About Us

 

ADELANTE is the European Union’s flagship programme on triangular cooperation, launched in 2015 with a budget of 10,063,365 million. Fostering horizontal relations between Latin America and the Caribbean countries and of these with Europe is one of its missions, while encouraging the exchange of knowledge and taking advantage of the capacity of all of its partners to provide solutions aimed at the sustainable development of the region. The European Commission launched a call for proposals that resulted in the co-financing of 8 projects that involve 54 organizations from 18 LAC countries, in addition to several European institutions.

A new form of partnership with Latin America and the Caribbean

A programme that is committed to Triangular Cooperation as an innovative partnership modality, which co-finances projects in different thematic areas, in several countries and with diverse types of stakeholders, starting from different means of collaboration among them and with different intervention strategies. This broad universe allows to produce evidence of the added value of Triangular Cooperation in all environments, feeding the debate on its efficient contribution to sustainable development.

 

Alignment with the 2030 Agenda
and contribution to the SDGs
 

The 8 projects currently funded by the ADELANTE Programme directly contribute to 9 Sustainable Development Goals and 27 of their targets.

The main contribution is towards SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions); however, there are also significant contributions to SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 17 (Partnerships), and special attention to SDG 5 (Gender Equality), which are all pillars of the 2030 Agenda and thus, cornerstones of the ADELANTE Programme.

We believe that triangular cooperation is an innovative means of association, which is coherent with Agenda 2030 and the principles of effective development cooperation.

 

Strategic relations 

In addition to fostering an open dialogue with the development cooperation institutions of the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, ADELANTE nurtures strategic relations with the main actors of triangular cooperation in the region: ECLAC, SEGIB, PIFCSS, OCDE, OCDE-DC, GPI, GIZ, AECID... ADELANTE is also part of the overarching discussions on the promotion and the future of Triangular Cooperation through its active participation in dialogues and forums on the matter.

As such, ADELANTE has made substantial contributions to the Global Partnership Initiative (GPI) on Effective Triangular Cooperation by sharing case studies, lessons learned and good practices. It has also been part of international forums such as the Global South-South Development Expo in 2018, and the Buenos Aires Plan of Action BAPA+40 summit in 2019, where it was publicly validated by its peers, confirming that it is on the right track to furthering Triangular Cooperation.

 

A dedicated Technical Assistance Team 

ADELANTE has a Technical Assistance (TA) team that accompany the programme and projects lending their knowledge and experience in the field of development. The TA works in three main areas: project management assistance, support in the search for synergies with the key actors in the region and support in the communication and visibility of the programme and the projects.

 

This new pilot programme was drafted to support the design and implementation of public policies through peer-learning and triangular cooperation among countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region. This approach offers an opportunity to work together in less developed countries, building upon the experience acquired by those countries transitioning into higher levels of income. After two years of implementation, it is possible to affirm that the EU’s triangular co-operation through ADELANTE is:

  • Contributing to scale up the application of policies that have been effective for some countries in the region;
  • Facilitating regional exchanges aimed at searching shared solutions to the problems of development and social exclusion;
  • Allowing renewed partnerships with many middle-income countries that were beneficiaries and now providers of assistance; and
  • Establishing an implementation channel for development co-operation, which is not an end in itself but a tool to deliver the SDGs.

 

 

Missions


Although there is no internationally agreed definition of what Triangular Cooperation is, we, at the ADELANTE Programme, endorse the description of The Global Partnership Initiative on Effective Triangular Cooperation when it states that ‘Triangular cooperation (...) focuses on the initiative and role of the countries receiving support, creating an opportunity to attract and leverage a wide range of experience, knowledge, and resources from both less developed and more advanced developing countries, as well as multilateral, regional and bilateral financial and development institutions’.

A particularly useful instrument to respond to the demand for experiences and knowledge from the region’s countries is international missions. In this section, the missions that have taken place within the framework of the ADELANTE Programme are listed in an orderly manner and classified in three areas: the international consultancies that have received the projects, the study visits that the project teams have made to events and institutions of reference, and the exchanges carried out between the project teams. These missions have allowed to take advantage of and enhance knowledge in countries that are more advanced in some areas and countries in earlier stages, but with relevant lessons learned that could be shared and highlighted thanks to Triangular Cooperation.


