San José (February 23, 2019). – The impact of migrant populations in the region has increasingly driven the need for States to publicize available services and the best way to access them. All governments that provide their citizens with the ability to access, use, and appropriate government services through the use of ICTs (information and communication technologies) make people's lives easier, saving time on bureaucratic procedures. Migrant populations, often due to a lack of familiarity with the new rules and realities of the country to which they migrate, are unaware of these types of solutions and the technological advantages they could access.
To address this reality, The Trust for the Americas, together with Hivos and La Red, organized a discussion forum to explore the importance of open government in advancing issues related to migrant and refugee populations in Costa Rica.
The project is implemented by The Network, a new collaborative initiative between civil society and the government, funded with seed funding administered by The Trust for the Americas. The goal of this project is to train 60 migrants during the first half of 2019 so that, based on the pillars of transparency, participation, and collaboration, they can access public services and complete general administrative procedures to facilitate their interactions with public administration using open government tools.
“The ultimate goal of this initiative is for Nicaraguan migrants currently living in the Pococi and San José areas to learn about the opportunities that open government offers to empower themselves and that they can replicate these efforts to create a greater impact by making the public services they receive—or in which they themselves participate—more effective,” said Jorge Umaña, Coordinator of the Open Government Project for Trust for the Americas in Costa Rica.
Last September, Linda Eddleman, executive director of The Trust for the Americas, presented Costa Rica’s First Vice President, Epsy Campbell, with a proposal to create a program to support the government in finding solutions to the critical situation facing migrants in the country. The project is aimed at Costa Rican communities affected by migratory pressure and will be implemented through a multidisciplinary program that has already been successfully tested based on experiences integrating demobilized and displaced populations in Colombia.
In this regard, Linda Eddleman commented, “The Trust for the Americas has more than 20 years of experience in programs to integrate displaced populations and in promoting peace in the communities where they settle. We believe that bringing innovative solutions to migrant populations and helping them understand the value of information and communication technology in their community life is of particular importance to our work regarding economic and social inclusion and development opportunities in the region.”
The Trust for the Americas has a local presence in Costa Rica through six technology centers that are part of the POETA social franchise in the provinces of San José, Alajuela, and Cartago, all of which serve as spaces for inclusion, learning, and culture.
About The Trust for the Americas
The Trust for the Americas is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS) whose mission is to promote partnerships for economic and social inclusion in the Americas.
Established in 1997, The Trust was created to facilitate the participation of the public sector, the private sector, and civil society initiatives in social and economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The organization's initiatives improve communities' access to economic opportunities, better citizen security, and opportunities for democratic expression and governance.
The Trust for the Americas provides local partner organizations with training tools, services, products, and technical assistance to better serve vulnerable communities in the region. Visit:www.trustfortheamericas.org
Facebook: The Trust for the Americas Twitter: @Trust4Americas
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