Press releases

Tierra Blanca, Veracruz, 11 de noviembre de 2020 – El H. Ayuntamiento de Tierra Blanca en el estado de Veracruz, se suma a The Trust for the Americas para capacitar a mujeres del Municipio a través del  Proyecto VIVE (ven, inspírate y vende) para fortalecer sus oportunidades económicas ante la pandemia por COVID-19. La firma de la colaboración se dio por parte del Lic. Rafael Montiel Martínez, Regidor sexto del H. Ayuntamiento de Tierra Blanca quien dijo que “El H. Ayuntamiento de Tierra Blanca agradece al Proyecto VIVE por esta suma de esfuerzos a través de la Comisión de Desarrollo Económico, ya que por medio de sus capacitaciones virtuales, mujeres Terrablanquenses se estaran capacitando en temas de emprendimiento para hacer frente a los retos de la pandemia”. Al respecto, María Fernanda Sierra Perea, Gerente Senior de Programas – POETA, expresó que “en The Trust for the Americas sabemos que es necesario acercar oportunidades para que las mujeres sean independientes, emocional y económicamente, y que mejor que sumando esfuerzos con gobiernos locales. Hoy estamos felices de sumar con el H. Ayuntamiento de Tierra Blanca para capacitar a mujeres de la región. Esta alianza les brindará herramientas para que impulsen su desarrollo personal y laboral, de esta forma beneficiamos a las mujeres, a sus familias y comunidades”. Esta capacitación se realizará de forma virtual acatando las medidas de distanciamiento social recomendadas por la Organización Mundial de la Salud y tendrá duración de dos meses. Para mayores informes se pueden comunicar al número del Proyecto VIVE 557371 9141. El Proyecto VIVE es implementado en México por The Trust for the Americas desde el 2016 gracias al apoyo  de Walmart Foundation. El Proyecto tiene como objetivo ofrecer herramientas que permitan el desarrollo económico de las mujeres y darles alternativas que mejoren su condición económica y la de su familia. Entre 2016 y 2019 capacitó a más de 53 mil personas a nivel nacional. Del total de personas capacitadas, más de 43  mil son mujeres (40% de las cuales son jefas de familia). Asimismo, cerca de 7 mil personas fueron vinculadas a oportunidades económicas (86% mujeres, 60% fueron vinculadas a un trabajo de tiempo completo y el 21% se auto-emplearon o iniciaron proyectos de emprendimiento). Para mayor información entra en:  Visite: www.trust-oea.org/vive Facebook: The Trust for the Americas  Twitter:   @Trust4Americas Proyecto VIVE: @ProyectoVIVEMx Sobre The Trust for the Americas: The Trust for the Americas es una entidad sin fines de lucro afiliada a la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA). Establecida en 1997 para promover alianzas público-privadas, The Trust ha implementado proyectos en 24 países y ha trabajado con más de 1,000 organizaciones en la región. Nuestras iniciativas buscan promover oportunidades educativas y económicas, así como la responsabilidad y transparencia del gobierno. Nuestra alianza única con la OEA nos permite tener acceso a los tomadores de decisiones dentro de la región. Esta asociación fundamental es la base a través de la cual creamos redes sólidas en todos los estados miembros y el sector privado. A través del desarrollo de nuestra región, The Trust continúa contribuyendo a superar los desafíos a través de alianzas estratégicas que promueven la cooperación para resultados sostenibles. Mexico

KINGSTON, Jamaica – November 2020 – On Monday, November 2, 2020, digital tech leaders and experts will gather virtually to listen to pitches delivered by unattached youth at the NCB ICON Lab Pitch Tank as part of the NCB ICON Lab initiative which launched on June 15, 2020. The purpose of the program is to encourage innovation, foster digital inclusion, and economic opportunities in Jamaica with training that focuses on essential life skills, entrepreneurship, communications skills, and augmented reality. The program is being implemented as a partnership among NCB Foundation, The Mico University College, and Trust for the Americas – a non-profit 501 affiliate of the Organization of American States that works to promote economic, social, and political development in Latin America and the Caribbean. “COVID-19 has forced the world to make efforts to narrow the digital divide and embrace digital transformation at a time when it is needed the most,” added Dr. Asburn Pinnock, president of The Mico University College, a local program partner focused on driving innovation in teaching that will propel the workforce to meet the demands of the nation’s future adequately. “Even without the current threat of COVID-19, the world is experiencing rapid technological developments in all aspects of life. Persons who find themselves ill-equipped to take advantage of this technological wave will be alienated from the economy. The NCB ICON Lab will provide a grand opportunity for