Regional cooperation in Latin America
Although development has progressed in many parts of Latin America over the past 20 years, many challenges remain. Sida works regionally to strengthen cooperation across borders. Sida contributes to strengthening respect for human rights, improving conditions for people who migrate and ensuring that natural resources are used sustainably.
Regional cooperation in Latin America 2024
Important thematic areas in Latin America
Why do Sida work in Latin America?
Shrinking democratic space
Weak institutions, corruption and impunity are widespread in the region. Over the past two decades, Latin America has experienced the worst democratic decline compared to other regions of the world. In several countries, it is becoming increasingly difficult for civil society to operate due to tougher legislation and increasing attacks and threats.
Unequal societies
The region faces major challenges in terms of gender equality. For example, women’s right to control their own bodies is severely restricted, with several countries in the region having some of the toughest abortion laws in the world. Gender-based violence is common.
Rainforest and biodiversity loss
The loss of biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean is the highest in the world. The effects of climate change are hitting the most vulnerable people harder and increasing inequalities. It is also forcing more and more people to flee their homes. Threats and attacks against indigenous peoples and environmental activists are widespread, with the majority of murders occurring in Latin America.
More people are migrating
More and more people in Latin America are forced to leave their homes, often as a result of poverty and violence. The majority of them flee within Latin America. Many have been forced to flee Venezuela and Central America, and increasing numbers of people from Haiti, Africa and Asia are making their way to Latin America, often in an attempt to reach the United States.
Examples of what Sida has contributed to
Increased access to sexual and reproductive health and rights
Sida’s partners in Latin America are working to ensure that women have access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Significant progress has been made in several countries, for example through improved legislation on the right to abortion. This helps to reduce maternal mortality and increases women’s access to education and labour.
Innovative and climate-adapted agriculture
Sida contributes to the development of new innovative agricultural methods for climate adaptation. Women’s participation, access to land and to production is particularly important for creating more equal conditions.
Entrepreneurship increase integration
Through Sida’s partners, investments in entrepreneurship have led to increased integration of people who are forced to flee or migrate in the region.
Sida's regional development cooperation in Latin America
Although there are major differences between the countries of Latin America, many challenges are shared by the various countries. These include challenges linked to natural resources, climate and migration, which are transnational and require joint, regional solutions.
Sida’s work in Latin America aims to promote the region’s democratic development, increase gender equality and contribute to economic, social and environmentally sustainable development. Sida also helps countries to manage migration safely and to economically integrate people who remain in the region.
Sida supports projects that strengthen respect for human rights, democracy and freedom of expression. Both access to justice and protection for those exposed to threats and persecution are important aspects.
Sida supports both indigenous peoples who defend their land rights and journalists who are threatened by armed groups. Sida also promotes gender equality and SRHR.
Here are some examples of projects Sida supports:
Sida supports the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. When national courts cannot resolve an issue, it can be taken to the Inter-American Court. The Court helps to increase people’s access to justice and leads to greater respect for human rights in the region.
Sida supports the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which works to increase respect for human rights. The funding enables organisations and people in Latin America to increase their knowledge of their rights and the mechanisms available to claim them. The OHCHR also provides technical assistance to state institutions to strengthen their efforts to guarantee people’s rights and freedoms.
Access to sexual education, contraception and health services related to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is often limited. This increases the number of unsafe abortions and exposes women to significant health risks. Sida, through its support to Fòs Feminista, works with the regional movement to improve access to SRHR and improve laws and guidelines on abortion in the region.
Latin America is home to around 60 per cent of the world’s biodiversity. Sida’s development cooperation in the region aims to help preserve biodiversity and protect ecosystems, which is also important for lifting people out of poverty.
Sida contributes to increasing the region’s capacity to prevent, adapt and protect itself from the pressures of climate change and natural disasters.
Here are some examples of projects supported by Sida:
In Central America, Sida supports the organisation Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE) in developing innovative agricultural practices for climate adaptation. The project contributes to the creation of green employment opportunities for women and young people. CATIE works with a range of partner organisations, supporting their ability to develop projects and manage international funding in the field of climate change.
Sida works with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to prevent and reduce threats to indigenous peoples and their territories. Local and regional indigenous peoples’ organisations and decision-makers receive access to information, dialogue and engagement. The support has also contributed to regional agreements such as the Escazú Agreement on Environmental Justice. Environmental defenders also receive better protection through co-operation.
Through support to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Sida supports efforts to improve the management of cross-border natural resources. This includes the protection of forests. WWF also works to create sustainable income-generating activities for indigenous peoples and communities in Central America and the Amazon.
Never before have so many people in Latin America migrated or been displaced.
Sida supports projects that strengthen respect for the human rights of people who flee or migrate and increase their opportunities for self-reliance.
Here are some examples of projects that Sida supports:
Since 2014, over 7 million people have left Venezuela.18 Sida supports projects that contribute to the integration of Venezuelan migrating people. A key objective is to increase their income opportunities, both as employees and self-employed. The project is carried out by the UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
People who migrate often have difficulty finding jobs with decent conditions and a viable wage. Sida supports the International Labour Organisation (ILO) which offers jobs to migrated or exiled Venezuelans in Colombia, Peru, Argentina and the Dominican Republic. Vocational training programmes in the host countries are part of the project. Public employment services are supported to better match people with job vacancies. The project also strengthens Labour market information and labour migration data systems.
Sida supports Fundación Avina, which works with local organisations and people who have migrated to strengthen their ability to make their voices heard and have an influence on their situation. They also assist people searching for relatives who have gone missing during the migration route and provide support and counselling to those deported back to their countries of origin.
Updated: December 10, 2024