MELYT: Women, Local Economy, and Territories. Empowered women in dynamic territories

The Women, Local Economy, and Territories (MELYT) program implemented by UN Women, the United Nations entity dedicated to promoting gender equality and women's empowerment and funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), promotes the economic empowerment of rural women for the development of strong local economies, more equitable societies, and a better quality of life. 

Through a multi-scale strategy and the development of targeted partnerships and synergies, MELYT, aligned with UN Women's mandate and its commitment to the 2030 Agenda, is being implemented in two phases. The first phase was completed between 2018 and 2021, the second phase is being implemented from 2023 to 2025. 

UN Women with MELYT has mapped out a course of action to respond to the socio-economic impacts that the pandemic has had on women in this region, contributing to an inclusive recovery without leaving anyone behind. This strategy for the economic empowerment of women in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, three countries that share the Trifinio border region, aims to improve the capacities of businesswomen and entrepreneurs to reorient, strengthen and sustain their businesses and continue generating sustainable livelihoods, prevent migration by promoting equal opportunities for rural women and youth, while strengthening the institutional response through financial inclusion and the territorialization of support programs and services.