RedEAmérica, the Inter-American Foundation and Business Actions Network for Grassroots Development, held their first international forum in Mexico in September, entitled Private Investment for Social Development, in collaboration with the Centro Mexicano para la Filantropía (Mexican Center for Philanthropy – CEMEFI). At the forum, presentations were made on good practices in private social investment (education experiences for development, income generation and local development) by both foundations and corporations in Latin America.

A virtual course entitled ‘Private social investment in basic development: How to invest effectively in the community’ was also launched.  The course is an initiative by RedEAmérica and Tecnológico de Monterrey (Monterrey Technology Institute).  In addition, the forum was the launching of a five-year (2009-13) initiative by the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and RedEAmérica entitled ‘Project to Strengthen Grassroots Organizations’, which aims to combat poverty and improve economic conditions for low-income families by consolidating a model of grassroots development, organizational strengthening and income generation. The programme includes projects co-financed by the IADB and foundation members of RedEAmerica, with contributions from the beneficiary organizations as well.