Press releases

2021/06/24 Washington, DC – The Trust for the Americas, in partnership with Citi, the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI) and the Institute of Law and Economics (ILE), held the virtual event “Global Community Day Ideathon” to foster innovation and volunteering in the Caribbean. The goal of the Ideathon was to engage beneficiaries from the DIA Lab for Youth Innovation in Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago, alongside Citi employees, to collaborate in a brainstorming session that sought disruptive solutions to everyday problems affecting their communities.  This initiative is part of the activities within Citi’s annual corporate-wide day of service, Global Community Day, where team-building opportunities are generated to allow employees to make a direct and meaningful contribution that help to address a range of community needs—from mentoring low-income youth to conserving parks and educating people about the value of protecting healthy and sustainable ecosystems. The Ideathon counted with the participation of Mr. Mitch De Silva, Trinidad and Tobago’s Citi Country Officer, Mrs. Eva Lewis, Jamaica’s Citi Country Officer, Ms. Linda Eddleman, CEO of The Trust for the Americas, and Ms. Shanae Owen, Project Officer at the Institute of Law & Economics Jamaica. Rodrigo Iriani, DIA’s Senior Program Manager at The Trust for the Americas, served as host.   “After the challenges we faced with the pandemic, it is a good time to reflect on the importance of volunteering and giving back to make a change. This Ideathon is an interactive collaboration to really help develop the whole ecosystem of the community”, shared Linda Eddleman, CEO of The Trust for the Americas.   During the hour and a half session, the participants —5 youth from Jamaica, 5 youth from Trinidad & Tobago, and 10 employees from Citi— worked in groups of five to come up with creative solutions, based on economic development, innovation, use of technology and entrepreneurship, to tackle local issues regarding climate change and the environment, gender equality, agriculture, and sustainable tourism.   This collaborative environment allowed attendees to discover key partners such as government agencies, NGOs, civil societies entities, and even media influencers to contribute to the following identified problems: lack of funding for eco-based companies or service providers, low literacy rates among farmers, food waste in all-inclusive local hotels, and the inequality of rights and opportunities for women and girls to fulfill their potential.   One of the participants, Olivia Shaw-Lovell from Jamaica, emphasized “the need to attack gender power imbalance with empowerment, and early education and guidance around cultural norms and stereotypes. It is also important to address the situation from four main levels: Government, through public policies that include marginalized communities with a focus on gender equity; Parents/Adults, with parenting sessions; Teens/Young Adults, through a Caribbean wide social media campaign; and Children, using interactive games that show women in non-traditional roles.”  “The Global Community Day Ideathon is a clear example of what we can achieve if we work together. Look at the innovative solutions that emerged from this short session and imagine the reach, and the change we can make if we collaborate more often. I’m sure entrepreneurs are going to benefit from opportunities like this, and I look forward to the stories that will be written in the DIA Labs”, shared Mitch De Silva, Trinidad and Tobago Citi Country Officer. Through state-of-the-art technology and digital and entrepreneurial curricula, the DIA Lab for Youth Innovation seeks to empower citizens for social change. “DIA – Democratizing Innovation in the Americas is a regional program with a multi-stakeholder approach, inviting public officials, youth, academic institutions, and international agencies to use collective intelligence to achieve transformation”, concluded Rodrigo Iriani, Senior Program Manager of DIA at The Trust for the Americas.    Since 2017, Citi and The Trust for the Americas have launched a DIA Lab in both Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. From 2017 to 2020, over 1,973 young people have been directly benefited from the labs, acquiring digital skills: crucial to solving challenges in their communities and creating economic opportunities.  —  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   Jamaica – Trinidad & Tobago

