CATIE Strengthens Local Governance for Improved Territorial Management and Livelihoods in the Kusapín District, Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca, Panama

• Enhancing climate change adaptive capacity in the Kusapín District through nature-based solutions and community-driven processes

El CATIE (Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza) de Panamá, con el financiamiento de la Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID), y la coordinación con el Ministerio de Ambiente, implementa el proyecto “Mejora de la capacidad adaptativa al cambio climático en el distrito de Kusapín a través de , y procesos comunitarios” (Kusapín se Adapta) en el distrito de Kusapín, Comarca Ngäbe Buglé, Panamá.

As part of efforts to strengthen the capacities of local and traditional authorities in the Kusapín District, a training workshop was held on June 2, 2026, at the Municipality Hall of Chiriquí Grande, located in the district of Chiriquí Grande, Bocas del Toro Province.

The activity brought together 16 local and traditional authorities from the Kusapín District of the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca, including representatives from the Association of Municipalities of Indigenous Peoples of Panama (AMPIP), the Mayor of Kusapín, and local representatives from the districts of Bahía Azul, Kusapín, Tobobe, Cañaveral, and Río Chiriquí. Traditional authorities, including the Local Cacique of Kusapín and the Regional Cacique of Ñö Kribo, also participated in the event.

The training was facilitated by Mr. Felipe Venado from the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), Mr. José Isaac Acosta from the National Decentralization Authority, and Mr. Elvin Britton from CATIE. The sessions focused on the benefits of the District Strategic Development Plan (PED), its structure and content, implementation processes, and the expected outcomes of its execution.

Reflecting on the workshop, Ms. Mirian Abrego from AMPIP stated:“The District Strategic Development Plan (PED) is a working framework that must be put into action, just as the Kusapín Adapts Project strengthens communities in climate change adaptation. As authorities, we are committed to coordinating with institutions and organizations to promote additional projects that benefit our municipalities.”

Local Cacique Salincio Taylor also highlighted the importance of the initiative: “This meeting has addressed several important topics that will benefit our district. We hope that in the near future we can continue advancing as a district, because the needs of our communities are urgent.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Felipe Venado from the MEF commented: “This is a space for dialogue and capacity building aimed at empowering local and traditional authorities in the Kusapín District through a partnership between the Kusapín Adapts Project and the National Decentralization Authority. The goal is to support the implementation of the District Strategic Development Plan (PED), which seeks to foster the development of the Kusapín District. As a follow-up to this process, we expect to hold another meeting so that local authorities can make effective use of this planning tool and prioritize the projects identified by key stakeholders.”

In closing, Mr. Elvin Britton emphasizedthat this initiative seeks to support local authorities in incorporating into their strategic and operational planning the consolidation, replication, and scaling-up of effective adaptation measures promoted by the project.