TEXTO EN ESPAÑOL

Red Centroamericana de Centros de Pensamiento e Incidencia -laRED

laRED, cofundada y auspiciada por la KAS, se integra por un grupo de instituciones de investigación, análisis, prospectiva e incidencia quienes, ante los desafíos que enfrenta la región centroamericana, han convenido un trabajo conjunto que favorezca el bienestar de las poblaciones del Istmo, fortaleciendo los procesos de integración y el desarrollo regional.

El desarrollo humano inter-generacional de los pueblos centroamericanos está demandando cada vez más un esfuerzo conjunto y concertado entre los gobiernos, requiriendo una visión estratégica regional que, por un lado, garantice un desarrollo integral equitativo y equilibrado de sus propias poblaciones, y que a la vez:

• favorezca una participación de la región en la globalidad,

• una inserción inteligente de los países centroamericanos en la creciente interdependencia regional y mundial, y

• un aprovechamiento constructivo de las oportunidades que esa globalidad ofrece, tanto en la entrega como en la recepción de bienes y servicios.

laRED ha considerado la pertinencia de actuar coordinadamente para fortalecer la capacidad del Istmo de generar análisis y propuestas que, desde lo regional, contribuyan al desarrollo integral y equitativo, desde las especialidades y agendas de cada quien, sobre la base de su pluralidad y en respeto a su diversidad.

De sus objetivos: laRed, por medio de la coordinación, la cooperación y la articulación de esfuerzos:

a. Impulsará con base a información sistematizada, la elaboración y formulación de análisis y contenidos estratégicos, así como propuestas objetivas sobre temas específicos de interés regional, para enriquecer y apoyar las acciones de los diferentes grupos decisorios, tanto gubernamentales como no gubernamentales de la región.

b. Contribuirá a enriquecer las posiciones centroamericanas en distintas áreas de interés común, al ampliar elementos sustantivos a los gobiernos, a sus instituciones de integración regional, a la sociedad civil y a grupos decisorios, en los distintos ámbitos de negociación regional.

c. Desarrollará actividades tendientes a fortalecer capacidades institucionales y de grupos específicos, en diversos ámbitos del desarrollo regional y de la negociación internacional.

d. Promoverá actividades de información pública, la discusión académica y el debate ciudadano de las diversas agendas de desarrollo e integración regional, por todos los medios institucionales y de comunicación a su alcance.”

ENGLISH SUMMARY

Central American Network of Think Tanks and Advocacy

Origin and Nature

Think Tanks for research, prospective and advocacy with different specialties in the Central American region have agreed to join efforts in order to address, from the standpoints of analysis and political proposals, the potential opportunities and the challenges still pending, and that the Central American isthmus is facing, in order to ensure the well being of its peoples, which include reflections around strengthening the process of integration and regional development.

The integral and equitable development of the Central American region is the arrival point guiding the RED to address it in its thematic and advocacy agenda, not only the internal challenges faced by a process of regional integration that is still pending consolidation, but also external challenges in the face of a globalized and competitive world under permanent evolution in which while the Central American Isthmus is profiled with a potential of legitimate opportunities, it is also facing problems when considered to be a “Paradise” for illicit activities, in view of the serious institutional and social weaknesses it is going through.

The Think Tanks for Research and Advocacy, with a firm commitment to address the problems and potentials of Central America offer integral analyses and especially are inspired to raise political proposals that may be implemented by government institutions, both national and regional; thus overcoming the view that the sum of initiatives and national actions will realize the common objective of development of the region, but it is rather its complementarities and its inclusion in a common path, without prejudice of respecting the particularities and the pace of the processes being followed in each country. Thus, the RED also expects to be a political reference for other extra-regional actors, capable of maintaining dialogues and raise proposals with a view from the Central Americans within a global community.

Objectives

In the Letter of Understanding signed in 2008, the Think Tanks agreed to the coordination, cooperation and joining of efforts, expecting:

• To raise political proposal for decision makers, both governmental and non governmental in the region, from studies with a regional approach.

• Enrich with Central American analyses the regional and extra-regional debates on issues of regional integration.

• Promote strategic and advocacy spaces that may contribute to strengthen the institutional capacity and that of specific groups in different areas of the regional development and international negotiations.

• Promote public information activities from academic and political approaches that will enrich the inputs and proposals in citizens’ debates on a common agenda for development and regional integration.

Context and Opportunity

The integral, equitable and balanced development of the Central American region, ensuring the well being of each person and peoples of the Isthmus, requires joint and concerted efforts on the part of the Governments and of non governmental actors with a regional strategic vision that may favor an effective and intelligent insertion into globalization. This leads to develop and consolidate dynamic relations of regional and global interdependence, in order to take advantage of the opportunities of globalization.

Central America has accomplished important advances in its human and economic development, and in its integration agenda. Nevertheless, it still faces important challenges to meet the needs of the Central American population and at the same time be capable of facing the global impact of the financial crisis through the expansion of our inter-regional markets and the intra-Central American development.

This search must overcome the habit of developing regional approaches from the arithmetical sum of national interests and needs as well as to limit the definition of agendas around commercial issues, neglecting other aspects of development.

Thus the RED is profiled as an actor and interlocutor capable of offering academic contributions, strengthening investigation in themes of interest for the Central American region, but especially offering political proposals for those generators of public policies and decision makers both regional and extra-regional, governmental and non-government, co-responsible or allies in the process for the integral development of Central America.

Instituciones Miembros de laRED / Institutions Members laRED:

COSTA RICA

• Centro Internacional para el Desarrollo Humano –CIDH-
• Fundación para la Paz y la Democracia – FUNPADEM-

EL SALVADOR

• Fundación Nacional para el Desarrollo –FUNDE-
• Fundación Salvadoreña para El Desarrollo Económico y Social - FUSADES-

GUATEMALA

• Asociación de Investigación y Estudios Sociales –ASIES-
• Fundación para el Desarrollo de Guatemala –FUNDESA-
• Instituto Centroamericano de Estudios Fiscales –ICEFI-

HONDURAS

• Fundación para la Inversión y el Desarrollo de las Exportaciones –FIDE-

NICARAGUA

• Fundación para el Desarrollo de Centroamérica –FUNDESCA-
• Fundación Nicaragüense para el Desarrollo Económico y Social - FUNIDES –
• Instituto de Estudios Estratégicos y Políticas Públicas -IEEPP-

Contáctenos:
Oficina de Coordinación
laRED

Fundación Konrad Adenauer
3 Av. "A" 7-74, Zona 14, Col. El Campo
Guatemala, Centro América
PBX: (502) 2380-5100