2. 2008 l ANNUAL REPORT
Rural Territorial
Dynamics Program
2008 Annual Report
1
3. 2008 l ANNUAL REPORT
Table of Contents
• Rural Territorial Dynamics: A positive outcome in 2008
• We have laid the foundations for being an instrument of change
1 IN SEARCH OF ECONOMIC GROWTH WITH SOCIAL INCLUSION AND
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
• Growth - with or without social inclusion?
• Territorial dynamics in Chiloe: The strength of extra-territorial
coalitions
• Surveys of policies and programs with a territorial focus
• Climate change and territorial development
• Cultural identity as a driver of territorial development
• Ethnic polarization in income distribution and social conflict in
Southern Chile
2 WORKING IN NETWORKS
• A program rich in social capital
• Network of sub-national governments works to revitalize rural areas
• The Ibero-American Rural Dialogue: a new space for high-level
political exchanges
• Journalists’ network: creating a space in public opinion
3 COMUNICATION FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
• Equitierra Magazine: for thinking and acting freely
• The program in the international press
• Program working papers
4 BUILDING CAPACITIES
• Strengthening ties with Canada
• Graduate education for territorial development
• Communities of practice for rural territorial development
• Rimisp organizational development: working with our partners to
build capacities
• Spaces for collaboration and dialogue
5 MANAGEMENT AND PROGRESS
• Respecting the program’s complexities: the monitoring and
evaluation system
• Advisory Board and Coordination Unit
• Financial Summary
• Contact
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4. 2008 l ANNUAL REPORT
Rural Territorial Dynamics:
A positive outcome in 2008
I
n order to systematically develop an idea, one must en-
gage in creative thought, the expansion of knowledge and,
above all else, sensible observation. One of the necessary
steps of this process is addressing the errors of action and
omission that are part of any new undertaking so that one
can move forward on a firm foundation. The Rural Territorial
Dynamics Program Annual Report, which Rimisp is submit-
ting to its collaborators and partners, is designed to form
part of this effort. After 18 months of work, the program has
achieved innovative and methodologically robust results that
show high levels of involvement of people and rural organizations from areas characterized
by conditions of poverty.
This program is meant to address aspects such as the dynamics of rural areas, the forces
that allow some and not others to express their capacity for development, the circumstances
under which conditions that are favorable or limiting for growth are detected, and contexts
that promote or limit social inclusion. The goal is to contribute to the design and implementa-
tion of more comprehensive, transversal and effective public policies that add to economic
growth with greater social equity and environmental sustainability. One hundred very different
organizations in a dozen countries around the region have made a commitment to this effort,
and that emerging social network is in itself a result of which we are very proud.
For Rimisp, this program represents a challenge in several senses. The first is the task of
ensuring that the conceptual framework of rural territorial development leads to concrete
alternatives for action. We must honor the tremendous commitment that our donors have
made by placing their trust in us and investing very important resources in these initiatives.
We also have a moral obligation to the organizations and people who are taking these ideas as
their own and working in different ways to make contributions. Finally, and most importantly,
this program has to make a difference. It has to affect approaches, strategies and policies;
it has to lead to the development of new networks and collaborations; it has to build the
capacities of social actors. In other words, it has to do its part to transform rural societies
so that they can move towards greater economic growth, more social inclusion and higher
levels of environmental sustainability.
I am therefore very pleased to present the progress that has been made by this program
during 2008. We look forward to receiving reactions and suggestions from our readers,
partners and collaborators, as they will undoubtedly help make the work that we do in 2009
and beyond even more fruitful.
German Escobar
Executive Director
Rimisp
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5. 2008 l ANNUAL REPORT
We have laid the foundations for
being an instrument of change
T
he Rural Territorial Dynamics program has been made pos-
sible by the collaboration of over 100 organizations from Latin
America and around the world. The 2008 Annual Report is a
rendering of accounts for our partners and collaborators.
We also hope that this document helps establish a dialogue with
many agents of change who are searching for allies in their ef-
forts to transform Latin American rural societies. We invite them
to consider this program as a possible source of ideas, practical
experiences, analysis or new relationships with partners who can
complement their own capacities.
At the beginning of the year, the program’s Advisory Council approved a plan that instructed us
to dedicate most of our attention during this initial period to the development of solid foundations
for future work. Specifically, the goals that were established involve finding key partners in 10
countries and developing strategies and methods, pilot research and capacity building experi-
ences, communications platforms and a coordination team.
We also wanted to begin to build a unique work culture that would help us to address the fol-
lowing issue: We believe that each program partner should have more space in which to explore
new paths that have the potential to profoundly renew the way of thinking of doing rural develop-
ment. We also feel that the partners should come together to answer the questions that inform
the program. These include:
¿Which factors determine territorial development dynamics that are charac-
terized by a virtuous, localized cycle of economic growth, social inclusion
and environmental sustainability?
What type of concerted public action –including but not limited to public
policy- can be effective in the encouragement or promotion of this type of
rural territorial development?
In the pages that follow, we describe the degree to which we have met our commitments. I be-
lieve that last year we laid a solid foundation that will allow the program to achieve high quality,
important results, effects and impacts. Furthermore, I believe that that work will make it possible
for the program to serve as an instrument that encourages and supports changes in rural Latin
American societies.
We have selected a sample of the results and effects achieved by this program in order to pro-
vide an overview of the type of contributions that are beginning to emerge from the work of our
partners and collaborators. We cannot include everything that has been done and produced in
this type of summary. Readers who would like more information are cordially invited to visit our
website, www.rimisp.org/dtr
This program is a platform that is available to all who wish to use it to implement actions de-
signed to help revitalize rural Latin America with a sense of social justice. We invite you to join
us in this effort.
Julio A. Berdegue
Program Coordinator
5
6. 1
2008 l ANNUAL REPORT
In search of economic growth with
social inclusion and environmental
sustainability
• Growth - with or without social inclusion?
• Territorial dynamics in Chiloe: The strength of extra-territorial coalitions
• Surveys of policies and programs with a territorial focus
• Climate change and territorial development
• Cultural identity as a driver of territorial development
• Ethnic polarization in income distribution and social conflict in Southern Chile
7
7. 2008 l ANNUAL REPORT
Growth - with or without social inclusion?