STUDY VISITS

  • Proyecto SEDA - Sustainable Sericulture

    • Study visit to the "Council for Research in Agriculture and Analysis of Agricultural Economics (CREA)", in Padua, to deepen the knowledge on techniques of sericulture production
      » For more information click here

    • Study visit to the "Triennial Congress of the International Sericulture Commission (ISC)", in Tsukuba, to deepen the knowledge on cellular and molecular biology in the sericulture industry
      » For more information click here

    • Study visit to the '4th International Conference on Natural Fibres', to the University of Minho and to the FIBRENAMICS Group, in Porto and Guimarães, to deepen knowledge about innovative and sustainable textile processes and products
      » For more information click here

    • Study visit to the ITMA Textile and Garment Technology Exhibition, in Barcelona, to learn more about the latest fibre processing technologies
      » For more information click here

INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANCIES

EXCHANGES BETWEEN PROJECTS

    • Exchange of experiences between the EDEM and MIRADA CIUDADANA projects on entrepreneurship and business development, in Uruguay, to export the EDEM project experience to the scope of the MIRADA CIUDADANA project
      » For more information click here

European Contribution



Contributing to food security for the population of Cuba

  • The director of the Cuban National Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory has paid a study visit to the IRTA-CReSA Centre for Research in Animal Health (Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal) / Institute for Food and Agricultural Research and Technology (IRTA) (Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria) / Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food (Departamento de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Alimentación) of the Government of Catalonia, with the aim of strengthening capacities in the monolayer immunoperoxidase technique (IPMA).

DIALOGAS - Inclusive Development in Latin America: A Great Opportunity for Governments and Social Actors

  • The EUROsociAL Programme is at the origin of the project. An action on transversal and socio-emotional skills within the EUROsociAL II (2015) framework  later resulted in the signing of a Framework Document (2016) which enabled the creation of an articulating entity in the matter: the "Mesa Regional de Cooperación Técnica sobre Competencias Transversales y Socioemocionales (MESACTS)" -i.e. Regional Table for Technical Cooperation on Transversal and Socio-Emotional Competences-, which has been the project's central axis.

  • Thanks to the EUROsociAL Programme, the Spanish experiences with the single qualifications catalogue model and the existence of a 'National Institute of Qualifications' were a reference during the project's development.

  • Thanks to the EUROsociAL Programme, the German experiences in dual education and vocational training for young people were a reference during the project's development.

  • The Comitato Internazionale per il Svilupo dei Popoli (CISP) -International Committee for the Development of People- has advised and accompanied the project's implementation.

  • Thanks to the EUROsociAL Programme, the British experience of the skill councils (groups of sectoral advisors in technical and vocational education and training) was a reference during the project's development.

Entrepreneurship and Business Development in Mesoamerica - EDEM

  • The European policies for strengthening productive capacity and sustainable business development were a reference during the project's development. In particular, the Communication entitled ""Pensar primero a pequeña escala" "Small Business Act" para Europa: iniciativa en favor de las pequeñas empresas".

  • The project has paid a study visit to the Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Extremadura -Science and Technology Park of Extremadura-  with the aim of learning more about the Extremadura ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship.

    » More information here

  • The ICA2 consulting company, linked to the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) -Autonomous University of Madrid-, has carried out an international consultancy for the project in the field of knowledge management.

    » More information here

  • The project paid a study visit to Madrid with the aim of getting to know the Spanish ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship. As part of this visit, the project participated in the South Summit, one of the main global events on innovation and entrepreneurship, organized by Spain Startup and IE Business School

    » More information here

  • The project took part in the workshop called "Planning of triangular cooperation projects" organized by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit / German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) as part of the "Training Network on Triangular Cooperation for projects between Latin America and the Caribbean and Germany".

EVALÚA - Evaluating Government Policies in Latin America and the Caribbean

  • With the EUROCLIMA+ Programme, the project jointly organised the seminar called "Evaluación de políticas de adaptación y mitigación del cambio climático" -Evaluation of climate change adaptation and mitigation policies. 

  • With the BRIDGING THE GAP Programme, the project has jointly organised the "Generation of data and indicators for the inclusion of people with disabilities" seminar.

  • The project has jointly organized the seminar entitled  "How to address human trafficking policies" together with the "Law enforcement support to Bolivia's special police force to fight drugs" project.

