The National Institute for Women (Instituto Nacional de las Mujeres - "INAMU"), in its quest to promote and safeguard the human rights of this population, has developed various initiatives oriented toward improving their economic and social conditions. This is due to the fact that, despite the legal and social advancements achieved regarding gender equality, women continue to be a population in a state of vulnerability, making the implementation of programs that strengthen their autonomy through integration into the country's productive life indispensable.

Among these initiatives is the Proyecto Emprende ("Project") in partnership with the European Union. The purpose of this Project is to strengthen business capabilities within rural and marginalized urban areas, providing support and tools to women with business ideas through advisory services, training, and assistance delivered via Local Service Platforms (Plataformas Locales de Servicio - "PLS").

The PLS are spaces utilized by INAMU to coordinate the business ecosystem by creating links with different public, private, and community institutions. These platforms function as convergence hubs for resource management, knowledge exchange, and the promotion of commercial opportunities.

Another initiative by INAMU is the Development Fund for Productive Activities and Women's Organizations (Fondo de Fomento de Actividades Productivas y de Organización de las Mujeres - "FOMUJERES"), which, much like the Project, seeks to promote economic rights within business endeavors. FOMUJERES is a non-reimbursable fund (grant) that distributes capital through competitive bidding processes. In 2023, a continuous selection process was implemented in which women or legal entities led by women can apply, provided they meet the established requirements and regulations.

Lastly, the Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Commerce (Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Comercio - "MEIC") provides a program destined to support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas - "MSMEs" / "PYME"). These enterprises constitute a key tool for women entrepreneurs, given that they are characterized by having a limited number of employees and possessing total income and assets within a specific range established by current legislation. MSMEs play a fundamental role in job creation and contribute significantly to the country's economic growth.

Among the primary requirements to register a company as an MSME, we can highlight: compliance with the stipulated business size; being duly registered with the Mercantile Registry (Registro Mercantil); being up to date with tax obligations before the General Directorate of Direct Taxation (Dirección General de Tributación Directa); maintaining current social security contributions with the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social - "CCSS"); and, if necessary, holding workers' compensation insurance provided by the CCSS or the National Insurance Institute (Instituto Nacional de Seguros - "INS").

Operating as an MSME offers various benefits, most notably: access to credit facilities; technical assistance and training programs oriented toward strengthening business management and productivity; participation in public procurement processes; as well as fiscal incentives and tax benefits designed to boost development and sustained growth.

In short, the initiatives driven by INAMU and MEIC are tools that promote gender equity and strengthen women's economic rights. Programs such as Proyecto Emprende, FOMUJERES, and the backing provided to MSMEs foster productive inclusion, especially within rural and marginalized urban areas. These actions not only contribute to improving the living conditions of the beneficiary women but also positively impact the economic and social development of the country. Therefore, the continuity and strengthening of these public policies remain essential to guarantee equitable and sustainable growth.

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