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and Washington, D.C. June 8, 2021 – The Trust for the Americas, in partnership with the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI) and the Citi Foundation, hosted a virtual event to announce and promote the new Trinidad & Tobago DIA Lab. With this DIA Lab, The Trust for the Americas is launching development initiatives in this Caribbean country for the first time. Young innovators and disruptive entrepreneurs will create low-cost, high-impact, high-quality innovation solutions that provide affordable access and livelihood opportunities for their communities on a long-term, sustainable basis.  The following officials participated in the virtual event hosted by CARIRI and Citi Trinidad and Tobago (link): The Honorable Minister Foster Cummings – Ministry of Youth Development and National Service, Mrs. Patricia De Leon Henry – National Director, National Social Development Program, Mr. Renzo Angeles – Vice President and Head of Cash Markets for Trinidad and Tobago at the Citi Foundation, Mrs. Danielle Rampersad – Vice President and General Counsel at Citi Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Mitchell De Silva – Citi Country Officer for Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Dwayne Gutzmer – Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Law & Economics in Jamaica, Ms. Shanae Owen, Project Officer at the Institute of Law & Economics in Jamaica; Ms. Marina Piper – OAS Country Officer; and representatives from The Trust for the Americas, CARIRI, the Citi Foundation, and the Institute of Law & Economics.  According to the Inter-American Development Bank, approximately one in five young people between the ages of 15 and 24 in the Caribbean are neither in school nor part of the workforce. This project will foster empowerment and innovation among Caribbean youth by equipping them with digital and entrepreneurial skills—crucial elements for economic growth. CARIRI’s Human Resources Manager, Ms. Denise Ferguson, stated: “Building capacity in Trinidad and Tobago has always been at the forefront of CARIRI’s mandate. This new initiative will allow us to expand our scope into an area that enables at-risk youth to become entrepreneurs, idea generators, and innovators.” Mitch De Silva, Citi Country Officer for Trinidad and Tobago, attended the impressive virtual tour and presentation and, during his remarks, stated: “We are proud to be part of the development of strong, sustainable communities, and Citi Trinidad & Tobago is pleased to be part of the Citi Foundation’s ”Pathways to Progress“ global initiative to equip young people with the career readiness tools and opportunities needed to thrive in today’s economy. We believe this will help them develop an entrepreneurial mindset and acquire leadership skills that will ultimately benefit their families, communities, and the country.” In 2016, the Citi Foundation and The Trust launched the DIA Urban Labs for Youth Innovation in Jamaica. From 2016 to 2020, more than 1,350 young people received training and access to state-of-the-art technology to address challenges in their communities. In that context, The Institute of Law & Economics shared experiences and lessons learned from the DIA Lab in Jamaica.    Linda Eddleman, CEO of The Trust for the Americas, noted that “this is a very important day at The Trust because we are launching the first program in Trinidad and Tobago in our 20-year history. Working with CARIRI and with the support of the Citi Foundation and the Organization of American States, we know that this project will help change the lives of many young people and, in turn, positively impact their communities. Specifically, we aim to provide young entrepreneurs with cutting-edge technology training, collaboration spaces, specialized curricula, mentorship, and financial resources for their social and economic ventures.”  Godiva Golding, a former participant in the DIA Urban Lab in Jamaica, shared her success story and spoke about how the DIA Lab in Jamaica positively impacted her life and that of her community.  Ms. Godiva Golding said: “It is precisely this kind of support—in terms of pitching, mentorship, and the connections that have been built—that has truly helped us move from simply existing and having an idea to constantly bringing that idea to life.”  At the end of the event, Rodrigo Iriani, Senior Program Manager at DIA, and Laura Da’Breau, Senior Business Development Officer at CARIRI, officially launched the Youth Innovation Lab. Rodrigo Iriani concluded: “DIA is about empowering citizens for social change through collective intelligence. I encourage all of you here today to participate—public officials, young people, academic institutions, and international agencies—because a multi-stakeholder approach is key to success. This is about building an ecosystem to drive transformation.” The Trinidad & Tobago DIA Lab will improve the lives of Trinidadian youth by enabling them to learn in-demand technological skills and develop disruptive solutions that will benefit their communities. During the event, attendees took a virtual tour of the Lab’s facilities, which highlighted how technology empowers young people. More information about the lab will be posted on our website and on our social media platforms at @trust4americas. 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, seek to improve access to economic opportunities and foster innovation in vulnerable communities throughout 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 Trinidad & Tobago

