PROJECTS
SPF Program Agenda(2003)


Building Civil Society Capacity in Negotiating Debt Conversion



6,900,000 yen［Grant Project］
The Synergos Institute (USA)


The Synergos Institute will provide information and know-how to non-profit organizations in countries such as Indonesia, Mexico, and Ecuador where there is a high possibility of successfully negotiating debt conversion, as well as help these organizations formulate an overall strategy for negotiating with the government. A record of these activities will be compiled into reference volumes so that NPOs/NGOs in other countries can make use of this information.

The following activities will be conducted this year:
  1. Survey of the current situation:

    Three surveyors for each of the target countries and one general survey manager will be responsible for collecting/analyzing information on what NPOs need when conducting debt conversion negotiations in each of the countries. The survey will investigate the following points:

    - Which creditor governments/institutions are willing to agree to debt conversion?
    - What are the stances of government sections responsible for debt conversion in the target countries?
    - What are the relevant laws and policies in each of the countries that when negotiating debt conversion?
    - What forms of debt conversion are possible in each of the countries?
    - Which NPOs/NGOs have the desire to negotiate debt conversion?

  2. Finalizing the content of technical support to NPOs/NGOs:

    Based on the results of the surveys, the implementing organization and external consultants will finalize the details of technical support to be provided to partner institutions in the target countries.

  3. Provision of technical support:

    External consultants will provide partner organizations with the know-how for negotiating debt conversion. In addition, a workshop for NPOs/NGOs in the three countries will be held to provide training and a forum for sharing information.

  4. Initiate surveys on current situation regarding debt conversion in other countries:

    Surveys will be conducted to determine the possibility of debt conversion in other countries.

(First year of a 2-year project)