UASD leads initiative to transform rural development in the Dominican Republic
The Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), in a strategic alliance with various State sectors, international organizations, and civil society representatives, has formalized the creation of the Provisional Organizing Committee of the Roundtable for Territorial Rural Development of the Dominican Republic (Mesa DRT-RD). This body is born with the purpose of establishing a comprehensive agenda that boosts growth and quality of life in the country’s rural areas.
The initiative, promoted by the Faculties of Economic and Social Sciences (FCES) and Agronomic and Veterinary Sciences (FCAV), seeks to consolidate a permanent space for analysis where the problems and opportunities of the Dominican countryside are debated, generating technical proposals that serve as a basis for future national public policies.
A multisectoral effort
The committee in charge of leading this project is chaired by deans Maribel Lorenzo (FCES) and Luis Matos (FCAV). The work structure integrates key figures from the public sector and social organizations, including:
- Mirian Guzmán, Vice Minister of Rural Development of the Ministry of Agriculture.
- Nicolás Guillén, from the Villa González Development Council.
- Guadalupe Valdez, former congresswoman and FAO Special Ambassador for Zero Hunger.
- Representatives of the Dominican Federation of Municipalities (FEDOMU).
Likewise, the project is supported by senior officials from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCyT), the Ministry of the Presidency, and the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development, as well as international experts who have shared experiences on territorial integration.
Rural development should not be limited solely to agricultural activity; it is a complex ecosystem that encompasses services, mobility, natural resources, and social relationships that must be managed in an integrated manner.
Vision and objectives of the DRT-RD Table
It is important to highlight that this Board will not function as an executing institution, nor does it intend to replace local governments or already established development councils. Its main function is to serve as a center for thought, dialogue, and consensus-building. The objective is to generate scientific and technical knowledge that allows for closing the existing gaps between the different regions of the country.
In this initial stage, the UASD will act as a facilitator of the process, providing the necessary academic and technical support. However, the medium-term goal is to consolidate a plural space where researchers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders converge, ensuring that decisions on investment and public policies respond to a real and updated vision of the Dominican rural territory.