The training sessions are designed for teachers seeking to improve their digital skills to enhance their employability.  Eidos Global and The Trust for the Americas, an institution affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS), with support from Microsoft, are promoting the “Skills for the Future” program, a digital skills training initiative focused on enhancing employability in Latin America. The training provided by the program focuses on teaching digital content alongside cognitive and socio-emotional skills. The program is open to teachers from any institution who have a basic level of digital literacy and wish to improve their professional skills through the use of software.  The course is designed in a flexible and replicable format, which facilitates its implementation by the governments and organizations carrying it out.  The training is virtual and combines synchronous sessions—with an instructor teaching via the Microsoft Teams platform—and asynchronous sessions, in which participants follow the guides at their own pace. The program is delivered entirely online and at no cost. Educators will have access to a creative and innovative methodology for facilitating virtual learning spaces focused on digital and social skills using Microsoft tools. Diana Andrade, coordinator of the POETA Social Franchise in Ecuador, commented that “the future presents us with major new challenges; therefore, educators, teachers, and facilitators bear the great responsibility of continuing to acquire important skills so that the people they work with can open up, expand, or improve their opportunities in the workforce.” Registration will remain open until June 7, with limited space available. Those interested can register at http://bit.ly/ec-habilidadesfuturo. The Trust for the Americas has supported initiatives in Ecuador since 2008, particularly by supporting technology training projects aimed at creating economic opportunities for vulnerable populations, always in partnership with local organizations.  For more information, visit: Visit:  https://www.trustfortheamericas.org/programs/POETA/poeta-digispark Facebook: The Trust for the Americas  Twitter: @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. As our region develops, The Trust continues to help overcome challenges through strategic partnerships that foster cooperation for sustainable results. www.trustfortheamericas.org, Ecuador

Eidos Always Learning and The Trust for the Americas are inviting educators, teachers, and facilitators from Latin America to participate in the Skills for the Future program, an initiative aimed at equipping education professionals with the digital skills needed to enhance employability in Latin America. The program is supported by Microsoft.  The program is designed for teachers from any institution who have a basic level of digital literacy and wish to improve their professional skills through the use of software. The course is developed in a flexible and replicable format, which facilitates its implementation by governments and organizations carrying it out.  The training focuses primarily on the integrated teaching of digital content alongside cognitive and socio-emotional skills, so that participants can internalize what they learn and apply it in various contexts of their professional lives and other areas where they operate.  During the course—which is offered online and free of charge—educators will have access to a creative and innovative methodology for facilitating virtual learning environments focused on digital and social skills using Microsoft tools.  Joining this partnership is Fundades, an organization whose mission is to help improve the quality of life for people in vulnerable situations—especially those with disabilities—through the promotion and implementation of social activities and projects related to health, vulnerable children, education, employment, sports, and the environment. Diana Andrade, DigiSpark coordinator in Peru, commented that “the future presents us with major new challenges; therefore, educators, teachers, and facilitators bear the great responsibility of continuing to acquire skills so that the people they work with can open up, expand, or improve their opportunities in the workforce.” Registration will remain open until May 21, and space is limited. Those interested can register at http://bit.ly/registrohf. POETA DigiSpark is funded by Microsoft and implemented by The Trust for the Americas in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and the Dominican Republic through 19 local partners. Since the project’s launch in 2012, POETA DigiSpark has benefited more than 34,000 participants by providing access to technology centers and has empowered nearly 40,000 participants through various training programs. In addition, it has facilitated nearly 20,000 economic and educational opportunities in the region.   