We recognize that reducing wealth inequality is a challenge that we cannot face alone, which is why this year the Julius Baer Foundation joined the largest impact network in Latin America, Latimpacto.
Latimpacto is a dynamic network of peers in Latin America and the Caribbean that fosters collaborations, learning opportunities, and connections between players. Dedicated to maximizing the commitment of resources for impact in the region, it organized the Impact Minds event for the third consecutive year. In 2024, it brought together more than 650 investors from 36 countries in Oaxaca, solidifying impact investing in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Critical issues have been addressed to aimed at helping to close the gap in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Many organisations centered their disccussions on the role of corporations and high-net-worth families in driving more significants impact, fostering systemic change, advancing climate action, education, innovative and blended finance and highlighting the value of philanthropy in embracing more significant risks and diversifying portfolios.
Over 50 sessions, including panels, collaborative discussions, inspirational talks, workshops and more, explored these and other pressing social and environmental challenges.
The Julius Baer Foundation organised a collaborative space among its partners called: A Systemic Perspective to reduce inequalities in Latin America.
We were joined by our academic partner in Latin America, COES (Center for the Study of Conflict and Social Cohesion) in Chile, represented by Professor Maria Luisa Mendez who initiated the debate by outlining the context on social mobility and the study of its influence as a collective tool for upward mobility in society.
Similarly, our partners in Mexico, Impact Hub Mexico City, represented by Mario Romero, invited us to learn about the Emprender Juventud Poblana project and how inclusive entrepreneurship is helping young people in Puebla to move forward together with the community.
Andrea Mendez, director of the Forge Foundation in Mexico also guided us through the project “Tu Futuro” and the impact of helping young people to find their first job, supporting them in the development of soft and psychological skills.
FA. VELA, our partner in Belo Horizonte in Brazil was represented by Tatiana Silva, its co-founder and director who underlined the importance of focusing on digital entrepreneurship, describing how the disadvantaged work together with the privileged to move upward in society.
All these cases were related to the findings research by COES, which generated public participation and concluded that from a systemic perspective, change requires models that work and are adapted to the different contexts in Latin America.
We have certainly learned from our peers and from organisations with a shared goal: to progress towards a sustainable future for a Latin America full of opportunities. We invite you to visit Latimpacto's website to discover a variety of ways to collaborate in communities.
Did you enjoy this exchange?
If you are a researcher or specialist in inequality reduction issues, write to us and let's talk.
