The role of NGOs in achieving the SDGs in Latin America
- Latam Sin Filtro
- Dec 15, 2024
- 28 min read
Updated: May 29
Today, there are about 10 million non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the world. Non-governmental organizations, also known by the acronym NGO, are organizations that are not part of a government and whose purpose is purely social. They are nonprofit organizations. The term NGO appeared at the same time as the creation of the United Nations (UN) in 1945. Groups committed to achieving a social goal already existed before the Second World War, but it was really after the war that this term began to be used. In the Charter of the United Nations, signed on 26 June 1945, the term "non-governmental organizations" appears for the first time in Article 71 of Chapter X: "The Economic and Social Council may make appropriate arrangements for consultations with non-governmental organizations dealing with matters within its competence".[1] However, the UN did not propose a clear definition of these organizations until February 27, 1950, in a Council resolution. A few years later, this day became International NGO Day.
Today, NGOs play a critical role in addressing society's economic, social and environmental challenges. They have become representatives of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda created by the UN in 2015. The agenda, which includes all 17 SDGs, was endorsed by UN world leaders in September 2015 and came into effect on January 1, 2016. Countries have pledged to double their efforts to end poverty, reduce inequality, and fight climate change over the next 15 years. These 17 goals represent the key aspects of sustainable development.
Source: United Nations, "Sustainable Development Goals | United Nations," United Nations, accessed November 1, 2023, https://www.un.org/es/impacto-acad%C3%A9mico/page/objetivos-de-desarrollo-sostenible.
According to the UN, sustainable development can be defined as the ability to " meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".[2] This definition, used by the United Nations, was developed in the 1987 report entitled "Our Common Future" by the World Commission on Environment and Development. Sustainable development is based on three pillars: economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection. It has an economic, social and environmental aspect. These three elements are interconnected. The United Nations places particular emphasis on the eradication of poverty in all its forms, considering it an essential condition for achieving sustainable development. [3]
To what extent are non-governmental organizations key actors of sustainable development in Latin America and what are their challenges in 2023?
Relationship between Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Latin America
Presentation and critics of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG 4: "Quality Education"
Education is defined as the “teaching and doctrine given to children and young people" that can also be given through pedagogical action.[4] Education drives socio-economic mobility[5] and is necessary to end poverty. In 2018, more than 300 million children and young people aged 5 to 17 were out of school worldwide. In other words, one in 5 children or young people does not go to school.[6] In 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic, most countries announced the temporary closure of schools. This situation has affected more than 90% of students worldwide. The pandemic has affected the quality of learning for children and young people, further impacting the most vulnerable and marginalized populations who could not benefit from online courses.
Ensuring "quality education" means, among other things, expanding access to education and increasing enrolment rates, especially for young girls. To do this, these children must first benefit from quality pre-school care to be ready to go to school. Secondly, it is necessary to ensure that all children can benefit from free equitable primary and secondary education. Girls and boys, women and men must have the same rights, opportunities and training at all levels of education, ending gender-based discrimination. People with disabilities and other minorities must be included in the education system. Everyone must be able to access education and acquire the skills needed to access decent jobs.
This goal also includes improving the education system through investments in infrastructures, expansion of scholarships for developing countries and by raising awareness among students about sustainable development issues.
SDG 10: "Reduced inequalities"
Inequality is a very broad concept, which can encompass different elements. The United Nations Development Program defines inequality as something that is not just about wealth inequality. Inequality can include other aspects of life such as access to health services, life expectancy, access to quality education, etc.[7] Inequalities can occur at different levels, at the global level, but also at the regional level, or at the level of a country. Inequalities can also exist between people of different ages, genders or social groups. For all these reasons, it is impossible to completely eliminate inequalities. As a result, it is more correct to talk about "reducing" inequality. SDG 10 is probably the most ambitious and elusive SDG because of all facets of inequality.