unattached youth to be trained to seize opportunities while adding value to their lives and society. The Mico University College is proud to be on board to empower and provide another pathway for our youths to gain relevant 21st-century skills.” He continued. The future is digital. Once a niche skillset, digital skills are now a workplace essential. The digital marketing institute suggests that “within Europe and across sectors, at least 80% of managers and professionals need basic digital abilities. And, in larger workplaces, as many as 50% are required to have specialist digital skills.” Skills in areas such as expert data analysis, advanced social selling, mobile expertise, multi-platform UX design, network, and information security, and creative thinking will all be in high demand in the near future. On Monday, November 2 these developed skills will be put on display when participants pitch their innovative solutions created with the possibility of them being developed into viable business enterprises. CEO of the NCB Foundation, Nadeen Matthews Blair expressed that, “The foundation is looking forward to hearing pitches which represent viable opportunities for our students to earn an income or improve our society leveraging digital technologies.” On Wednesday, November 4, great pitches will be recognized at the NCB ICON Lab awards ceremony. The NCB ICON Lab promotes an entrepreneurial and learning mindset for Jamaican youth to become referents as well as becoming change agents in their communities. ICON is an acronym that stands for Innovative, Creative, Outstanding, and Nationalistic. During April and May 2020, The Trust for the Americas carried out the “Train-the-trainers” (TTT) with The MICO University College. The Objective was to equip teachers with the tools they need to provide training to youth. *** About Mico University College: Mico University College is the oldest and largest English-speaking specialist teacher training educational institution in the Caribbean. For 180 years, Mico University College has been at the forefront of efforts to improve access to quality educational opportunities in Jamaica. Mico University College has highly trained staff, with years of experience in innovation. More information: www.themico.edu.jm Facebook: The Mico University College Instagram: @themicouniversitycollege About The Trust for the Americas: The Trust for the Americas is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS). It was established in 1997 to promote public and private sector participation in social and economic development projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our initiatives, implemented through local partner organizations, seek to improve access to economic opportunities as well as to foster innovation in vulnerable communities in the hemisphere. To this end, The Trust also promotes social inclusion and good governance. The Trust has offices in Washington, D.C., Colombia, and Canada. More information: www.trustfortheamericas.org Facebook: The Trust for the Americas Twitter: @Trust4Americas About The N.C.B. Foundation: Established in 2003, the N.C.B. Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the NCB Financial Group Limited. With its focus on three primary areas – Education, Community Development and Sports, and Youth Leadership and Entrepreneurship—the N.C.B. Foundation embraces sustainable charitable causes, and contribute to the acceleration of national development. From investing in scholarships at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels and empowering youths with skills in leadership and entrepreneurship to enhancing trainees’ lives through training in various skills-based programs. The N.C.B. Foundation is committed to elevating and empowering the people in the communities it serves. To date, the N.C.B. Foundation has donated over J$1.5 billion to various charitable initiatives, positively impacting the lives of over 250,000 Jamaicans. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ncbfoundation Twitter: @NCBFoundation Related Links: NCB ICON Lab Kickstarts the First Cohort of Trainees in Jamaica – https://www.trustfortheamericas.org/press-room/releases/ncb-icon-lab-kickstarts-1cohort-trainees-jamaica Kickstarting the NCB ICON Lab in Jamaica – https://www.trustfortheamericas.org/press-room/releases/TTT-NCB-ICON-LAB Jamaica

