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Short Abstract

This talk presents participatory science contributions to SDG monitoring in Latin America and the Caribbean. Based on 106 initiatives across six countries, it demonstrates community-based monitoring generates data for twelve SDGs while prioritizing historically underrepresented populations.

Abstract

This talk presents findings from a regional inventory of participatory research initiatives developed through the Iberoamerican Participatory Science Network (RICAP) in 2020. The research team mapped 439 participatory initiatives across academic databases and non-academic sources, selecting 106 from Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina for detailed analysis of their alignment with SDGs indicators.

Data generated through participatory science projects in the region informed, either directly or indirectly, indicators associated with twelve of seventeen SDGs. SDG 15 (Life on Land) received the most frequent contributions, reflecting strong biodiversity-focused initiatives monitoring endangered species like the Andean bear, jaguar, and Yellow-spotted Amazon River turtle, alongside deforestation and forest fire tracking. SDG 6 (Clean water and sanitation) and SDG 14 (Life below water) also showed significant contributions through water ecosystem assessments developed with fishing communities. Additional initiatives addressed gender equality, reproductive health, participatory territorial planning, and agricultural system improvements, contributing to multiple SDG indicators including poverty reduction, quality education, and sustainable agriculture.

A distinctive characteristic emerged: approximately 75% of mapped initiatives involved historically underrepresented populations, rural (27%), Indigenous (16%), peasant (12%), and fishing communities (5%), alongside women, youth, Afro-descendants, and older adults. This focus addresses the persistent underrepresentation of minority groups in national statistics, revealing both a regional strength and potential for addressing data gaps in SDG monitoring. The analysis demonstrates that participatory initiatives generate valuable contextual data across multiple SDGs, even when not designed specifically for SDG tracking.