Cultural and Community Development Office created

The Andean Development Corporation (CAF) recently set up the Cultural and Community Development Office, headed by Ana Mercedes Botero. The new office responds to the need to recognize, value and create incentives for social, cultural and community forms that develop organizational capacities, self-esteem and coordinate the needs of underprivileged sectors in the Andean region.

"The idea is to exploit cultural heritage, and social and community resources as tools for development," Botero said. "We perceive that the existing relationship between development, culture and community has a lot to do with the democratic future of the region, its legitimacy, the civic values of solidarity and shared care for the collective welfare," she added.

On how the office would achieve its objectives, the director said that strategies to empower communities and local cooperation, through strategic allies, are the key for generating processes of participation, organization and social control.

Ana Mercedes Botero, who was formerly director of the CAF Secretariat, is a lawyer and graduate of the University of the Andes, Bogotá. She also has two Masters’ degrees in international relations and international law, both from Columbia University, New York.