Country Brief: Fostering economic and environmental goals through social protection: The PROEZA project in Paraguay

The PROEZA project, developed by the Government of Paraguay in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is a flagship initiative addressing social and environmental challenges in the country. Short for “Pobreza, Reforestación, Energía y Cambio Climático” (Poverty, Reforestation, Energy and Climate Change), the PROEZA project advances climate-resilient sustainable development through a two-pronged strategy: strengthening the resilience of rural livelihoods and reducing emissions. Led by Paraguay’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance, the project’s governance structure comprises nine government institutions.

The PROEZA project can inform global and national efforts to leverage social protection systems so as to promote more sustainable livelihoods and environmental conservation practices. Moreover, it is aligned with the Global Accelerator’s key pillars: integrated policy approaches, integrated financing and multilateral cooperation.