COPOLAD fosters intra-regional dialogue on Alternative Development among CELAC countries

Santa Cruz, 20 November 2017. 7 countries from Latin America and 4 from the Caribbean gather in Santa Cruz (Bolivia) during the second edition of the 2nd COPOLAD II Intra-Regional Dialogue Forum in the framework of the Cooperation Programme between Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union on Drugs Policies (COPOLAD), programme funded by the European Union and managed by the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP).

The event the objective of promoting the exchange of experiences, identifying lessons learned and working together on new approaches in the field of alternative and comprehensive development with representatives of public organisms and local organisations of countries participating in the programme

In the framework of COPOLAD, the Forum is led by the Plurinational State of Bolivia through the Coordination Secretariat of the National Council on the Fight against Illicit Drug Trafficking (SC-CONALTID), the Ministry of Rural Development and Land and the National Comprehensive Development Fund (FONADIN) supported by the German Agency of Technical Cooperation (GIZ)

The Minister of Rural Development and Land of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Dr Cesar Cocarico Yana, who welcomed the participants, was accompanied by the Head of the Delegation to the European Union in Bolivia, Ambassador León de la Torre Krais, and the GIZ and COPOLAD representatives.The forum has been officially opened by the Minister of Governance of the Plurinominal State of Bolivia, Dr Carlos Romero Bonifaz.

The Interamerican Commission for Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) and civil society through the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) also participated. The event counts on the presence of the Embassies of France, Italy, Ecuador and Peru, UNODC Bolivia y PNUD Bolivia.

Representatives of the institutions working on alternative and comprehensive development, representatives of organisations and associations of producers from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Jamaica, México, Paraguay, Perú, Suriname, Trinidad y Tobago, will deepen their understanding about the objectives of alternative development based on specific projects in thematic areas identified by the participants in the first Forum for Dialogue held in Bogota (Colombia) in December 2016.

This is the second edition of the Forums for Dialogue on Alternative Development organised by the COPOLAD Programme, which will once again serve as a platform promoting dialogue, the exchange and implementation of good practices y and how to integrate them to greater development objectives like the reduction of poverty, equitable sustainability, and the protection of the environment.