Santo Domingo to host Regional Dialogue on Food and Water Security

Santo Domingo.- Santo Domingo will host the Regional Dialogue on “Food and Water Security: A Hand-in-Hand Agenda” on August 21, 2025, bringing together SICA, FAO, the governments of the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Brazil, as well as major multilateral organizations such as the World Bank, IDB, and CABEI. The event aims to strengthen regional cooperation on agriculture, water management, and food security.

The dialogue comes as the Dominican Republic reports a significant reduction in undernourishment, from 8.3% in 2020 to 4.6% in 2023, benefiting nearly 500,000 families. Costa Rica and Panama have also achieved notable improvements.

The Hand-in-Hand Initiative, promoted by FAO and SICA, has been active since 2022 in the Dry Corridor and Caribbean arid zones, introducing climate-adapted agriculture, integrated water systems, and risk-based agricultural zoning. The dialogue will include sessions on agricultural investment for rural transformation and regional experiences in hunger reduction and resilient agri-food practices.