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IDB President Moreno stresses Civil Society’s role in the fight against poverty
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay – Four organizations received the Inter-American Development Bank’s Juscelino Kubitschek Award for their outstanding contributions to promote social and economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Three years after its creation, this award has become the most important distinction granted to a multilateral institution in the region.
The Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FUSADES) and the Argentine Center for the Implementation of Public Policies for Equity and Growth (CIPPEC) won the prize in economics and finance with a total of 95 candidates. The Mexican Institute for Research on Family and Population (IMIFAP) and the Salesian Project for the Street Children of Ecuador won the award in the social, cultural and scientific category, which received 242 nominations.
IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno handed out the awards to the representatives of each institution in a ceremony during the 2012 IDB Annual Meeting in Montevideo, Uruguay. This is the second time the prize has been awarded since it was created in 2008 to honor former Brazilian President Juscelino Kubitschek, who envisioned the creation of a multilateral development institution for Latin America and the Caribbean that later resulted in the founding of the IDB.
A selection committee, chaired by Moreno, selected the winners in September, when they analyzed 337 nominations of institutions representing 26 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe. Nominations have more than doubled since the award’s first edition in 2008. This time, it comes attached with $50,000 prize money for each of the winning organizations.
An additional four organizations earned honorable awards in recognition of excellence in their work. The entries in the area of finance and economics were awarded to Pro Mujer (USA) and ACP Inversiones y Desarrollo of Peru were recognized for their work in economics and finance while Fundacion Carvajal of Colombia and Un Techo Para Mi Pais of Chile were recognized for their social programs.
Mexican company Cemex Mexico S.A. de C.V. received a special mention for corporate social responsibility.
The criteria used to select the winner for the field of economics and finance was based on the magnitude of its social impact. For the second category, the committee looked into social activities, especially those related to education.
Award Winners
Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development – Created in 1983 in El Salvador by a group of independent entrepreneurs and professionals with a vision to improve the economic and social conditions of Salvadorans, FUSADES set out to become a highly credible think tank dedicated to economic and social progress through sustainable development under a democratic system and individual liberties. FUSADES carries out research to promote public policies aimed at economic, social and institutional development.
Center for the Implementation of Public Policies for Equity and Growth – Founded in Buenos Aires in 2000, CIPPEC works for a just, democratic and efficient public sector to improve the lives of people. CIPPEC analyzes and promotes public policies to foster equity and growth in the region, helping strengthen and develop the institutional capacity of public agencies and community organizations through its interactions with policymakers.
Mexican Institute for Research on Family and Population – Founded in Mexico in 1985 by a group of social psychologists in order to pursue the investigation of sexual health issues, IMIFAP set out to create and implement programs that contribute to sustainable human development by empowering individuals to take control of their health, their productivity and their lives. IMIFAP develops programs to promote the skills and abilities of people and sustainable human development, with emphasis on gender issues, so that individuals take responsibility over their own health, productivity and lives, through integrated development and community development programs.
Salesian Project for the Street Children of Ecuador – The Salesian order started working in Ecuador in 1888 to address the needs of poor young people through quality education and vocational training. Inspired by the values of the Gospel, they sought to form “honest citizens and good Christians.” The street children project works with at-risk children and youths in seven Ecuadoran cities, offering them services to improve their education, shelter, social services, counseling, vocational training and employment opportunities.