Legal Definitions - Inter-American Foundation

The Inter-American Foundation (IAF) is an independent federal foundation that provides support for social and economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean. It achieves this by awarding grants to private, indigenous organizations that carry out self-help projects that benefit poor people.

The IAF was established in 1969 as an experimental foreign-assistance program. It is governed by a nine-member board, with six members from the private sector and three from the government.

An example of a project supported by the IAF is a community-led initiative to improve access to clean water in a rural area of Guatemala. The grant provided by the IAF enabled the community to build a water treatment plant and install a distribution system, which has improved the health and well-being of the local population.

This example illustrates how the IAF supports self-help projects that benefit poor people in Latin America and the Caribbean. By providing funding to indigenous organizations, the IAF empowers communities to take charge of their own development and create sustainable solutions to their problems.