T
he Nicaraguan municipalities of Tisma, Nandasmo, Catarina, The study applies the Small Area Estimates method, which has
Granada, Potosí, Buenos Aires, Rivas and El Tortuguero, been broadly utilized to build poverty maps. This method allows
which are home to 4% of the country’s population, have researchers to combine data from standard of living surveys and
one thing in common. Of the nation’s 153 municipalities, they are population censuses in order to obtain indicators of wellbeing
the only ones that have increased per capita consumption and with high levels of spatial disaggregation.
decreased poverty and inequalities in the distribution of consump-
tion in recent years. In contrast, another 48 municipalities that This allows us to go beyond national averages to consider the ter-
house 31% of the population present negative results in these ritorial aspect of development in Latin America. For example, even
three areas (See Table 1). though their respective economies have shown very different rates
of growth, less than 10% of the population in Chile, Nicaragua and
Maps of territorial Ecuador live in administrative units characterized by dynamics of
dynamics in Chile, growth with social inclusion. Peru has more even patterns, with
“The Rural Territorial Dynamics program
Ecuador, Nicaragua 38% of the provinces (home to one fifth of the population) having
in Ecuador is analyzing areas of the
and Peru offer a quali- undergone positive changes in the three indicators analyzed. The
Tungurahua province where interesting
dynamics have met with a great deal of tative vision of growth. results are also shown on maps that indicate the different types
success in satisfying a local market with The studies, which of territorial dynamics, as illustrated in Figure 1.
small scale production. We know that integrate data from
there are many highly valued processes national standards
with citizen participation in Tungurahua
of life surveys and
that have been promoted by various
censuses, examine
social actors. One interesting aspect is N
that Tungurahua is the only province in each country at a ter-
O E
Ecuador in which the three most important ritorial level in order to
S
indigenous organizations are working HONDURAS
observe the changes
together to implement a process of as- that have taken place
sociation with the participation of local
in terms of growth,
actors in order to improve the region’s
poverty and inequal-
productive process to benefit the entire
population.” ity. The result is a
varied panorama that
Pablo Ospina, Coordinator of the Research speaks of important Caribbean Sea
Project in Ecuador. sub-national differ-
ences. LEGEND
Change in consumption,
poverty and Gini Index
(1) W-W-W
The first four studies were implemented in Chile, Ecuador, Nicaragua (2) W-W-L
Pacific Ocean
and Peru. They record changes in per capita income (in Chile) and (3) W-L-W
(4) W-L-L
consumption or per capita spending (in the other three countries) (5) L-W-W
(6) L-W-L
as well as variations in income distribution (or spending) and the (7) L-L-W
COSTA RICA (8) L-L-L
incidence of poverty. In each case, the analyses cover two moments
in time: 1992 and 2002 in Chile; 1998 and 2005 in Nicaragua; 1993
and 2005 in Peru; and 1995 and 2006 in Ecuador. Similar studies Figure 1. Nicaraguan Municipalities: Change in per capita
are at an advanced stage of development in Mexico, Guatemala, consumption, incidence of poverty and income distribution,
El Salvador, Honduras, Colombia, Bolivia and Brazil. 1998 – 2005
8
8. 2008 l ANNUAL REPORT
Our researchers also looked at areas in which there have been Nicaragua, 45% of
positive changes in per capita income or spending and one the municipalities,
“The most interesting thing was how
of the two social inclusion indicators (incidence of poverty or which house 33%
stagnated territorial dynamics are in
income distribution). Eighteen percent of Chile’s municipalities, of the population,
Nicaragua. Territories that saw improve-
which house 25% of the country’s population, present such are in this situa-
ments between 1998 and 2005 are the
results. This is also true of 29% of the provinces in Peru (home tion. In Peru, 44%
exceptions to the rule. Economic growth
to a little over half of the population); 9% of the municipalities in of the provinces dynamics with a reduction in poverty
Nicaragua (with 6% of the population); and 6% of the parishes have not improved and inequality are very concentrated
in Ecuador (with over one third of the population). in this area, which geographically in Nicaragua. There
is concerning if have been improvements in places in
Most of the population in Chile, Nicaragua and Ecuador (66%, one considers that which new activities like tourism have
83% and 55%, respectively) lives in municipalities/parishes that they are home to been generated or in which the price of
have not experienced positive changes in per capita income three quarters of products like milk have increased. This
(Chile) or per capita spending (Nicaragua and Ecuador). Over the country’s inhabi- does not mean that there are processes
that are inclusive for the poor, but at least
70% of the municipalities in Chile and Nicaragua and over tants. In Ecuador,
small scale producers have had better
90% of the parishes in Ecuador are in this category. most parishes do
milk prices, and in some areas of the
not present progress
Pacific region new employment oppor-
In Peru, 28% of the in terms of income
tunities that are not linked to agriculture
“One of the main results of the research provinces, which distribution, and this
and livestock have emerged.”
was that only 38% of Peru’s provinces house about one fifth situation involves
demonstrate dynamics of economic of the population, do 90% of the popu- Ligia Gomez, Coordinator of the Research
growth with a reduction in poverty and not present positive lation. Project in Nicaragua
inequality. There are many factors that changes in per capita
could explain these dynamics, such spending.
as differentiated access to goods
and public services and the strength
Nearly one third of The worst situation is that of the territories in which the indica-
of local institutions.”
Chile’s municipalities, tors are stagnating or moving in the wrong direction. According
which are home to to the study, nearly 80% of Ecuador’s parishes and 50% of its
Javier Escobal, Coordinator of the
29% of the popula- population present dynamics of non-growth and an absence
Research Project in Peru
tion, did not show of improved social conditions. In Peru and Nicaragua, nearly
significant decreases one fourth of the provinces or municipalities, with about one
in their poverty rates. In Nicaragua and Ecuador, 86% of the fifth of the population, are in this situation.
administrative units have failed to reduce poverty. Those areas
are home to 90% and about half of the nations’ populations, In Chile, only 11 municipalities, which have 6% of the popula-
respectively. The situation in Peru is somewhat better given tion, are in that situation.
that “only” half the provinces, which are home to one third of
the population, have not reduced poverty. Table 1 summarizes the results in all of the categories for the
administrative units in the four countries.
In Chile, 44% of the population lives in the 45% of the mu-
nicipalities that have not improved income distribution. In
9
9. 2008 l ANNUAL REPORT
Table 1. Changes at the sub-national level in per capita income and spending, poverty and distribution of per capita income or spending
Type Chile Peru Nicaragua Ecuador
Municipalities % Provinces % Municipalities % Parishes %
I. Greater per capita income or spending, less poverty, greater
16 5.0 74 38 8 5 8 1
distribution of income or spending
II. Greater per capita income or spending, less poverty, no
57 17.5 20 10 9 6 65 6
improvement in distribution of income or spending
III. Greater per capita income or spending, no improvement in
1 0.3 36 18 5 3 0 0
regard to less poverty, better distribution of income or spending
IV. Greater per capita income or spending, no improvement in
11 3.4 10 5 12 8 3 0.3
poverty incidence, no improvement in income or spending distribution
V. No improvement in per capita income or spending, less
poverty, better distribution of income or spending 113 35.0 0 0 4 3 4 0.4
VI. No improvement in per capita income or spending, less
42 13.0 6 3 0 0 70 6
poverty, no improvement in distribution of income or spending
VII. No improvement in per capita income or spending, no
47 14.6 0 0 67 44 59 5
improvement in poverty, better distribution of income or spending
VIII. No improvement in any aspect 36 11.1 49 25 48 31 879 81
Total 323 100 195 100 153 100 1088 100
Territorial dynamics maps to be produced
for 11 countries
Last year, we produced territorial dynamics maps for four countries:
Nicaragua (by researchers from Nitlapan Institute of the Central
American University and the Danish Institute for International Stud-
ies), Ecuador (Simon Bolivar Andean University), Peru (Analysis
for Development Group) and Chile (Rimisp-Latin American Center
for Rural Development and the Ministry of Planning).
