Call for Research Proposals: The Rural World in Latin America and the Caribbean

Rurality in Latin America and the Caribbean presents a diverse and complex reality, with significant variations between countries and regions. The social and economic conditions in these areas face unique challenges compared to urban zones due to limited infrastructure and restricted access to basic services such as education, health, and internet. This perpetuates poverty and inequality. Agriculture and livestock are key activities, being essential both for employment and the subsistence of the rural population, as well as for the national economy in some countries, although these activities face additional difficulties due to climate change and environmental degradation.

To address these problems, it is crucial to design public policies that promote sustainable and equitable rural development. Subnational governments, due to their proximity to local problems, play a vital role in the formulation of these policies. Their participation ensures that solutions are appropriate and effective, helping to mitigate the vulnerability of rural communities to phenomena such as droughts, floods, and deforestation.

Through this call, we seek to fund up to nine research projects (up to USD 15,000 per project) that contribute to understanding the main problems faced by rural societies and productive means in the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the mechanisms and policies that help address these problems and promote rural development.

Key dates

• Closing date for receipt of proposals: August 9, 2024
• Notification of winning proposals: August 26, 2024
• Delivery of the first draft of the document with preliminary results: February 2025
• Presentation of the preliminary version: February 2025