Costa Rica, officially known as the Republic of Costa Rica, is a Central American country located just south of Nicaragua. As one of the most prosperous nations in the region, it has experienced a 312% increase in GDP over the past 20 years by leveraging a combination of trade, foreign investment and political stability. 

Yet a subset of Costa Rica’s population – namely, Indigenous peoples – are largely excluded from the benefits of socioeconomic development. Many instead remain trapped in high levels of malnourishment and hunger. Overcoming these disparities calls for an inclusive approach to providing aid, which several humanitarian organizations are striving to accomplish today. 

Indigenous Peoples

Costa Rica’s Indigenous peoples comprise comprise 2.4% of the nation’s total population. Eight major tribes – the Huetar, Maleku, Bribri, Cabécar, Brunka, Ngäbe, Bröran and Chorotega – inhabit 24 reservations that cover approximately 6.7% of the national territory. 

Although once rich in nutrients and resources, Indigenous reservations in Costa Rica have significantly deteriorated over time, leaving many today unsanitary and polluted. A large majority of reservations lack potable water, with little to no infrastructure for public water systems. Only 40% of reservations are reported to have latrines, and those located near banana plantations are polluted by the intensive use of residual pesticides and other agrochemicals. Without proper sanitation tools, water contaminated with pathological microorganisms is frequently used in preparing meals, which has created major challenges to food safety for Indigenous households. As a result, waterborne diseases such as cholera and diarrhea are widespread and common. 

Given these factors, Indigenous peoples in Costa Rica are at high risk of malnutrition and mortality. Yet their marginalization has been largely disregarded in public policy – many are instead met with structural racism regarding their land rights and access to basic services, which continues to contribute to high levels of poverty and food insecurity. In 2021, Indigenous communities and individuals were reported to have been subjected to at least 26 attacks which were perpetrated or permitted by police forces, including incidents of harassment, arson and physical assault.

External Aid

Since 2022, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Program and the International Labor Organization have implemented several initiatives to improve food insecurity and health conditions for Indigenous communities, particularly for women. Supported by the Joint Sustainable Development Goals Fund, women from the Cabécar tribe have been able to receive training and monetary support for their food businesses involving pigs, chickens, corn, beans and bananas. By enhancing existing Indigenous practices and introducing new techniques to sustain the soil, this program has allowed Cabécar women to triple their stock and become financial contributors to their households. 

Aiming to achieve better inclusivity, the FAO has also invited Indigenous peoples to global discussions with key stakeholders with the intention of improving current food systems. In 2021, the UN Food Systems Summit established The Coalition on Indigenous Peoples´ Food Systems to enable Indigenous peoples to work with the FAO, the United Nations, the private sector and other crucial actors in order to build equitable and sustainable food systems. During the 2023 UN Food Systems Summit, the Coalition served as a vital party in conversations regarding the structuring of policies to protect, respect and scale up Indigenous peoples’ food and knowledge systems. Supported by the state and other countries such as Brazil and Norway, the Coalition seeks to spread awareness on Indigenous traditions and put Indigenous people at the forefront of dialogue involving change. Mirroring these conversations, Indigenous youth are currently committed to working with the Coalition, and have presented at the UN Global Indigenous Youth Forum to advocate for funding for better Indigenous child nutrition.

Conclusion

Costa Rica is widely regarded as a successful development story. However, underlying disparities have largely prevented the benefits of economic success from reaching Indigenous peoples, resulting in their marginalization. Without persistent intervention to improve existing food systems and increase representation, Indigenous peoples will remain at risk of succumbing to food insecurity and malnutrition while being overlooked by the nation’s overall prosperity.

– Scott Kesselring, Moon Jung Kim
Photo: Pixabay

Updated: October 3, 2024