News and Events
Stay connected to the latest news, events, and stories from across the FOCUS community
FOCUS IN THE NEWS
FOCUS Member Margarita Fernández Publishes Op-Ed for Food Tank
What can Cuba’s food crisis teach us about building a more resilient global food system? FOCUS member Margarita Fernández and Cuban partner Leidy Casamiro explore this question in a new op-ed for Food Tank, “Blockade Against Cuba Exposes the Fragility of the Global Food System.”
The article connects Cuba’s energy and food challenges to a broader global vulnerability: the dependence of modern agriculture on fossil fuels. The authors make the case for investing in agroecology, local food production, and food sovereignty to strengthen food systems and build resilience.
NEWS ROUNDUP
September 2026
September brought significant challenges for Cuba and for organizations working with partners on the island. This month’s roundup brings together key news and developments, including the continuing power and fuel crisis, disruptions to shipping and essential goods, new U.S. sanctions and regulations, and heightened U.S.–Cuba tensions.
[Download the September News Roundup →]
PRESS RELEASE
FOCUS Partnerships Calls for an End to the Oil Blockade and Direct U.S.–Cuba Negotiations Amid Deepening Crisis in Cuba
As Cuba’s energy and humanitarian crisis deepens, FOCUS Partnerships calls for an end to the U.S. oil blockade and direct U.S.–Cuba engagement. Private-sector and humanitarian channels can provide important assistance but cannot address a crisis of this scale or restore the fuel needed to sustain essential services.
FOCUS calls for respectful negotiations to end the oil blockade, address the needs of the Cuban population, and expand cooperation in areas including health, the environment, culture, and law enforcement. Ending the oil blockade should be a first step toward reducing human suffering and creating space for meaningful engagement.
[Read the full statement →]
Event
US-Cuba Cooperation During Challenging Times
On October 29–30, 2025, representatives from over 23 organizations gathered to discuss challenges and opportunities for engagement with Cuba. The two-day event featured presentations on communication strategies and emerging trends in philanthropy. Participants exchanged insights and explored ways to strengthen collaborative, effective approaches to U.S.–Cuba engagement.
EVENT
Exploring the Potential of Renewable Energy in Cuba
In May 2025, FOCUS facilitated a high-level dialogue with Cuban, U.S., and regional stakeholders to advance renewable energy implementation. The meeting enabled cross-national knowledge exchange, identified priority projects, and fostered concrete connections for sustained collaboration.
FOCUS IN THE NEWS
FOCUS Members Received Prestigious AAAS Award for Science Diplomacy
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has announced that EDF’s Daniel Whittle, Valerie Miller, and Eduardo Boné Morón, are the recipients of the 2025 AAAS David & Betty Hamburg Award for Science Diplomacy. The award recognizes an individual or a small group working in the scientific or foreign policy community who are making an outstanding contribution to furthering science diplomacy.
EVENT
US-Cuba Engagement Post-Biden
On December 6th, 2024, FOCUS Partnerships convened U.S.-based organizations to collectively reflect on what the incoming administration means for U.S. policy towards Cuba and the implications for our work.