EXPIDER

Background

For years, the European Union has shown concern for the future of the rural world. This concern has motivated a rural strategy based on three components: a structural policy, a rural development policy within the política agrícola, and the community driven initiative known as LEADER. After more than ten years of implementation, this initiative has reached more than 1000 territories where ?grassroots? local organizations (Grupos de Acción Local) have been formed. This new institution is based on the cooperation between local public and private agents, who have the capacity to make collective commitments towards fostering the local economy and society.

It is in this context that the Inter-American Development Bank approved in October of year 2003 the project ?Implementation of Pilot Experiences in Rural Development in Latin America (EXPIDER)?. The project is a regional technical cooperation funded by the Fondo General de Cooperación de España for approximately US $600,000 in a period of 20 months.

Objective

The goal of EXPIDER is to improve the effectiveness of rural development programs by providing technical assistance for strengthening local institutional capacity. The assistance will be based on the lessons learned from the European, in particular from the Spanish experiences in rural development.

The project will identify and incorporate "good practices" for rural development to the "toolkit" of knowledge that inspires the design and execution of rural development programs promoted and funded by Latin-American governments and/or International Agencies within the Grupo Interagencial.

Case Studies

The project will be implemented in Bolivia, Ecuador y Honduras. Based on a series of criteria, the pilot areas for implementation of EXPIDER have been selected as follows: Mancomunidad de los valles Cruceños, Departamento de Santa Cruz (Bolivia); Mancomunidad de la cuenca alta del río Chan-Chan, Provincia de Chimborazo (Ecuador); as well as the subcuencas de Reitoca y Verdugo that have been preselected in Honduras.

Last updated: 04/19/06

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