Forum Americas is a non-partisan institution. It aims to provide leaders of diverse backgrounds with the tools necessary to develop innovative and culturally appropriate responses to the challenges of modern society. The Forum operates as an independent organization thanks to philanthropic grants from the private sector and academic community as well as in-kind contributions from institutions within the Inter-American system.
Inception:

The Forum Americas was born in June of 1997, when more than 100 leaders from the public sector, private sector and civil society from the Americas met to debate the social and institutional impact of the previous decade of economic reforms in Latin America and the Caribbean. During an open debate with the Presidents of the IDB and the World Bank, and the General Manager of the IMF, emerging leaders of Latin America, United States and Canada, discussed the most sensitive and pressing matters facing the region in those days.

This gathering brought the interest of key Heads of State, and some of the most influential political and intellectual figures of those days, who followed with attention the inception of an innovative initiative, which nowadays constitutes a unique reference of forward looking political thought for future leaders.

“The possibility of creating local knowledge constitutes society’s preeminent incentive for effective and sustainable governance”
Words from ILFA’s Founder, Guillermo Abaracon at the Inaugural Meeting,

June 26-27, 1997

“Knowledge should be considered an active commodity and not a passive asset. It is most valuable when shared, not hoarded”.

Words from Guillermo Abaracon
at Unesco-IDB Leadership Conference Paris, France, March 1999

Forum Americas is a non-partisan institution. It aims at advancing leaders of diverse backgrounds and providing them with the tools necessary to develop new and culturally appropriated responses to the challenges of modern societies.

The Forum is a non-profit, independent organization that functions thanks to philanthropic donations from individuals, academic institutions-like Harvard University-, from US, Canadian and Latin American companies, as well as in-kind contributions from institutions within the Inter-American system, like the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and United Nations, for specific programs.