29 de octubre de 2020 / San Juan, Puerto Rico – AES Puerto Rico, en alianza con la organización The Trust For The Americas, abrió hoy la convocatoria del proyecto Potenciando el Emprendimiento Innovador CONECTA, con el propósito de fortalecer nuevas ideas de negocios o microempresas ya existentes en la isla. El proyecto, que se lleva a cabo por tercer año consecutivo, inició con la premiación y reconocimiento a los 10 emprendedores que participaron en el 2018 y 2019 por la resiliencia de sus emprendimientos en tiempos de crisis y grandes desafíos. De igual forma, se inició el plazo para solicitar participación en el próximo ciclo del proyecto, que da comienzo este 29 de octubre del 2020 con la selección de 20 emprendedores para recibir incentivos económicos y capacitación. Los ganadores serán escogidos por un comité de cinco miembros que evaluarán criterios tales como impacto social, número de beneficiados, compromiso demostrado por los participantes, mejoras en oportunidades de empleo e innovación del negocio. “En AES Puerto Rico además de estar comprometido con la transición energética de Puerto Rico y también le da prioridad al desarrollo socioeconómico de sus comunidades a través de proyectos sociales que contengan el factor de sostenibilidad como una forma de generar condiciones de empleo y contribuir con el desarrollo humano en las comunidades en donde operamos”, comentó Jesus Bolinaga, presidente de AES Puerto Rico. El propósito del proyecto Potenciando el Emprendimiento Innovador CONECTA 2020/2021 es fortalecer nuevas ideas de negocios o microempresas existentes con un proceso de capacitación integral en metodologías de innovación, desarrollo de modelos de negocio, transformación digital, habilidades empresariales y mentorías en aceleración empresarial y capital semilla para los mejores emprendimientos seleccionados.  Por su parte Linda Eddleman, directora ejecutiva de The Trust For the Americas, afirmó que “nuestra misión como The Trust For the Americas es acercar el conocimiento y las herramientas necesarias para que las comunidades generen oportunidades económicas, sean sostenibles y mejoren su calidad de vida, la de sus familias e impacten el crecimiento de sus comunidades. Esta alianza del The Trust For the Americas con AES Puerto Rico es parte del compromiso continuo con el futuro de la isla, para fomentar el emprendimiento como un camino claro para el desarrollo sostenible.” Los microempresarios que deseen conocer los requisitos pueden acceder a la página de Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/conectapuertorico o solicitar ingreso al proyecto al proyecto Potenciando el Emprendimiento Innovador CONECTA 2020/2021 deben acceder a https://n9.cl/yzqc  para más detalles. Sobre The Trust For The Americas The Trust for the Americas es una entidad sin fines de lucro afiliada a la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA). Establecida en 1997 para promover alianzas público-privadas, The Trust ha implementado proyectos en 24 países y ha trabajado con más de 1,000 organizaciones en la región. Nuestras iniciativas buscan promover oportunidades educativas y económicas, así como la responsabilidad y transparencia del gobierno. Nuestra alianza única con la OEA nos permite tener acceso a los tomadores de decisiones dentro de la región. Esta asociación fundamental es la base a través de la cual creamos redes sólidas en todos los estados miembros y el sector privado. A través del desarrollo de nuestra región, The Trust continúa contribuyendo a superar los desafíos a través de alianzas estratégicas que promueven la cooperación para resultados sostenibles. TheTrust for the Americas es una organización sin fines de lucro 501 (c) (3). Más información www.thetrustfortheamericas.org Sobre AES Puerto Rico AES-PR es una subsidiaria de la Corporación AES (NYSE:AES), una compañía de energía global. La Corporación AES opera un portafolio de 34,000 MW, diversificado por tipo de combustible, incluyendo más de 3,000 MW en proyectos solares y eólicos en operaciones o en construcción. AES-PR provee energía segura, confiable y al más bajo costo. Actualmente, AES-PR produce aproximadamente el 25% de la electricidad de Puerto Rico. Las operaciones de AES-PR contribuyen a la economía de la Isla a través de la generación de 110 empleos directos y 600 indirectos, proveyendo importantes oportunidades laborales.  AES-PR ha diversificado la producción de energía en la Isla a través de AES Ilumina, una instalación solar de 20 MW. AES Corp. se ha trazado una meta ambiciosa, reducir la generación de carbón de su portafolio a menos de 10% para el año 2030. Puerto Rico