Goal 10, which can be found in all of the 16 other goals, aims to promote the socio-economic and political inclusion of all people without discriminating anyone. To reduce inequalities and ensure opportunity equality, governments must eliminate or modify laws, policies and other standards such as discriminatory practices and promote appropriate legislation. Governments must focus first and foremost on fiscal, wage, and social protection policies. At the global level, developing and underdeveloped countries should benefit from increased economic support, as well as greater representation and involvement in decision-making in international organizations. Finally, the UN promotes easier and safer migration through planned migration policies.
SDG 5: "Gender equality"
Inequalities between women and men exist in all regions of the world and manifest themselves in every aspect of women's lives, including their professional life by having less opportunities and earning less than men but it also manifests as few political representations. On top of that, even though women earn less than men they still must spend more time than men on chores. According to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), there are many obstacles preventing women from fully exercising their human rights. These obstacles are socio-economic inequalities and the persistence of the feminization of poverty; discriminatory and violent patriarchal cultural models and the predominance of the culture of privilege; the sexual division of labor as well as the concentration of power and hierarchical relations in the public sphere, excluding women from decision-making.[8]
According to a 2022 World Bank report[9], about 2,400 million working-age women do not have the same opportunities as men. 178 countries have legal barriers that prevent them from actively participating in the economy. In 86 countries, women face some form of work restriction, and 95 countries do not guarantee equal pay for work of equal value.
However, gender inequality is not only reflected at the level of work. Gender inequality can manifest itself in a person's daily life through discrimination, hate speech, physical or moral violence. In its most extreme form, gender-based violence, which can be defined as "violence against women by those who are or have been connected to them by emotional relationships",[10] can lead to gender-based crimes.
Goal 5 aims to end all forms of discrimination against women and girls worldwide by eliminating violence and all forms of exploitation among other things. The UN denounces practices such as forced child marriage or female genital mutilation. Domestic care work must be remunerated through public services and social protection infrastructure. Women should have the same social and economic rights and professional opportunities as men. Universal access to sexual and reproductive health is one of the measures that must be implemented. Gender equality must be promoted through policies, laws that protect women's rights, and technological tools to raise awareness among citizens.
Those past decades, gender issues have been central to our societies, however, the Sustainable Development Goals and this Goal 5 do not mention the existence of genders other than female or masculine and do not mention, for example, the existence of transgender people nor the importance of protecting them.
All the Sustainable Development Goals are intertwined. Equality between women and men contributes to the reduction of inequalities. Reducing gender inequality means quality education or at least, better education and equal opportunities. Having clean water plays an important role in people's food security. Goal 17 "Partnerships to achieve the goals" is in fact present in each of the goals as each on implies cooperation all the social and economic actors to achieve them.
However, some criticisms can be made of the SDGs. The Sustainable Development Goals succeed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were endorsed in 2000 at the 55th United Nations General Assembly and were expected to be achieved by 2015. In reality, the adoption of the SDGs by the UN reflects the failure of countries to implement the MDGs. In 2012, it was recognized that the MDGs would not be implemented by launching another "post-2015" project. Although the SDGs are more ambitious than the MDGs, with 9 more goals, they reflect, to some extent, the promises that could not be kept by countries so far.
In addition, the SDGs require international cooperation to achieve them, but in a context of a changing international order, where different the different blocs (Occident vs China, Russia, Iran) are indirectly confronted through trade wars, political tensions or threats of the use of nuclear weapons, the achievement of these goals seems less and less assured. What is certain is that all social actors must participate together to reach the SDGs. Non-governmental organizations play a fundamental role through their capacity to influence decision-making processes of governments and through the several programs they implement in developing countries.
The long road to achieving the SDGs in Latin America
In Latin America, efforts to achieve the SDGs differ from country to country, but in this first part we’ll be focusing on the global situation in the subcontinent, which seemed to be improving at the beginning of the twenty-first century but was turned upside down by the arrival of COVID-19, erasing the progress that had been made in terms of sustainable development.
