Quarterly newsletter from the Director of the Regional Unit for Technical Assistance - RUTA
RUTA is a Project of the Ministries of Agriculture of Central America, the World Bank, IDB, DFID, FAO, IFAD, IICA, IFPRI

Newsletter No. 2
October-December 2005

To Governments and Partner Agencies:

It is with great satisfaction that we bring you this second newsletter from the Office of the Director of RUTA. Our purpose is to keep you abreast of our activities, since we could not achieve our goals without your support.

For this second issue, we have made some changes in graphic design so as to present the information in a more reader-friendly format. Also, we have changed the title to “In touch with RUTA”.

Given that we are all involved and working together in this effort to further rural development in Central America, we need to keep in touch by sharing our experiences, distributing information and studying methodologies and trends so as to constantly improve our programs.

With warm greetings and our best wishes for 2006,

Miguel R. Gómez
mrgomez@ruta.org

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Please remember to send your contributions and comments to:
Proyecto RUTA
San José, Costa Rica
Teléfono (506)255-4011, Ext. 247
Fax (506)222-6556
regional@ruta.org
   
CENTRAL AMERICA IN ACTION
Work begins on formulation of a Common Agricultural Policy for Central America

Nicaragua and Honduras take steps to harmonize cooperation for rural development

RUTA presents its Work Program to CAC
Compilation of public policies on rural finance in Central America and Mexico
   
THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR AND CAFTA
Five country reports on value chains to be issued in 2006: Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica

Regional dialogues on CAFTA and trade liberalization to be held
   
WORKING FOR VULNERABLE GROUPS
Work completed on the conceptual framework document and studies of groups of vulnerable populations in Central America Work begins on study of poverty in Costa Rica
   
DRIVERS OF GROWTH
Guatemala begins work in Trifinio area to identify assets of rural population and strengthen public
investment to optimize their use

Nicaragua to strengthen the capital of poor population of Chontales department
   
ORGANIZATIONS AND CIVIL SOCIETY

Progress made in diagnostic study of main small-farmer organizations

Systematic analysis to be made of positive experiences with integrating rural entrepreneurs into markets

Analysis of business environment for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in Central America
   
     
OUR WORK
RUTA’s National Technical Units will strengthen their role in 2006
Supervisory mission: RUTA is on the right track
     
EVENTS
Video-conferences on gender equity and rural development
Coffee with RUTA: meeting with UCR students
     
NEW DEVELOPMENTS
New Web site launched
New planning, follow-up and evaluation system
     
LATEST PUBLICATIONS
Studies on engines for growth in Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras to be published soon.
Publications on CAFTA.
Publication on small farmers