Fostering investment of the family remittances in value chains : Case studies in the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Guatemala

Family remittances represent an important source of resources and external financing for many Latin American and Caribbean countries, helping greatly to reduce poverty, increase private consumption, and boost national economic growth, among other things. Although a large share of remittances are intended to cover basic needs, such as food, health care and housing, some of them could be used to finance income-generating activities. This document summarizes the main findings of the technical collaboration project carried out by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)…

Strengthening value chains: A toolkit

The main objective of this toolkit is to exhibit and disseminate the methodology for strengthening value chains developed by the Subregional Headquarters in Mexico of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). This document lays out the concepts, processes and good practices that have been derived from implementing such a strategy. It is intended to be a useful tool for public sector decision makers, officials of international bodies and those studying the topic, who are interested in a systematised and proven methodology. This manual was prepared in response to forma…

Upgrading value chains through professional and supporting services: Lessons from three agro-industry chains in El Salvador and Guatemala

There is an increasing acknowledgement of the key role of services for technological upgrading and increasing value added in manufacturing and primary goods value chains. Over the past two decades, Central American countries have experienced significant export growth. Yet exports have not been an engine of sustained economic growth and employment generation. Agro-industry exports, in particular, frequently incorporate only scant domestic value, with limited or no industrial transformation at all. This paper aims at studying the role of professional and supporting services in increasing domesti…

Belize: effects of climate change on agriculture

Climate change poses a serious threat to Central American societies due to its foreseeable and multiple impacts on the population and productive sectors. In fiscal terms it constitutes a contingent public liability that will affect the public finance of governments for generations to come. It is estimated that by 2030, Central America will still produce less than 0.5% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on the planet, yet it is already one of the regions most vulnerable to the battering of climate change. The increase in atmospheric and sea temperatures, the reduction and instability of rain …

Socio-economic vulnerability to natural disasters in Mexico: rural poor, trade and public response

The increasing frequency and economic losses from natural disasters within the framework of decreasing agricultural prices is becoming crucial in increasing poverty in the Mexican rural economy. During the past two decades, the governmental withdrawal from supporting the agricultural sector with investments in physical, financial and logistic instruments continues to stress agricultural livelihoods, as current private mechanisms have not replaced them effectively. Natural disasters occurrence is increasingly producing severe damages to the so-called traditional agriculture, highly exposed to c…

Centroamerica: el camino de los noventa (resumen)