For more information: Visit: https://www.trustfortheamericas.org/programs/POETA/poeta-digispark Facebook: The Trust for the Americas – Twitter: @Trust4Americas – Instagram: @Trust4Americas – LinkedIn: The Trust for the Americas 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. Peru

Costa Rica – The Trust for the Americas, in partnership with GovTech Hub, has launched the “GovTech Bootcamp Costa Rica 2021,” the first event of its kind in Latin America. This initiative aims to strengthen the GovTech ecosystem in Costa Rica, stimulate digital innovation in public administration, increase the use of data, and promote the creation of multisectoral partnerships to develop disruptive solutions that address public sector challenges.  According to CAF—the Development Bank of Latin America—GovTech is an acronym for Government Technology (government technology), and refers to an environment in which governments collaborate with startups, SMEs, and other actors who use data analytics, digital technologies, and innovative methodologies to create products and services that improve citizens“ quality of life. In this regard, the GovTech Bootcamp brings together representatives from civil society organizations, seven startups selected through an open call for proposals, and twelve Costa Rican municipalities for 16 training and collaboration sessions. Initially, public officials will work to identify three to four areas where public services in each local government need improvement, and then, in collaboration with the startups and drawing on their technological and digital capabilities, develop innovative proposals to maximize public efficiency and improve communications and transparency in the use of government resources.  The local governments participating in the initiative are Atenas, Belén, Cañas, Cartago, Esparza, Grecia, Heredia, Mora, Orotina, Osa, Quepos, and Turrialba, which will work in partnership with the following startups: Big Cloud, LISTICA, Constratus, EOS Costa Rica, Neural Coders, Inco, and SmArtech.  ”This program is more than just a two-month training course; it is the first Govecth training and action initiative in the region, through which we aim to ensure that the projects that emerge do not remain mere ideas. Therefore, The Trust for the Americas will provide financial support totaling USD $35,000 to the best initiatives to ensure their implementation, and thus continue to drive the GovTech ecosystem in Latin America, where there is still a long way to go,“ stated Rodrigo Iriani, Program Manager for Democratizing Innovation in the Americas (DIA) at The Trust for the Americas.  According to the ”2020 GovTech Index: Empowering GovTech Ecosystems in Ibero-America,“ developed by CAF, the countries in the region best positioned to take advantage of GovTech ecosystems are the most digitized. Likewise, large cities such as Buenos Aires, São Paulo, and Mexico City have greater potential to capitalize on these new trends, given the dynamism of traditional digital startups and policies promoting digital entrepreneurship.   The report based its assessment on three variables—digital startups, government policies, and the procurement system—to analyze a group of 16 countries. In the case of Costa Rica, the index ranks it ninth and gives it a score of 4.04/10, since although the government has taken measures to promote technological innovation through incentives such as free trade zones and centers in San José, the country currently lacks policies specifically tailored to GovTech, as well as a significant presence of tech companies and startups specializing in this field, compared to other parts of the continent.  However, the study also recognizes Costa Rica’s potential not only in the field of procurement—to create a system more open to bids from GovTech startups—but also in the innovation environment, where it has the highest score in the region thanks to its population’s digital skills. In fact, the fact that it is legal in the country to pay workers with cryptocurrencies may be one of the future drivers of GovTech innovation, particularly regarding blockchain technology and other cryptocurrency projects.  ”In 2020, we launched two blockchain pilot projects for the certification of commercial patents and liquor licenses in the municipalities of Grecia and Quepos, as a first step toward using Industry 4.0 technology, to make the processes fully transparent and verifiable by any citizen or inspector,“ added Jorge Umaña, Open Government Project Coordinator in Costa Rica at The Trust for the Americas, and facilitator and mentor for the event.  The GovTech Bootcamp Costa Rica 2021 stems from the project ”Innovation and Civic Technologies to Increase Transparency in Government Services,” launched in 2020 with support from the U.S. Embassy in San José to foster dialogue and effective collaboration among multiple sectors, promoting openness to the development of disruptive solutions focused on the post-pandemic recovery phasethrough the use of civic technologies and open data to improve the quality and coverage of government services.   *** 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.  The Trust for the Americas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.     Visit: www.trustfortheamericas.org Facebook: The Trust for the Americas Twitter: @Trust4Americas Costa Rica

2021/04/24 El proyecto “Innovación a través de los Datos Abiertos en Panamá” llega a su fin tras dos años de implementación con la colaboración efectiva del Gobierno panameño. Esta iniciativa buscó promover la formación una red conformada por miembros de la sociedad civil, el sector privado y los gobiernos locales para contribuir con los estándares de Gobierno Abierto según el Programa Interamericano de Datos Abiertos (PIDA) y crear valor a partir del libre acceso de la información pública. El proyecto fue financiado por la Embajada de los Estados Unidos en Panamá y se estructuró en tres fases: la formación técnica multisectorial; la elaboración de espacios de diálogo para idear políticas públicas en temas de datos abiertos; y, el financiamiento de iniciativas sociales innovadoras de jóvenes que promuevan el uso de datos como solución a problemas de la comunidad. Durante la implementación del proyecto, se desarrollaron diversos productos innovadores. Tres iniciativas recibieron capital semilla y actualmente están siendo implementadas por emprendedores sociales. Una de ellas, fue desarrollada por tres estudiantes de la Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá y consiste en una aplicación abierta de consulta sobre el gasto público del Gobierno panameño. Adicionalmente, se desarrolló el Portal de Datos Abiertos para la Caja de Seguridad Social de Panamá en el que se encuentran datos relevantes de interés y un portal en línea para brindar transparencia a las becas dirigidas a las comunidades indígenas de las áreas más vulnerables del país. En el marco de este proyecto, también se lanzó una campaña de sensibilización, llamada Youth 4 Open Data (Y4OD), en la que se escogieron 25 jóvenes de distintas áreas del país para que participaran en un programa de capacitación y talleres prácticos con el objetivo de desarrollar proyectos y promover la participación ciudadana, la representación territorial y la formación de líderes en temas relacionados a Datos Abiertos, Gobierno Abierto y Periodismo de Datos. The Trust for the Americas a través de su proyecto DIA (Democratization of Innovation in the Americas) busca promover las políticas de gobierno abierto para contribuir a la innovación pública. Rodrigo Iriani, Project Manager de The Trust for the Americas, contó que se trata de “proveer oportunidades concretas a jóvenes estudiantes, entusiastas en tecnología y organizaciones de sociedad civil de distintas regiones para desarrollar capacidades, instrumentar iniciativas innovadoras que utilicen datos abiertos para mejorar sus comunidades”. Es así como se promueven las alianzas multisectoriales, con proyectos transversales que contribuyan al mejoramiento de la eficacia institucional del sector público. 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).   Visite: www.trustfortheamericas.org Facebook: The Trust for the Americas   Panamá

2021/04/19 El programa GovTech Bootcamp Costa Rica 2021 abre su convocatoria para todas las startups costarricenses que deseen inscribirse. San José, Costa Rica – El GovTech Bootcamp implementado y desarrollado por The Trust for the Americas y GovTech Hub, busca fortalecer el ecosistema GovTech en Costa Rica.  Esta iniciativa, pretende generar y crear soluciones GovTech para resolver problemas y oportunidades del sector público, los cuales se definirán de manera colaborativa entre la sociedad civil, startups y funcionarios de gobierno.  El programa consiste en tres etapas: 1. Dictado de un taller introductorio sobre GovTech para funcionarios públicos. Inicia el 24 de mayo 2021. 2. Sesiones con el objetivo de definir los problemas de forma colaborativa entre las startups y los funcionarios públicos participantes. Los gobiernos locales presentarán un pitch de los problemas al ecosistema. Inicia en junio 2021. 