National Rural Development Programme Central and Eastern Regions (ORIENTE)

General

The programme aims to improve productivity and infrastructure to integrate 6,000 disadvantaged households into the country's social and economic mainstream in the central and eastern regions of Guatemala (El Progreso, Zacapa, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Santa Rosa, Cuilapa). It also builds up the role of rural grass-roots organizations, involving participants in planning and managing activities, to complement Guatemala's decentralization programme. Special attention is given to creating income-earning opportunities for women and to empowering women in general. On land and natural resource governance, the programme aims to empower rural poor populations and improve their self-esteem, so they may actively and systematically participate in planning. The programme provides support for land titling processes for rural women and for strengthening the decentralization process (in municipalities) through training in rural development, management, decentralization, participation and gender.