Under Uruguay's Temporary Presidency of the MERCOSUR, and during the CXXXIII Ordinary Meeting of MERCOSUR's Common Market Group (GMC), the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) and FONPLATA — Development Bank, was approved by Resolution GMC N° 26/24.

On December 3, FONPLATA's Executive President, Luciana Botafogo, and the MERCOSUR National Coordinators signed the agreement to establish a cooperation framework between both institutions. This MoU is in line with FONPLATA's objectives of promoting harmonious and inclusive development among MERCOSUR member states. It aims to foster complementarity and synergy with other development agencies, thereby strengthening collaboration with the MERCOSUR Social Institute.

Under this MoU, both institutions agreed to collaborate closely in several areas of common interest, such as:

• Cooperation projects: implementation of joint initiatives that include the generation of knowledge and the exchange of experiences based on best practices.
• Development of tools and resources: creation of inputs and methodologies on topics of mutual interest.
• Training and dissemination: organization of seminars, workshops, conferences, publications, training programs, and capacity building activities that support the proposed objectives.
• Technical and financial support: collaboration in areas of common interest, as agreed between the parties.

Specifically, FONPLATA will provide support to the MERCOSUR Social Institute under the Biannual Work Program 2025—2026, approved on November 8, 2024, at the MERCOSUR Social Development Ministers and Authorities Meeting. This support will be provided through non-reimbursable technical cooperation resources aimed at funding activities that strengthen inter-institutional and multilevel dialogues of social protection and development systems in border territories. These actions are part of Phase II of the MERCOSUR Youth and Borders Project.

12/04/2024