Strengthening partnerships in Latin America and the Caribbean

The conversation offered an opportunity to brief Minister Martinez-Acha on the work that International IDEA is advancing at the national and regional level, including its strong collaboration with the Electoral Tribunal of Panama, with whom IDEA recently signed a new project that will extend for the next three (3) years (2025 to 2027), and will focus on supporting the Tribunal’s enhancement of its institutional capacities. Additionally, the Regional Director shared details on IDEA’s implementation of the project funded by the EU Delegation in Panama to support the National Assembly, which also focuses on strengthening the capacities of the institution through training for its officials; further developing the relationship between the Assembly and Civil Society; and technical assistance for the Assembly’s Women, Youth, Childhood and Family Commission, as well as for the Commission on Indigenous Affairs.

Among other matters, Dr Rios Tobar shared details about other regional projects that International IDEA is implementing, including the Central America project funded by Luxembourg, which focuses on supporting civil society and media/journalists in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras; and the AECID funded project on Electoral Integrity with a focus on gender that the RLAC team started earlier this year and includes Panama as one of the beneficiary countries.

International IDEA’s 30th Anniversary was at the center of the conversation, where the Regional Director reiterated the invitation to Minister Martinez-Acha to the Council of Member States that will take place in June 2025 to commemorate this historic landmark, and where the Institute will also host the Stockholm Conference on Electoral Integrity with the participation of Member States’ Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs.) Minister Martinez-Ache reacted positively to the invitation.  

These bilateral meetings are part of the ongoing effort of the Regional LAC Programme to maintain IDEA’s Member States engaged, while informing them of the Institute’s latest work (technical assistance and knowledge products) advocating for maintaining democracy as a top priority, and offering IDEA as a resource for its Member States.