3. Serie de sesiones colaborativas en las que distintos equipos, conformados tanto por startups como por funcionarios públicos, buscarán y crearán soluciones para los problemas identificados. Inicia en julio 2021.  Además, se celebrarán conferencias y talleres abiertos en la temática, para sensibilizar a todos los sectores de la sociedad. Algunos de los resultados esperados son: • La participación de hasta 12 municipios de Costa Rica. • Identificar y definir 3 o 4 problemas a resolver en cada gobierno local. • Proporcionar financiación inicial a las ideas más disruptivas e innovadoras con hasta U$7,000. El GovTech Bootcamp, lanza una convocatoria para que, todas aquellas startups que deseen ser parte de este proceso que ayudará a transformar al país en un Estado Abierto, puedan inscribirse. Si tienes una startup en Costa Rica y deseas formar parte de este programa, regístrate dando clic aquí. Fecha límite de inscripción: 16 de mayo. El GovTech Bootcamp forma parte del proyecto “Innovación Y Tecnologías Cívicas para Aumentar la Transparencia en Servicios Gubernamentales” del Programa Democratizando la Innovación en la Américas (DIA), el cual busca mejorar los servicios gubernamentales y una efectiva recuperación post-pandemia, con el uso de tecnologías y espacios de co-creación entre diversos actores de la sociedad. No dudes en compartir esta invitación con cualquier persona que creas que puede estar interesada y dispuesta a aceptar el reto de construir un Estado Abierto en Costa Rica. ***  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).   Visite: www.trustfortheamericas.org Facebook: The Trust for the Americas   Costa Rica

2021/04/07 April 7th, 2021.- (Washington DC) The Executive Director of The Trust for the Americas, Linda Eddleman, and the co-founder of Glasswing International, Celina de Sola, signed a framework agreement today. This agreement is the first step in developing a program that will provide economic and social empowerment for the most vulnerable populations in El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. This alliance will capitalize on the experience of Glasswing as a local organization, with a presence and in-depth knowledge of the Central American region, and the Trust for the Americas as an institution affiliated with the Organization of American States. The joint project will promote digital skills training and create opportunities to access formal employment and entrepreneurship skills for women, youth, and migrants, with a significant focus on preventing gender violence. The program’s key components are digital literacy and technological and soft skills training for vulnerable groups, especially in the Northern Triangle. Celina de Sola, the co-founder of Glasswing, commented: “Partnerships, such as the one we are forming with The Trust for the Americas, allow us to work collectively – between organizations with complementary experience and expertise, and with an aligned vision and commitment – to provide opportunities for personal and professional development, and to promote social inclusion in a sustained manner in the region.” Linda Eddleman, Executive Director of The Trust for the Americas, stated: “The relationship with Glasswing will be one of the most relevant strategic alliances we have in Central America. With this first step, we hope to join public-private efforts to improve economic opportunities in the region and quickly begin to shape and execute initiatives that promote social inclusion and the development of women’s human talent as an essential competitiveness strategy within the productive sector of the region. “ The partnership will also cooperate with knowledge management to identify and disseminate best practices to create installed capacity in civil society and Central American governments. About Glasswing International Glasswing International is a nonprofit organization that seeks to address the root causes – and consequences – of poverty and violence through education, health, and community empowerment programs. Glasswing was founded in El Salvador in 2007, where it maintains its headquarters. It has expanded its operations to 9 countries in  Latin American and the Caribbean, including working with young migrants in the USA. To achieve a more significant sustained impact over time, Glasswing generates partnerships between the government, the private sector, civil society, and communities. More information: www.glasswing.org Facebook: GlasswingI – Twitter: GlasswingInt 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 Press Contacts: Lara Bersano Calot Communications Director The Trust for the Americas lbersano@20.9.190.97 . Arlena Pordoy Communications Director Glasswing International apordoy@glasswing.org El Salvador – Guatemala – Honduras

