PADF Supports Ongoing Cooperation Among Caribbean Basin Nations

PADF Will Expand Partnership with Colombian Government in Regional South-South Cooperation Program

WASHINGTON, July 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) Jose Miguel Insulza and the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) announced the $1.2 million expansion of the Government of Colombia's South-South Cooperation Program with PADF to consolidate and strengthen cooperation with Central America and the Caribbean.

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"I want to congratulate the Government of Colombia for this initiative. It will grow and strengthen economic and social opportunities in partner countries and foster more South-South cooperation among our nations," said Secretary General Insulza during a special ceremony held at OAS headquarters in Washington D.C.

The program, funded by Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs with support from the Presidential Agency for Social Action and International Cooperation (ACCION SOCIAL), provides Colombian technical advisors and training to Caribbean-Central American countries in areas such as technical training, natural disaster preparedness and mitigation, food security, nutrition, bilingual education, and academic exchanges. It also works in special regions such as along the Colombia-Panama border.

Currently in its second phase, the program is increasing support for academic exchanges, scholarships, and educational alliances between Colombian and Caribbean universities. It is also helping improve disaster mitigation preparedness with emphasis on climate change; bilingual training for government employees and teachers; training to reduce regional food insecurity; and ecotourism development in Panama near the Colombian border.

Since 2009, PADF has been an implementing partner, demonstrating its longstanding support to Colombia, border regions, and other countries, especially Haiti. 

"This partnership highlights the common goal of the OAS, the Government of Colombia, and PADF to strengthen the Inter-American System by encouraging and facilitating cooperation through the exchange of valuable knowledge and experience," said PADF Executive Director John Sanbrailo.

To date, the program has benefited more than 5,000 people in 29 countries in and around the Caribbean Basin, including some 1,700 professionals, technicians, teachers, and students through seminars, trainings, courses, and scholarships. This includes 300 residents in borders areas in Peru and approximately 700 others in Panama.  

The South-South program supports OAS priorities of encouraging member states to develop and expand cooperation in areas where they have unique expertise, technical assistance, and training resources.

About the OAS
The Organization of American States (OAS) is the world's oldest regional organization, dating back to the First International Conference of American States, which was held in Washington, D.C. from October 1889 to April 1890. Today, it is comprised of 34 countries from Latin America and the Caribbean. The Pan American Development Foundation, which was created in 1962, is an affiliate of the OAS. www.oas.org

Pan American Development Foundation
PADF is a is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1962 to promote, facilitate and implement social and economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean. In 2010, it helped more than 10.2 million beneficiaries in 22 countries. Headquartered in Washington D.C., PADF has field offices in Haiti and Colombia. www.padf.org

Donations (U.S. only): (877) 572-4484, www.padf.org

SOURCE Pan American Development Foundation