| Guatemala City, 30 August 2022. The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) is implementing an initiative in collaboration with the United States Department of State and the European Union to economically empower rural women farmers in order to better deal with climate impacts on agriculture and their livelihoods. The strategic alliance between these organizations considers the role that women play in agriculture in order to move them beyond subsistence farming and toward more value-added, market-oriented production. Spearheaded by IICA’s Climate Action and Sustainable Agriculture program and the Institute’s Delegation in Guatemala, the initiative is run through the Adapted Agroforestry Systems for the Central American Dry Corridor (AGROINNOVA) project, which is implemented by IICA with the support and funding of the European Union and the State Department’s Providing Opportunities for Women’s Economic Rise (POWER) program. Through a capacity-building process aimed at 50 rural women and young girls in the municipalities of San Jerónimo (Baja Verapaz) and Chiquimula (Chiquimula), which was launched this month, the participants will be provided with tools to help build their capacities, be more competitive, better manage their cooperatives, be empowered as farmers, have improved access to services and earn a better income. The inauguration event—which was one of six events planned—was attended by María Febres, IICA Representative in Guatemala; Andrea Muñoz in representation of the U.S. Department of State; and Carlos Chun of the National Coffee Association, who emphasized the strategic importance of the participation of women and young girls in order to drive productive and community development processes through innovation and technology. “The biggest challenge is how to expand the opportunities for rural women to reach their full potential, while improving their quality of life and that of society”, commented Febres. Rural women farmers are change agents in improving and ensuring the sustainability of the agrifood systems. For that reason, improving conditions for rural women and contributing to closing the gaps is a priority in the Central American Dry Corridor region. |
| About IICAIICA is the specialized agency for agriculture in the Inter-American system, with a mission to encourage, promote and support its 34 Member States in their efforts to achieve agricultural development and rural well-being through international technical cooperation of excellence. |
| About AGROINNOVA Financed by the EU and executed by IICA, the program focuses on contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation technologies for staple crop and livestock production for smallholders through innovation, research, transparency and outreach in Multistrata Agroforestry Systems (SAFM), with the aim to preserve biodiversity, increase productivity and improve the food security of highly vulnerable families in the Central American Dry Corridor. |
| About POWER The Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs is responsible for leading the State Department initiative called POWER (Providing Opportunities for Women’s Economic Rise) to promote women’s economic empowerment. The multi-level initiative leverages diplomatic resources and works alongside the private sector to establish professional networks and business environments focused on promoting women’s economic empowerment in a global context, as well as the advancement of U.S. economic policies. |
