The “Fondo para las Américas” (Fund for the Americas), created in 1993 by Argentina and the United States, launched a new call for applications to finance projects of non-governmental organizations here that work on environmental and children's issues. Silvia Tissoni, from Argentina's Environmental Secretariat (ministry), told Tierramérica that the fund is giving a non-repayable credit of 300,000 pesos (about 80,000 dollars) based on “a prior technical evaluation” conducted by a commission that includes representatives from both countries and from NGOs.

The objective is to promote activities that help preserve natural resources and improve children's survival, development and quality of life.

Initiatives may be presented until Mar. 16, 2010, and should propose solutions to problems related to land use, water and energy resources, biodiversity, air quality, health and environment and childhood.