Research partners
RIMISP, the Latin American Centre for Rural Development, is a research and information centre and network, founded in 1986, based in Chile but reaching throughout Latin America. It is particularly interested in the relationships between territorially based rural development, institutions and social actors, and it is currently developing a multi-year research programme on this theme in Latin America. SED and RIMISP have previously collaborated through the programme on Institutions for Pro-Poor Growth, the Grupo Chorlavi and through a study of Rimisp itself. We coordinate research activities between TCD Andes and Rimisp's current research.
CEPES, the Peruvian Centre for Social Studies is a research, information and development centre based in Lima and founded in 1976. In recent years it has worked on the social and economic effects trade liberalization, territorially based development and microfinance, among many other themes. It works closely with Conveagro, a consortium of rural producer organizations and NGOs concerned with the future of peasant and medium scale farming in Peru. Bebbington is a Research Affiliate of Cepes and we have already collaborated with them on earlier work on mining and social movements.
Peru Support Group (PSG), the Peru Support Group is a membership organisation which was established in 1983 as an independent body without any party or political affiliation. It aims to campaign for and strengthen the rights of Peruvian people - particularly those from the poorest sectors - to become effective actors in the development of their country. The PSG raises awareness in the UK through research and policy analysis, public education and advocacy. The PSG is run on a day-to-day basis by the coordinator and its management committee is elected annually from among nominated PSG members.
PRISMA is the Salvadoran Research Programme on Development and the Environment, founded in 1993. It works throughout El Salvador and in much of Central America on issues of environment and development, community forestry, environmental services and poverty dynamics and the environment. Currently it is leading a consortium of organizations exploring the changing nature of territorial dynamics and territorial governance in Central America. SED has worked previously with PRISMA in a project exploring the changing roles of non-profit research centres in social change, and Bebbington sits on the advisory committee for the initiative on territorial dynamics. TCD-Andes will exchange lessons and insights with this Central American process.
CERDET is the Bolivian Center of Regional Studies for the Development of Tarija and People of El Chaco. Founded as a non profit organization in 1989, it works on programs oriented to accompanying and developing Guaraní, Weenhayek and Tapiete indigenous community organizations in the Gran Chaco region of Bolivia. Accordingly to the cultural peculiarities of each indigenous group, CERDET’s work includes several programs which get articulated by a common vision: the territory. Such a vision structures two axes for the development of CERDET’s activities: firstly, territorial recognition and, secondly, management of the territories and their resources. In CERDET’s strategy, the protagonist role of indigenous people is the key to ensure self-determination, citizenship and integration into the whole Bolivian society.
Fundación TIERRA. The Fundación TIERRA is a research center, founded in 1991 in Bolivia and with offices in La Paz, Chuquisaca and Santa Cruz. Its main purpose is to contribute to structural changes in the Bolivian society by producing and disseminating knowledge. It plays a proactive role in public policy formulation oriented to promote rural development and the broad participation of peasants and indigenous population to improve their livelihoods and a democratic access to natural resources. In the last 15 years its activities have been strongly linked to the Participation Law (Ley de Participación Popular – 1994) and the National Service of Agrarian Law (Ley del Servicio Nacional de Reforma Agraria – 1996), which have become essential instruments to practicing citizens watch.