In Castellar de Santiago (Province of Ciudad Real) the provincial equality delegation reaffirmed the regional government’s support for women entrepreneurs in rural areas on 18 October. At the Encuentro Comarcal de Mujeres associations and local women presented projects aimed at strengthening women economically. The gathering combined market stalls selling handicrafts and agri-food products with workshops on business skills and networking, as well as awareness-raising activities. The event was organised, among others, by FADEMUR and formed part of the REDMUR.
According to Junta de Castilla-La Mancha REDMUR is co-financed through allocations from Spain’s personal income tax (IRPF). The programme aims to encourage women to start businesses, support existing ventures and open up new areas of activity in villages. The provincial equality delegation highlighted the link between equality policy and regional development: visibility for women producers, access to advice and training, and connections with local markets are key levers for greater economic autonomy.
Representatives of FADEMUR and local women councillors stressed that regular markets and targeted support can have an immediate impact, for example by creating additional sales channels and partnerships and increasing women’s presence in value chains. Experts also pointed to persistent obstacles: population decline, limited transport links and digital infrastructure, and barriers to finance are holding back diversification in many areas.
The regional government places the meeting among a series of similar initiatives through which it supports women as drivers of innovation, social cohesion and the local economy. Further training and advisory services are planned under REDMUR in the coming months; municipal partners aim to increase the visibility of rural products. How much these measures will reduce structural shortcomings over the medium to long term remains an open question. Systematic impact assessments covering employment, the number of businesses and incomes in the communities concerned are not yet available in a consolidated form. What is clear, however, is that the institutions involved regard the approach of combining equality policy with practical economic support as a key part of tackling depopulation and creating new opportunities in rural areas.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).