Dominican Republic to cooperate with Ecuador to advance “Zero Hunger” goal

Santo Domingo.- Dominican Minister of the Presidency José Ignacio Paliza met with Ecuadorian Vice President María José Pinto on the sidelines of the 2026 World Food Forum in Rome to discuss cooperation on food security and efforts to advance toward zero hunger.

Pinto expressed interest in the Dominican Republic’s programs to reduce poverty and hunger, particularly its social protection mechanisms. The Ecuadorian delegation highlighted the Single System of Beneficiaries (SIUBEN), State Economic Dining Halls and direct-transfer programs such as Supérate.

Paliza offered to share the Dominican Republic’s experience and technical expertise through a South-South cooperation agenda. Both sides agreed that their ambassadors to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will develop a cooperation agenda focused on priority areas, technical exchanges and joint initiatives.

The meeting also covered Ecuador’s experience with agricultural harvesting mechanization, as well as policies addressing teenage pregnancy and early childhood care.

The two countries seek to strengthen cooperation, improve social protection systems, reduce poverty and develop more effective policies to combat hunger.