The Programme for Sustainable Agriculture in the Hillsides of Central America (PASOLAC) has partnered with the SARD-M Project to conduct studies on the strengths and weaknesses of policies that can affect SARD in the hillsides of Central America, namely in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

As a part of this partnership, a regional workshop is being organized on making a methodological framework for the rapid evaluation of policies for SARD in the hillsides of Central America on 16-17 November 2005. The workshop will be attended by people from government, civil society and international organizations involved in the formulation and implementation of policies for SARD in six Central American countries and Mexico.

The workshop will aim to:

1. Share the results of the assessments conducted in Costa Rica and Nicaragua;
2. Exchange experiences in the analysis and formulation of policies;
3. Discuss methodological issues for the analysis and formulation of policies for SARD in hillsides of other countries;
4. Derive the institutional needs for the strengthening of capacities for the formulation and design of policies for SARD in the region.