Funding Alternative Economies in Mesoamerica
On September 18th, we were thrilled to be joined by nearly 30 foundation and donor representatives to discuss the state of funding in Mesoamerica.
This conversation was part of our broader effort, supported by the Ford Foundation, to analyze and support alternative economic initiatives in the region.
As we are connecting with more and more of these initiatives, their profound impacts on local territories are clear, but so are their challenges. They face a huge loss of international aid, declining income from remittances, and intensifying climate conditions as they work to build economies that can sustain the future of the region.
We believe philanthropy has a crucial role to play in that future. And we are not alone.
It was inspiring to be joined last week by so many individuals who also see a path, and who are actively supporting it by putting local communities at the center, strengthening systems that benefit both people and the planet, and leading with humility and flexibility.
Though the funding landscape faces many challenges – including withdrawal of international aid, minimal investment in Central America, and difficulty reaching local initiatives – we also see important opportunities emerging. Amongst them, we see a growing recognition of the need to align our economic systems with our natural resources, support the local stewards of those resources, and ensure we have a strong network of local organizations that can stay resilient amidst the waves to come.
TWP is well-positioned to move those opportunities forward.
This conversation was just the first of many, but we’re glad to be meeting so many like-minded organizations in the process.