October 30, 2020, Mexico City, October 29, 2020.—According to the country’s latest Economic Census, 43.8% of the population engaged in economic activities are women, which is why, from September 2016 to the present, the VIVE Project has been implemented in Mexico. The project was developed by The Trust for the Americas, a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS). VIVE has trained 71,667 people, of whom 56,753 are women from 245 municipalities in 29 states of the Mexican Republic. “Since March of this year, at The Trust for the Americas and the VIVE Project, we had to shift our training program to an online format in response to COVID-19. This presented an operational and logistical challenge. And thanks to the team’s prompt response, professionalism, and adaptability, we were able to adjust,” said Linda Eddleman, Executive Director at The Trust for the Americas. Among the key findings: Women account for 37% of the unemployed population aged 15 and older, according to Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). Of these, 64% of women over the age of 15 lack a high school education, which reduces their chances of securing regular, formal employment, according to the 2017 Mexican Statistical Yearbook. For this reason, Proyecto VIVE focused on this population and implemented technical training, interpersonal skills training, and workshops on the prevention of violence against girls and women, as well as training to advocate for and assert their labor rights, with a focus on protecting their health, education, dignity, and development, as well as maternity protection. “Proyecto VIVE has focused its efforts on women living in vulnerable circumstances, which means they face socioeconomic disadvantage, poor academic performance, domestic violence, unemployment, or irregular employment,” reported the Executive Director of The Trust for the Americas. During the event, the “Recipe Book for Powerful Women: ”Stories to Inspire You“” was presented, compiling 71 success stories. “We wanted the opportunity to share a sample of these stories of change and resilience, and today we are pleased to present this book of stories: Recipe Book for Powerful Women: Stories to Inspire You, in which we have compiled 71 stories—one for every thousand graduates,” concluded Linda Eddleman. “Recipe Book for Powerful Women: STORIES TO INSPIRE YOU” Much of the project’s success is due to the teamwork carried out in collaboration with organizations such as: the ManpowerGroup Foundation, an expert in employability issues, the Professor Eva Rodríguez de Camou Foundation, and the Municipality of Toluca through Ambientes de Paz y Desarrollo; in addition to the collaboration of local youth authorities in various states, state departments, and regional offices. Gayatri Agnew, Senior Director of Opportunities at the Walmart Foundation, recalled that “four years ago, when the VIVE Project began, ambitious goals were set, and today we are amazed by the results. We have gone beyond providing training and building skills. Today, thousands of women in Mexico have better opportunities to find a job, start a business, and make decisions with freedom and independence, thanks to the VIVE Project.” Gayatri added that “the philanthropic approach is rooted in our company’s (Walmart U.S.) mission to create opportunities so that people can live better lives. This initiative (Proyecto VIVE) is an example of the shared commitment by Walmart, the Walmart Foundation, and The Trust for the Americas to make an impact and create value in our communities.” Ambassador Aníbal Quiñonez, the OAS representative in Mexico, celebrated the achievements of the VIVE Project, noting that “the OAS is committed to promoting substantive equality and has taken a leadership role in the region. Projects like VIVE are a tangible example of this goal. And in this regard, to reaffirm our commitment to more rights for more people… We invite everyone to follow Trust and join its regional efforts to continue working toward guaranteeing more rights for more people, especially those in the most vulnerable situations.” During her remarks, Alejandra Mora Mora, Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM), recognized the work of Trust for the Americas for joining forces to benefit women in Mexico. ”Today I want to highlight two contributions. The first is to celebrate VIVE for believing in women, because the world’s commitment must be to believe in women… Thank you to Trust for the Americas for its work on behalf of women, and thank you for including the CIM in this effort.” The event was attended by: Ambassador Aníbal Enrique Quiñónez, OAS Representative in Mexico; Alejandra Mora Mora, Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM); and Gayatri Agnew, Senior Director, Opportunities at the Walmart Foundation. It is worth noting that the Proyecto VIVE training programs feature certifiable standards endorsed by the Ministry of Public Education (SEP), which outline competencies aligned with industry standards. The first 20 hours of the training cover technical subjects (sales promotion, sales, customer service, and marketing), while the remaining 20 hours focus on life skills (digital literacy, leadership, communication, and entrepreneurship). It is important to mention that upon completing the training, 97% participants see an improvement in professional skills—particularly in merchandise handling and distribution—and 93% participants acquire excellent abilities to secure jobs in sales and customer service.” Currently, the training programs