Pre-pandemic situation analysis: 1990-2020
One of the Sustainable Development Goals with the greatest improvement between 1990 and 2015 is number 1, "No poverty". According to ECLAC's 2015 report "Latin America and the Caribbean: Looking Ahead from the Millennium Development Goals",[11] countries have managed to significantly reduce their levels of extreme poverty. Honduras had an extreme poverty rate of 46.9% in 1990, up from 16.4% in 2012. Brazil’s rate fell from 16.23% to 3.75%. In 2019, the region's extreme poverty rate was 11.4%.[12] However, the report also states that 50% of the region's population was still at risk of poverty.
Regarding environmental protection, while many countries in the region have made substantial progress in developing environmental legislation through the establishment of institutions to manage these policies, the results are limited because of the industrial policies pursued by the countries of the region. The industrial model of Latin American countries generally does not consider the negative environmental externalities of economic activities.
In terms of natural resources, the region is home to almost half of the world's biodiversity,[13] and between 1990 and 2014, all countries in the region were able to increase their terrestrial and marine protected areas by more than 5%, and the use of ozone-depleting substances decreased by 95% between 1990 and 2013. Protected areas play an essential role in the preservation of natural resources. However, the region continues to experience high levels of water, air and soil pollution that impact the population’s health and are a direct consequence of the industrial policies discussed above. According to the report "Challenges and Strategies for Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean" carried out by ECLAC in 2018[14], one in four rivers in Latin America is considered "severely polluted" because of agricultural and industrial production for export.
In addition, it is estimated that more than 100 million people in Latin America are exposed to high levels of air pollution. Poor air quality is the cause of about 35,000 premature deaths each year in the region. In 2012, 80,000 deaths were attributed to air pollution in homes. Again, industry is the main factor behind the high pollution, especially the chemical industry with all the chemicals released into the air.
To conclude, the report also reveals that access to energy is very unequal in the region. The lack of energy access remains significant, affecting nearly 22 million people in the region.
When it comes to social security and gender equality, women have better access to the labor market, their own income and social services, but on the one hand, they are still the ones who must take care of household chores and, on the other hand, they are still the ones who do more unpaid care for older persons. Women's time spent on household chores limits their opportunities to have a decent job, reduces opportunities for access to education, and represents a fundamental barrier to their financial empowerment and the reduction of gender inequalities. While the ECLAC report shows that in 2014, the main income of a third of Latin American households came from a woman, sexist patterns inside the household limits the independence of Latin women.
As in other parts of the world, Latin America is experiencing an aging population and these changes in the demographic pyramid are the result of the region development and a limited triumph of public policies in the areas of health, social security and industry, which has nevertheless been able to generate more socio-economic opportunities. However, social security is still insufficient. The most vulnerable households have to take care of the elderly in their families and today, this burden is mainly borne by women. In addition, the region's ageing population is going to make it harder for women. Since women have a longer life expectancy than men but are less likely to have a formal and decent job, and therefore social security coverage, they will be more exposed to poverty as they grow old.
Finally, let’s address the issue of violence and security in the region. Latin America continues to face challenges related to social cohesion that affect the ability of States to ensure sustainable development. The high rates of violence are a disturbing representation of the social and political disintegration that exists in Latin America and demonstrate that much remains to be done by Governments to achieve sustainable development. The region has often been described as the most violent on the planet. The report indicates that from 1995 to 2018, the regional homicide rate per 100,000 people was above 20 or even 30 while global rates are generally less than 7 murders per 100,000 people. In 2017, Venezuela recorded a murder rate of 89 and El Salvador 60 murders per 100,000 inhabitants. The loss of state control and justice legitimacy hinders sustainable development. Violence is linked, among other things, to the economic situation of countries. An unfavorable economy facilitates the expansion of criminal activities and corruption. In addition, inequality, lack of social security and social exclusion are other cultural factors fueling violence, including gender-based violence. Although Latin America and the Caribbean is one of the regions in the world where the greatest number of legal advances have been made in the area of gender-based violence, the region counts with 14 of the 25 countries with the highest rates of femicide in the world. According to the ECLAC report mentioned earlier, in Mexico, more than 7 women are murdered every day. In Bolivia, 53% of women who were/are married or in a relationship reported having experienced physical or sexual violence by their partner.
