From Advocacy to Impact: How Civil Society in Latin America and the Caribbean Is

11 December 2025 –

by Pablo A. Herrera H., Regional Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean, Global Civil Society Coalition for the UNCAC

On November 27th, the UNCAC Coalition held its 22nd Regional Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean, bringing together members and affiliates to deepen coordination and strengthen advocacy efforts ahead of CoSP11 in Doha and the 2026 Summit of the Americas. The meeting focused on one central question: How can civil society in our region meaningfully influence international anti-corruption commitments?

A highlight of the meeting was the intervention of Jorge Valladares, Political Integrity Policy Lead at Transparency International (TI), who provided an inside look at what it takes to build political will for anti-corruption reforms in multilateral arenas. Valladares reflected on the journey to build of support for a CoSP resolution on political finance, an effort that allied States, including Albania, Ghana, Mongolia, and Norway, have advanced. His insights offered a rare view into how sustained, evidence-based civil society advocacy can create incentives for setting standards across the UNCAC framework.

Building Influence in International Spaces: Lessons from Political Finance Advocacy

Valladares emphasized that advocating for a resolution requires technical clarity, strategic messaging, and – perhaps most importantly – persistent convening of a range of civil society organizations (CSOs), intergovernmental organizations and government allies. The political finance process illustrated several key lessons for the region:

  • Narratives matter. Articulating how opaque financing undermines democratic institutions helped elevate the issue beyond a technical debate and into a broader governance priority.
  • Coordination is decisive. The collaboration between supportive States, CSOs and intergovernmental organisations created momentum that made the proposal viable in diplomatic negotiations.
  • Advocacy is cumulative. Each CoSP presents new opportunities, but progress builds on years of groundwork, coalition-building, and shared messaging.
  • Ownership. Sponsoring states are the ultimate shapers of the outcomes of negotiations. Government delegates’ skills, expertise and commitment are essential for successful outcomes.

These lessons are highly relevant for other priority areas in Latin America and the Caribbean, including whistleblower protection, open justice, civic space, and the rights of corruption victims, all of which require multilevel engagement to gain traction at CoSP and beyond.

Positioning Regional Priorities Ahead of CoSP11

During the meeting, participants discussed the Joint Regional Declaration for Latin America and the Caribbean (available in Spanish and English), which consolidates shared priorities and calls for stronger commitments from States. Paired with the launch of the Coalition’s Communication & Advocacy Toolkit, members explored how clear, coordinated narratives can enhance influence during the negotiation of CoSP11 resolutions and in bilateral engagement with national delegations.

By harmonizing messages and strengthening technical preparation, civil society can play a critical role in shaping not only the adoption of resolutions but also their implementation – a recurring challenge across the region.

Looking Ahead: The Summit of the Americas

Beyond CoSP11, the region is preparing for another key multilateral milestone: the 2026 Summit of the Americas. Anti-corruption is expected to remain a central theme, and participants underscored the importance of approaching the Summit with a unified regional vision.

As Valladares noted, the same advocacy architecture that supports engagement at CoSP – strategic alliances, consolidated evidence, minimum commitments and consistent messaging – can equip civil society with the tools needed to influence hemispheric commitments on integrity, transparency, and civic space.

The upcoming CoSP and Summit offer an opportunity to draw attention to issues where the region has been particularly vocal, such as:

  • corruption’s impact on democratic backsliding,
  • the shrinking of civic space,
  • the need for robust whistleblower protections,
  • political finance and access to public information,
  • and the urgent role of States in protecting environmental and human rights defenders.

Strengthening Regional Advocacy Ecosystems

The meeting demonstrated that civil society in Latin America and the Caribbean continues to build a strong, connected advocacy ecosystem. With diverse contexts and challenges across the region, members reaffirmed that coordinated action is essential, especially for organizations unable to attend CoSP11 in person due to funding restrictions or other barriers.

By sharing experiences, aligning priorities, and leveraging collective tools, the region is better positioned to:

  • influence global and regional anti-corruption frameworks,
  • protect civic space,
  • and promote meaningful implementation of the UNCAC.

A Unified Voice for 2025 and Beyond

As CoSP11 approaches and preparations for the Summit of the Americas begin, Latin American and Caribbean civil society is demonstrating resilience, leadership, and strategic vision. TI’s intervention offered important insights into how advocacy can move from raising issues to shaping outcomes, and how coordinated regional work can amplify national efforts.

The 22nd Regional Meeting reaffirmed a central message:
Civil society is not only participating in global anti-corruption processes – it is shaping them. And with continued coordination, technical expertise, and shared commitment, the region is ready to make its voice heard in the next generation of international anti-corruption agendas.

If you are a civil society activist from Latin America or the Caribbean and would like to become involved, please contact our Regional Coordinator Pablo Herrera at pablo.herrera@uncaccoalition.org.