Reports for seven other countries will be made available during
the first quarter of 2009:
• Mexico (by researchers from the Mexico School)
• Guatemala (Rafael Landivar University)
• Honduras (Sustainable Development Network)
• El Salvador (Economic Commission for Latin America and the
Caribbean)
• Colombia (University of Los Andes)
• Bolivia (Tierra Foundation and the Institute for Development
Policy and Management of the University of Manchester)
• Brasil (University of São Paulo)
Data from nearly 200 million households in 11 countries will have
been analyzed for this effort.
All of the reports will be published in the Documents section of
the Program´s website: www.rimisp.org/dtr/documentos
10
10. 2008 l ANNUAL REPORT
Pro-Poor Growth
The Role of Institutions
Geography, trade and economic activity
do not generate development on their
own. We know that institutions play a key
role in determining who takes advantage
of the opportunities derived from factors
like natural resources, geographic location
or the insertion of the territory in certain
commercial circuits or value chains and
how they do so.
The challenge is moving from this general
statement to a better understanding of the
role of specific institutions. This includes
legal or normative frameworks as well
as entities that are linked to the power
structure that determine how surpluses
and opportunities are distributed.
In order to get at this complex issue, the
program has established an alliance with
the project “Improving Institutions for Pro-
Poor Growth” (IPPG). This global project
has research activities in Europe, Africa,
Asia and Latin America. It is coordinated
by Professor Kunal Sen of the University
of Manchester’s Department of Econo-
mics and Policy. In Latin America, IPPG
implements activities in Ecuador and
Bolivia under the general coordination
of Alexander Schejtman, one of Rimisp’s
lead researchers.
11
11. 2008 l ANNUAL REPORT
A New Deal for Rural Latin America
On May 12, 2008, former President of Chile Ricardo Lagos Escobar
offered a speech entitled “A New Deal for Rural Latin America” at the
Latin American Meeting of Intendants, Governors and Prefects for
Rural Development, which was held in Santiago de Chile.
Lagos referred to public policies that should be adopted in view of the
region’s “new rural complexity” and proposed revisiting the idea of
creating a system of government to facilitate the development of rural
areas of Latin America and the Caribbean. The paragraphs that follow
contain extracts of this speech, which can be viewed in its entirety in
the Documents section of www.rimisp.org/dtr/documentos
“The food crisis, the environmental impact of agricultural activities, magnified when we speak of the rural world. I am reiterating what
and the persistence of poverty and inequality are three clear signals I recently said at the Magallanes University: there is a need for a
that all is not well, and that we must develop a new relationship profound reform of government that allows for a strong, efficient
with rural Latin America that stimulates revitalization in the rural and transparent public sector that is compatible with the demands
world with a sense of social justice.” of the beginning of the third century of our independent life. This
government reform is not technocratic work. It is nothing more or
“The question is how this diversity of public and private actors less than the work of generating a consensus on a new equation
can become an effective agent of development in their regions. between the State, the market and society in each country that
It is not easy because social inequality works against the optimizes opportunities of access to social capital that are neces-
construction of consensuses. But it is possible and there is suf- sary for participating in material and moral progress and offering
ficient evidence of this in many of the policies and programs that the best possible social protection of individuals in accordance
are being promoted in the region. This is one of the main riches of with our level of income and development. The key concept in
the territorial approach to rural development that has been gaining this equation is guarantees: the set of basic opportunities and
ground in the past few years: it emphasizes the need to stimulate protections that society is in a position to ensure to every person
and support the creation of collective actors that are deeply rooted through public policies.
in their territories who can reach consensus regarding a vision of
the future and project the type of actions and investments that “Governors, prefects and mayors have a tremendous responsibility
are needed in order to move in that direction. in how this new deal is built for rural Latin America. Each of their
governments has a direct relationship with this real society. For
“… I would like to refer to the challenge of good government for them, aggregate statistics on job creation or loss, environmental
rural areas. The recent World Bank World Development Report that pollution or preservation and the valorization of ecosystems,
focuses on issues of agriculture, the rural world and development social cohesion or the expansion of violence, good schools or
identified numerous innovations in public policy and private initia- those that reproduce inequality are things that mean something.
tives that could truly contribute to the wellbeing of rural societies. The issue is how we adapt to this new reality, this urban-rural
But the report hit a nerve when it stated that many of these inno- relationship that does not have the clarity of the past. This is a
vations do not go beyond being ‘islands of success’ because of matter that has never been discussed, and the fact that it is now
the weaknesses of systems of government and particularly public being discussed makes the work of addressing these tasks much
institutions. This is a general problem in Latin America, but it is more complex.”
29
12. 2008 l ANNUAL REPORT
The Ibero-American Rural Dialogue: a new
space for high-level political exchanges
O
ne of the challenges that this program has accepted is
participating in the political processes through which the Extract of the El Salvador Declaration
coalitions, visions and general strategies that inspire rural
development programs and policies in the region are built. One The El Salvador Declaration, which was agreed to and signed
of these spaces is the Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State by the representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture of the
and Government. Ibero-American nations, contains two sections that make
specific mention of the Ibero-American Rural Dialogue:
In close collaboration with the Office of the Secretary General of
Ibero-America (SEGIB) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock “… We agree:
of El Salvador, the RTD program organized the Ibero-American Paragraph 14: To welcome the recommendations of the
Rural Dialogue in San Salvador. The meeting was linked to the Ibero-American Rural Dialogue and to propose that the agenda
Conference of Ministers of Agriculture of Ibero-America and formed of the XVIII Ibero-American Summit include the topic of the
part of the official program of activities of the XVIII Ibero-American food crisis so that specific responses can be proposed at
Summit of Heads of State and Government. the regional level.
The direct precedent of this activity was the meeting organized in Paragraph 15: To recommend that the Office of the Secretary
Madrid by SEGIB, the Ministry of the Environment and Rural and General of Ibero-America (SEGIB) consider including the
Marine Sector (MARM) of Spain, and the Rural Territorial Dynam- Ibero-American Rural Dialogue as an activity that generates
ics program. The meeting’s participants agreed on the need to information and analysis and contributes to the Ibero-American
place the issue of the food crisis on the agenda and the political Conferences of Ministries of Agriculture.“
discussion of the XVIII Ibero-American Summit. This strategy had
two objectives:
from nearly 40 non-governmental organizations, cooperation agen-
1. for the Heads of State and Government to offer politi- cies, universities, the private sector and ministries of Ibero-America
cal statements on this crucial matter; and participated in the exchange.
