ACÁPACÁ Special Group / CLACSO: Latin American Permanent Forum for the Decolonization of Cooperation

We welcome the new Special Group Permanent Latin American Forum for the Decolonization of Cooperation which is the result of a strategic alliance between CLACSO and ACAPACA, Platform for dissemination, learning and aid for cooperation (Spain).

The Special Group is made up of the organizations of the Initiative Group of the Permanent Forum for the Decolonization of Cooperation (INESC, FENMUCARINAP, ACÁPACÁ, CLACSO, CDM, FLACSO, CUC, CODEMUH, CLOC-Vía Campesina, Indigenous Coordinator of Abya Yala, La Corriente, Latindadd) under the coordination of Lourdes Huanca, President of FENMUCARINAP and Asier Hernando Malax-Echevarria, Director of ACÁPACÁ.

El Permanent Forum for the Decolonization of CooperationA new space for reflection and action that seeks to transform traditional cooperation practices by incorporating decolonial and feminist perspectives. It is a commitment to equitable, just, and necessary cooperation. Designed to be a vehicle for long-term change, the Forum aims to address and challenge the dynamics of power and inequality that characterize cooperation.

A paradigm shift in international cooperation

The Permanent Forum emerged in a context of growing questioning of the traditional model of international cooperation, where agendas and resources have been dominated by actors from the Global North. With the participation of organizations, movements, and academia from Latin America and the Caribbean, the Forum aims to promote cooperation that not only respects and values ​​knowledge from the Global South, but also fosters gender equality and aligns with principles of social justice and structural transformation.

In 2025 the Special Group aims

– Strengthen cooperation with international organizations that promote social justice and gender equality in cooperation.
– To consolidate the collaboration network between the actors involved and to delve deeper into the key issues of decolonial cooperation.
– To create a regional reference platform for decolonial cooperation and facilitate dialogues between social movements, NGOs and academia to consolidate a collaborative network.
– Expand the dissemination of the Forum's results and recommendations to new cooperation actors.
– Organize the second face-to-face event of the Forum within the framework of the X Latin American and Caribbean Conference of CLACSO in the city of Bogotá with the participation of key actors from the region and International Cooperation.
– Conduct comparative research on decolonial practices in cooperation in different subregions (Mercosur, Andean Zone, Caribbean, Mesoamerica).
– Consolidate the political monitoring mechanism through effective monitoring of agreements, expansion of its scope to new organizations, and strengthening of political advocacy.
– Conduct training workshops for NGOs and social movements on equitable and fair cooperation practices.

Those interested in joining this proposal can write to: [email protected]

Within the framework of this alliance, ACÁPACÁ and CLACSO recently launched the third edition of the Introductory Course: Decolonization & Cooperation. Registration is open until March 3, 2025.
More information: https://www.clacso.org/decolonizacion-y-ong-3/

Similarly, CLACSO supported the development of the founding meeting of the Permanent Forum for the Decolonization of Cooperation, which took place on December 4 and 5, 2024, in Lima, Peru. During this meeting, they launched their first declaration: https://www.clacso.org/declaracion-de-lima-foro-permanente-para-la-decolonizacion/