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Experiences in Social Innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean ECLAC-Kellogg

The project “Experiences in Social Innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean” was developed by the Social Development Division of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) with the support of W.K. Kellogg Foundation from 2004 to 2010.

The objective of the project was to identify, analyze, diffuse extensively and promote the implementation of original initiatives of social development which contribute to the advance of the Millennium Development Goals. The project covered the areas of community health, basic education, youth, food security and nutrition, generation of income, rural development, social responsibility and volunteering. The gender perspective and environmental sustainability were considered as cross-cutting elements of primary importance.  

Identification was done through a contest which was disseminated in the whole region, even reaching very secluded areas. The contest was open to governments (at region, department, province, municipality and local level), community associations, religious communities, national and international NGOs and private companies in the field of social responsibility, that work in any of the Latin American and the Caribbean countries that are members of ECLAC.

Each one of these experiences was analyzed and evaluated thoroughly by a project team from ECLAC with the support of external experts, which was a process including a field visit of semifinalist projects.

During the five rounds that were carried out, 4,800 initiatives from 20 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean were submitted. Among the 72 finalist initiatives that were chosen, there were 25 winning initiatives.

For more details about both finalist and winning initiatives you can visit the Bank of Projects (available in Spanish). 

As a main part of the dissemination and promotion strategies of the creative response, virtual forums, national conferences, international workshops and national tours took place. The list of activities can be found in the following (available in Spanish):