In summary, by the end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century, significant progress had been made in the region and optimistic scenarios considered for the future of Latin America, although much remained to be done to hope to achieve the goals set by the United Nations.
Analysis of the situation in the region from 2020 onwards
With the surge of COVID, the progress that had been made so far in the region has been severely affected. On the one hand, the pandemic has had a devastating effect on inequality and poverty. The labor market in Latin America is characterized by a very high degree of informality. In the region, about 50% of workers have informal jobs.[15] As a result, these workers have not been able to access social security services such as unemployment benefits, causing the poverty rate to rise. ECLAC estimates that in 2020, the poverty rate in Latin America and the Caribbean affected 33.7% of the population[16] and that the number of people living in extreme poverty amounted to 13.8% of the population of Latin America.[17] Despite these results, the situation would have been much worse without the emergency social security measures taken by governments. ECLAC estimates that without these measures extreme poverty in 2020 would have been about 1.8 percentage points higher.[18] When it comes to inequality, it's clear that the pandemic has had a destructive effect. The report "The sociodemographic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America and the Caribbean" published by ECLAC in 2022 indicates that between 2019 and 2020, the average Gini index in the region increased by 1%. It would have increased by 4% if emergency measures had not been taken.
On the other hand, the pandemic has highlighted the shortcomings of the health systems of Latin American countries, the lack of access of populations to basic services and the flaws of the education system. COVID-19 has clearly demonstrated the weaknesses of health systems whose lack of funding have made it difficult to respond adequately and effectively to the pandemic. Similarly, problems in accessing basic services such as water or electricity have worsened during the pandemic due to a reduction in the purchasing power of households, especially the most vulnerable households, sometimes putting their lives at risk. In terms of education, despite the use of the Internet for distance learning, the quality of education has deteriorated considerably during the lockdown. In addition, the existence of a digital divide between the different socio-economic classes and conditions at home that are more or less conducive to learning have exacerbated inequalities between students. The school year interruption has also impacted students who were already disadvantaged before the pandemic, further worsening inequalities.
Finally, let's look at the impacts of the pandemic on gender inequalities using information from the ECLAC report mentioned above. Before the pandemic, women were already in charge of many unpaid household chores. This burden has increased significantly during the pandemic with lockdowns, school closures, and the unpaid care for older people or family members potentially infected with COVID-19. All of these tasks have greatly impacted women's role in economic activities, sometimes forcing them to quit their jobs to focus on domestic care work. On top of that, Indigenous and African American women have been even more affected by the pandemic and all its consequences. Similarly, the activity rate of women has fallen considerably since the beginning of the pandemic, representing the loss of 18 years of progress (51.8% in 2019 to 47.7% in 2020 for women compared to 75.5% to 70.8% for men). Again, African American and Indigenous women have been the most affected, especially because 85% of Indigenous women have informal jobs that do not allow them to benefit from the financial supports implemented by governments during the pandemic. Women also present higher poverty rates than men. For example, in Colombia, in 2020, the poverty rate for men was 32% while it was 35.3% for women. In Argentina, the poverty rate was 25.2% for men and 27.5% for women.
In conclusion, the progress that could have been made at the beginning of the twenty-first century in terms of sustainable development in the region has been slowed by the pandemic. On 28 April 2023, representatives of UN agencies, regional organizations and civil society from the 33 Latin American countries gathered for the sixth meeting of the Latin American and Caribbean Forum on Sustainable Development. At the forum, delegates said that after nearly 10 years, only 24.6% of the goals set by the UN in 2015 have been achieved.[19] Even if the trend is rather positive for 48.4% of the 17 goals, it is not enough to hope to achieve the goals, since for 27% of the goals countries are regressing. The goals will not be achieved, especially in areas such as health, education or gender equality. To reach the SDGs, States must make significant investments and improvements, particularly in providing social security, equal opportunities and in restructuring the labor market. Cooperation between all economic actors such as governments, national and local authorities, private sector, financial system, civil society, and even NGOs, is essential for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Latin America
As mentioned earlier, there are now more than 10 million NGOs in the world. Faced with social, economic and environmental challenges, NGOs play a fundamental role. These challenges exist in all regions of the world, although they are even greater in underdeveloped countries. NGOs can have impacts at different scales: local, national and/or international scales. They can take different legal forms: association, foundation, cooperative, etc. However, all NGOs seek to positively impact the community they serve. NGOs contribute to raising awareness of social, humanitarian and environmental issues in society. They are also intended to complement the laws and policies of states or international organizations to protect people or the environment.
