Press releases

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

2020/07/07 Microsoft launched an initiative Monday to teach digital skills to 25 million people who lost their jobs due to Covid-19 by the end of 2020. The company will combine resources from itself and its subsidiaries LinkedIn and GitHub to identify in-demand jobs and skills, provide free skills and job-seeking tools and low-cost certifications. Through Linkedin, Microsoft is making some of its labor market insights available to policymakers and the public to identify global and regional demand for skills, emerging jobs and what companies are hiring. The company will provide $20 million in grants to nonprofits for those who are most under-resourced. Of that, $5 million will go to community-based nonprofits led by and serving communities of color in the U.S. The launch includes several nonprofit partners including The Trust for the Americas, Fondazione Mundo Digitale, Tech4Dev and the National Urban League. “Before this year comes to an end, we’ll see almost a quarter of a billion people lose their job,” Microsoft President Brad Smith said during a virtual launch event. “It’s a staggering number, in part, it’s the obvious reaction to this pandemic. … It’s also the result of long-term trends in our economy. Trends that have been unleashing more automation — automation that has been eliminating jobs that often involve more manual work, and replacing them with jobs that are more digitally focused.” Forecasts show 800 million people will need to learn new skills for their jobs by 2030, CEO Satya Nadella said during the event. The company’s data shows two years’ worth of digital transformation has occurred over the past two months. Microsoft estimates that by 2025, there will be 149 million new technology jobs, like creating software, cybersecurity, and privacy protection, Smith said. Microsoft is making certifications for its own technologies available for $15, down from more than $100, for those who say their employment has been impacted by the pandemic. That fee will be paid to third parties to scale to meet any surge in demand for certification exams. Those certifications cover things like Azure, Power Platform, Teams, security, and data analysis. Microsoft is also developing a new learning application embedded within Microsoft Teams, so employers around the world can more easily provide job training, to release in the fall. Watch Trevor Noah and Brad Smith interviewing Linda Eddleman here https://youtu.be/fhJAD7sQQ7w Learn more about Microsoft’s new initiative in https://news.microsoft.com/skills/ Read the original article published in https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2020/06/30/microsoft-launches-effort-train-25m-people.html

2020/06/22 Washington, D.C. 22 de junio de 2020- The Trust for the Amercias en alianza con la Iniciativa en Transparencia en Infrastructura de Jalisco (COST) y  el Instituto de Transparencia, Información Pública y Protección de Datos Personales del Estado de Jalisco ITEI inician un ciclo de seminarios para funcionarios públicos en Jalisco, México. Las sesiones virtuales en Zoom, de manera semanal. Los lunes de 16:00 a 17:30 hora Jalisco, MEX son abiertas al público. Estas sesiones se complementarán para 40 personas seleccionadas que completarántrabajo autónomo (lecturas, qüices, videos, otros) en la plataforma virtual de The Trust for the Americas.  A continuación el calendario y agenda del ciclo de seminarios: Módulo 1. Marco general – 22 de Junio Módulo 2. Introducción a los datos Abiertos – 29 de Junio Módulo 3. Apertura y calidad en los datos abiertos – 6 de Julio Módulo 4. Comunicación, uso y aprovechamiento de datos- 13 de Julio 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 sobre 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 promoviendo alianzas estratégicas que generan resultados sostenibles.  The Trust for the Americas es una organización sin fines de lucro 501 (c) (3) de la Ciudad de Washington DC.       Visite: www.trustfortheamericas.org  Facebook: The Trust for the Americas  Twitter:   @Trust4Americas  Mexico

