Women’s Economic Empowerment in Mesoamerica (WEE) ANNUAL WORK PLAN FY2024 (October 2023 - September 2024)

The initiative integrates proven pathways to economic development and social empowerment, addressing threats such as lack of economic opportunities, employment, and gender-based social exclusion. Activity partners, including the Rainforest Alliance, Labetnografico, Fundación Ixcanul, and the Women's Justice Initiative, are working to address systemic inequalities and discrimination faced by women in Mesoamerica's rural landscapes. Pillar 1, Women Prospering in the Workforce, focuses on increasing the number of beneficiaries in agricultural production chains, such as coffee, cocoa, and non-timber forest products. Activity partners will expand reach and strengthen women's capacities through field schools, capacity building sessions, and awareness campaigns. Beneficiaries will receive training on topics such as quality standards improvement, product marketing, and organizational and business development. Additionally, awareness campaigns will promote favorable spaces to increase women's training on issues related to gender-based violence. Pillar 2, Women Succeeding as Entrepreneurs, aims to enable women to develop inclusive enterprises, accessing new opportunities through capacity building and technical skills. Activities will include business training, agro-transformation, product improvement and development, market intelligence and management, and market linkage through national and international fairs. Awareness campaigns will also raise awareness of property rights for women, contributing to economic empowerment. Pillar 3, Women Enabled in the Economy, focuses on generating an enabling environment that facilitates women's participation in the economy. Activities will include policy and advocacy efforts to promote women's economic empowerment, as well as awareness campaigns to address social norms and stereotypes that hinder women's economic participation. Partners will also work to strengthen women's leadership and decision-making roles in economic development initiatives. Implementation of the WEE Activity will be carried out in collaboration with regional and national partners, including the Association of Forest Communities of Petén, the Federation of Cooperatives of the Verapaces, and the Women's Cocoa and Chocolate Network of Honduras. Activities will be implemented in Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras, with a focus on rural areas where women face significant economic and social challenges. The WEE Activity will continue to constructively impact the lives of women participating in the initiative, with a focus on improving their economic opportunities, employment, and social inclusion. By FY2024, activities will be implemented that will strengthen women's capacities, promote favorable spaces for women's economic empowerment, and generate an enabling environment for women's participation in the economy.