale growers, as an alternative to crop eradication campaigns. In Bolivia, we advocate for a coca control model that allows farmers to legally grow a limited and regulated quantity of coca leaves, a mainstay of Andean life for 4,000 years. The model has reduced coca cultivation, decreased violence, and helped stabilize rural economies. Why We Need Drug Policy Reform EXPLAINER Reducing Violence A young girl dressed as an angel takes part in an antiviolence rally in Morelia, Mexico on June 4, 2011. © Porfirio Gonzalez/Getty Latin America’s cities have some of the world’s highest rates of violent crime, much of it linked to gang violence. Our Latin America Program has supported groups that seek to improve public safety through a community-based approach that goes beyond a reliance on punitive policing, involving local youth groups and businesses. Women’s Rights A woman holds a sign with a portrait of slain activist and elected official Marielle Franco in São Paulo, Brazil on April 14, 2018. © Cris Faga/NUR/Newscom The work of the Open Society’s Women’s Rights Program includes funding groups that support women’s reproductive rights in a region where many governments have restrictive and conservative policies on this issue. We also seek to strengthen the role of women and women’s issues in political life and in the media. Media Independence A reporter for the newspaper El Diario in Cuidad Juarez, Mexico. © Timothy Fadek/Redux In Latin America, the Open Society Foundations support efforts to protect journalists from threats and violence that they can face while doing their job. We also seek to sustain independent investigative reporting on issues that may be overlooked by the mainstream media for political or business reasons. READ MORE POLICE REFORM Q&A: The Politicization of Brazil’s Police Under President Bolsonaro, Brazil is witnessing the use of pop culture and social media to legitimize the political influence of police. How Sou da Paz, a national think tank, is fighting back. NOVEMBER 15, 2021 THE TIME IS NOW It’s Time to Face Up to a Worsening Pandemic Debt Crisis As governments throughout the world continue to struggle through the COVID-19 pandemic, policymakers should act now to ensure fiscal burdens don't sabotage future recovery. JUNE 2, 2021 CLIMATE JUSTICE NOW For the Climate’s Sake, Listen to Urban Amazonians Historically, efforts to protect the Amazon have focused on conservation policy at a national level. It’s time for a new, bottom-up approach. MAY 17, 2021 | IAGO HAIRON Read more from this region: Latin America and the Caribbean Subscribe to updates about Open Society’s work around the world By entering your email address and clicking “Submit,” you agree to receive updates from the Open Society Foundations about our work. To learn more about how we use and protect your personal data, please view our privacy policy. VOICES Read the latest from our staff, grantees, and partners about how we’re working around the world to build vibrant and inclusive democracies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people. Learn more HOW WE FUND Every year the Open Society Foundations give thousands of grants to groups and individuals that work on the issues we focus on—promoting tolerance, transparency, and open debate. 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