The municipal territorial management and multi-functionality: Analysis of a bilateral international project in Copan (Honduras)

The approach of rural territorial development is defined as a process of productive and institutional transformation in a determined rural space, whose aim is to reduce rural poverty. The productive transformation seeks to competitively and viably articulate the economy from the territory to dynamic markets. Institutional development aims to stimulate and facilitate the interaction and agreement of the local players and external agents, as well as to increase opportunities for the poor population to participate in and benefit from the process. A multifunctional approach of rural development would not merely have functions to improve primary production, but broader functions that guarantee nutritional quality and safety, environmental protection and preservation of biodiversity; additionally, contributing to social and economic cohesion of rural settings, and the conservation of the landscape. The results obtained by the Project 'Self-managed Local Development for Poverty Reduction in Northern Copan, National Competitiveness Plan (NCP)', were: 1) Municipal environmental planning; 2) Reactivation of the local economy from a trust fund with environmental focus; 3) Participation and empowerment of local organizations and civilian society and their contribution to local government; 4) Institutional strengthening of municipal government