Public Policy for Rural Development and Social Participation

This article presents the development strategy adopted at the First National Conference on Sustainable and Participatory Rural Development (CNDRSS). The objective of the conference was to lay the groundwork for a new national, sustainable and participatory rural development policy, adopting a strategic approach that recognized the importance of social actors. As important as the immediate results was the fact that a process designed to mobilize and sensitize the social actors and state entities involved, and ensure that both take part in the development of the policy, was institutionalized. Nearly 30,000 people participated in the initiative by means of 230 territorial, inter-municipal and municipal conferences, as well as other conferences held in Brazil’s 26 states and in the Federal District. The national policy proposed by the conference was the result of a prolonged, complex and exhaustive process of social construction. This article also explains the role of IICA’s Forum on Sustainable Rural Development (SRD) and highlights the challenges involved in implementing the results of the conference.