2. to identify opportunities to respond to the crisis based The discussion focused on two main topics: the food crisis and
on Ibero-American cooperation, paying special attention rural territories. The result was a document directed at the IX
to the countries or sub-regions that have been affected Conference of Ministers of Agriculture and, through it, the Heads
the most. of State and Government of Ibero-America. The text includes a
series of recommendations agreed to by the forum participants.
A decision was made to hold the Ibero-American Rural Dialogue, The Ministers of Agriculture of Ibero-America decided to adopt the
which would feature the participation of diverse public and private recommendations proposed by the Dialogue, including installing
actors from throughout Ibero-America. The event took place in Sep- the forum as a permanent element of the process of future Ibero-
tember 2008, one month prior to the Summit. Over 70 people American Summits of Heads of State and Government.
30
13. 2008 l ANNUAL REPORT
Participant’s Remarks
“[The Ibero-American Rural Dialogue] is an
excellent opportunity to share information and
promote strategies directed at improving the living
conditions of our rural populations. The current
situation favors countries like ours that produce
and export because we can take advantage of
the increase in agricultural prices to enhance
productivity and access to internal, regional and
world markets.”. Mario Ernesto Salaverria,
Mario Ernesto Salaverria, Minister of Agriculture of El Salvador.
Minister of Agriculture of El Salvador.
“There is a need to give priority to food safety and
to generate initiatives for retaining young people
in the rural sectors of Latin American nations.
Galo Larenas, Ambassador of Ecuador in El
Salvador and representative of his country at
the IX Ibero-American Conference of Ministers
of Agriculture.
“The increase in food prices can be handled in
a positive manner. This is a great opportunity for
Latin America because almost all of the countries Martin Pineiro, Director of Grupo CEO, Argentina.
are net exporting nations, with the exception of
El Salvador, Mexico and Venezuela. An adequate
management and administration policy that pro-
tects the poorest consumer sectors and decreases
negative impacts could increase production for
exportation”. Martin Pineiro, Director of Grupo
CEO, Argentina.
“There is a need to promote family farming, social
protection and nutritional health at the national
level…. Nutritional education is essential to en-
suring food safety for Latin American peoples”.
Jose Graziano da Silva, FAO, Assistant Director General for
Jose Graziano da Silva, FAO, Assistant Latin America and the Caribbean.
Director General for Latin America and the
Caribbean.
“From ECLAC’s perspective, flat subsidies are
not an optimal response to the food crisis. We
must focus on the most vulnerable populations
and those who have the greatest need. Prior-
ity should be given to children under the age
of five, breastfeeding mothers and pregnant
women”. Martine Dirven, Official responsible
for ECLAC’s Productive and Business Devel-
opment Division.
Martine Dirven, Official responsible for ECLAC’s Productive and
Business Development Division.
31
14. ANNUAL REPORT l 2008
The program in the international press
T
he activities and products of the Rural Territorial Dynamics The Journalists’ Meeting led to the publication of around 26
program have had an important presence in the media in articles. Pieces written by network members appeared in Bolivia,
Latin America and some English-language written media Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, in media outlets such
outlets. In this report, we present some of the most noteworthy as La Razon and La Prensa (Bolivia), O Estado de Sao Paulo,
articles and interviews that appeared in the Latin American media A Tribuna, Jornal de Piracicaba (Brazil), La Discusion (Chillan,
during 2008. Chile), El Espectador and El Tiempo (Colombia), El Mercurio and
El Comercio (Ecuador) and La Republica (Peru).
The Ecuadorean news-
paper El Mercurio de In September and October, eight substantial articles about the
“It is very difficult to Cuenca published an Ibero-American Rural Dialogue appeared in newspapers such as
break down conditions interview with the Co- El Espectador (Colombia), El Mercurio (Ecuador), La Republica
of poverty and the lack ordinator of the RTD (Peru), O Estado de Sao Paulo (Brazil), La Discusion (Chillan, Chile),
of opportunities. There program, Julio Berde- and a report in a specialized journal published in Argentina called
is no quick fix, no policy gue, in August. The Super Campo. There were also short pieces about the event and
that can resolve things piece, which is entitled its objectives and Rimisp in over 25 print and digital publications
in a period of 24 hours.”
“Rural Development from various Ibero-American nations.
Is Not An Illusion,” is
Julio Berdegue
Interview published a conversation with
in Diario El Mercurio, journalist Alberto Or-
Cuenca, Ecuador donez, a member of the
August 2008 Rural Press Network.
Berdegue states that
Latin American rural
development “is not
only an economic and productive problem,” and that it must be
viewed from the point of view of the consolidation of public poli-
cies within government agencies and the unfaltering participation
of social sectors.
Berdegue also was interviewed by a journalist from the Bolivian
newspaper La Razon. The article, which appeared in June 2008,
was entitled “Bolivia Needs a Citizen Consensus.” When asked
about inequality and rural poverty in that nation, Berdegue stated
that “Bolivia is a country of contrasts. It became a point of refer-
ence because of rural policies such as the Popular Participation
Law but it also presents some of the highest levels of poverty
and inequality.”
Fifty-eight articles were published in digital media and news-
papers from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Mexico, including
Pagina 12 (Argentina), Agencia Brasil, Los Tiempos (Bolivia), El
Mercurio (Chile), Soitu (Spain), El Financiero and Notimex (Mexico),
Yahoo Noticias and Terra Noticias, during the Governors’ meet-
ing in May.
38
15. 5
INFORME ANUAL l 2008
Management and progress
• Respecting the program’s complexities: the monitoring and evaluation system
• Advisory Board and Coordination Unit
• Financial Summary
51
16. Full report available at:
http://www.rimisp.org/FCKeditor/UserFiles/File/documentos/docs/pdf/DTR/Annual_report_english.pdf
17. 2009
Annual
Report
Rural Territorial
Dynamics Program
Latin American Center
for Rural Development
19. Moving towards the generation of proposals
This Annual Report offers us a new opportunity to render account and to share the work and results of the Rural
Territorial Dynamics Program with our partners and collaborators.
In the introduction to the 2008 report, we said that the program was at a stage in which we were looking to
“establish solid bases for achieving significant and high-quality results, effects and impacts.” During 2009, the
program’s 54 partners and 120 collaborators have generated an impressive set of partial and final results through
research, capacity building, communications, international relations and, most recently, incidence work in dif-
ferent areas of public action.
The program has facilitated spaces for dialogue, critical analysis of proposals by external specialists, and project
monitoring and evaluation aimed at ensuring that everything we do is significant and of the highest possible quality.
This report presents what was done and achieved in 2009 in a brief and necessarily partial form. We invite
readers to learn more about the issues that interest them most on our website, www.rimisp.org/dtr, and on our
partners’ websites.
