What is GDPRD? The Platform was launched in 2003 to increase the effectiveness of international aid, promoting coordination, communication and information exchange among rural development actors. Further details are available at www.gdprd.org.

RUTA and the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development (GDPRD) sign a collaboration agreement

Complementing resources and efforts to promote greater effectiveness of international cooperation in support of rural development in Central America

On April 18, RUTA and the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development (GDPRD) signed an agreement to formalize the ongoing collaboration between the two institutions.

The objective of the joint work between RUTA and the Platform is to contribute to poverty alleviation in Central America through the promotion of rural and agricultural development. In line with the Paris Declaration, both institutions are committed to achieving this goal by promoting the appropriation, alignment and harmonization of agricultural programs. While the Platform operates as a global communication and facilitation mechanism, RUTA works at the regional level in Central America, providing technical assistance to governments on agricultural policy formulation and on the design and execution of rural development programs.

This agreement is an important milestone of a long lasting cooperation process between RUTA and the Platform, initiated in Nicaragua during the assistance provided by the Platform to partners of the PRORURAL program.

PRORURAL is the first SWAp program (sector-wide approach) implemented in Central America, and it strives to establish a common framework for all initiatives aimed at rural development in Nicaragua. In addition, RUTA is supporting the formulation of two other SWAps in Honduras and El Salvador, and there is a strong demand for broader dissemination of lessons learned in Nicaragua and of those at the international level which are provided by the Platform.

RUTA participates to the Second European Forum on Sustainable Rural Development As part of the agreement with GDPRD, RUTA’s Director participated to the Second European Forum on Sustainable Rural Development, organized by GDPRD and the European Union. This event was held in Berlin on June 18 – 21, 2007, and its main goal was to analyze mechanisms to promote sustainable growth and reduce poverty in rural Africa, and how European countries could contribute more effectively to that mission. It was a good opportunity to strengthen cooperation between RUTA and the Platform, and between RUTA and other agencies that are part of GDPRD. During the event, a work session to discuss potential collaboration areas was held between RUTA and the Director of the West Africa’s HUB. The HUB is a NGO created recently to assist key actors in Central and West Africa (governments, inter-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, and international development agencies) to promote coordination and harmonization of rural development programs. The HUB is highly interested in learning from RUTA as a regional inter-agency platform in Central America. As a result, it was agreed that with support from IFAD and GDPRD, HUB members will undertake a visit to Central America.