SANTO DOMINGO.- With the commitment to continue strengthening the ecosystem of non-profit associations (NPOs) in the country, the Cibao Association held its ninth discussion "Sustainability with purpose: strategies to strengthen the impact and permanence of NPOs in the Dominican Republic", a space for reflection and articulation between key actors of the third sector.
José Luis Ventura, CEO of the financial institution, highlighted that the entity has made a commitment to contribute to the strengthening and sustainability of non-profit entities, through various institutional initiatives.
"In 2024 alone, we allocated approximately 37.7 million pesos to initiatives that promote the strengthening of non-profit organizations, community development, equality, and collective well-being, through training programs in the form of diplomas and workshops; the José Santiago Reinoso Lora Competitive Funds Program for Sustainable Development; the Corporate Volunteering Program, in its social, environmental, and professional aspects, as well as the Solidarity Donations and Sponsorships Program," he stated.
The keynote address was given by Virginia Saiz, an expert in development and humanitarian aid with more than 20 years of experience in international organizations and currently a global director at Plan International, who encouraged participants to look at non-profit organizations beyond goodwill.
“For a long time, we have viewed non-profit organizations as goodwill-based, almost second-rate, where even the fact that their staff receive a living wage or something as basic as specialized training is questioned. But we forget that these are the institutions that work to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges: climate change, gender inequality, poverty, serving the most vulnerable populations… To rise to these challenges, we need to move beyond the romanticized view and commit to professionalized, better-trained, more connected non-profit organizations that are less dependent on charity and more capable of transforming the systems that perpetuate injustice,” she emphasized.
Similarly, the panel "Allies for Impact: Sustainability through Collaboration", moderated by Laura Rojas, director of Nature Power; with the participation of five panelists with extensive experience in different areas of social development: Emely Tejada, head of the Control and Evaluation Department at the Center for the Promotion and Development of Non-Profit Organizations (CASFL); Marcia Romero, head of the Judicial Litigation Department of the General Directorate of Internal Taxes (DGII); Tony Arias Gil, journalist and founder of Conexión RSE; Alejandro López, social worker and university professor; and Mari Carmen Santana, Cooperation Officer of the Delegation of the European Union in the country.
The panelists highlighted the importance of coordinating efforts among sectors that promote social development, as sustainability requires strategic alliances, shared commitment, and a common vision that allows for generating positive impacts through cooperation, innovation, and collective purpose.
This meeting reaffirms Asociación Cibao's commitment to the institutional strengthening of non-profit organizations, promoting spaces for dialogue, training and collaboration that contribute to a more equitable and sustainable society.
