Abstract:

The Panama Country Office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has promoted several initiatives with and for the country's indigenous peoples. These initiatives, thanks to their scaling-up and coordination, have given shape to FAO’s Indigenous Agenda in the country, helping to develop the economic basis of the Comprehensive Development Plan for the Indigenous Peoples of Panama. In this context, FAO is executing a project to support 19 communities belonging to six of the seven existing indigenous peoples in the country, which is financed by the Ministry of Government (MINGOB), with the support of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) and the participation of the 12 indigenous congresses and councils. This initiative aims to improve food security and reduce poverty in the participating communities, with a focus on cultural and environmental sustainability.