Moving Closer to a Sustainable Future
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Courtesy of INOGO Photo credit: Landscape of Costa Rica's Osa and Golfito region
Moving Closer to a Sustainable Future
Initiative to empower residents of ecologically valuable region moves closer to sustainability goals
Costa Rica’s Osa and Golfito region is an Edenic paradise populated with jaguars, monkeys and wildly colorful birds. A growing human population and potential tourism-related development cloud the area’s future. Since, 2012, the Stanford Woods Institute’s Osa & Golfito Initiative has helped local residents articulate a vision for sustainable development. INOGO (the acronym for the program’s Spanish name) recently entered a new phase, in which it will undertake leadership, monitoring and communications strategy efforts to further the goal of providing useful decision-making tools and information to regional stakeholders.
INOGO Leadership Program
Building on the lessons learned from leadership and entrepreneurship training in the Osa and Golfito region, Stanford Woods Institute-supported leadership and entrepreneur trainings, as well as international best practices, the INOGO Leadership Program will provide the opportunity for a select group of entrepreneurs and community leaders to develop their business or community project idea. The program will work to build skills related to establishing a business, developing a community project and community engagement, with a focus on creating a regional network of leaders who can continue to support each other. INOGO is meeting with organizations and individuals that have led or participated in similar programs. Application and more information (in Spanish).
¿Osa y Golfito Como Vamos?
Residents of the Osa and Golfito region are working towards important common goals – from improving education and providing economic opportunities, to ensuring long-term conservation. INOGO has worked with these stakeholders to build Alternative Futures Scenarios and to define a desired future for the region, but how do we know if we are on the right track? The ¿Osa y Golfito Como Vamos? team will help create a monitoring system to track important changes in social and natural well-being.
Theme-Based Strategic Meetings
Many in the Osa and Golfito region have expressed that they value facilitated opportunities to share and connect with potential partners and collaborators. Continued strategic meetings in Phase 2 will provide the opportunity for colleagues and potential collaborators to discuss key findings from INOGO Phase 1, and for various organizations working in the region to share best practices and updates,
In addition, during Phase 2, INOGO will distribute a monthly newsletter with progress updates and stories about the related accomplishments of other individuals and organizations in the region.
Stanford Woods Institute researchers are looking at how to can sustain growing populations and a healthy environment while ensuring education, health and social equity. Learn more about Woods-sponsored sustainable development research.