Foundation for Peace and Democracy

The Foundation for Peace and Democracy, FUNPADEM, "is a non-governmental, nonprofit, non-partisan organization that supports sustainable human development in Central America. Founded in 1988, it has undertaken numerous initiatives to strengthen the region's political, economic and social institutions." 

"Fundación Para La Paz Y La Democracia, which translates to “Foundation For Peace and Democracy,” and is also known as FUNPADEM, will coordinate with Abt Associates to implement a $6.75 million competitively awarded grant in Central America. The objectives of this project are to increase workers’ and employers’ knowledge of their national labor laws and services of their ministries of labor, to strengthen national labor inspection systems and to create and bolster alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in the ministries of labor and justice systems." 

Has worked with the European Centre for Conflict Prevention. 

Key Personnel
President of the Foundation for Peace and Democracy - Licda. Laura Chinchilla

In 2005: Cecilia Cortes – Executive Director

In 2006 Rodrigo Madrigal Nieto, "former Foreign Minister under former President Arias; founder and President of the Foundation for Peace and Democracy" sat on a panel at meeting which was opened by Wendy Luers. 

Controversies
In 2003, the Bureau of International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor announced that it was going to "award up to a total of $7 million to the Foundation for Peace and Democracy (FUNPADEM) to implement a program to support government, worker, and employer initiatives to strengthen compliance with national labor laws in Central America and the Dominican Republic (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic)." 

"FUNPADEM was founded in 1988 by Rodrigo Madrigal Nieto, the former president of the Costa Rican Congress of Industries. During the 1980s, Madrigal was a member of the Kissinger commission that investigated U.S. intervention in Central America. The commissioners provided the whitewash for the death squads that U.S. forces armed and trained in El Salvador and Honduras and for the contra army organized by the CIA in Nicaragua." 

Organizational Structure
As established in Law 5338 for Costa Rican Foundations,  FUNPADEM is comprised of a Board of Directors that serves as a governing board, an Executive Director who follows up on the programs and administrative endeavors of the organization. A Managing Committee monitors the permanent execution of the organization’s strategic plan.

The organization also has a Financial and Administrative department whose experience of dealing with donors, aid organizations and contractors is sustained by permanent audits that guarantee the transparency and quality of FUNPADEM’s work. Adding, a Human Talent Management Department in charge of recruitment and human resources issues; a Strategic Services Department in charge of communications, marketing and  following agendas. Additionally the organization has editorial services which  provides support in the graphic design of materials, multimedia and other external signs. ""

Permanent Programs
Civil Society and Citizen Participation "" The Civil Society and Citizen Participation Program is oriented towards the construction of initiatives that reduce the strengthening of democracies by empowering citizens  and civil society organizations in the better participation in public policy formation. The program conducts activities linked to this objective that include: strengthening of civil society networks; promotion of forums for dialogue between governments and civil society; consultation processes with social sectors; promotion of citizen audits of institutions; and increasing the capacity building skills for several organizations.

Governance, Peaceful Conflict Resolution and Integration "" The Governance, Peaceful Conflict Resolution and Integration Conflict is oriented towards strengthening democratic governance in countries,  promoting social dialogue and  peaceful conflict resolution, and constructing better mechanisms for the integration processes. The program forges these actions through research, training and technical assistance to institutions, organizations and donors.