Legal Definitions - Inter-American Foundation

The Inter-American Foundation (IAF) is an independent agency of the United States government dedicated to fostering social and economic development across Latin America and the Caribbean.

The IAF achieves its mission by providing financial grants directly to local, grassroots organizations within these regions. These organizations then implement community-led "self-help" projects specifically designed to improve the lives of impoverished populations. The foundation operates under the guidance of a board composed of both private citizens and government representatives, reflecting its unique role in connecting U.S. foreign assistance with local community-driven initiatives.

Here are some examples of how the Inter-American Foundation might operate:

• Imagine a small, rural community in Guatemala where farmers struggle to get their produce to market due to poor infrastructure and lack of resources. The IAF might provide a grant to a local Guatemalan farmers' cooperative. This funding could enable the cooperative to purchase a shared delivery truck, invest in better storage facilities, and receive training on direct marketing strategies, thereby helping the farmers increase their income and improve their families' economic stability through their own efforts.

• Consider an urban neighborhood in El Salvador facing high rates of youth unemployment and limited educational opportunities. The IAF could award a grant to a local non-profit organization that runs a vocational training program. This program might teach young adults valuable skills in areas like digital literacy, culinary arts, or sustainable construction, empowering them to find stable employment or start small businesses within their community, directly addressing economic development at the local level.

• Picture an indigenous community in the Amazon region of Ecuador that wishes to protect its ancestral lands from deforestation while also developing sustainable livelihoods. The IAF might provide funding to an indigenous community association. This grant could support projects such as establishing a community-managed eco-tourism initiative, developing sustainable harvesting practices for local forest products, or creating a cooperative to process and market traditional crafts, allowing the community to generate income while preserving their cultural heritage and environment.