Spain: Actions to improve sustainable development in communities

A cooperation agreement was signed on February 1 In the offices of the General Secretariat of the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI, from its initials in Spanish) in Madrid between the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) and the OEI. CAF Executive President Enrique García and OEI Secretary General Francisco Piñón were the signatories.

The agreement aims to combine efforts and promote joint actions to improve sustainable development in socially, culturally and economically disadvantaged communities, in countries that are members of both organizations, through projects that strengthen the basic capacities of these populations in the areas of production, culture, sport and innovation.

The actions concentrated on support for microenterprises in productive areas; culture, particularly related to conservation of heritage and its links to community tourism, as well as management of cultural policies and industries; sports programs as tools for building citizenship, and other areas of innovation.

Enrique García said the agreement was an important part of the CAF strategy for the human, cultural and community development of its member countries. He emphasized "the importance of strengthening local development with the communities themselves as fundamental actors in the process, and promoting alliances with strategic partners such as the OEI which contribute to sustainable action with greater impact."

Experience in favor of communities

The OEI is a government cooperation agency specializing in education, science, technology and culture, with 23 member countries, 20 of them Ibero-American, together with Spain, Portugal and Equatorial Guinea. The agency has 55 years' experience of cooperation in Ibero-America, in recent years often working closely with the Summits of Ibero-American Heads of State and Government. The General Secretariat is based in Madrid with offices in ten countries of America.

For more information visit the website www.oei.es