are available online at https://aulavirtual.trustfortheamericas.org/. The educational offerings include: customer service, sales, promotional activities, violence prevention, basic tools for entrepreneurship, and the webinar “Entrepreneurship in Times of Crisis.” For more information, visit: www.trust-oea.org/vive Facebook: The Trust for the Americas Twitter: @Trust4Americas VIVE Project: @ProyectoVIVEMx About The Trust for the Americas: The Trust for the Americas is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS). Established in 1997 to promote public-private partnerships, The Trust has implemented projects in 24 countries and has worked with more than 1,000 organizations in the region. Our initiatives seek to promote educational opportunities and

October 16, 2020 The Trust For the Americas is excited to announce our partnership with Rumie to bring resources to your communities that help them succeed. Our mission is to provide vulnerable communities with job readiness tools and hands-on skills to help them become self-sufficient. We’re working with Rumie to make useful learning opportunities available to those who need them most, inspiring people to succeed and communities to thrive. Rumie-Learn is a free digital library of micro-learning “Bytes” focused on life and career development. Anyone can use Rumie-Learn to enhance their soft skills in areas such as innovation and job skills. Bytes are 10 minutes or less, making them 20% more effective than traditional online learning—and it’s completely free. The Trust For the Americas has also partnered with Rumie to create Bytes on innovation and entrepreneurship skills to distribute to our communities. Here is a Bytes module created by our Mexico team. Imagine someone who has recently received a laptop but doesn’t know where to start when it comes to putting together a great resume. They can use Rumie-Learn to perfect their resume, develop strong interviewing skills, and then learn how to communicate effectively with a new team—all within 30 minutes. If you’re interested in becoming a Rumie partner or simply learning more, please contact Tanya at tanya@rumie.org About The Trust for the Americas: The Trust for the Americas is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS). Established in 1997 to promote public-private partnerships, The Trust has implemented projects in 24 countries and collaborated with over 1,000 organizations in the region. Our initiatives aim to promote educational and economic opportunities, as well as government accountability and transparency. Our unique alliance with the OAS gives us access to decision-makers throughout the region. This foundational partnership is the cornerstone through which we build strong networks across member states and the private sector. As our region evolves, The Trust continues to thrive by addressing challenges through strategic partnerships that foster cooperation for sustainable results. The Trust of the Americas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information: www.trustfortheamericas.org Facebook: The Trust for the Americas Twitter: @Trust4Americas Canada – Antigua & Barbuda – Argentina – Belize – Brazil – Chile – United States – Colombia – Costa Rica – Ecuador – El Salvador – Guatemala – Honduras – Jamaica – Mexico – Nicaragua – Panama – Peru – Puerto Rico – Dominican Republic – St. Kitts & Nevis – St. Lucia – St. Vincent & the Grenadines – Venezuela

September 29, 2020, Washington, D.C.—Alejandro de León, Daniel Justavino, and Norberto Cáceres, students at the Technological University of Panama, in technical collaboration with The Trust for the Americas and ANTAI, are presenting an open-source application that allows users to view the Panamanian government’s budgets, expenditures, revenues, and agencies. As part of the “Innovation through Open Data in Panama” program, this initiative is one of three innovative open data projects that received initial funding and are being implemented by social entrepreneurs in Panama: Elsa Fernández, Director of ANTAI, comments on the strategic partnership with The Trust for the Americas in support of open government: “The most recent joint project has been the Budget Transparency app, developed by students at the UTP and delivered to ANTAI as a tool designed to make open data held by institutions more visible, thereby automating processes with the aim of improving the population’s quality of life.” The development of this application, which models the country’s institutional hierarchy, records the following items at a granular level: budgets, expenditures, revenues, and entities. Rodrigo Iriani, Senior Program Manager at Trust for the Americas, provided details on the platform’s utility: “The idea is that independent entities—such as individuals, companies, and nongovernmental organizations—can access the data managed