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Dialogues of Knowledge

In August, the Civil Society Building programme organized a 'Research in Progress' seminar in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. This event brought together representatives of three major movements in the region: the Guatemalan Indigenous People’s movement, the Women’s movement from Nicaragua, and the Costa Rican Movement against CAFTA. The workshop provides a space for sharing and feedback on research progress, before the teams embarked on the last phase of finalizing their research reports, whic...

Research as intervention

This week, key actors from 3 social movements in Central America have come together in Santiago Atitlan to reflect on the participative research process that they have been engaged in since last year. During the week, members of the civil society building knowledge team are blogging about their impressions. Here, Remko Berkhout, share his impressions of the first workshop day

Dialogues of knowledge in Santiago Atitlan

This week, the Civil Society Building programme organizes and Research in Progress seminar in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. This event brings together representatives of three major movements in the region: the Guatemalan Indigenous People’s movement, the Women’s movement from Nicaragua, and the Costa Rican Movement against CAFTA.

Social Movements in Costa Rica

The discussion about the approval of the RD-CAFTA in Costa Rica positioned two opposed postures about the economic model that should be followed by the country and was the seed of a social movement self-called “Movimiento Patriótico del NO”. The dynamics developed around this movement against the approval of the DR-CAFTA were very complex and different, for they integrated a huge quantity of key actors of the country, that joined for a shared in common objective, in despite of their division...

Anti-Free Trade movement in Costa Rica

04/11/2008 The case of Costa Rica showed a remarkable mobilisation of people - from a variety of sectors and backgrounds - against thye Free Trade Agreement with the US. Although the mobilisation was not successful in blocking the Agreeement, it was very successful in raising awareness and organising civic action.

Indigenous movement in Guatemala

04/11/2008 The indigenous people of Guatemala have a long history of struggle and resistance for autonomy. What process have they undertaken and what was and is the role of the international community?

The women's movement in Nicaragua

04/11/2008 A need has been identified for dialogue within the women's movement in Nicaragua. The movement will reflect on its achievements, gains and losses, lessons learned and pending tasks. The movement also needs to analyse the challenges and define its future actions.

Social movements in Central America

17/07/2008 Hivos has a major interest in the emergence and impact of major social movements in Central America, in particular the anti-free trade movement, the women's movement and the indigenous movement. This line of the Knowledge Programme is one of the two main components, and emphasises the exchange of lessons learned within and between social movements in the region.