Washington, D.C. June 15, 2020.- The Trust for the Americas with kind support from the N.C.B. Foundation kickstarted today with the first cohort of trainees of the NCB ICON Lab in Jamaica. 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. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, The Trust and The Mico University converted the Lab’s curriculum and training plan into an online model to meet social distancing standards. A group of fifty beneficiaries, ages ranging from sixteen to thirty years old, will join the introductory session as the pilot cohort. Training will run from mid-June to August and will focus on teaching essential life skills, entrepreneurship, communications skills, and using the innovative approach of augmented reality to deliver content. Participants will also take part in online Ideathons and a Pitch Tank event that will be celebrated at the end of the training. Nadeen Matthews Blair, CEO of the N.C.B. Foundation, stated that “COVID-19 has accelerated the digital divide at a time when digital literacy skills are needed more than ever to thrive in the new normal. This initiative is timely, and we are proud to play a part in preparing our youth with technical and life skills to impact their lives positively.” Also, The Trust for the Americas, in collaboration with Helelab, a consulting company that provides knowledge to organizations regarding the digital economy’s impact, designed a plan to evaluate training’ success.  The Monitoring and Evaluation methodological approach will focus on mapping the participants’ Digital Skills “Genome” and tracking their evolution for the course’s duration. Data will be centralized and analyzed in Helelab’s specialized ‘FutureSkills’ platform to provide a more in-depth analysis of participants’ digital and entrepreneurial skills. Linda Eddleman, CEO of the Trust for the Americas, attended the introductory session to support the eager trainees and provided remarks regarding the importance of this partnership: “The Trust for the Americas is pleased to be part of this youth-driven initiative among the N.C.B. Foundation and the Mico University College. By working together, we can achieve the development of models that encourage innovation, foster digital inclusion, and economic opportunities in Jamaica.” Dr. Asburn Pinnock, President of The Mico University College also joined the session and commented, “The Mico University College is pleased to partner with the NCB Foundation and Trust for the Americas to empower and provide another pathway for our youths to gain relevant 21st-century skills.  We look forward to a rewarding training program as The Mico fulfills its mandate in presenting opportunities for Jamaicans.  We do it the only way we know how – We do it with our might.” #Trust4Americas #NCBICONLab 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 About Mico 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 the field of innovation. Jamaica

Belize City, BELIZE, June 15th, 2020 – As part of the second phase of the Open Government project: Transformation to an Open Public Administration in Belize, and seeking to leverage open government tools to tackle issues raised by COVID-19, The Trust for the Americas in coordination with the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Belize Open Government Steering Committee announces the launch of the Belize Open Government Action Plan Development in Times of COVID-19.   The Belize National Open Government Action Plan is intended to serve as the instrument to orient the actions of stakeholders in Belize to accomplish certain open government commitments that are identified and agreed by government and non-government in different topics and sectors.   Rodrigo Iriani, Project Manager of the initiative comments ¨Given the diverse challenges posed by COVID-19 in Belize, the exercise of developing Belize’s open government action plan seeks to contribute to defining priority areas in which open government could add more value or have a greater impact for COVID-19 related recovery¨.  The co-creation process of an action plan entails a sustained participatory approach open to anyone wishing to participate, to identify areas of opportunity to utilize open government in pursuing among others new policies, improved government services, innovative transparency efforts, or alike. At the end of the action plan co-creation process and much public consultation, agreed areas of opportunities to address COVID-19 response and recovery through open government will become what are known as open government commitments within action plans.  These activities are possible thanks to the contribution of the US Embassy in Belmopan for the execution of the project “Transformation to an Open Public Administration in Belize”.  For more information, please contact the Trust/OAS Local Project Coordinating Team, Ms. Audrey Robin (arobin@20.9.190.97), and Ms. Malenie Barnes (mbarnes@20.9.190.97).  Keep connected to the project at https://www.facebook.com/OpenGovBelize.  More information on the plan, activities, and partners.  Registration here  #OpenGovBelize  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  Belize

Washington D.C.,On June 8th, the Organization of American States and the Young American Business Trust (YABT) organized the online event “Youth for an Inclusive Future Post COVID-19” sponsored by The Trust for the Americas.  This round table event reunited young leaders from Latin America to reflect on the opportunities that the current pandemic could bring to the organizations working in the development sector. Secretary-General, Luis Almagro and Latin American singer Miguel Mendoza (known as Nacho) offered remarks regarding the challenges to guarantee more rights for people beyond the pandemic.   Veronica Philippe, Project Officer at The Trust for the Americas, moderated the first session, “Our Rights and Our Voice About the Future.” She stated, “this is the perfect call for governments to include youth in the decision-making process. The right to quality education as part of the needs and rights of young people must not be overlooked, especially during the COVID-19 crisis”. Canada – Antigua & Barbuda – Argentina – Belize – Brasil – Chile – Estados Unidos – Colombia – Costa Rica – Ecuador – El Salvador – Guatemala – Honduras – Jamaica – Mexico – Nicaragua – Panamá – Perú – Puerto Rico – República Dominicana – St. Kits & Nevis – St. Lucia – St. Vincent & Granadinas – Venezuela

