Since the beginning, Cotecno has provided capacity building support, vocational training and targeted assistance to local and national social and health authorities in the provision of social services with a strong emphasis on health issues and the fight against social exclusion.

In particular, Cotecno has implemented several projects aimed at improving health conditions in disadvantaged areas through ameliorating the provision of services by health centres. Recent examples are given by:

• EC/“Strengthening the health sector” project in Nicaragua (1999 - 2003);
  
• EC/“Private health and education initiative for hurricane Mitch affected countries” in Central America (2000 – 2001);
  
• Italian local public health agency/“Strengthening of a Day Care Centre for the reinsertion of drug addicts and alcoholics” project in Italy (2000 - ongoing).
  
  

Over the years, given the need to establish a preventive, integrated and multi-sectoral approach which includes the in-depth involvement of the target groups, the range of measures has gradually expanded to include providing advice to institutions working on defining/implementing health as well as social policies. Building upon its overall experience, Cotecno has acquired an array of skills in the management of integrated development projects aimed at improving the socio-economic and health conditions of disadvantaged groups (refugees, displaced people, ethnic minorities, former fighters, disabled, etc.) to facilitate their economic and social integration.

Besides strengthening social service-providers, the technical assistance focuses on the development of alternative sources of income, on the sustainable use of resources, on the organisation of training courses and sensitisation campaigns and on the implementation of particular activities such as conflict management and resolution, peace education, local governance and participatory planning processes.

Within this framework Cotecno has been providing, for example, the following technical assistance services:

• EC/“Technical Assistance to the Third Peace Laboratory” in Colombia (2007 - ongoing);
  
• USAID/“Evaluation of Colombia Human Rights Program” (2008 - ongoing);
  
• EC/“Support for the development of indigenous peoples of Central America” (1995 – 1999);
  
• Italian Cooperation/“Pilot programme for the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of disabled children” in Colombia (1987 – 1997).