In the picturesque regions of Brunca and Huetar Norte, a transformative initiative is taking root to empower communities and pave the way for healthier, more sustainable agri-food systems. The joint programme “Empowering Communities in Sustainable Agri-Food Systems” is bringing together local stakeholders, international partners, and the United Nations to enhance agricultural practices, promote healthy eating, and strengthen governance in the cantons of Buenos Aires and Guatuso.
These cantons, located in the Brunca and Huetar Norte regions, are among the most disadvantaged in Costa Rica, with Cantonal Social Development Index scores of 15.35 and 24.23, respectively. Food insecurity, defined as a lack of regular and sufficient access to safe and nutritious food necessary for growth and development, is notably high. According to the Ministry of Health, it affects 22.65% of households in Guatuso and 11.76% in Buenos Aires—both exceeding the national average of 16.42%.
To address these challenges, initial community meetings were recently held. Participants included local residents involved in the programme, municipal authorities, representatives from local sectoral committees (COSELEs), United Nations agencies, and international partners. These gatherings provided an opportunity to share information about the programme and its goals while also exploring the nutritional value of traditional foods like the Christmas tamale.
“Today, the world faces challenges such as overweight, obesity, and malnutrition in adults, children, and adolescents, which negatively impact health and development throughout life. Climate change also directly affects agriculture, necessitating improved methods of production and consumption,” said Allegra Baiocchi, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Costa Rica.
The meetings also emphasized the crucial role of farmers and livestock producers in ensuring the availability of healthy, nutritious, and diverse food produced through sustainable practices. These efforts are central to the programme's objectives.
“Achieving a fair and balanced relationship between producers and consumers is essential for better production, better nutrition, a healthier environment, and an improved quality of life,” said Dr. Claudia Rosales, Acting Regional Director of the Regional Directorate of Health Management in Huetar Norte.
Strengthening the governance of agri-food systems is a key element of ensuring their long-term sustainability. Rural areas play a critical role in this effort, as they are the primary source of agricultural production in the country.
This initiative enhances coordination among local stakeholders, including the municipalities of Buenos Aires and Guatuso, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), the Ministry of Health (MS), and other institutions that form the COSELE committees in these cantons.
For Margoth Mora, Mayor of Buenos Aires, aligning the local government’s development vision with the work of state institutions and local actors is essential for fostering collaboration and achieving shared goals.
Matteo Buffagni, Attaché of the Italian Embassy in Costa Rica emphasized the vital role of such initiatives in advancing the SDGs, specifically SDG 2, which calls for collective action from all sectors to achieve zero hunger worldwide.
Through the Joint SDG Fund programme, “Empowering Communities in Sustainable Agri-Food Systems,” the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reaffirm their commitment to sustainable development and the well-being of rural communities in Costa Rica.
Note:
All joint programmes of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and our private sector funding partners, for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
