Political change sparks CSOs
As the year 2000 approached, President Ernesto Zedillo’s administration paved the way for CSOs to rise in prominence. By the end of the twentieth century, a prosperous climate for the development of vigorous and active CSOs had been created. Public demonstrations stopped being the traditional way to influence government decisions. Now, citizens took part in other participative methods, like intervention in public policy and voting. Nevertheless, it wasn’t until the transfer of power in 2000 that the presence of CSOs became really relevant in the national sphere by establishing the country’s public agenda.
To merge national needs with the international foundations’ principles, multiple channels have to be created, such as opening offices across the country and collaborating directly with local CSOs and public institutions. This constant interaction allowed international foundations to adjust their priorities to the Mexican agenda. Each international foundation with a presence in Mexico adjusted their priorities, each to a different degree. As a result, the foundations began responding and shaping their agendas to the proposal of domestic actors, particularly CSOs. The decision to open a Hewlett Foundation office in the country (in 2001) was a decisive choice that allowed proximity to Mexican needs and contexts and was sparked by the desire to work closely with CSOs.
