Defining a research agenda on rural youth for Central America

In Central America, 35% of the population is under 35 years old and faces challenges such as low labor participation, social inequalities, and limited access to formal and non-formal education. Rural youth face the dilemma of staying in rural areas or migrating to global markets amid deteriorating agricultural opportunities. In June 2022, a regional meeting of SICA focused on the Rural Youth Strategy 2022-2030 to strengthen the transformative role of rural youth through access to resources, economic inclusion, technical assistance, and aligned public policies. Key research topics include heterogeneity, economic inclusion, climate change response, and public policy evaluation, emphasizing intersectional perspectives on gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. The initiative aims to support strategy implementation and guide sustainable rural development programs in the region.