We invite you to participate in a 48-hour, fully virtual hackathon competition and explore ideas centered on the theme “Open Data: Enabling Belize Tourism Post-COVID-19.” It will take place on: Wednesday, July 8, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. – Thursday, July 9, 2020, at 9:00 p.m. (BZ Time) You can register via this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/110059334432 Since tourism is an information-intensive sector, effective access to data and information provides the foundation for awareness, choice, security, and improved service delivery between prospective tourists and local operators. The DevCA-Belize2020 Hackathon will focus on solutions for utilizing open data in tourism to promote destinations, highlight value-added services, and improve safety and security. Potential solution areas include: Breakout sessions will be held online so that participants can form teams to take part in the competition. An awards ceremony will also be held, and prizes will be awarded to the winners. Prizes:– 1st place: US$1,450– 2nd place: US$1,430– 3rd place: US$1,420 This Hackathon is organized as part of the “Transformation to an Open Public Administration in Belize” project and in collaboration with BCC, DevCA, Beltraide, the Statistical Institute of Belize, UWI Open Campus, the Belize Tourism Board, and the Economic Development Council as part of the Belize Open Government Steering Committee. Feel free to share this invitation with anyone you think might be interested—developers, IT enthusiasts, civic tech professionals, students, public sector employees, and anyone who’s up for the challenge! Belize

Washington DC, 26 de mayo 2020.- En el marco del proyecto “Innovación a través de Datos Abiertos en Panamá”, The Trust for the Americas de la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA) lanza una campaña de sensibilización en datos abiertos para jóvenes de distintos sectores y provincias de la República de Panamá, con la finalidad de promover la participación ciudadana, representación territorial en la temática y la formación de líderes en temas relacionados a Datos Abiertos, Gobierno Abierto y Periodismo de Datos.   Este componente del proyecto es implementado en alianza con el Instituto Panameño de Derecho y Nuevas Tecnologías (IPANDETEC) y en coordinación con la Autoridad Nacional de Transparencia y Acceso a la Información (ANTAI), la Autoridad para la Innovación Gubernamental (AIG) y la Dirección General de Contrataciones Públicas (DGCP). .   Sobre la campaña Y4OD Se escogerán 25 jóvenes que participarán en un programa  de cuatro módulos de capacitación mediante sesiones virtuales, complementados con talleres presenciales entre los meses de julio y septiembre. Durante este tiempo, los participantes desarrollarán sus proyectos enfocados en el uso de datos.  Los mejores proyectos serán premiados con una beca para presentar sus ideas en un evento de cierre en la ciudad de Panamá. Esta iniciativa sentará las bases del ecosistema juvenil de datos abiertos en preparación para las Conferencias Regionales de Datos Abiertos AbreLatam y Condatos 2020, a llevarse a cabo en el país.  Rodrigo Iriani, Project Manager de The Trust for the Americas, comenta sobre el objetivo de la campaña ¨buscamos proveer oportunidades concretas a jóvenes estudiantes, entusiastas en tecnología y organizaciones juveniles de distintas regiones para desarrollar capacidades, instrumentar iniciativas innovadoras que utilicen datos abiertos para mejorar sus comunidades¨.  Por su parte, Lía Hernández, Directora de Instituto Panameño de Derecho y Nuevas Tecnologías (IPANDETEC) comenta sobre el resultado esperado: ¨Esta iniciativa sienta las bases de la creación  de un ecosistema juvenil de datos abiertos a nivel nacional, con el potencial de representación en las distintas instancias ya institucionalizadas en el país en la temática de los datos y gobierno abierto, como la Comisión Nacional de Gobierno Abierto. Además de inculcarles valores que les servirán como herramientas en sus acciones ciudadanas para generar cambios en sus diferentes ámbitos de acción¨.  Los datos abiertos son para todos  Esta iniciativa tiene el objetivo de ampliar el uso de los datos a todo nivel. Durante la selección de los 25 participantes se tomará en cuenta el equilibrio de género y geográfico. Los estudiantes seleccionados tendrán representación de la Ciudad Capital y del Interior del país: Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé, Guna Yala, Chiriquí, Veraguas, Herrera, Los Santos, Coclé, Colón, Darién, Panamá Este y Oeste.  Regístrate aquí  Sigue nuestros HT: #Y4ODPanama  #OpenGovPanama  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 sobre 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 promoviendo alianzas estratégicas que generan resultados sostenibles.  The Trust for the Americas es una organización sin fines de lucro 501 (c) (3) de la Ciudad de Washington DC.       Visite: www.trustfortheamericas.org  Facebook: The Trust for the Americas  Twitter:   @Trust4Americas  Panamá Flyer Kick Off

