One of the goals of the Triennial Plan of Cooperation between Canadian Crossroads International (CCI) and ANED (ECLOF Bolivia) is to conduct a series of North-South activities to allow these partner organizations to share their know-how and experience more widely and thus increase opportunities to improve their efficiency.

Thanks to this partnership, ANED participated in the meeting of the International Forum on the Social and Solidarity Economy 2011 (FIESS 2011) where it was represented by its Executive Director, Gerardo Mendieta. By attending this meeting, the Executive Director was able to establish new relations between ANED and members of social networks and solidarity economies, thus leading to the creation of a new type of international network for the Organization.

FIESS is an annual event that brings more than 42 countries together, and these nations are represented by more than 1000 delegates. This year, FIESS was hosted by the city of Montreal from October 17 to 21, and it focused on the creation of international networks of socially concerned and ethical financial organizations.

By participating in this event, ANED successfully positioned itself within this community as a Financial Institution mastering Social Finance Development with a strong emphasis on social issues as well as a distinct focus on rural development.

The contacts made at this event were mainly with Social Finance networks and members of solidarity economies. Through several meetings ANED also achieved accreditation with the Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of the Social and Solidarity Economy (RIPESS) as a Development Institution in Social Finance, thus raising the Organization’s status within the social finance community.