Within the framework of the VII Regional Conference of Trilateral Cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean 2024: “Overcoming obstacles, building bridges”, sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of Germany and the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC ), the launch and presentation of the project “Strengthening Feminist Foreign Policy and Feminist International Cooperation” (CoPEF) was carried out, recently approved as part of the call on October 25, 2023 by the Regional Fund for Triangular Cooperation in America Latin America and the Caribbean (BMZ/GIZ).
The welcome to the meeting was given by Christof Kersting, Director of the Regional Fund for Triangular Cooperation with Partners in Latin America and the Caribbean (BMZ/GIZ), and Ana Güezmes, Director of the Gender Affairs Division of ECLAC.
Christof Kersting highlighted that “it is the first time that the feminist development cooperation policy, one of the four current priorities of the BMZ, is the main object of a triangular cooperation measure, which for all is a mutual learning of new formats of cooperation”.
For her part, Ana Güezmes, from ECLAC, pointed out that “facing a multiplicity of complex global and regional challenges to accelerate the achievement of substantive gender equality requires decisive and collaborative actions that transcend national borders and are based on the exchange of knowledge and experiences between countries and their institutions.” The transformation proposed by the CoPEF project involves changes both within the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and international cooperation agencies, she stressed.
The event included interventions by high authorities from the partner countries, both from the Foreign Ministries and the Cooperation Agencies, who highlighted the importance of the project, not only for the participating countries, but for the entire region.
Alicia Bárcena, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, the first country in the Global South to adopt a feminist foreign policy in 2020, consistent with its historical commitment to gender equality, indicated that feminist foreign policies are “innovative and essential strategies for the elimination of structural barriers to the full exercise of the rights of women and girls. The cooperation project that now brings us together is a mechanism for dialogue and coordination of experiences, good practices and public policies to implement measures that help in our great fight for substantive equality as an indispensable condition for inclusive development.”
Fabiola Soto Narváez, Director of Multilateral Cooperation Policy, Forums and Mechanisms of the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID) of Mexico, pointed out that “the CoPEF project is a great contribution, understood as that space for reflection and construction of dialogue that can lead us to find those means to operationalize a feminist foreign policy that can really be measured and quantified.”
Elizabeth Taylor, Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, stated that “this project is a historic milestone as it is the first triangular cooperation measure on gender equality.” She remarked that “we are making history. Its execution will allow us to exchange practices, design guidelines, strategies and actions and inspire other countries in the region and the world to advance in the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Regional Gender Agenda. “This is a unique opportunity for Colombia.”
Mónica Barrios, Coordinator of Latin America and the Caribbean at the Presidential Agency for International Cooperation of Colombia (APC-Colombia), highlighted that “women are leaders in building peace and leaders in caring for life and the planet. Officially adopting a feminist foreign policy and international cooperation means putting equality at the center as a transformative element of both the country and its international relations. This project will undoubtedly be a fundamental contribution that will nourish that objective not only for the partner countries and organizations that we are part of, but for the entire region.”
Carla Serazzi, General Director of Multilateral Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile, declared that this project is a very significant step for the country, and added that “not only does it allow us to strengthen our regional ties, but it shows once again our commonalities.” on principles, visions, interests and objectives shared with Colombia and Mexico. The adoption of a feminist foreign policy by the Chilean government responds to the decision to place gender equality at the center of public policies, including foreign policy.” Enrique O’Farrill, Executive Director of the Chilean Agency for International Development Cooperation, also referred to the project, pointing out that “its implementation and the impact it will have on partner countries will be a motivation for regional cooperation to integrate a more transversal perspective.” and inclusive in which women and girls have a place, contributing significantly to its impact and sustainability.”
Rita Walraf, Deputy Head of the G30 Unit (Principles of sectoral and bilateral development cooperation, emerging economies) of the BMZ, congratulated the participation of partner countries and ECLAC, highlighting that “this project not only promotes horizontal learning, but also also multilateralism through gender equality as the main objective.” “We are proud to be part of this milestone and great step forward to achieve gender equality and strengthen multilateralism with our partners in Latin America and the Caribbean. From the BMZ we will closely monitor this important measure.”
At the end of the event, Ana Güezmes highlighted that “the project was born with a sense of collaborative, determined and open community, calling to place gender equality and women’s rights at the center, not only of the linked cooperation projects. to the social dimensions, but also to the environmental and economic dimensions of development.” She also stressed that its development and results will contribute to intergovernmental forums such as the III Ministerial Conference on Feminist Foreign Policies (Mexico, 2024); the Second Meeting of the Regional Conference on South-South Cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean (Santiago, 2025) and the XVI Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean (Mexico, 2025).
The video of the event is available on Cepal’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TJLn5x1hy4
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