Fundacion futuro Latinoamericano

Fundacion Futuro Latinoamericano, headquartered in Quito-Ecuador, is a private, not-for-profit organization, created in 1993. FFLA´s mission is to promote constructive dialogue, strengthen citizen, political and institutional capacities, and articulate processes for sustainable development in Latin America. FFLA utilizes consensus based public policy dialogues and conflict prevention methodologies as its main strategies. FFLA’s methodology typically generates consensus-based outcomes supported by a full range of stakeholders, increasing the chances for successful implementation.http://www.ffla.net

FFLA´s institutional objectives are:to strengthen leadership and facilitate processes to reach agreements about visions and long term policies,to promote a culture of dialogue and good governance systems which lead the way towards sustainable development and to generate and share lessons learned to build collective knowledge and strengthen capacities.

In order to achieve these objectives, FFLA has structured its programs based on two strategic methodologies:

Conflict Resolution Methodologies: Set of strategies and activities which seek the prevention of the escalation of tensions among actors who have actual or perceived incompatible interests; and/or transform confrontation dynamics into long term collaborative relationships.

Consensus-Based Policy Dialogues: FFLA engages a wide array of stakeholders in dialogue processes to reach consensus on public policy definitions.

Origins
The Earth Summit (Rio´92) has been one of the most influential events within the topic of sustainable development. In general, Latin American countries were passive in the discussions about sustainability within the Summit, evidencing three major characteristics:

a)Country representatives were not aware about the negotiation opportunities presented by the Earth Summit nor did they actively participate in the discussions. The absence of strong leadership in the region was extremely notorious. b)This lack of leadership demonstrated the need to expand the region’s short-sighted perspective, moving towards long term visions which would be able to foster sustainable development.

c)Latin American official delegations presented unarticulated positions which, which in general, had not been previously consulted within their societies. The absence of dialogue processes, both within and among the region’s countries, was evidenced.

In 1993, Fundación Futuro Latinoamericano (FFLA) was created as a response to these needs.

Programs
In order to achieve its objectives, FFLA structured its programs around two strategic methodologies: Conflict Resolution Methodologies and Consensus – Based Policy Dialogues.

I. Environmental Conflict Prevention and Management Program: The Program seeks to build and sustain enabling conditions for good governance of natural resources, and for socially just, peaceful and equitable co-existence, which we consider to be the basis for sustainable development.

In order to achieve this goal, the program knits together four main strategies:

1. Short and medium-term interventions to i) facilitate dialogue in situations of socio-environmental conflict, and ii) provide in-situ technical assistance to marginalized actors in processes of dialogue that are characterized by power asymmetry.

2. Strengthen capacities in methodologies for the analysis, prevention and management of conflict, and also for the participatory evaluation of governance systems.

3. Develop public and private sector mechanisms that strengthen conflict prevention, as well as innovative models of good governance.

4. Promote, coordinate and link learning and advocacy initiatives through regional groups and networks; generate knowledge through the systematization of lessons learned and share these lessons at the regional level.

'''II. Public Policies for Sustainable Development Program:''' This program pushes for the definition and sustained implementation of public policies that will integrate social, environmental, economic and cultural dimensions for local, national and regional development.

To achieve its objective, FFLA resorts to four strategic lines of work:

1. Information gathering and strategic communication

2. Policy dialogue

3. Training

4. Knowledge management

'''III. Special Projects:''' FFLA provides space for innovative “out of the box” projects, which do not necessarily fit under the established programs, but offer an opportunity to make a difference in the transformation of our societies towards sustainability. This is a space for FFLA to be able to identify and address other needs or challenges that may threaten sustainability in Latin America. In some cases, special initiatives may be later developed into programs.

Contact
Address:Mariano Echeverría 843 y Francisco Feijoo (Quito Tenis quarter)

Phone:(593-2) 2920635 / 2920636 Fax:(593-2) 2920635 / 2920636

E-mail:info@ffla.net

P.O. Box: 17-17-558

Web: http://www.ffla.net

Quito - Ecuador