If we had to summarize the progress that was made in 2009, we would have to say that we built on the bases
constructed in 2008 in order to develop sufficient high-quality inputs to move forward more decidedly in 2010
in the collective construction of proposals for the societies in which we participate. The immediate challenge is
to integrate and synthesize these inputs in an innovative vision and strategies for the sustainable development
of rural territories.
We have 30 months left in which to turn these results into products for the transformation of rural societies. I
invite our partners and collaborators to maintain their focus on the goals that this program is designed to achieve:
• The formation of coalitions that build and promote an innovative vision and strategies for the sustainable
development of rural territories.
• A vision of the revitalization of rural territories with social justice and environmental sustainability and
strategies for implementing it.
• Changes in various areas of public and private action consistent with the program’s vision and strategies.
Julio A. Berdegue
Program Coordinator
21. RTD program research
projects
14
In early 2009, the program completed the analysis of selected and Figure 2 shows their
dynamics of social and economic change in over 10,000 geographic locations. 13
municipalities (or their equivalents) in 11 countries. 11 12
Using the Elbers et al. 1 method, geographic areas The project coordination teams presented
10 15
characterized by different development outcomes proposals that were evaluated by two anonymous 16
were identified. Based on these maps, 19 territories reviewers and then adjusted, based on the comments
in 11 countries were selected as sites for the program received. Each research project fits into the general meth-
based on their dynamics of economic growth and social odological framework of the applied research component, 7
inclusion, in order to concentrate research and capacity which has been modified progressively according to the partial
building activities in them. Table 1 lists the territories results obtained and the needs of the research activities.
Table 1. Selected territories 9
8
Country Territory Surface in Km2 Population
1. Bolivia Chaco Tarijeno 13.072 225.366
18
2. Brazil Cariri Paraibano 7.075 119.430
19
3. Brazil Costa de Santa Catarina 15.000 1.500.000 17
4. Brazil Jiquirica Valley, Bahia 12.414 309.192
5. Chile Central Chiloe 3.412 89.000
6. Chile Interior dryland of the O’Higgins Region 2.153 20.093
7. Colombia Upper Suarez and Lake Fuquene basin 483 35.337
1
8. Ecuador Loja 10.793 404.835
9. Ecuador Tungurahua 3.369 441.034
10. El Salvador Northern riverbank of Humedal Cerron Grande 570 70.048
11. Guatemala Southeastern area of Jutiapa and Jalapa 570 70.000
12. Honduras Olancho 1.009 36.375
13. Mexico Mezcal region of Oaxaca 18.220 490.745 6
14. Mexico South-central Yucatan Region 628 29.900
15. Nicaragua Macizo de Penas Blancas, La Dalia 462 126.209
16. Nicaragua Dairy region 546 16.404
17. Peru Cuatro Lagunas, Cusco 954 35.000 5
18. Peru Sierra de Jauja, Junin 2.100 60.000
19. Peru Southern Valley of Cusco 3.749 88.926
1 Elbers, C., Lanjouw, J. O., Lanjouw, P. 2003. “Micro-level Estimation of Poverty and Inequality.”
Econometrica 71(1): 355-364.
12
22. Figure 2: Geographic The research questions of the 19 projects can be proposed in Loja, where it is thought that public and
organized into four groups: private investment stimulated the creation of new
locations of selected
networks of relationships in the geographic space, while
territories 1.What explains successful making production and local business more dynamic.
territorial dynamics?
Most of the projects include research questions aimed 3. Assets endowment, use and
at explaining the territorial differences within the distribution
countries, specifically successful dynamics. This is Several projects pose questions that link assets en-
the case of Tarija, Cariri, Santa Catarina, Jiquirica, dowment, use and distribution with social actors and
Loja, Tungurahua, Cerron Grande and the dairy region coalitions. Several analyze how social actors and co-
of Nicaragua. alitions participate in and influence the way in which
the territory’s assets are distributed (Tarija, Chiloe,
Other proposals, such as the two from Mexico, are Fuquene, Cerron Grande, Jutiapa and Jalapa, and La
related to the public and social decisions and actions Dalia). Others analyze the relationship between assets
that encourage successful rural territorial development and institutional frameworks.
dynamics (the case of Oaxaca) and “exogenous” and
“endogenous” phenomena that have influenced the Several proposals explore the link between institutional
territorial dynamics for the past 20 years (the case frameworks and the distribution of the territory’s as-
of Yucatan). sets. Cuatro Lagunas deals with institutional dynamics
2
that explain the heterogeneity observed in the terri-
Some projects explore specific factors in order to tory. In O’Higgins, work is focused on the institutional
4 explain the dynamics of the territory, such as devel- framework that allowed the productive transformation
opment strategies based on the extraction of natural in this territory to be socially inclusive. In Nicaragua’s
resources (Tarija), the benefit of a specific geographic dairy region and Jauja, the projects are designed to
condition (Tungurahua) or the phenomenon of migra- determine how public policies contribute to or hinder
tion (Yucatan and the dairy region of Nicaragua). The more inclusive and equitable development. One of the
role of stakeholders, social coalitions and institutional proposals, La Dalia, will explain how the valorization of
frameworks in the development of the territories is the territory’s assets is associated with the institutional
also addressed (Tungurahua and Cerron Grande). changes made over the past few years.
3
2. Links between social actors and 4. Environmental services and the
coalitions and the institutional conservation of natural capital
framework Several projects address how social coalitions and insti-
All projects explore the relationships between social tutional frameworks favor the conservation of natural
actors, coalitions and institutional frameworks at the capital. Cases of Jutiapa and Jalapa, Cariri, and Yucatan
territorial scale. While Chiloe, Olancho and La Dalia analyze the sustainability of the territorial dynamics
projects look at social actors and coalitions that have and perspectives of those processes in these regions.
conditioned institutional frameworks that stimulate In O’Higgins, there are plans to explore the elements
more successful dynamics, others suggest the direct that have determined socially inclusive development
influence of those actors on local administrations, as dynamics, but without an adequate management of
is the case in Tarija and Cerron Grande. The inverse is emerging environmental conflicts.
13
23. Mexico
Territorial dynamics in the south-central
Yucatan region: less poverty, less inequality
Partners: Program of Studies on Economic Change and Sustainability of
Mexican Agriculture (PRECESAM), Economic Studies Center of the Mexico
School, Autonomous University of Yucatan
Though 22% of the population of the municipalities
of Acanceh, Cuzama, Huhi and Homun in the Mexi-
can state of Yucatan continues to live in poverty,
between 1990 and 2005 the number of poor families
decreased and their consumption increased in a
context of lower inequality. This project explores
Coming soon…
the reasons for these positive results.
