What We Do

Poverty and inequality are the main challenges we face as a country. According to government sources, a third of Mexicans can hardly afford having a proper diet or accessing health and education services. While wealth keeps concentrating in a small group of people, the consequences of these problems –such as insecurity and social discontent– affect us all deeply.

In this context, different sectors of society are taking action to help improve the situation. Governments have given greater emphasis to social policies and are allocating more resources to social programs. Political parties have also taken these issues into account in the formulation of their proposals. On the other hand, the number of citizens who have organized themselves to carry out activities to help those who live in conditions of poverty is ever increasing. Nonetheless, while these changes are encouraging, there are still obstacles that hinder the country’s social development:

• Those who are involved in social issues, both in the public sector and in civil society organizations, work with commitment and good will, but with limitations resulting from their improvisation and a lack of reflection on their work.

• There are few specialized educational and training courses to help these practitioners improve their analysis and work. Even though there is quality research on social issues in the country, it is seldom grounded on concrete proposals that could help in the decision making process and the formulation of possible solutions to social problems.

• Practitioners working in the social sector lack the resources needed to keep abreast of the latest trends in the field.

• Young professionals with experience and graduate studies, who could contribute their knowledge and their work, have a hard time finding professional opportunities in the sector.

• Among youth, poverty and inequality produce unrest, creating resentment and risking the adherence to radical social change propositions that can polarize the political options and actions available for alleviating poverty.

Alternativas y Capacidades, A.C. was formed to contribute to the solution of these problems. Since 2004, it is registered before the Treasury Department and it is authorized to receive tax deductible donations and since 2005, it is registered in the Federal Register of Civil Society Organizatons.

OUR MISSION
Contribute to social development through training, research on social issues and capacity building efforts directed at those involved in social policy.

OUR GOALS

1. Professionalize human resources through theoretical tools and shared experiences that support attaining knowledge on social development issues.
2. Encourage reflection, research and dialogue on processes and experiences directed at improving social conditions, by building enduring channels of communication.
3. Help NGOs increase the impact of their work by supporting their strategies, projects, and networking efforts with the private and public sectors.
4. Develop innovative fundraising tools for social development projects from both the private and public sectors, by promoting solidarity with those groups who are most in need.

OUR FOCUS
We are committed to working in interdisciplinary teams. Those of us who collaborate with the Association have a strong academic background, driven by practical knowledge for making decisions and achieving outcomes. Our added value is our ability to create synergies among different goals and projects, taking advantage of our knowledge on certain issues to inform and strengthen our work in other areas.

We work in three different areas, generating alternatives and developing capacities for social development:

- Training on development and social policy
We offer training programs for civil servants and NGO staff with the goal of professionalizing mid- and higher level government employees who make decisions regarding social policies, and to allow civil society organizations to participate in the process, working with the government for the public good.

- Capacity building for development
Having researched supply and demand for capacity building services, we conceptualized our own model and approach, with the intention of helping the different actors who are involved in social policy, particularly civil society organizations and donors, improve their performance in terms of impact, planning, evaluation and participation in the public sphere.

- Research, networking and sharing valuable experiences
We carry out short research projects in order to systematize and disseminate specialized knowledge in a manner that is accessible to professionals in the field. We publish this work through booklets, news clips newsletters and web-based discussion groups.

Alternativas has collaboration agreements with UNAM, El Colegio de México and ITESM-CCM to allow students from these institutions to carry out their social service work and internships in the organization. We actively participate in research seminars about NGOs, public policies and social policy, and take part in the selection of valuable projects for the Local Government Award granted by CIDE and the Ford Foundation. We also review projects submitted to the Social Co-investment Fund sponsored by INDESOL and participate in the Social Development Council sponsored by the government of the state of Jalisco.