News

• The "Innovating in Equality" conference, held by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, presented projects and some public policies that promote female entrepreneurship and innovation in rural areas.
• The meeting, held in Sigüenza, addressed the role of women as a driving force for change in the face of the demographic challenge.
• Various initiatives showed how the green economy, the bioeconomy, and social innovation are generating new opportunities in rural areas, driven by women.

Every March 8th, International Women's Day , a key reality for the future of rural areas is brought to the forefront once again: the fundamental role of women in the economic, social, and community life of these territories. Their presence helps to retain population and foster new forms of entrepreneurship, innovation, and cooperation in rural communities.

Against this backdrop, the event “Innovating in Equality: Women and Transformative Initiatives for Sustainable Territorial Development,” organized by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) , was held on March 5th at the Parador de Sigüenza (Guadalajara) . The meeting brought together projects, institutions, and organizations committed to equality and rural development. The event aimed to highlight initiatives that are contributing to transforming territories from an innovative perspective and with a strong female presence.

Lines and ideas of the day

The conference addressed the role of gender equality in current strategies for tackling the demographic challenge and rural development. Key ideas that emerged during the meeting included:

• Equality as a key element in building rural territories with opportunities and a future.

• The need to generate positive narratives about the rural world and female leadership.

• Promoting public policies that encourage entrepreneurship, training, and employment for women in rural areas.

• The importance of strengthening networks and collaborative spaces that support projects in the territory.

During the closing of the event, the third vice-president of the Government and minister for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Sara Aagesen , announced the approval of the first Integrated Action Plan financed with FEDER 5.2 funds aimed at promoting innovative projects in rural areas, with an investment of 29 million euros.

Projects and women

One of the highlights of the day was the presentation of initiatives promoted from different territories that are contributing to revitalizing rural areas from innovative perspectives, led by women or that promote female leadership:

• “I have a story”: a documentary developed by Arantxa Errasti, an anthropologist, which collects the oral history of women from the Granada municipality of Güéjar Sierra, especially midwives and older women whose traditional knowledge has been historically made invisible.

• Collaborative ecosystem for generational change in Cuenca-Teruel : an initiative promoted by the Territorial Innovation Centers of both provinces to facilitate generational change in rural businesses, trades and activities of the primary sector in municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants.

• “IMPULSA-TE”: a program promoted by the Red Cross of Teruel that supports people who want to start businesses in rural areas through advice, training and support in accessing financing, focused on rural women.

• “From the Forest to Your Home”: a project by the COPADE Foundation on bioeconomy that seeks to generate employment in rural areas through the sustainable use of forest resources, promoting the creation of products with added value.

• “Sana Terra”: promoted by Faiza Hajji, a biotechnologist and R&D researcher. It is an initiative that combines scientific research, sustainability and rural entrepreneurship, working on solutions linked to health, food and ecosystems from the “One Health” approach, which advocates for the treatment of health by integrating people, animals and the environment.

• “Biela y Tierra”: presented by Ana Santidrián and Edurne Caballero, promoters of this communication and dissemination project that travels through different rural territories of the Balearic Islands to highlight agroecological initiatives and promote new narratives about food, sustainability and the rural world.

“Growing Together” Program

Beyond the initiatives presented at the event, various public administrations are developing specific programs to promote female entrepreneurship in rural areas, such as the "We Grow Together" Program promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) .

This training program is aimed at rural women entrepreneurs and seeks to strengthen their capacity to develop sustainable and competitive projects. Its lines of work are as follows:

• Understanding the economic and social environment of rural areas.

• Develop strategic and leadership skills.

• Explore new business models and market opportunities.

• Improve negotiation, communication and business management skills .

• Become familiar with financial aspects and financing options.

The program, which has been running since 2023, has included various training activities, seminars, and networking opportunities for rural women entrepreneurs in previous editions. Registration for the new edition is now open, and the training activities are scheduled to begin between April and June 2026 through virtual sessions and collaborative learning spaces for participants.