The project "Support to Women in Rural Areas within the Framework of a Gender Approach" was inserted into a productive reconversion process in which new possibilities were opening up to create or reinforce institutional structures that favored equality of gender. Its general objective was to incorporate gender dimension into the mixed farming sector guidelines, detecting the obstacles that hindered women's participation and contributing to improve institutional conditions in order to eliminate them.
Within this context and following an eminently participative orientation, methodologies and tools were developed (consultation, workshops, interviews and team work, among others) with the intention of training the different actors involved (technicians, planners and executives).
Reflection on the process as a whole, in the light of the project's aims and expected results, revealed that compliance of the objectives and achievements made exceeded those expected initially. The positive results are due, in great part, to the fact that the officials, men and women farmers and experts worked with similar targets and aims in a climate of cooperation and exchange. The new approach permitted the gradual appropriation of operational and conceptual tools, generated by the project itself, by the executors of the agrarian policy and technical personnel linked to rural development projects.
A gender methodology was adopted pursuant with the transformation process the country was undergoing. In general, the approach was accepted and supported at the local, regional and national levels since their proposals were coherent with the objectives included in the Development Plan. Among them, it is worthwhile mentioning, on one hand, the interest to equitably reinforce and strengthen the productive role of men and women and, on the other hand, the intention of strengthening the participation of small men and women producers in the analysis of their problems (production, deterioration of natural resources, food security, etc.) and the search for appropriate solutions.
Without doubt, the project contributed to the strengthening and creation of grassroot organizations and women groups. New groups were encouraged, such as the Association of Women Farmers, the Atlantic Branch Association of Women Farmers, etc. Moreover, feminine participation was encouraged both in the institutions that assumed the main role in the new productive scenario (CABs, Cantonal Boards, Development Boards) and in traditional associations where patriarchal representation was supreme (UPAGRA, UPA NACIONAL, etc.). This last activity was not always so easy since these organizations are guided by a series of gender stereotypes which will take a long time and effort to eradicate. The project's efforts in this direction were backed up to a point by the reorientation of the mixed farming sector toward women and men producers and by the need, expressed in the government plans, of preparing for this new function.
An interesting aspect of the process was that institutional proposals were fed with ideas and observations from the bases, which arose in the training sessions. The sessions, directed by an extension worker, served to identify the problems of the group and zone, to propose targets and the strategies to achieve them, to identify possible obstacles in the process and the resources to which they could resort to. Mixed farming and environmental orientations and measures were also discussed, and comments and suggestions were received. This exchange process in the various areas and groups of the Huetar Atlantica region made possible, on the one hand, orientation of the definition of objectives and actions of institutional proposals and, on the other, a first appraisal of the feasibility of certain recommended measures.
From the women farmers's point of view, participative work with the project team allowed them to express their needs and formulate them in the development plans; the first step for women to participate and influence the mixed farming development process. This purpose must be an important part of the objectives that guide the diffusion and extension of the project to other regions in the country. Future actions must be directed towards using the acquired experience to reinforce communication channels, spaces and mechanisms among the different levels, which up to now has not been easy. For example, in many cases, sensitization, gender and organization training teams have acted as mediators between the bases and the organisms responsible for the financing and technical support of the work plans they have formulated. In spite of the follow-up and negotiation process by MAG and PDR, to date no financing has been obtained for any of the projects required by women, creating a threat to the initiated process since this could generate frustration and pessimism among the members of the Branch.
Throughout the project, an initiative started to develop related to the specification of indicators for measuring, systematically and coherently, the progress made in performing the actions. Apart from their contribution to measuring, the use of indicators demands more precision in the formulation of actions and measures, providing more scientific accuracy to the entire process. The absence of positive results in this regard, within the scope of the project, could be directly attributed to lack of time, which should be taken into account in future projects.
On the other hand, it was observed that certain types of formulations tended to cause discomfort or provoke a defensive position on the part of men. Among them were those involving discriminatory measures, about "machismo", patriarchy, etc., or those that in some way attacked deeply rooted gender stereotypes: responsibilities regarding the care of children, preparing meals, freedom of women to absent themselves frequently or for long periods from their homes, etc. This experience proposes the need of a careful revision of the approaches, contents and forms of presentation of the same since the idea is to favor the joint and harmonious activity of men and women for the achievement of their objectives, uniting efforts and minimizing controversies and fears.
At the same time, a favorable atmosphere was created for the consolidation of the obtained results with regard to sensitization, training and orientation of policies and institutions, as well as for the diffusion of achievements in other regions of the country. In fact, the institutionalization of the sensitization and training activities in the guidelines of the mixed farming sector set the bases for future expansion of the pilot project.
The project not only created and formed groups of experts that acted in coordination at the central and local levels, but it also aroused interest about gender problems in men and women farmers, officials and technicians. The project had the collaboration of officials that were closely linked to the community and to the medium and high decision levels and were aware and managed every day rural development problems. The mobilization of these experts who had acquired sensitivity with regard to gender, the use of a common methodology, the tools produced for the project itself, among others, are the coherent and integrated bases to ensure an expansion of the process to other regions in the country.
Moreover, continuity of the work undertaken will be favored by the commitment and dedication shown by the officials of the sector's institutions. The National Coordinator and the National Counterpart will be particular contributors because they have great capability to motivate, convince, and establish links with actors at the different sector levels.
It is worthwhile mentioning that the success of the process was limited in part by the short duration of the project. Projects that attempt to make structural changes, such as the incorporation of a new approach and a change of attitude of the involved agents, require a longer maturity period.
Although, in general terms, the project was successful and provided the bases for its diffusion, the ongoing process must be subjected to periodically determined evaluations and the positive results must be duplicated and converted into new working tools. It is also necessary that methodologies and working tools maintain their flexibility, transformation potential and adaptability to new situations.
In conclusion, it is worthwhile pointing out the importance for the project of the link with other organizations outside the sector. Specially relevant was the support provided by the First Lady's Office and the Women and Family Center, managing entity of gender policies at the national level. A Center expert in planning participated in the legalization process of the proposals and in subsequent consultations, contributing her experience and dedication and giving the project a continuity with the gender initiatives made previously.
