Working with Civil Society Organizations
Civil society organizations (CSOs) are essential allies in the defense of reproductive rights.
At Ipas LAC, we work closely with them, based on the principles of mutual respect, collective empowerment and solidarity, to strengthen access to safe abortion care and contraception.
Latin America has the highest number of countries in the world that fully criminalize abortion: of the seven countries that make up Central America, three criminalize abortion in all its forms.
In this context, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and collectives have become key actors in the defense and promotion of the reproductive rights of women and pregnant women. Every day, they provide support to those facing unwanted pregnancies, offer vital information, and ensure that no one is alone in their journey. In a context where stigma remains a powerful barrier, CSOs generate spaces of trust and solidarity, becoming safe havens for those seeking to exercise their right to decide. Their work focuses not only on providing direct support, but also on raising awareness and influencing public policy.
However, CSOs face obstacles such as lack of resources, stigmatization and repression by authoritarian governments, which limit their ability to act and negatively affect the communities they work with.
Ipas LAC’s work with CSOs began in 2017, with the will to act to improve the conditions in which local organizations carry out their work, so instead of intervening directly in the territories, we preferred to influence restrictive laws and expand access to women and other people with the capacity to gestate, through support and strengthening of local organizations.
Strengthening the work of civil society organizations in the region is fundamental and urgent. At Ipas LAC, we believe in the transformative power of these organizations. They know better than anyone the needs and realities of their communities. That’s why we join forces to strengthen their work, amplify their impact and ensure that more people can access safe, quality sexual and reproductive health services.
How do we do it?
In the first stage, Ipas LAC worked to identify Central American CSOs that promoted women’s sexual and reproductive rights, prioritizing those with a focus on abortion and contraception. After interviewing them to identify their priorities and expertise, the Ipas LAC team mapped the organizations we could work with. From there, we began implementing the strategy in two ways: strengthening and subsidizing CSOs. We tell you a little more about the process:
We performed a mapping
We mapped CSOs working on women’s sexual and reproductive rights, prioritizing those with a focus on abortion and contraception. Conduct interviews with each one in order to learn about their experiences and needs.
We carried out a community diagnosis
Through the User-Centered Design (UCD) methodology, organizations assess the needs of their population and present project proposals in their community.
We provide strengthening
We provide technical assistance and advice to CSOs for the successful implementation of their projects.
Strengthen the capacities of CSOs in the area of sexual and reproductive rights through training, workshops and technical resources.
We provide grants
We provide financial resources so that organizations can implement their projects.
We accompany and follow up
We ensure continuous and personalized monitoring of the projects implemented by our CSO partners to evaluate their progress and impact.
With our model of working with civil society organizations, in the last 5 years we have worked with more than 60 organizations and 23 support networks.
"Without a doubt, Ipas LAC's support, both financially and in accompanying us in our capacity building, is part of the external efforts that have allowed our organization to remain not only active, but also growing..."
Member of ACCEDER.
2024
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- Every contribution, no matter how small, translates into concrete actions: we train health personnel, supply medical centers with essential supplies and support those who need it most. You can donate as little as $1, and choose between a one-time or monthly contribution. You decide how you want to support!
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Your generosity helps us build a future where all people can exercise their reproductive rights. Donate today and be part of the change.
Every donation counts and transforms lives!
With this amount, we could cover an entire month of internet access for a shelter, which will allow people to access Ipas LAC’s digital tools and obtain information in case of sexual violence and information about safe abortion, such as the Te Acompaño chatbot or the accompaniment maps and misoprostol sales points.
With this amount we are able to fund the development of a new resource that addresses the specific health needs of women and people with childbearing capacity in the context of migration.
A great support with which we can cover the formation of an organization in the territory and improve the attention to the reproductive health needs of migrants.
A donation that covers an entire month of the operating costs of “Te acompaño”, the sexual violence and safe abortion chatbot, ensuring its availability to the people who need it most.
A powerful contribution with which we will print a kit of materials so that grassroots organizations have materials to promote Te Acompaño in their work with the community.
A very powerful donation, it will ensure that we bring information to the people who really need it. Through targeted outreach, more than 1,600 people with gestational capacity will learn about and use the chatbot on sexual violence and safe abortion.
A large amount, with which we will be able to translate the tool into the languages of the people who are in transit through Mexico and cover a need identified by the migrants themselves.
The highest donation, with this support, we will be able to finance the expansion of the coverage of “Te Acompaño” to a new state of the migratory route in Mexico, expanding the options for migrants in their transit through the country.