2021/04/06 Washington, DC 04/06/2021 Some 1,200 unemployed and underemployed youth between the ages of 17 and 34 will benefit from a special IDB Lab program aimed at strengthening economic opportunities and enhancement of their digital, business, and interpersonal skills. Youth will also access job opportunities through highly practical project-based learning and employability skills enabling them to function as independent workers and social entrepreneurs. “Jamaica has a plethora of talent which needs to be channeled into productive activities. Strengthening the digital and interpersonal skills of unemployed and underemployed youth with low incomes, as well as aligning them with job opportunities and entrepreneurship, will go a far way in easing the frustration which they are currently experiencing,” said Therese Turner-Jones, IDB Jamaica Country Representative and General Manager for the Caribbean Country Department. Jamaica, which has made great progress and economic reforms in recent years after a long period of instability, has seen the pandemic undermine much of its economic activity and foreign exchange, mainly from tourism. The impact on companies, together with rapid technological advancements have made it challenging for some companies to keep pace and provide the requisite training to their workforce. This has aggravated the socioeconomic risk of young people, exacerbated inequalities, and contributed to higher unemployment. The program will be funded with IDB investment of US $800,000 through a non-refundable technical cooperation grant. It will be executed by the non-profit entity, The Trust for the Americas, which, in association with Microsoft, Citi, and NCB Foundations, will invest more than US $1,000,000 in financial and in-kind resources. Read the full article on the IDB’s website: IDB Lab will strengthen Jamaican youth competencies | IADB  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 Jamaica

2021/03/12 Washington D.C 03/12/2021 – El libro titulado “GOVTECH EN IBEROAMÉRICA: Ecosistema, actores y tecnologías para reinventar el sector público” se presenta de manera virtual y gratuita el viernes 12 de marzo a las 12:00 hs. (Zona horaria ET), a través del canal de YouTube de OSCity. La obra presenta una documentación del estado del arte en materia de GovTech en la región Iberoamericana. Asimismo, persigue contribuir al emergente debate sobre sus alcances, posibilidades de desarrollo y desafíos a futuro. Siendo pionero en su estilo, este trabajo reúne diversas voces representantes de organismos multilaterales; autoridades y responsables de estrategias de gobierno digital y transformación tecnológica; integrantes de equipos de startups y laboratorios GovTech; expertos y consultores de reconocida trayectoria; académicos y representantes de organizaciones de tecnología cívica en la región, y más. La diversidad de voces incluye al Trust, representado por Rodrigo Iriani y Jorge Umaña, quienes colaboraron escribiendo el capítulo titulado “GovTech para la gobernanza abierta en Centroamérica y el Caribe”. En él, se presenta el trabajo del Trust desde el año 2016 en Costa Rica, Belice y Panamá, donde se promovieron capacitaciones, políticas y soluciones innovadoras en Datos Abiertos, Gobierno Abierto y GovTech. De igual manera, el capítulo presenta casos de éxito y testimonios sobre los participantes de los proyectos implementados por el Trust. Por ejemplo, en Costa Rica se entrevistó a personas de enlace a nivel municipal con el fin de monitorear y evaluar el proyecto, siendo el siguiente uno de los testimonios: “Hay una visión más participativa, se está considerando el involucramiento de la ciudadanía, y romper con ese divorcio que siempre ha existido entre ciudadanía y gobierno. Lo veo como un cambio en la perspectiva. Es emocionante saber que tendremos datos que pueden convertirse en insumo para nuevos productos, que personas externas pueden usar esta información para crear productos como aplicaciones, investigaciones, etc.” (Entrevista enlace municipal, 2019) Este libro se encontrará, para su descarga libre y gratuita, en la web de GovTech Hub una vez finalizada la presentación. La publicación consiste en un aporte al ecosistema gracias a la enorme contribución de referentes en la temática a nivel regional. *** 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).     Visite: www.trustfortheamericas.org Facebook: The Trust for the Americas  Twitter:   @Trust4Americas Canada – Antigua & Barbuda – Argentina – Belize – Brasil – Chile – Estados Unidos – Colombia – Costa Rica – Ecuador – El Salvador – Guatemala – Honduras – Jamaica – Mexico – Nicaragua – Trinidad & Tobago – Panamá – Perú – Puerto Rico – República Dominicana – St. Kits & Nevis – St. Lucia – St. Vincent & Granadinas – Venezuela