AN UNFINISHED ABOUT THE POPULATION COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT The Population Council, an international, nonprofit, non- governmental organization established in 1952, seeks to THE AGENDA improve the well-being and of cur- rent and future generations around the world and to help POPULATION COUNCIL espite improved economic prospects, the achieve a humane, equitable, and sustainable balance IN development agenda in Latin America between people and resources. Throughout its history, AND THE CARIBBEAN and the Caribbean remains unfinished. the Council has been instrumental in the design of repro- TheD region’s deeply rooted inequality is charac- ductive health products, service delivery programs, and terized by the persistent exclusion of vulnerable public policies responsive to the needs of people living in groups from economic progress and improve- the world’s poorest countries. The Council’s work cur- ments in health. Regional and national averages rently falls into three programmatic areas: Reproductive for indicators of wealth and well-being mask stub- Health; HIV and AIDS; and Poverty, Gender, and Youth. born inequalities within and between countries. The following facts shed light on these dispari- DONORS ties, underscoring the need for sustained devel- opment assistance in this region. Organizations whose support allows us to work in the region include the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, US Agency for International Development (USAID), The John D. In 2006, the richest 10 percent of the populations and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, United Nations of Bolivia, Guatemala, and Mexico earned approxi- Population Fund (UNFPA), Nike Foundation, Summit mately 40 percent of the countries´ total income, Foundation, the Pan American Health and Education while the poorest 10 percent earned less than Foundation (PAHEF), and two anonymous donors. 2 percent.

In most of Latin America and the Caribbean, POPULATION COUNCIL IN LATIN AMERICA indigenous populations earn between 35 and 65 AND THE CARIBBEAN percent less than the non-indigenous populations. Population Council In 2005 in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Mexico City, Mexico Contact: Sandra G. Garcia maternal mortality rate was 130 deaths per Telephone: +52 55 5999 8630 100,000 live births, with the highest rates being in E-mail: [email protected] Haiti (670), Guyana (470), Guatemala (290), and Bolivia (290). Population Council La Paz, Bolivia Since 2006, Latin America and the Caribbean have Contact: Fernando Gonzáles experienced progress and drawbacks in abortion Telephone: +591 2 244 0287 laws. For example, Mexico City and Colombia lib- E-mail: [email protected] eralized their laws to make abortion legal under more circumstances, while Nicaragua banned Population Council abortion under all circumstances. Guatemala City, Guatemala Contact: Marta Julia Ruíz Telephone: + 502-5293-0030 E-mail: [email protected]

© 2008 The Population Council, Inc. www.popcouncil.org

RESEARCH THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

he Population Council has addressed the difficult Most non-governmental organisations and often sensitive social and health issues that claim to promote change for the better; perpetuate inequality in Latin America and the “the Population Council actually has TCaribbean. Council staff contribute to the positive devel- hard evidence of having changed the lives opment of the countries in which they work by demon- and expectations of hundreds of millions strating a commitment to quality and sustainability. of people. Described here are a few recent achievements. —Laragh Gollogly, Senior Editor, Mexico ” The Lancet (2003) n April 2007, the Mexico City Legislative Assembly I passed a watershed law that legalized first-trimester Guatemala SINCE 1952, THE POPULATION elective abortion in the capital. The Council´s main focus in ouncil staff are helping to increase the social sup- Mexico is research on abortion, specifically relating to pub- Cport networks and mobility of indigenous youth. The COUNCIL’S MULTINATIONAL STAFF lic opinion, abortion incidence, and evaluation of service Council is improving the health of indigenous women HAS ESTABLISHED A REPUTATION delivery. The Mexico office is also conducting studies to and families and reducing maternal mortality and mor- FOR EXCELLENCE AS A RESULT OF address preventable causes of maternal mortality, specifi- bidity by strengthening the quality of care in maternity ITS DEMONSTRATED CAPACITY TO cally magnesium sulfate for the prevention of preeclampsia waiting homes. The Council also is exploring new RESPOND TO EMERGING ISSUES and eclampsia among pregnant women, and studies opportunities to reduce gender-based violence through IN A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT. addressing the sexual and reproductive health needs of empowerment and skill-building programs aimed at indigenous youth and of women living with HIV/AIDS. women and youth.

he Council has enjoyed years of successful col- The Bolivia Bahamas laborations with numerous partners, undertak- •Mexico •Cuba apid surveys are helping detect maternal syphilis and •Dominican ing projects throughout the region on such top- Republic R mother-to-child transmission of this disease in Bolivia. icsT as HIV and AIDS, maternal mortality, unsafe abor- •Jamaica The Council and other collaborative organizations intro- •Belize •Haiti Puerto Dominica duced rapid surveying methods among 11,500 women in tion, , gender inequality, and youth •Guatemala •Honduras Rico transitions to adulthood. Underpinning all of its efforts •El Salvador •Nicaragua •Barbados prenatal clinics in four Bolivian provinces. Following the •Trinidad and Tobago demonstrated success of this study, this issue has become is a commitment to advancing human rights and work- •Costa Rica Venezuela Guyana a priority, and the Minister of Health has ing to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Panama Suriname Council research and programs consist primarily of: French Guiana expanded the national maternal and child health program •Colombia to cover the costs of these tests for pregnant women. The Technical collaborations with governments, health- •Ecuador Council also conducted studies on partner notification of care providers, nongovernmental organizations, and syphilis status and intimate partner violence among this communities to help design, test, and implement sample of pregnant women and has brought the govern- ment’s attention to the importance of offering screening for effective and sustainable programs and policies; •Brazil •Peru partner violence in antenatal clinics. Introduction of new sexual and reproductive health •COUNTRIES WHERE products and service-delivery models; THE POPULATION COUNCIL •Bolivia Dominican Republic HAS WORKED ouncil researchers tested the acceptability and use Exemplary scientific research designed to produce COUNCIL OFFICES ARE of the female condom and diaphragm among sex and disseminate evidence-based knowledge for poli- INDICATED IN RED •Paraguay C workers in the Dominican Republic. The Council con- cymakers, reproductive health professionals, advoca- ducted a longitudinal study to explore the acceptability cy groups, and the public; and of these barrier methods among sex workers in the Developing the capacity of researchers, public and •Uruguay Dominican Republic. Participants were interviewed and civil society institutions, service providers, health edu- •Chile •Argentina given male and female condoms and a diaphragm. Data cators, and community leaders to conduct high-quality were collected about experience, acceptability, and use research. of these STI barrier methods. Findings suggest that the introduction of female-controlled barrier methods in this vulnerable population has led to a reduction in reported unprotected sex.