From 16 to 20 November, IFAD is marking 30 years of partnership between El Salvador and IFAD with a week full of events bringing together IFAD staff, government partners and UN agencies, national and international NGOs, civil society and private sector representatives.
The event presented a forum to learn about IFAD's accomplishments in the country and to discuss issues such as inclusive economic opportunities for rural communities, economic empowerment of women, and smallholder producers' equitable access to markets. It also allows attendees to know more about IFAD's strategy in the country and to further advance the national dialogue on pro-smallholders policies in which the Fund plays a pivotal role.
One major highlight of the whole event was the National Rural Youth Assembly which brought together young people working in local youth networks from 11 departments across the country. This assembly elected the board of the Rural Youth Network Association of El Salvador (AREJURES), whose members committed themselves to push forward pro-rural youth policies and projects across the country.