The rise of NGOs in Latin America took place in the 1980s with the return of democracies and the implementation of neoliberal models in the region such as in Argentina in 1983, Brazil in 1985 and Chile in 1980. NGOs have benefited greatly from these two major changes in the subcontinent. The neoliberal policies implemented at that time, which considered the welfare state a failure, led to the emergence of new marginal social classes that therefore needed help from non-governmental organizations. Cuts on social security benefits, on the one hand, and the emergence of democracy, on the other, have given these organizations a new meaning. The number of NGOs in the region increased significantly in the 1980s. For example, it is estimated that the number of NGOs in Bolivia increased from 218 in 1980 to 897 in 1993.[20] However, the golden age of NGOs in the region occurred between 1990 and 2001 during which many investors from the North of the continent participated in the financing of NGOs in Latin America. The emergence of the first sustainable development policies aimed at protecting the environment and combating poverty in the region has also contributed to empowering NGOs. Moreover, the emergence of new democracies brought back the question of human rights in Latin American countries.
Today, NGOs in Latin America focus mainly on the fight against poverty, women's rights, fair trade, respect for human rights, education and health.
Mexico: EQUIS Justice
EQUIS Justicia is a feminist organization that has been working in Mexico since 2011 to transform institutions, laws and public policies to improve access to justice for Mexican women. The organization promotes new ways to address gender-based violence and discrimination by researching the structural causes of these phenomena. The organization works with government and judicial institutions to provide solutions based on research. Through partnerships with civil society organizations, EQUIS Justice aims to strengthen citizen auditing. EQUIS Justice's activity has an impact on the achievement of SDGs 5 and 10. The organization takes actions in 3 areas:
Protection from gender-based violence and prevention: Ensuring the protection of women through criminal law, promoting the enforcement of laws that protect them.
Ensuring access to justice for all women: especially Mexican women who have historically been made invisible and represent the main victims of failing security policies, such as the war on drugs and the militarization of the country.
Discrimination-free justice and equality: Ensuring access to non-discriminatory justice. The goal is to create a justice system that meets the needs of every woman. In general, EQUIS promotes gender equality and denounces discrimination against people with disabilities or minorities. For example, EQUIS is working with CADIN in Yucatán to strengthen Mayan women representation.
EQUIS Mexico includes more than 20 alliances with different organizations in the country. Through reports, campaigns and marches, the organization raises awareness about women's rights.
Chile: Compromiso Migrante
Compromiso Migrante is a Chilean NGO that assists migrants upon their arrival in Chile. The organization helps migrants integrate into Chilean society by respecting the laws of the country. Compromiso Migrante fully recognizes the contribution of migrants to Chile's development and, therefore, the importance of helping them integrate. "Being an immigrant is not a burden for Chile, but a contribution to the social and economic development of the country."[21] The organization's values and principles are based on the desire to build a more inclusive Chilean society, based on pluralism, sustainability and justice. The organization advocates for migrants to obtain the same rights and opportunities as Chilean citizens, based on Chilean law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Compromiso migrante has three main goals:
Providing migrants with access to quality education
Advising and supporting migrants on issues such as: health, employment, social integration, etc.
Making the connection between the Chilean state and the immigrant community.
Through its actions, Compromiso Migrante is an actor in Objectives 1, 4, 10 and 17. The organization regularly publishes content to help migrants with the administrative processing. Weekly discussions are held around topics that may be of interest to the migrant community. In addition, the organization's volunteers are located in various parts of the country allowing them to help migrant communities throughout the country. The organization ensures that migrants are kept informed and aware of the rights they have through training and information meetings.