  • The Andalusian Institute of Public Administration (IAAP) has invited the project to participate in the "Evaluation of public policies" conference, which was held in Seville.

  • The Institute for Fiscal Studies (Instituto de Estudios Fiscales -IEF) has supported the project in designing the impact evaluation on the "Expanded Programme of Immunization" (especially the Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination Programme) of Costa Rica.

  • The DINAMIA Consultancy company carried out the joint evaluation of the "2016-2019 Action Plan for a life free of gender violence with an intergenerational perspective in Uruguay".

  • The Red2Red Consultores Consultancy company  has carried out an evaluation of the interventions of the Paraguayan State aimed at victims of trafficking.

  • The SUSTENTIA consultancy company, together with an independent professional from the ONCE Foundation, carried out the joint evaluation of the "Post-2016-Earthquake Reconstruction Plan (Habitat and Housing Axis) in Ecuador".

  • The International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP)  is the coordinating entity which has assumed full responsibility for all phases of the project.

  • The Directorate General for Sustainable Development Policies (DGPOLDES) of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (MAEUEC) has invited the project to be part of a group of expert evaluators to exchange views on the review process of the OECD/DAC evaluation criteria.

Mirada Ciudadana - Good governance in Mercosur municipalities

  • Several interventions by the European Union in Uruguay were a reference for the formulation of the project. Of particular note are the "Desarrollo social de las zonas rurales más pobres del Norte de Uruguay (PRODENOR)" -Social development of the poorest rural areas in Northern Uruguay-programme and the projects called  "A los ojos de todos: contraloría ciudadana y monitoreo social" -In the eyes of all: citizen control and social monitoring (multi-country project), "Cohesión social y territorial del Eje Rua 7" - Social and territorial cohesion of the Rua 7 Axis and "Cerro Largo Incluye".

  • The European policies of governance, decentralization and citizen participation were a reference during the project's development.

  • The experience of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP), especially with regard to inter-institutional coordination, transparency, citizen participation, good governance and the location of the 2030 Agenda, was a reference during the project's development.

  • The project has participated in several courses on Open Government organized by the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for Development (AECID) in collaboration with the National Institute of Public Administration (INAP) and the Ministry of Territorial Policy and Public Function.

  • The city counsellor Josep Villarreal, from the Barcelona City Council, has been a speaker at the "Seminario Internacional Mirada Ciudadana" workshop, organized by the project.

  • A representative of the project has participated in the "Diplomado de Cooperación Sur-Sur" of the Instituto Universitario de Desarrollo y Cooperación (IUDC) -University Institute for Cooperation and Development- of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM).

  • Consultant Javier Cortés has carried out an international consultancy for the project in relation to the Agenda 2030 localisation and municipal communication, with a special focus on public-private collaboration within and from the territories.

Proyecto SEDA - Sustainable Sericulture

  • The project has paid a study visit to the ITMA 2019 Textile & Garment Technology Exhibition, the textile machinery and innovation fair organized by the European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers (CEMATEX), held in Barcelona. http://cematex.com. 

    » More information here

  • The Project has been invited by Messe Frankfurt (Frankfurt Trade Fair) to participate in its international textile exhibitions held in Argentina, receiving support for the dissemination of its activities through an info point and the inclusion of time slots in the event's official programme for presentations,  in addition to the corresponding media coverage.

  • Consultant Marina Chahboune has carried out an international consultancy mission for the project in the field of fashion sustainability, with a special focus on Circular Economy.

    » More information here

  • The project has paid a study visit to the Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria -Italian Council for Agricultural Research and the Analysis of Agricultural Economics  (CREA), leader in the field of sericulture and owner of the European Union's bombix mori germplasm bank.

    » More information here

  • Professors Silvia Cappellozza, coordinator of the Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria / Italian Council for Agricultural Research and the Analysis of Agricultural Economics  (CREA), Giovanna Salice, coordinator of the Latin American Silk Network (RELASEDA), Germano Allara, expert in natural dyes, and Giorgio Allara, expert in sericulture production, have served as advisors to the project.

  • The project has paid a study visit to the 2019 edition of the International Silk Conference, organized by the Universitá di Trento -University of Trento-, held in Trento.

  • The Cooperativa Sociale SOCIOLARIO -SOCIOLARIO Social Cooperative- is a strategic partner since the origin of the project.