by the system and use it for any type of scrutiny or analysis. For example, for reports, presentations, and various analyses, while respecting the freedom to publish and ownership of such transformations and scrutinies.” In Panama, Trust for the Americas is working with the national government to implement internationally agreed-upon Open Government standards under the Inter-American Open Data Program (PIDA). Trust is promoting the formation of a network comprising members of civil society, the media, the private sector, and local governments. Currently, The Trust for the Americas is using its Virtual Classroom to provide training courses for public officials, young people interested in open data, and the private sector. The launch of this transparency platform takes place as part of the celebration of Access to Information Week in Panama. Link to the portal: https://stp-transparencia.netlify.app/ If you would like to learn more about “Innovation through Open Data in Panama,” use the following hashtags to search on social media: #ForATransparentPanama #Y4ODPanama #Trust4Americas About The Trust for the Americas:  The Trust for the Americas is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS). Established in 1997 to promote public-private partnerships, The Trust has implemented projects in 24 countries and has worked with more than 1,000 organizations in the region. Our initiatives seek to promote educational and economic opportunities, as well as government accountability and transparency. Our unique partnership with the OAS gives us access to decision-makers throughout the region. This vital partnership is the foundation through which we build strong networks across all member states and the private sector. Through the development of our region, The Trust continues to help overcome challenges through strategic partnerships that promote cooperation for sustainable results. The Trust for the Americas is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C.   Visit: www.trustfortheamericas.org Facebook: The Trust for the Americas Twitter: @Trust4Americas Panama

September 21, 2020, Agua Prieta, Sonora – The City Council of Agua Prieta, through the Women’s Institute, is joining forces with The Trust for the Americas to train more than 50 women from Sonora through the VIVE Project (Come, Be Inspired, and Sell) to strengthen their economic opportunities in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The partnership agreement was signed by the Mayor of Agua Prieta, who stated that “women’s development is key to the growth of society in every way; it is very important to support our women to strengthen the economy and help reduce violence against women.”  In this regard, María Fernanda Sierra Perea, Senior Program Manager at POETA, stated that “at The Trust for the Americas, we are firmly convinced that by promoting opportunities for women to become emotionally and economically independent, we build peace. Today we are pleased to partner with the municipal government of Agua Prieta to train women from Sonora. This partnership will provide them with tools to advance their personal and professional development, thereby benefiting women, their families, and their communities.” This training will be conducted virtually in accordance with the social distancing measures recommended by the World Health Organization. For more information, please contact the Agua Prieta Women’s Institute at 633 338 6913. The VIVE Project has been implemented in Mexico by The Trust for the Americas since 2016, thanks to support from the Walmart Foundation. The project aims to provide tools that enable women’s economic development and offer them alternatives to improve their economic situation and that of their families. Between 2016 and 2019, it trained more than 53,000 people nationwide. Of the total number of people trained, more than 43,000 are women (40% of whom are female heads of household). In addition, nearly 7,000 people were connected to economic opportunities (86% women; 60% were placed in full-time jobs, and 21% became self-employed or launched entrepreneurial projects). For more information, visit: www.trust-oea.org/vive Facebook: The Trust for the Americas Twitter: @Trust4Americas VIVE Project: @ProyectoVIVEMx About The Trust for the Americas: The Trust for the Americas is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS). Established in 1997 to promote public-private partnerships, The Trust has implemented projects in 24 countries and has worked with more than 1,000 organizations in the region. Our initiatives seek to promote educational and economic opportunities, as well as government accountability and transparency. Our unique partnership with the OAS gives us access to decision-makers throughout the region. This vital partnership is the foundation through which we build strong networks across all member states and the private sector. As our region develops, The Trust continues to help overcome challenges through strategic partnerships that foster cooperation for sustainable results. Mexico

