Strengthening Female Leadership in Green and Blue Economies in Costa Rica

• CAF and INAMU, with the technical support of CATIE, promote capacity-building for women entrepreneurs in rural and coastal areas of Costa Rica.

CAF - the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean - and the National Institute of Women (INAMU) of Costa Rica, with the technical support of CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center), have launched a project focused on strengthening women-led enterprises in rural and coastal areas of Costa Rica. This initiative aims to enhance economic and environmental sustainability in the Brunca, Central Pacific, Chorotega, and Huetar Caribe regions.

The project’s primary goal is to strengthen the organizational and individual capacities of women-led green and blue enterprises in the country's rural and coastal zones. To achieve this, workshops are being implemented to improve leadership skills for sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient projects.

During the first workshop, titled "Managing My Project: Starting and Thriving Without Failing!", participants acquired practical tools for planning and managing their initiatives, laying a solid foundation for administering and projecting their businesses.

This project also includes mentoring programs with a "training of trainers" approach, enabling participants to replicate what they have learned and amplify its impact within their communities. Furthermore, the initiative aligns with international commitments such as the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, promoting gender equality in climate action.

Through this valuable collaboration, CAF supports Costa Rica in its efforts to foster sustainable and resilient economies, generate employment, and empower women in vulnerable areas at risk due to the climate crisis. These actions are part of the National Action Plan on Gender Equality in Climate Action, emphasized Bárbara Auricchio, gender specialist at CAF's Gender, Inclusion, and Diversity Management Division.

Susana Acuña, Sustainable Agribusiness Specialist at CATIE, highlighted the project's significance, noting that it is invaluable for women as it fosters the development of support networks, economic autonomy, and female leadership in green and blue economies, which are essential pillars for a sustainable transition in the country’s rural and coastal regions.

With this initiative, the participating institutions reaffirm their commitment to women’s empowerment and sustainable and inclusive development in Costa Rica, driving women entrepreneurs to lead change in their communities.