Programme background (Inclusive Societies)

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are currently facing a challenging global geopolitical and economic environment characterised by uncertainty and a series of crises. The region is struggling to recover from the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and return to the financial levels of 2019. According to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC, 2022), inflation rates are high, and labour informality is growing. Fiscal space remains limited. The pandemic added almost 50 million more people to the poverty line, and the region is trying to reduce poverty and inequality while experiencing a precarious recovery of jobs. The region continues to face high levels of inequality, particularly in terms of income, making it one of the most unequal regions in the world. To collaborate in addressing these challenges, this Project aims to promote social cohesion, gender equality, and socio-economic equality, and tackle social issues.

This Project based on the long-standing strategic partnership of the European Union (EU) and Latin America and the Caribbean, aims to foster the social dimension of the Global Gateway (GG) in LAC, bringing a participatory and multistakeholder approach to the GG Investment Agenda (GGIA) and providing an opportunity for collaborations among the public, private, and non-profit sectors in their respective roles.

The Programme must address the multidimensional nature of inequality, which extends beyond income and wealth to encompass disparities in access to education, healthcare, employment, political participation, and other fundamental rights. The EU applies its commitment to reducing inequalities across the broad INTPA mandate, with a specific focus on Global Gateway, notably via its 360-degree approach, which provides an opportunity to mobilise private investment at scale, while ensuring that inequality reduction remains central to our external action.

The EU has firmly embedded the fight against inequality as a cross-cutting objective in each of its geopolitical priorities. Inequality hinders socioeconomic development, and reducing it is necessary to achieve better development outcomes. Achievements in individual sectors can be negatively affected by inequality, meaning that EU development cooperation is less efficient when it does not address inequality. 

This EU Action envisages a strong focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment, addressing intersectionality with other forms of discrimination (Gender Equality Marker 2). It seeks progress in social policies, including skills development, employment, and social inclusion, with a focus on the reduction of inequalities including the bottom 40% of income, consumption or wealth households (Inequality Marker 2).

The programme main objective is to contribute to tackle gender and other inequalities, reduce poverty and social exclusion, and enhance social cohesion within and between LAC countries, through three specific objectives:

1.    Improving equal access to social rights, social services, and justice for vulnerable groups in all their diversity, notably women, children, and youth, and the reduction of inequalities including the bottom poorest 40% income or wealth households.

2.    More inclusive, accountable, and transparent public institutions promoting equity-driven and gender-responsive public finance models to reinforce social policies and protection systems, with special emphasis on women, children, and youth, and the reduction of inequalities including the bottom poorest 40% income or wealth households.

3.    New solutions able to foster and unblock investments that boost social innovation, the resilience of social systems, and just, socially responsible, and inclusive green and digital transitions.

The programme is funded by the EU (DG INTPA) and implemented by six partners that have a strong commitment to work together with other EU Member States and partner countries to address global challenges, mitigate their consequences and allow a social, green, and digital transition while upholding human rights, democracy, good governance, the rule of law and gender equality. The members of the consortium are:

-       The Spanish Cooperation (AECID and FIIAPP) – with FIAP as the leader of the consortium;

-       The French Cooperation (AFD Group with Expertise France as main implementing agency);

-       The German Cooperation (GIZ);

-       The Italian Cooperation (IILA and AICS).

The programme started on December 5th, 2024, and will have a duration of 4.5 years. It aims to cover the LAC region, with a focus on some strategic countries, and has a total budget of 43 million EUR.

Under the direct management of Gender & Inequalities Desk Coordinator, she/he will collaborate with the Coordination Unit.