During the first semi-annual Board of Directors meeting held on May 11, 2020, the members reelected the Executive Committee of The Trust for the Americas. Mr. L. Enrique García was re-elected Chair of the Board, Ms. June DeHart  Vice-Chair, and Ms. Susan Benson  Secretary. With a unanimous confirmation, the Executive Committee will lead the organization for two more years, until 2022. After the election, Mr. García declared: “It is a great honor to be re-elected as President of the Board of Directors of The Trust for the Americas, an organization committed to the social and economic development of the region that seeks to improve the quality of life of the most vulnerable populations in our countries. These are challenging times that demand our complete commitment to help the underserved communities with innovative ideas, and assist the OAS member countries in their pursuit of stronger democracies.” Before joining The Trust for the Americas, Mr. L. Enrique García concluded his fifth term (25 years) as Executive President and CEO of CAF – Development Bank of Latin America. He also served as Governor at the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and FONPLATA. He was a member and Chairman of CAF’s Board of Directors and a member of the Development Committee of the World Bank and the IMF representing   Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. Mr. García was also Minister of Planning and Coordination of Bolivia. Ms. June DeHart has been a part of the Board for more than ten years. She is a partner at Manatt, Phelps and Phillips, LLP and has been in the company since 1987.  Ms. DeHart’s expertise includes legislative and regulatory matters, and a vast experience in state government. Her broad range of clients includes U.S. and international businesses, state and local governments, foreign governments, trade associations, and non-profit organizations Ms. DeHart often advises CEOs and Boards of Directors on federal policy issues and her clients include U.S. and international businesses, state and local governments, other public entities, foreign governments, trade associations, and nonprofits. Susan Benson founded The Trust for the Americas in 1997 based on her experience designing and managing OAS multinational projects in the fields of information systems, library and community development, and marketing of craft. With a start-up grant from the U.S. Mission to the OAS in 1998, she built a team to create the first programs of technology for marginalized populations and for transparency, which evolved into today’s programs.   During the meeting, the Board welcomed its newest member, Ms. Kim Meredith, Executive Director of Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society/Stanford Social Innovation Review.  Luis Almagro, Secretary-General of the Organization of American States, who serves as an ex-official member of the Board, offered a keynote speech to address the current political environment of Latin America.   At the end of the meeting, the Board held a virtual-signing ceremony with the First Lady of Paraguay, Mrs. Silvana Abdo, that was the first commitment towards launching a program that will benefit women entrepreneurs in Paraguay.   About The Trust for the Americas:  The Trust for the Americas is a non-profit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS). Established in 1997 to promote public and private partnerships, The Trust has implemented projects in 24 countries and worked with over 1,000 organizations in the region. Our initiatives seek to promote educational and economic opportunities as well as government accountability and transparency. Our unique alliance with the OAS allows us to have access to decision-makers within the region. This foundational partnership is the basis through which we create strong networks across member states and the private sector. Through the evolution of our region, The Trust continues to endure by facing challenges through strategic partnerships that promote cooperation for sustainable results. The Trust of the Americas is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. More information: www.trustfortheamericas.org Facebook: The Trust for the Americas Twitter: @Trust4Americas Estados Unidos

Washington DC, May 14, 2020.- During the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) session, OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro called on Member States to work together in favor of democracy in the region.  Almagro emphasized that “each of the countries and member states may today have the Trust as a reference for the development of projects that deal with different institutional capacities and transparency at the level of the political systems and the hemisphere, innovation in government management, construction of public policies, focus on open government programs, these are all citizen participation and accountability initiatives. ”   In order to face the pandemic from a perspective of human rights and democracy, we must foster alliances of the public and private sectors and involve governments to work together with citizens and strengthen levels of public trust.   “Transparent management and responses by governments are elements of democracy that we must promote; transparency and citizen participation are elements of democracy that we must ought to. Transparency and citizen participation make essential elements of democratic legitimacy and reducing corruption is definitely one of the key points in the context of government purchases in the context of the pandemic, ”said Secretary General Luis Almagro.  The Trust for the Americas supports Open Government and the regional governance and transparency agenda through:  The Permanent Council brings together 35 member states of the hemisphere. During the May 14th edition, a completely virtual meeting, it was determined that public-private alliances are fundamental to democratic resilience; especially when the entire region faces a state of emergency.   Permanent Council Video: https://youtu.be/2noikhJjYLo?t=4951