1. Launching the Inter-American Social Protection Network Organization of American States New York City — September 22, 2009 Public Private Partnership for Social Protection: Working Together to Alleviate Poverty and Help Children Survive and Thrive

2. 2 The Growing Importance of Public-Private Partnerships Over the next 3 to 5 years, it will be more important than ever to develop multi- stakeholder coalitions. Public-private partnerships are crucial to solving major social issues and helping to mitigate future challenges. Globally, external assistance is private, but foreign direct investment and remittances to the region are declining.

3. 3 Corporate, government and private funds can be leveraged to bring programs to scale and widen social safety nets. Sharing expertise and lessons learned lead to greater impact and to a better return on investments. Working with governments and communities now to prepare for future crises will save lives, mitigate the repercussions and ensure that investments made are not lost. Finding Solutions Together

4. 4 Collaboration to Make a Difference For decades, Save the Children has been working with governments, business leaders and communities to fight poverty, protect the vulnerable and improve opportunities for people. Save the Children has partnered with more than one-third of the 100 Top Global Brands (as ranked by BusinessWeek). With governments, NGOs and multilateral agencies across the Americas, Save the Children experts contributed to a regional policy to reduce neonatal mortality, adopted by OAS member states in 2007. We know that lasting improvements cannot be achieved by a single entity. The eradication of smallpox required a global effort. The alleviation of poverty will take no less.

5. 5 Partnership in Practice: Bolivia Improving Lives: School Health and Nutrition in Bolivia PartnersProgramResults Municipal governments and health networks, education districts and establishments, USAID, GlaxoSmithKline, SODIS Foundation, Vitamin Angel Alliance, Sight and Life, Save the Children private contributors Vitamin supplements, hygiene interventions, improved sanitation facilities, coordination with PTAs and parents We are reaching 141,982 school children and 65,000 children under 5 in more than 600 schools. 107,950 families are benefiting

6. 6 Conclusion The poor pay the greatest price when economies contract, safety nets collapse and options disappear. The well-being of vulnerable children and families in Latin America depends on addressing the current economic crisis, the ongoing food crisis and the root causes of poverty in the short, medium and long term. It is critical — particularly in this economic downturn — that we all work together to protect the vulnerable. The Inter-American Social Protection Network can be the catalyst for change and help consolidate regional cooperation to help the most vulnerable in our societies.