Washington, D.C. (October 13, 2020) – The Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) and the Government of Taiwan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen disaster management capabilities in Guatemala and Paraguay. The project will improve hazard monitoring and analysis, and the distribution of life-saving information during disaster situations at the national and regional levels. The MoU expands the successful partnership between PADF and Taiwan and reaffirms their joint commitment to building disaster resilience in Latin America and the Caribbean.
“Guatemala and Paraguay are both very important diplomatic allies of Taiwan in Latin America. Taiwan has a longstanding cooperation relationship with both countries. In addition, Taiwan and PADF have worked since 2012 on a variety of projects in the Western Hemisphere. We are glad to continue strengthening our cooperation with PADF, enhancing the welfare of the people in the region,” said Ms. Christine Hsueh, Deputy Chief of Mission of Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO).
“We are grateful to the generosity of Taiwan and proud of the impact our joint disaster resilience programs have already achieved in the region. This MoU broadens our cooperation and continues to showcase Taiwan’s important contributions to the Americas,” said PADF Executive Director Katie Taylor.
The new, two-year project aims to combat COVID-19 and enhance the capacity of national systems in Guatemala and Paraguay to understand and communicate disaster risks, and enable governments, communities, businesses, individuals, and others to protect lives and assets in advance of hazardous events. PADF and Taiwan have been working together since 2012, to implement community-based disaster preparedness, mitigation, and climate change adaptation to meet high priority needs in the Americas. This partnership enables Taiwan to extend its support to international organizations, partners, and disaster-prone communities in the hemisphere.
Since 2015, Taiwan and the United States have collaborated under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) to support global problem solving and the sharing of expertise with partners across the region. Under the GCTF, Taiwan and US institutions share best practices and technical know-how to overcome critical global challenges and build the capacity of government officials, private sector actors, and civil society. PADF is a proud supporter of this alliance.
Taiwan has a successful history of fostering economic progress, inclusive governance, and disaster risk reduction activities that can be models for Latin America and the Caribbean.
PADF y Taiwán expanden la cooperación para fortalecer la resiliencia a desastres en Guatemala y Paraguay – Nota de prensa octubre 2020 (Español)
