Inter-American Foundation

This is an unofficial Flickr page for the Inter-American Foundation (IAF). The IAF has traditionally relied on photography to help tell the stories of the people and projects it has supported for over 45 years. We would like to share some of those stories here. If you would like to learn more about the IAF and grassroots development, please go to www.iaf.gov

The IAF is an independent U.S. government agency, was created by Congress in 1969 to channel development assistance directly to the organized poor in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IAF has carried out its mandate by responding with grant support for the most creative ideas for self-help received from grassroots groups and nongovernmental organizations. It also encourages partnerships among community organizations, business and local government directed at improving the quality of life for poor people and strengthening democratic practices.

Mission

According to Part IV, Section 401(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1969, the IAF's enabling statute, "it shall be the purpose of the Foundation, primarily in cooperation with private regional and international organizations, to:

1. strengthen the bonds of friendship and understanding among the peoples of this hemisphere;

2. support self-help efforts designed to enlarge the opportunities for individual development;

3. stimulate and assist effective and ever wider participation of the people in the development process;

4. encourage the establishment and growth of democratic institutions, private and governmental, appropriate to the requirements of the individual sovereign nations of this hemisphere."

To learn more about the Inter-American Foundation, and how you can support grassroots development in Latin America and the Caribbean, please visit www.iaf.gov.