Our history Ivy's origin, purpose and evolution.
The urgency of climate change presents a critical challenge for the Global South, particularly Latin America and the Caribbean, which must tackle both decarbonization and the adaptation to ongoing climate impacts.
With limited resources, weak institutions, and restricted access to technology, this transition is even more difficult.
Ivy’s climate activism approach focuses on building transformative ecosystems by promoting knowledge sharing, policy development and stakeholder engagement.
Ivy helps create the right conditions for a just transition that responds to the unique challenges of each region and country. The goal is not only to influence policy but also to ensure its effective implementation.
"YVY"
The search
for a place to live.
The incessant search for paradise, a myth present in the Guarani culture. This explains why, prior to the conquest, this people made long journeys and spread over a vast area of the American continent: from the Brazilian Tieté River in the north, to extensive territories of present-day Uruguay in the south, and from the Atlantic Ocean to southeastern Bolivia and northern Argentina.
The Guarani were an eminently migratory people and one of the reasons for their pilgrimage was the search for a fertile and peaceful place in which to live in peace: Yvy marä ey, (the land without evil). A land without suffering or imperfections, which, although it was the place where the dead went, could be reached, in theory, while alive, since some privileged people managed to get there without dying.
The desire to reach that place, where crops grow without planting them, where there is no sickness, no death and everything is peace and happiness, encouraged the Guarani nation’s displacements and made these their teko’a – way of life – which was oriented towards achieving a life without blemish, teko marä ey.
This quest, however, was not an individual one, but a collective enterprise to reach the ideal together.
In the XXI Century, our region continues in this search, today we call it sustainable development, resilience, it continues to be that place to live in peace, where life is better for our people.
We have a multidisciplinary team with extensive experience that allows us to address a vision of sustainable development from different approaches.
With its expertise, Ivy helps overcome obstacles such as financing issues, political resistance and infrastructure deficiencies, enabling countries to integrate renewable energy and increase climate resilience.
Ivy's think-do-tank model bridges the gap between policy development and action. By advocating open access to data and empowering stakeholders to make informed decisions, Ivy fosters collaboration across the Global South to drive decarbonization and ensure a sustainable future.
“Ivy” is a non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on climate change and supported by global philanthropic funds.
As a certified non-profit entity, Ivy develops intervention projects in collaboration with the beneficiaries, bringing together dedicated and multidisciplinary teams of local experts and specialists. This collaborative approach allows Ivy to combine global public policy expertise with a deep understanding of local challenges, providing a clear competitive advantage in driving sustainable transitions.
Ivy’s work is heavily inspired by Uruguay’s success in creating a sustainable development model that integrates energy, environmental, and territorial actions. The country has developed a renewable energy system that now generates 98% of its electricity from hydro, wind, solar and biomass, while implementing effective waste management and land use policies.
Ivy seeks to replicate this success across the region by leveraging advanced modeling tools and driving policy and regulatory changes that support the transition to sustainable, low-carbon development models.Ivy’s approach integrates expertise in public policy with a deep understanding of local contexts. This allows Ivy to design tailored interventions that support institutional strengthening and capacity building for sustainable development. However, Ivy faces challenges in scaling its impact across the region and the Global South, with a need to strengthen its organizational capacity and secure sustainable funding to meet growing demands for its services.
Ivy’s core strengths lie in its expertise in public policy design and proven development models that promote renewable energy and climate resilience. The organization provides free knowledge tools to support institutional strengthening and informed decision-making, ensuring the long-term sustainability of its projects. Ivy also excels in innovative climate advocacy, delivering impactful messages that inspire change and align with global climate activism.
The organization’s team, led by regional experts such as Ramón Méndez (Executive Director), Alfonso Blanco (Director of Operations), Alejandro Nario, and José Freitas, brings extensive experience and recognition in energy transitions, sustainable development, environmental protection, and territorial development, with strong connections to both the government and the private sector. This exceptional leadership has earned international recognition, with Ramón Méndez being named Latin America’s Renewable Energy Champion.