This Strategic Plan outlines the COALAR's strategic pillars for 2024-2027, highlights priority themes of focus during this period and identifies key enablers for COALAR to achieve its objectives.
Vision
COALAR is recognised as the premier advocate for, and supporter of, closer engagement between Latin America and Australia in key focus areas of business, education, sustainability, tourism and culture.
Mission
To enhance Australia's economic, political and social relations with Latin America
Strategic pillars
COALAR's strategic pillars, goals and priority themes are set for a period of three years but will be reviewed and updated annually to ensure they remain relevant in the context of a dynamic political and economic environment.
Pillar 1 - Outreach and Advocacy: showcasing contemporary Australian and Latin American business, culture, innovation, and entrepreneurship; advocating for greater Australian engagement in the region in priority areas of mutual interest; and acting as a conduit to Australian government/ministers on Latin America.
Pillar 2 - Collaboration, Communication and Education: shared knowledge and understanding of each other's cultures, economies and societies through cross-regional cooperation in key focus areas and dissemination of impact and outcomes of collaborations.
Pillar 3 - Social and Cultural Connections: existing, emerging and new areas for engagement in bilateral and regional relationships.
Pillar 4 - Shared Commercial Interests: Australia's good reputation and comparative advantages in the region, existing trade and investment links, and emerging opportunities to strengthen Australia's economic engagement in Latin America.
Goals
Goal 1 - Raise awareness of COALAR and Latin America-Australia relations: COALAR will raise awareness and understanding between Australians and Latin Americans of each other's economies, societies and cultures using a variety of outreach and advocacy activities, such as sponsoring and participating in events and utilising a range of digital and social media channels to share knowledge and connect people.
Goal 2 - Strengthen commercial ties: COALAR will support new and emerging opportunities and leverage existing trade and investment links to strengthen commercial ties between Australia and Latin America and further enhance Australia's good reputation in the region.
Goal 3 - Expand social and cultural connections: COALAR will share the outcomes of collaborative projects and support diversification of people-to-people, professional, social and cultural connections through engagement including with First Nations people, young people and women in Latin America and Australia.
Goal 4 - Foster and promote gender equality and women's leadership in Australia and Latin America through COALAR grants and other projects and activities.
Priority Themes
COALAR will achieve its objectives by directing effort and resources towards priority areas of mutual interest between Australia and Latin America. COALAR's priority themes for 2024- 2027 in alphabetical order:
- Culture and Entrepreneurship
- Education and Research
- Environment and Energy Transition
- First Nations
- Mining, METS, and Resources
Key Enablers
Enabling capabilities underpinning these strategic pillars.
- Existing relationships and presence with key stakeholders across government, nongovernment and private sector in Australia and Latin America including:
- Australia's commercial presence, expertise and positive reputation in areas of interest and priority in the region (e.g. water management, sustainable mining, environmental management, education, gender, First Nations)
- Expertise and knowledge within DFAT, AUSTRADE and across regional network of six embassies (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru)
- Engagement with:
- Latin diaspora in Australia including a fast-growing student cohort, and organisations that support and represent them,
- Existing and emerging young entrepreneurs, professionals and leaders in Australia and Latin America in areas related to 2024-2027 Priority Themes.
- Strong interest in the COALAR Grants program and potential to leverage outcomes of previous grants rounds in achievement of 2024-2027 Strategic Goals.
Monitoring and Evaluation
COALAR's programs and activities will be regularly monitored and evaluated annually against its Strategic Pillars and Goals and used as the basis for continuous improvement. Progress against KPIs identified in the Business Plan will be reported as part of COALAR Board Meetings and in COALAR's Annual Report to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
*The excerpt below comes from Council on Australia Latin America Relations Business Plan 2024
1. Culture and Entrepreneurship - COALAR will support collaborations that showcase Australian excellence; build understanding and exchange; and strengthen ties in areas such as music, theatre, dance, fashion, film and literature, gastronomy, tourism and sports. Initiatives that support youth development and leadership will form a key part of this theme.
2. Education and Research - COALAR will strengthen and expand people to people, academic, institutional and education networks between Australia and Latin America to: facilitate dialogue and information sharing on education policies and practices, foster academic collaboration and joint research, increase bilateral education initiatives, leverage alumni networks, and promote Australia's international education sector.
3. Environment and Energy Transition - COALAR will promote increased collaboration in Australia and Latin America towards nature positive, where nature is regenerating rather than being in decline. Areas of collaboration may include: net-zero planning, biodiversity loss, deforestation and water management; decarbonising the economy, renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable practices; and disaster risk reduction and resilience (including bushfire and flood preparedness).
4. First Nations - COALAR will strengthen and expand people to people, professional, and institutional networks to facilitate greater First Nations cultural understanding in Australia and Latin America through the sharing of knowledge on issues such as community governance, cultural heritage preservation, indigenous participation in trade and resource sectors, and sustainable practices.
5. Mining, METS, and Resources - COALAR will encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing between Australian and Latin America mining, METS, and resources sectors to promote Australia as a partner of choice for Latin America in this sector, drive cooperation on best practices, and grow new business opportunities.