Peru: Ayuda en Acción
Ayuda en Acción Peru is an organization that was created 35 years ago and whose goal is to promote sustainable development and drive economic growth in Peru through quality education, trainings and support for Peruvian SMEs. The NGO provides students with professional training courses. The organization develops the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) among children and promotes coordinated actions between students, teachers and parents to ensure quality education for all Peruvian students and reduce educational inequality. The NGO also raises awareness of social and environmental issues among SMEs while helping them increasing their profits.
Through this support for Peruvian students and businesses, the NGO drives growth and sustainable development in Peruvian regions. The organization usually stays 15 years in a same region and operates in 9 regions of Peru. It has 25 business alliances to carry out its several projects.
THE Economic situation of Chile, Mexico and Peru
Mexico's main economic indicators in 2022 (according to official World Bank data)[22]
Gross domestic product (GDP) in billions of US dollars (US$) | 1,41 |
GDP per capita, in US dollars (US$) | 11.091,3 |
Annual GDP growth (%) | 3,1 |
Total unemployment (% of total labor force) | 3,3 |
Foreign direct investment (FDI), net capital inflows (% of GDP) | 2,8 |
Mexico's main social indicators (according to official World Bank data)[23]
Poverty headcount ratio at US$1.90 a day (% of population) | 3.1 in 2020 |
Life expectancy at birth | 70 in 2021 |
Population | 125,504,125 in 2022 |
Net migration | -52,649 in 2021 |
Human Capital Index (Productivity) | 0.6 in 2020 |
According to an ECLAC report, 72.9% of the population was affected by poverty in 2020[24] (nearly three-quarters of the population). This figure is much higher than the figure provided by the World Bank. Indeed, ECLAC uses the MPI (Multidimensional Poverty Index) indicator to measure poverty, which is a much more complete poverty indicator that analyzes not only the financial capacity of households but also their access to education, health and living conditions. The wealth may explain the phenomenon of emigration from Mexico to other countries. In addition to income inequality, Mexico faces deep gender inequality.
Femicide is the most extreme manifestation of violence against women and girls. In Mexico, 3,825 women were victims of homicide in 2019, which means that 10 women are murdered every day.[25] Gender equality in Mexico faces significant structural challenges in Mexican society, characterized by the non-respect of laws and little respect for women's rights in general. Here are some figures from the Mexican government[26] demonstrating gender inequality in Mexico:
Women spend 43.2 hours per week on household care work, while men spend only 15.8 hours.
Women's unpaid work at home is equivalent to 17.5% of GDP, while men's is equivalent to 5.8%.
The economic participation rate for women is 43.8%, and 77% for men. The economic participation rate of Aboriginal women is over 21%.
To conclude, Mexico is one of the most unequal countries in the world.[27] Socio-economic and gender inequalities are one of the country's many structural problems. Mexico is a violent state that feeds the already existing inequalities. The country needs to reform and change laws to provide more protection and better justice for its citizens. However, the fight against discrimination must be carried out at all levels of society; although they constitute a legal basis that can provide protection, laws are not enough and civil society plays a role in changing population’s mores.
Peru's main economic indicators in 2022 (according to official World Bank data)[28]
Gross domestic product (GDP) in billions of US dollars (US$) | 242,63 |
GDP per capita, in US dollars (US$) | 7.125,8 |
Annual GDP growth (%) | 2,7 |
Total unemployment (% of total labor force) | 3,7 |
Foreign direct investment (FDI), net capital inflows (% of GDP) | 4,5 |
Peru's main social indicators (according to official World Bank data)[29]
Poverty headcount ratio at US$1.90 a day (% of population) | 2.9 in 2020 |
Life expectancy at birth | 72 in 2021 |
Population | 34,049,588 in 2022 |
Net migration | 68,012 in 2021 |
Human Capital Index (Productivity) | 0.6 in 2020 |
Peru enjoys macroeconomic stability, trade openness and a favorable international environment that has enabled the country to become a middle-income economy. Indeed, if we look at GDP per capita, it has increased from nearly $2,040 in 2002 to $7,126 ($) in 2022.[30] The country has low public debt, large international reserves and a strong central bank.