August 14, 2020, State of Mexico, August 13, 2020.—The mayor of Toluca, Juan Rodolfo Sánchez Gómez, signed a collaboration agreement with the manager of the VIVE Project (Come, Be Inspired, and Sell) of The Trust for the Americas, María Fernanda Sierra Perea, to provide free online training to dozens of women in Toluca during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mayor reaffirmed his commitment to boosting family economies by creating opportunities for women to develop and launch sustainable business ventures, while fostering a more inclusive and equitable society, as the partnership with The Trust for the Americas—a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS)—aims to narrow the gender employment gap and reduce violence against women. In this regard, the manager of the VIVE Project, María Fernanda Sierra Perea, stated that “at The Trust for the Americas, we are firmly convinced that by promoting opportunities for women to become emotionally and economically independent, we build peace. Today we are pleased to partner with the municipal government, through Ambientes de Paz, to provide training for women in Toluca. This partnership will provide them with tools to advance their personal and professional development, thereby benefiting women, their families, and their communities.” With the signing of the collaboration agreement, a digital strategy for training and economic opportunities will be developed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic to offer quality training and content to women in Toluca. It is worth noting that the signing of this agreement took place remotely to comply with protocols for preventing the spread of the coronavirus. The VIVE Project has been implemented in Mexico by The Trust for the Americas since 2016, thanks to support from the Walmart Foundation. The project aims to provide tools that enable women’s economic development and offer them alternatives to improve their economic situation and that of their families. Between 2016 and 2019, it trained more than 53,000 people nationwide. Of the total number of people trained, more than 43,000 are women (40% of whom are female heads of household). In addition, nearly 7,000 people were connected to economic opportunities (86% women; 60% were placed in full-time jobs, and 21% became self-employed or launched entrepreneurial projects).  For more information, visit: www.trust-oea.org/vive Facebook: The Trust for the Americas Twitter: @Trust4Americas VIVE Project: @ProyectoVIVEMx About The Trust for the Americas: The Trust for the Americas is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS). Established in 1997 to promote public-private partnerships, The Trust has implemented projects in 24 countries and has worked with more than 1,000 organizations in the region. Our initiatives seek to promote educational and economic opportunities, as well as government accountability and transparency. Our unique partnership with the OAS gives us access to decision-makers throughout the region. This essential partnership is the foundation through which we build strong networks across all member states and the private sector. As our region develops, The Trust continues to help overcome challenges through strategic partnerships that foster cooperation for sustainable results. Mexico

August 14, 2020, Washington, D.C.- The Trust for the Americas, with support from The Mico University College and the N.C.B. Foundation, hosted the first-ever hybrid ideathon at the NCB ICON Lab in Jamaica. The NCB ICON Lab fosters an entrepreneurial and learning mindset among Jamaican youth to help them become role models and agents of change in their communities. ICON stands for Innovative, Creative, Outstanding, and Nationalistic. Twenty young students between the ages of 16 and 35 participated in this idea acceleration event. These students honed their innovation and entrepreneurship skills using the Trust’s flagship Ideathon Methodology: ICI (Innovation, Creativity, and Inspiration). Their ideas will support the local economy in a socially distanced environment and promote the productive use of waste materials to care for the most vulnerable communities in Jamaica. Students present at the NCB ICON Lab collaborated with those participating remotely through online breakout sessions. As a first step, each group generated as many ideas as possible. Next, participants were asked to identify the situation in their daily lives that frustrated them the most, as a way to understand the most pressing issues facing Jamaican society during the pandemic. Furthermore, each group had to evaluate their ideas based on feasibility, impact, relevance, and differentiation. Finally, the idea that successfully meets these four criteria is the one to be developed into a service or product using the Canvas Model. Thalia Lyn, Chair of the N.C.B. Foundation, emphasized the importance of these NCB ICON Lab initiatives in ensuring that the lockdown is not viewed as a “lockout” for the people. She concluded her remarks by inspiring the enthusiastic students, urging them to: “Be disruptors, always be agile, and keep expanding your minds. You are the innovators for the Jamaica 2030 project.”   