Mexico In order to better understand
These municipalities belong to what was the country’s the dynamics observed in
henequen (agave) production area until the 1980s. these municipalities, addi-
They share borders and a relatively homogenous tional work will be conducted
identity, with similarities in terms of history, economic on the following: identifica-
strategies, culture, natural conditions and physical tion and description of new
over the past 20 years. At the national level, the re-
infrastructure. The territory is home to over thirty stakeholders in the territory
orientation of the government’s role in the economy,
thousand people, 52% of whom are of Mayan origin. and their networks or coali-
democratization and rural reform is noteworthy. At the
It has a long history of agricultural activities in which tions; the role of young people
local level, the decrease in the henequen economy,
the campesinos’ land is mainly for common use. Its the sale of the quasi-governmental company Cordeles
as stakeholders based on
proximity to Merida, good communications, roadways, Mexicanos (Cordomex) in the early 1990s, and the effects
their educational level and
and the presence of vestiges of Mayan temples, arti- of Hurricane Isidora in 2002 led thousands of people
remunerated work; the effect
sans, and cenotes (sinkholes) give the municipalities to turn to new types of work. This process led to the of government transfers and
a high potential for tourism. economic diversification of the municipalities. In spite other public programs in the
of the weight that the manufacturing sector has had territory; changes based on
One of the hypotheses that emerged from the study is as a result of the establishment of textile companies’ the loss of hegemony of the
that improvements in households’ wellbeing are due maquilas in the early 1990s, their importance has de- PRI (Institutional Revolutionary
to the growth of salaried income and public transfers creased with the onset of the 21st century whilst that Party) and on the incorpora-
such as Oportunidades and Procampo. The reduction of other activities has increased. Salaried work at the tion of the Protestant faith;
in transaction (transportation) costs promoted a sala- maquilas and other urban activities have reduced the changes and the state of agri-
ried employment process based on the daily work of supply of family labour affecting intense traditional culture, land use, biodiversity
inhabitants from the territory in Merida and Cancun. activities at home. However, family farming based on and other natural resources;
milpa-production (corn, beans and squash) and back- changes in nutritional and eat-
The research indicates that exogenous and endogenous yard gardening (vegetable plots, herbs and livestock) ing patterns; and the family
phenomena have influenced the territory’s dynamics persists, though it is now managed by the elderly. manufacturing economy.
19
24. Nicaragua
Governance in the use of and access to natural resources
in the Macizo de Penas Blancas Nature Reserve
Socios: Nitlapan Institute of Research and Development, Central American University of Nicaragua,
Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS – Denmark)
The Macizo de Penas Blancas Nature Reserve coffee. This was accompanied by a discourse
experienced stagnation in average consumption on environmentally sustainable development
between 1998 and 2005. However, the terri- production in the area of the reserve.
tory also experienced improvements in its Gini • The increase in the demand
coefficient during that period. What territorial
for water for domestic use due
dynamics have produced the economic and dis-
to population growth, which Nicaragua
tributive changes observed? This question is the
went from 92,000 inhabitants in
point of departure of the study of this territory.
1998 to 126,000 in 2005. This led to
concerns over the reserve’s forest and the
According to our research, the use and control of
ecological and water services that it provides.
land in the Macizo de Penas Blancas Nature Reserve
is the central axis around which revolve the organi-
It is the source of 80% of the water used in the
municipalities of Tuma-La Dalia, Rancho Grande,
Coming soon…
zational and economic practices of traditional stake-
and Cua, and pollution has been detected in
holders of this territory. Such stakeholders include
water sources during the initial stages of coffee
The research will expand on the
the major landowners of La Dalia; the inhabitants actions taken by social actors re-
processing (“honey water”).
of poor settlements who provide labor for the large lated to: the use and control of
• International cooperation agencies and mu- land in the area; how the endow-
agricultural operations; and the small-scale land-
owners who grow coffee in the highlands, mainly
nicipal governments have stepped up efforts to ment and valorization of assets
ensure sustainable development and protection of social actors has changed; the
in the Cua and Rancho Grande regions.
of the reserve as part of a plan to increase de- institutional change associated
centralization and strengthen the relationship with the actions of such actors
The main hypothesis is that the economic, distribu- and changes in the endowment
between the mayor’s office and the community.
tive and environmental changes observed are due and valorization of assets; and
This has been expressed, for example, through
to the fact that competition among social actors the causal relationship between
the creation of a physical land registry in order
for the use and control of the land has been car- institutional changes promoted
to promote protection and regulate the use of by social actors and economic
ried out increasingly in the environmental field and
soil and water; through the formation of the activities and their distribution,
has become less of a ‘productivism’ issue. This is
Municipal Association of Penas Blancas del Norte the distribution of consumption
mainly due to:
(AMUPEBLAN); and through the development of and poverty, and the environ-
a Management Plan proposal. mental conditions.
•The coffee crisis, which led producers to seek
out new niches in the market, such as organic
20
27. Conceptual framework and methodology
for capacity building
In the context of the program, ment Agency (NZAID). The work will
“capacity building” is defined as Quito meeting: provide real experience and practical
the process by which the various evidence of what works in rural territo-
stepping up the pace
stakeholders who are important rial development and what doesn’t, and
for territorial dynamics acquire The members of the teams that are carrying out will channel these messages to those
new knowledge, capacities capacity building activities in Honduras, El Salva- responsible for designing policies and
and skills in order to work dor, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Ecuador and Chile and programs as well as opinion-shapers.
in a coordinated manner and members of the Coordination Unit met last June For a summary of the current situation
promote changes that simulta- 22-24 in Quito. of each territory in the area of capacity
neously bring about economic building, see Table 4.
growth, social inclusion and The members of the Coordination Unit presented
environmental sustainability. Every territory presents a unique real-
the context in which the Capacity Building compo-
ity. In view of this, the methodology
nent is inserted in the program, its methodologi-
The main focus should be placed and tools were designed to be flexible
on capacities for improving the
cal guidelines and the orientations and proposals so that they can adapt to specific
quality and effectiveness of
for the Communities of Practice. Country teams circumstances. However, in all of the
collective action, networking, presented an analysis of the initial situation, cases the plan includes the following:
social innovation and social which included selection criteria and the main
undertakings. Special attention characteristics of the territory, along with propos- 1. Research as a fundamental input for
will be paid to strengthening als for identifying and working with local leaders, capacity building
the most socially excluded and as well as strengths and weaknesses in order to We start from the basis that an
poorest groups. progress in each one of the anticipated products. effective capacity building process in
Lastly, agreements were presented and those a territory must be based on diligent
The first capacity building proj- responsible for the territories prepared their work research that identifies the territory
ects are being implemented in to be considered, its social actors and
plans for the coming months.
six territories in Chile, Ecuador, sound hypotheses that clearly estab-
Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Sal- lish the main axes of change. Proper
vador and Honduras. The work
Thanks to this fruitful meeting, the rhythm of research allows for the identification
for this component in Central the component has increased. This initiative was of the most important stakeholders and
America has been reinforced a developed in response to one of the main recom- the role that they play in the territory
great deal by the donation made mendations that the Advisory Council made to the and provides focus to the work of the
last year by the New Zealand’s Coordination Unit for 2009. capacity building component.