However, the country's development continues to face significant obstacles such as the impacts of climate change, inequality, and an economy dependent on the price of raw materials such as copper. In addition, informal economy accounts for 18.9% of Peruvian GDP in 2019.[31] People involved in unregulated jobs do not have access to social security services, fueling inequality in the country.
New policies and infrastructure are needed to tackle informal economy as well as reducing poverty and inequality. Improving public services, strengthening governance and creating a favorable formal job market as well as ensuring and political stability are essential for Peru's sustainable growth and development.
Chile's main economic indicators in 2022 (according to official World Bank data)[32]
Gross domestic product (GDP) in billions US dollars ($) | 301,03 |
GDP per capita, in US dollars ($) | 15.355,5 |
Annual GDP growth (%) | 2,4 |
Total unemployment (% of total labor force) | 7,8 |
Foreign direct investment (FDI), net capital inflows (% of GDP) | 6,9 |
Chile's main social indicators (according to official World Bank data)[33]
Poverty headcount ratio at US$1.90 a day (% of population) | 0.7 in 2020 |
Life expectancy at birth | 79 in 2021 |
Population | 19,603,733 in 2022 |
Net migration | 113,709 in 2021 |
Human Capital Index (Productivity) | 0.7 in 2020 |
Chile is the most developed country in Latin America. With an HDI of 0.819 (on a scale of zero to one), Chile ranks 40th in the world and first in Latin America.[34] Income inequality, as measured by the Gini coefficient, reached 0.43 in 2022.[35] Life expectancy is high, it is one of the highest in Latin America. Chile benefits from a good productivity and a satisfactory GDP per capita.
Regarding migration, for several years now, Chile has been a destination country for many migrants in the region. Its rapid economic growth, the significant reduction in poverty it has experimented those pas years and the return to a democratic system have made Chile an attractive country. The country is welcoming more and more immigrants every year, as shown in the graph below:
Source: "Population," Migration in Chile, accessed November 12, 2023, https://www.migracionenchile.cl/poblacion/.
Chile is currently experiencing a migration crisis. In 2021, Chilean President Gabriel Boric and his government launched a new migration policy that came into effect in 2023. The latter has increased control at the country's borders and does not allow illegal migrants to enter Chilean territory under any circumstances. Residence permits are issued individually under several conditions.
The top five geographic origins of immigrants to Chile in 2020 were Venezuela (30.7%), Peru (16.3%), Haiti (12.5%), Colombia (11.4%), and Bolivia (8.5%), which together account for about 79.3% of the total.[36] In addition, Chile is the 4th destination for Venezuelan migrants.[37] The political and economic crisis and shortages in Venezuela largely explain the migration of Venezuelans to Chile. However, the immigrant population is often excluded, especially when it comes to migrants in a non-regular situation. Even when they are in possession of visas and residence permits, migrants remain victims of discrimination by Chilean society, which does not fully recognize them as subjects of rights.
The impact of NGOs on their communities
In Peru, Ayuda en Acción helps fight informality and inequality by providing citizens with education, training, and professional opportunities. The organization provides quality education to the youngest through 45 educational centers in the country.[38] Thanks to the NGO, 3,805 students achieved the minimum level of proficiency in reading and mathematics within a school period.[39] This will enable them to obtain decent jobs later on. In addition, the NGO organizes professional training workshops for adults to develop different skills, allowing them to stand out in the job market and have access to greater job opportunities. The participants in the training courses develop skills such as conflict management, customer service or teamwork. Through Ayuda en Acción's various programs, 4,708 people have been able to develop professional and technical skills that will allow them to obtain formal jobs or start their own business. In addition, 2,278 people have already been able to access paid employment or run a business. [40] Ayuda en Acción helps associations and SMEs to create sustainable business plans and stand out to be a driver of change in Peruvian society.
