October 11, 2023: Washington, D.C. — In 2022, Partners of the Americas (Partners) officially joined as a Concordia Patron Member with the aim of conveying strategic partnerships, positioning our brand within international audiences, and continuing to fulfill our mission of transforming lives. On September 18, 2023, the organization participated in the Concordia Annual Summit in New York City, where it led the round table discussion titled, “The Role of Locally-Led Development, Partnerships, and Strengthening Local Systems in International Development to Empower Communities in the Western Hemisphere.”
During this event, showcased its nearly six decades of experience transforming lives and communities. This accomplishment was made possible through collaborations with United States development agencies, private sector organizations, NGOs, and local communities.
The Organizational Advancement Department, responsible for communications, marketing, innovation, and private and public partnerships at Partners of the Americas, presided over the round table led by the Department’s Vice President, Juliana Araujo.
Key participants in the discussion included:
- John McPhail, President and CEO, Partners of the Americas
- Pablo Ramirez, Chief of Party, Cacao for Development in Colombia, Partners of the Americas
- Gustavo Payán, Chief of Party, Juntos Aprendemos, Partners of the Americas
- Prajuna KC, Country Director, iDE Nepal
- Emily Karol, Director of Fund Development, iDE Global
- Dr. Diana Alarcón, Chief Advisor and International Affairs Director, Mexico City Government
- Olivia Albrecht, CEO, Aspiration
- Zohra Zori, Chief Marketing and Engagement Officer, Alight
- Saúl Diaz Ortiz, Regional Director Latin America, Swiss Foundation for Technical Cooperation
- Kelly Jones, Associate Director of Development, Pro Mujer
- Géraldine Fabris, Global Philanthropy Manager, Swissconnect
- Elisha Caleb, CEO, Agrotech Plus Ltd
- Sean Jones, Strategic Partnership Director, IREX
- Maria Moreno, CEO, USA for IOM
- Adriana Mejia, Executive Director, Innovation for Development Foundation
- Proantioquia
- Juliana Araujo, Vice President, Organizational Advancement Department, Partners of the Americas (Moderator)
The roundtable delved into the role of locally-led development, local partnerships, and strengthening local systems in international development through two flagship projects: Cacao for Development (C4D) and Juntos Aprendemos. C4D, a collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, aims to uplift Colombia’s cacao sector by supporting cacao farmers in achieving economically viable diversified farming systems, sustainable agricultural landscapes, and equitable commercialization models.
Pablo Ramírez, Director of the Cacao for Development program, emphasized the importance of achieving a living income within the cocoa value chain and highlighted the significance of gender inclusion, as well as involving young people and small-scale farmers to promote sustainable agriculture.
In addition to C4D, Partners of the Americas also shared insights from its Juntos Aprendemos program, a partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Ministry of Education, Secretaries of Education, the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (ICBF), and civil society organizations. This initiative strives to enhance access to quality education for children and adolescents in areas affected by migration.
Gustavo Payán, Project Director of Juntos Aprendemos, shared an inspiring story of Edgar, a migrant from Venezuela who, in 2018, left with his mother for Colombia in search of a better life. Despite facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, Edgar’s life took a positive turn when he joined an accelerated education model program implemented by Juntos Aprendemos, providing him with educational opportunities and a supportive community for a brighter future.
Concordia serves as a global platform, bringing together heads of state, government officials, C-suite executives, leaders from nonprofit think tanks, and foundations to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges through cross-sector solutions. The Concordia Annual Summit, akin to the UN General Assembly, is the largest and most inclusive nonpartisan forum of its kind, and Concordia also hosts regional summits with a focus on the Americas, United States, Europe, and Africa.
The event in New York received significant support from key organizations, including Bezos Earth Foundation, META, Google, Visa, Microsoft, Salesforce, Care, Cargill, and others.
~~~
Partners of the Americas is committed to connecting individuals and organizations across borders, forging enduring partnerships that create opportunities, foster understanding, and address real-world problems. Founded in 1964 under the Alliance for Progress and inspired by President John F. Kennedy, Partners of the Americas is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with international offices in Washington, D.C. Learn more at www.partners.net.
Press Contact: Melissa Simmonds