Linda Eddleman, CEO of Trust for the Americas, attended the introductory session to support the participants: “After weeks of taking your online classes, you are beginning to identify different possibilities for improving businesses, processes, and solutions to everyday challenges. Today, you can bring these ideas to life and turn them into viable actions and solutions—let your imagination run wild. Given the passion and results-driven mindset I’ve seen in Jamaican youth, I’m certain we’ll see remarkable projects and ideas emerge from this Ideathon.” At the end of the second day, participants presented and defended their ideas before a jury. These business initiatives will be available next month. #Trust4Americas #NCBICONLab About the Trust for the Americas: The Trust for the Americas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS). It was established in 1997 to promote public and private sector participation in social and economic development projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our initiatives, implemented through local partner organizations, aim to improve access to economic opportunities and foster innovation in vulnerable communities across the hemisphere. To this end, the Trust also promotes social inclusion and good governance. The Trust has offices in Washington, D.C., Colombia, and Canada. More information: www.trustfortheamericas.org Facebook: The Trust for the Americas Twitter: @Trust4Americas Jamaica

July 29, 2020, Washington, D.C. – The Trust for the Americas, in collaboration with the Department for Effective Public Management of the Organization of American States and the business intelligence firm Grupo Inco Corp, has created an open data platform for the Social Security Fund (CSS). The open data portal is a section created on the CSS Transparency Website, featuring modern technological tools available to the public. The portal contains information relevant to COVID-19, financial benefits, health, medications, and the CSS call center—including call volume statistics and access to information. Kathia Quiel Carreira, director of the CSS’s Technical Secretariat for Accountability and Institutional Support, reported that the institution’s website includes the transparency sections required by ANTAI, links to the Panama Compras portal, links to open data from the Interstate Platform of the Government Innovation Authority (AIG) and the Comptroller General of the Republic.  As part of transparency efforts across the public sector, an “Accountability” section was created to display all purchases made by the entity. In addition, financial statements from 2005 through 2019 are available in formats accessible to the public for download in PDF, Excel, CSV, XML, JSON, and API. The various download formats are adapted to accommodate individuals with visual or hearing impairments. The open data portal is part of the “Public Innovation through Open Data in Panama” project by The Trust for the Americas, which aims to encourage local governments and civil society in Panama to create spaces for discussion, collaboration, and deliberation on open data public policies. Through partnerships and small grants for social innovations, the initiative seeks to strengthen national policy on transparency and access to information. This contribution represents a significant step forward in implementing open government principles in the health sector and serves as a model policy that can be replicated across the region. About The Trust for the Americas: The Trust for the Americas is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS). Established in 1997 to promote public-private partnerships, The Trust has implemented projects in 24 countries and has worked with more than 1,000 organizations in the region. Our initiatives seek to promote educational and economic opportunities, as well as government accountability and transparency. Our unique partnership with the OAS gives us access to decision-makers throughout the region. This vital partnership is the foundation through which we build strong networks across all member states and the private sector. As our region develops, The Trust continues to help overcome challenges through strategic partnerships that promote cooperation for sustainable results. Panama