In Mexico, most of the measures implemented by EQUIS Justicia consist of awareness-raising campaigns, conducting studies and organizing seminars. Gender inequalities cannot and should not be addressed through law and justice alone. The values of Mexican society and the image of women must also change. This involves more inclusive and feminist education as well as raising awareness of the issue of women's rights. For example, in 2012, EQUIS launched a project in collaboration with 12 local organizations to identify the barriers women face in accessing the justice system in Mexico. EQUIS has demonstrated the existence of stereotypes and discrimination in the various stages of the criminal process and even in some laws that hinder women's access to justice. In addition, by creating a network of fourteen organizations present in five federal states of the country, the NGO has carried out studies documenting both the ways in which stereotypes and prejudices of those holding judiciary power lead to unfair resolutions. EQUIS Justicia denounces Mexico's discriminatory judicial system.
On the other hand, the NGO contributed to the formation of the "Mayan Women's Network for Justice" composed of 40 indigenous women organizations. Since 2016, EQUIS has been supporting the Network in its work to defend women's rights. This network has empowered Mayan women by giving them a voice and greater visibility to assert their rights as women and as indigenous women.
Finally, EQUIS Justicia has also worked to defend the rights of transgender women who suffer a lot of discrimination, not only from the State but also from companies and the Mexican society in general. In 2015, the organization helped transgender people who were discriminated against by security personnel at a shopping mall to file a complaint with the Council for the Prevention and Elimination of Discrimination of Mexico City (Copred) in collaboration with the Transgender Youth Network.
In Chile, Compromiso Migrante supports migrants in their integration. Through its seminars, events and fairs, the NGO allows immigrants to settle in Chile using legal instruments so that they are not deported, especially after Gabriel Boric's new law that prevents illegal immigrants from entering the country. The events and fairs organized give visibility to the immigrant community and help break the stereotypes. Various fairs were organized to present the Colombian and Venezuelan community. These events allow immigrants to share their culture, develop their network and integrate into Chilean society. In addition, the organization works in collaboration with regional councils to give a voice to immigrants and help develop migration policies at the regional level. Together with other associations and organizations, Compromiso Migrante organizes professionalization workshops or creative activities to enable immigrants to develop new skills as well as their professional network. On their website, you can find various official information from the Chilean government regarding immigration. To conclude, the organization accompanies immigrants in their process of integration into Chilean society by supporting them throughout the administrative procedures and providing them with social and emotional support.
Conclusion
In conclusion, NGOs are actors of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They are representatives of the SDGs through their social or environmental purpose. They sometimes play a vital role in the community for which they act and sometimes can influence governments policies. However, these organizations reliance on public subsidies can affect their ability to operate and achieve their goals. The ability of NGOs to act depends, in part, on the willingness of governments to participate in sustainable development actions. NGOs operating in underdeveloped countries often can only rely on the support of governments outside their own or on private funds and donations.
In addition, the SDGs have been repeatedly criticized, as they are often seen as too ambitious, ambiguous, and unclear. In addition, the capacity of NGOs to act and the achievement of the SDGs depend on the economic situation of countries. Geopolitical crises such as wars, economic crises like the 2008 crisis, or health crises such as COVID can affect the situation of populations and exacerbate inequalities.
When it comes to Latin America, it has been hit hard by the pandemic, which has affected the progress that have been made in terms of sustainable development. The improvement in several socio-economic indicators at the beginning of the twenty-first century has been totally wiped out by the pandemic, which has delayed a possible achievement of the SDGs in the region.
NGOs play a fundamental role in the subcontinent and are active actors in civil society that can influence the policies implemented by Latin American governments. However, these same organizations have also been criticized for the sums of money they handle. The lack of transparency of Latin American NGOs has been denounced on several occasions. As for the funding of Latin American NGOs, they mostly rely on funds from the countries of the North, their private companies and governments, clearly not favoring the implementation of local or regional funding and increasing the reliance of Latin American NGOs on foreign funds.
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