AVINA carries out an annual survey among its colleagues that provides an important opportunity for institutional dialog. In 2008, for the second year running, the survey was carried out by Grupo Dando from Costa Rica, with encouraging results. The overall score was higher than the previous year and had a 95% participation rate, considered high given that collaboration is anonymous and voluntary.

In 2008 the organizational climate survey showed an average level of satisfaction of 82%; in the internal services section we achieved 80%, and in the recently included leadership style category, 82%.

Of the 17 different areas that comprise the work environment section, job satisfaction and cooperation and relationship with colleagues stand out at three points higher than in 2007. All areas, without exception, were above the average of 72%. Nonetheless, AVINA’s goal is to achieve results over 80% in all areas in each of the three sections.

In the service management section comprising seven criteria, we improved in six, and only in the case of social responsibility did we fall below the 2007 result. We are particularly pleased to note that job satisfaction and pride in belonging to AVINA are at 92%.

Although we are very pleased with our advances, there remain areas where we need to improve. Several of the areas that received the lowest marks are the focus of different processes initiated at the end of 2008, including a new institutional program for social responsibility. Among other commitments in 2009, we will work to improve communication within teams, formulate ways to expand open and participatory processes and continue to improve our training program for the AVINA team.

AVINA 2008 Plenary Session

In May 2008 in Curitiba, Brazil, AVINA celebrated for the first time in its 14-year history a meeting that included all members of the organization from throughout Latin America.

Employees from 14 different countries participated in plenary sessions and workshops in which they explored and debated AVINA’s strategic objectives for 2012. The experience also allowed members of the international team to get to know one another better, learn from successful projects and receive training so as to better contribute to organizational priorities. .