IICA adopts three cooperation agreements for the benefit of rural women in Brazil, Central America and the Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica
San Jose, Costa Rica, 17 October 2018 (IICA). Within the framework of the commemoration of the International Day of Rural Women on October 16, the Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Manuel Otero, signed three cooperation agreements that will allow for developing concrete actions to boost gender equity in Brazil, the member countries of the Central American Integration System (SICA) and the Dominican Republic, as well as Costa Rica.
With Renato Alvarado, Minister of Agriculture of Costa Rica, serving as witness of honor, Otero signed an agreement with Viviane Dutra, Deputy Secretary of the Secretariat of Food and Nutritional Security of the Ministry of Social Development of Brazil.
The document ratified an agreement adopted a few days earlier with Alberto Betrane, Minister of Social Development of Brazil, in order to undertake actions aimed at providing visibility for women’s contribution to economic and political development in that country. The Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO) is the third partner of the agreement.
A strategic partnership with the Council of Ministers for Women’s Affairs in Central America and the Dominican Republic (COMMCA/SICA) was also established. The purpose of the partnership will be to foster and develop joint processes that can contribute to strengthening the financial autonomy of rural women in the countries that form part of the SICA Region.
The Technical Secretary of the Council, Alicia Amalia Rodríguez Illescas, explained that this agreement with IICA will allow for driving actions aimed at supporting the economic empowerment of rural women in the member countries of the Central American Integration System (SICA).
IICA also signed a general cooperation agreement with the Superintendence of Telecommunications (SUTEL), with the aim of bridging the digital gap that affects Costa Rican rural women.
The Vice President of the Council of the Superintendence of Telecommunications, Manuel Emilio Ruiz Gutiérrez, signed the agreement on behalf of the regulatory agency. Susana Balbo, Chair of Women 20 Argentina, a G20 engagement group whose objectives include improving rural women’s access to technology, served as witness of honor.
This will be a pioneer agreement in the region, which will contribute to fostering initiatives geared toward facilitating connectivity in deficit rural areas as well as assistance for vulnerable populations.
More information:
Institutional Communication Division of IICA