International Aid and Develop-
54
28. Equitierra Magazine: over four thousand subscribed in 2009
Overcoming inequalities and the persis- President of WWF; and Robert
tence of rural poverty, from the urgent to Sauve, Vice Minister of Rural
Equitierra in numbers – 2009
the important… Equitierra has dedicated and Regional Development of
yet another year to rural issues in Latin • 2,500 downloads of full issues of Equitierra the Province of Quebec, Canada.
America. During 2009, this publication occurred this year. Table 5 shows the top five
experienced favorable development most read articles in 2009. It was also a year of innovation
shown by the increase in subscribers • 12,000 users of the Wobook platform viewed at for Equitierra. During this period,
(4,000 voluntarily subscribed by year’s least one issue of Equitierra magazine. spaces that allowed for exchanges
end; 60% more than the previous year), • Visitors’ average browsing time on Equitierra’s with readers opened up through
the improvement in the way issues are website was 9 minutes. Web 2.0 platforms like Facebook,
handled and the inclusion of multimedia where we have 400 followers. It
material in each issue. also has a presence in Wobook,
the free digital publications exchange platform, which logged a
Some of the issues developed throughout the year were the food total of 12,000 visits to different issues of the magazine during
crisis, climate change and dynamics of growth, inequality and 2009. In addition, multimedia materials such as videos and photo
poverty based on the initial results of the research conducted essays that accompanied Equitierra articles have received nearly
by the program in Nicaragua, Peru, Chile and Ecuador. The pub- 1,000 visits on the Blip TV network. The photo albums posted
lication also addressed innovative initiatives and undertakings in the program’s Flickr gallery (www.flickr.com/rimisp) contain
with cultural identity in rural areas in several countries in the nearly 600 images that have received over 10,000 visits from
region, the successful experiences of rural Brazil, and the impact cybernauts from all over the world.
of the global financial crisis on rural poverty in Latin America.
Interviews were held with such important figures as Jose Maria These spaces in social networks allow Equitierra to interact with
Sumpsi, Deputy Director of FAO; Yolanda Kakabadse, International its audience and improve its position as an electronic journal.
Table 5: Top five most read articles of 2009
1. Climate change: rescuing rural knowledge (Cambio climático: al rescate de los saberes rurales)
Opinion column / Authors: Manuel Chiriboga and Ana Lucia Torres - Equitierra # 4
2. Halting poverty and revitalizing the rural medium: two priorities in the context of the crisis
(Frenar la pobreza y revitalizar el medio rural: dos prioridades frente a la crisis)
Article / Author: Sofia Torey - Equitierra # 4
3.The main gaps of the 2009 World Development Report (Los grandes ausentes del Informe de
Desarrollo Mundial 2009) Article / Author: Maria Elena Montory - Equitierra # 4
4. Crisis and rural poverty in Latin America (Crisis y pobreza rural en América Latina)
Opinion column / Authors: Carolina Trivelli and Johanna Yancari - Equitierra # 3
5. Yolanda Kakabadse - Climate change: the new challenge for biodiversity (Cambio climático:
el nuevo reto para la biodiversidad) Interview / Author: Jennie Carrasco - Equitierra # 4
70
29. The challenge of being in the media
In order for the program to reach public opinion with its first year, a new way of looking at the Rural Press
its results and proposals and create better conditions Network emerged. Based on the work with the media
for policy incidence, it is essential to have a media and development of specific campaigns during 2009,
presence. From its inception, the program’s goal has we have reached the conclusion that the Network
been to generate permanent contact with journalists should be seen as a channel for providing the media
and print media outlets throughout Latin America. with current and relevant content.
In 2008, it facilitated the establishment of the Rural
Press Network in order to improve the It is also important to
quality and quantity of press coverage take advantage of the
of key rural issues. In 2009, the positioning that the Rural
Rural Press Press Blog has achieved.
By the end of 2009, the Rural Press Net- This is a communication
work had 47 members in Chile, Ecuador, Blog had and opinion tool in which
Bolivia, Guatemala, Mexico, Brazil,
42,000 views journalists, researchers,
Colombia, Peru, Nicaragua, Honduras, agents of development
Argentina, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Paraguay, and 88 entries and program partners
the Dominican Republic and El Salvador.
from participate with issues
and proposals that are
While the network was designed to serve different helping build a collective
as a space for exchange among journalists
on rural issues and to improve coverage
authors vision on rural territo-
rial development. The
of such matters in the region’s media, it throughout blog began as a tool for
soon became clear that this goal would
be very difficult to achieve. It is not the
Latin America. member journalists but
has become something
journalist’s job to endorse a cause, but much broader and has
to report information objectively in order to generate generated a solid level of acceptance in the audi-
public discussion. Meanwhile, the role of the program ence that it reaches. The three most popular entries
should be to make use of the contact generated with in 2009 were: “How will the world crisis affect
the media in order to keep journalists informed of the Latin America in 2009,” with 8,442 visits, followed by
issues under discussion in the rural world in a timely “Ecuador’s new Constitution: a declaration in favor
and agile manner. of the development model,” written by Pablo Ospina,
RTD program partner, with 3,064 visits, and the article
The network has been successful in allowing the “Natural biodiversity and cultural wealth: exploring
program to take a first step towards getting closer to alternatives for territorial development in Bolivia,”
and establishing links with the written press in Latin written by Rimisp RTD-IC project researcher Marcelo
America. After reviewing the process and realizing Uribe, with 1,533 visits.
the challenges as well as the progress made during
71
30. In the media 22
During 2009, at least 100 articles were published in nearly 60 media outlets in 15 countries. The following outlets published infor-
mation, articles and reports based on the program’s work.
Diario Prensa Libre (Guatemala) Contrapunto (El Salvador) Cadena de Noticias
(Dominican Republic)
Diario de Centroamerica (Guatemala) El Faro.com (El Salvador) El Caribe (Dominican Republic)
Telediario (Guatemala) EKA - business journal Almomento.net
(Central America) (Dominican Republic)
Terra Noticias (Regional) El Ecuatoriano Noticias (Ecuador) El Nacional (Venezuela)
El Periodico de Mexico (Mexico) Noticias Hispanas (Regional) El Heraldo (Honduras)
Globo.com (Brazil) Portal do Agronegocio Goiano (Brazil) El Comercio (Peru)
La Republica (Uruguay) Noticias Agricolas (Brazil) Prensa Grafica (El Salvador)
La Jornada de Michoacan (Mexico) Campo Vivo (Brazil) Houston Chronicle (United States)
Diario La Hora (Ecuador) Business News around El Paso Times (United States)
the World (Colombia)
Prensa Indigena (Mexico) Forolacfr – Centro de informacion The New Herald (United States)
Finanzas Rurales (Regional)
Informativos.net (Chile) Noticias ABC (Colombia) El Golfo Info (Mexico)
El Comercio (Ecuador) Argenpress (Argentina) Notisistema (Mexico)
Cambio de Michoacan (Mexico) Dinero (Colombia) El Informador (Mexico)
Diario La Republica (Colombia) La Tribuna (Honduras) El Universal (Mexico)
Diario Catarinense (Brazil) ADN (Spain) El Confidencial (Spain)
La Prensa (Nicaragua) Minuto 59 (Venezuela) Aguas Digital (Mexico)
El Nuevo Diario (Nicaragua) Frontera de Mexico (Mexico) SDP Noticias (Mexico)
Diario O Estado de Sao Paulo (Brasil) Soitu (Spain) El Imparcial (Mexico)
Portafolio de Diario El Tiempo The Baja California Chronicle El Mexicano online (Mexico)
(Colombia) (United States)
22
All of the articles and reports published about the RTD program are available at www.rimisp.org/dtr/saladeprensa.