  • The Direzione Generale per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo - Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale -Directorate General for Development Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation- and the Fondazione CARIPLO -CARIPLO Foundation- financed the initiative of the Organizzazione Internazionale Italo-Latino Americana - International Italian-Latin American Organization- (IILA) to create the "Latin American Silk Network (RELASEDA)", which is the embryo of the SEDA project, in which the Società Cooperativa Sociale SOCIOLARIO -SOCIOLARIO Social Cooperative also participates.

  • Professor Raúl Famgueiro, director of the FIBRENAMICS Group, the international multi-sector platform for the development of innovative fibre-based materials and products, coordinated by the Universidade do Minho - University of Minho-, has served as advisor to the project.

  • The project has paid a study visit to the 4th International Conference on Natural Fibers (ICNF 2019), with the theme 'Smart Sustainable Solutions', organized by the Universidade do Minho - University of Minho- and held in Porto, where it presented a paper on the achievements of the project.

    » More information here

  • The Universidade do Minho -University of Minho- has advised the project at different times and has become a collaborating partner during its implementation.

  • The project has paid a study visit to the FIBRENAMICS Group, the international multi-sector platform for the development of innovative fibre-based materials and products, coordinated by the Universidade do Minho -University of Minho- and based in Guimarães.

    » More information here

Red Calle - Developing policies to support the homeless

  • The EUROsociAL Programme is at the origin of the project. Through its "Integral Social Protection Systems" component, the EUROsociAL Programme promoted the creation of the "Permanent Latin American Working Group on the Homeless", which is the embryo of the RED CALLE project. https://eurosocial.eu/

  • The project participated in two events organised by the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA): the FEANTSA 2019 Policy Conference, in Porto (Portugal) » More information here, and the 14th European Research Conference, in Helsingborg (Sweden) » More information here.

  • Professor Pedro Cabrera Cabrera, researcher at the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas -Comillas Pontifical University, has been a consultant to the project and has coordinated a comparative diagnosis between the six countries that make up the Network in order to get to know the current situation of public policies aimed at caring for homeless people.

  • The German association Gesellschaft für innovative Sozialforschung und Sozialplanung  -Association for Research on Innovation and Social Planning- contributed to the formation of the "Latin American permanent working group on the homeless", the predecessor of the project.

  • Professionals Vincenzo Castelli (from the "On The Road" social organization and consultant of EUROsociAL+, presenting the street companies subject), Paolo Trevisanato (from the Don Bosco Project organization, presenting the experience in Bolivia as regards the defence of children's rights and the issue of prison discharge) and Francesco Padovani (from the Esperanza Project organisation, presenting the reality of homeless people and prison discharge in the Dominican Republic) participated as speakers in the "Foro Internacional Red Calle Latinoamericana" Forum organised by the project.

  • Professor Isabel Baptista, researcher at the Centro de Estudos para a Intervençao Social - Center of Study for Social Intervention (CESIS), has advised the RED CALLE project in the design and planning of the study visit to Lisbon.

  • The project has paid a study visit to Lisbon to learn more about the work that the CRESCER association carries out with homeless people. The "É uma casa - Lisboa Housing First" project is worth highlighting. » More information here.

Strengthening Restorative Justice

  • The "Proyecto de Mecanismos Alternos de Solución de Conflictos - MASC'' -Project for Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms-  led by the Judicial Power and the Vice-Ministry of Peace of Costa Rica and implemented between 2013 and 2014 thanks to the technical cooperation of the EUROsociAL I Programme, initiated a series of processes in this area which laid the foundation for the current project and which have been resumed and promoted during its implementation, highlighting the training of trainers and communication campaigns.

  • The Eurosocial II Programme, through a technical cooperation action in 2015, contributed to the building of the "Public Policy on Restorative Juvenile Justice in Costa Rica", led by the Judicial Power and the Vice-Ministry of Peace of Costa Rica. The Programme also drove activities in the area of promotion and capacity building that have been taken up and reinforced by the current project.

  • The Italian experience on restorative justice in criminal proceedings for minors (with special emphasis on serious crimes) was a reference during the project's development.

  • The project has carried out a study visit to Turin and Palermo with the aim of learning more about the Italian experience of restorative justice in criminal proceedings for minors involved in criminal organizations. This mission allowed to design concrete actions aimed at this vulnerable population. The RE.TE Association has supported the design and planning of the visit.