72
31. The website: the program’s showcase
The program website launched a new statistics system AdWords campaign directed at specific audiences. Since
in 2009. Beginning in May, the Google Analytics system the beginning of the campaign in mid-November, it has
provided detailed reports on the behavior of users on generated six thousand visits to the Crisis and Rural Poverty
the RTD website such as the total number of visits reg- section alone.
istered, most frequently viewed pages, documents and Most of these
reports downloaded, average amount of time spent on visits were from The Crisis and
the website and countries in which the users are resid-
ing. The availability of these statistics has allowed the
users who went
to the program
Rural Poverty
RTD program’s Communications Team to make important website for the section
decisions regarding the dissemination of information. first time. A large
percentage of
homepage was
The data from May through December 2009 shows clear users reached the the most
progress in the number of visits to the website. While Crisis and Rural
there were 11,039 visits between May and August, the Poverty section frequently
website’s visits increased by 56% between September through search visited page
and December with 17,191 total visits. If we narrow engines and then
down the data further, we observe that there were took the time to in the Rimisp
nearly 5,000 visits in September and October and over
12,000 in November and December, which represents
view other pages
and program sec-
site during the
an increase of 153%. See Figure 12. tions, thus gener- month of
Website visitors came from 70 countries in 2009. Peru-
ating more traffic
throughout the
December,
vian and Mexican nationals represent 10% and 9% of the site. surpassing even
total, respectively. The statistics also show that most
website users speak Spanish, but 13% speak English and The working pa-
the Rimisp
3% Portuguese. pers section of homepage,
the program is
The progressive increase in the number of visits is the one of the most which ranked
result of the successive efforts to optimize the website frequently visited second.
that took place during the second half of 2009. The pages on the en-
launch of the Crisis and Rural Poverty in Latin America tire site. Between
project (www.rimisp.org/dtr/crisisypobrezarural) was July and the end of the year, a total of 2,000 of those
an important catalyst that produced a significant increase documents were downloaded. See Figure 13, which
in the number of visits and was accompanied by a Google details the most visited RTD website sections.
73
32. Members of the RTD Program Advisory Council
From left to right: Brent Rapson (ex - officio representative of NZAID), Rosalba Todaro (Women’s Research Center, Chile), Jorge Katz (independent consul-
tant, Chile, until August 2009), Miguel Urioste (Tierra Foundation, Bolivia), Monica Hernandez (Alternative Foundation, Ecuador), David Kaimowitz (Ford
Foundation, Nicaragua), Julio Berdegue (Program Coordinator), Regina Novaes (IBASE, Brazil), Hubert Zandstra (independent consultant, Canada), Merle
Faminow (ex- officio representative of IDRC, Uruguay), Eligio Alvarado (Dobba Yala Foundation, Panama) and German Escobar (ex- officio representative,
Rimisp, Chile). Missing in the picture: Lazaro Cardenas (political leader, Mexico) and Juan Alberto Fuentes (Minister of Finance, Guatemala).
92
33. Coordination Unit
Francisco Aguirre Rosamelia Andrade Julio A. Berdegue
Adjunct Capacity Building Communications Coordinator General Program Coordinator
Coordinator
Since May (1/2 time)
Lucia Carrasco Manuel Chiriboga Gilles Cliche
Administrator Adjunct Coordinator Adjunct Project Coordinator
(20% time) NZAID (1/2 time)
93
43. SINTESIS PARA LA PRENSA - Nº3
Preparado por el Programa Dinámicas Territoriales Rurales
de Rimisp - Centro Latinoamericano para el Desarrollo Rural
Noviembre 2009
Crisis y pobreza en América Latina
Remesas en
retroceso
C Puntos Claves
on la actual crisis económica
mundial, la caída en los flujos de
remesas se prevé como uno de • En algunos países, las remesas tienen una
los impactos relevantes que sufrirán los importante participación en las cuentas
hogares de menores recursos en muchos externas, y su disminución ya comenzó a
Estados de América Latina. evidenciarse a fines de 2008.
Esta disminución es más importante en • La emigración de algunos miembros del
los países como El Salvador, Guatemala, hogar, sea dentro o fuera del país, representa
Honduras, México, Nicaragua y República una forma de diversificación del ingreso de
Dominicana, donde el porcentaje de hoga- muchos hogares pobres, que está siendo
res que recibe remesas representa más afectada por la crisis.
del 20% de los hogares a nivel nacional
y rural, y constituyen más del 25% de los • En algunos sectores de la población, las
ingresos del hogar, según indica un estudio remesas están cubriendo una creciente
“Crisis y Pobreza Rural en América Latina”1 proporción de los gastos familiares y, en
llevado a cabo por Rimisp, el Instituto de muchos casos, pueden hacer la diferencia
Estudios Peruanos y el Fondo Internacio- entre caer o no en la pobreza.
nal de Desarrollo Agrícola este año en 11
Dar a la población rural
pobre la oportunidad países latinoamericanos. • Los hogares rurales pobres están entre los
de salir de la pobreza
más afectados con la reducción de remesas,
Hasta mediados de 2009, casi ningún país tornándose su situación más crítica aún.
de esta región había contemplado medidas
específicas para mitigar el impacto de la • Una contracción en las remesas puede
reducción de las remesas, y el tema ha impactar el índice de recuento de pobreza
recibido escasa atención en la prensa. general.
1 El proyecto “Crisis y pobreza rural en América Latina” es una iniciativa conjunta de Rimisp-Centro Latinoamericano para el De-
IEP Instituto de Estudios Peruanos sarrollo Rural, el Fondo Internacional de Desarrollo Agrícola (FIDA) y el Instituto de Estudios Peruanos (IEP). El estudio en que se
Centre latino-américain pour
le développement rural
basa esta publicación fue financiado por el Centro Internacional de Investigaciones para el Desarrollo (www.idrc.ca) a través del
programa Dinámicas Territoriales Rurales coordinado por Rimisp. La publicación de los documentos de la serie Crisis y Pobreza
Rural ha sido posible gracias a una donación del FIDA. Para acceder a la serie, visite www.rimisp.org/dtr/crisisypobrezarural.
1
