[{"bbox": [71, 75, 1160, 448], "category": "Text", "text": "priority areas for post-COVID recovery for the benefit, in particular, of women and youth: digital connectivity and skills; efficient and transparent public finances; gender equality; and business sector recovery through digitalization and green transition. On digitalization, the COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the already the existing challenges of El Salvador in terms of taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the digital economy, and the government has, with its Digital Agenda, made this a priority. Expanding access to digital connectivity is a central part of the government's agenda. If the EU invests in expanding digital connectivity in rural areas, this will lead to more areas being connected, contributing to the target of having affordable access in the entire country. Firstly, more connectivity will benefit public schools, social and tourism facilities in areas where COVID-19 lockdowns led to children missing school and the impossibility to undertake any economic activity. Secondly, expanded connectivity will also create opportunities to better access government services; part of the government's Digital Agenda includes the objective to digitalise public services to Salvadoran citizens, not only making them more simple and efficient, but also more accessible to all parts of the country. Thirdly, connectivity will also create economic opportunities by exploiting digitalization for entrepreneurs to innovate and expand their businesses. This is already happening among youth in San Salvador's urban areas, but opportunities will expand significantly in new areas."}, {"bbox": [71, 458, 1160, 594], "category": "Text", "text": "It is important to make sure that connectivity benefits everyone, not just the better educated. Therefore, better connectivity infrastructure cannot stand alone, but must be accompanied by measures to support citizens, especially women and youth, to use and take advantage of the opportunities offered by digitalization. If citizens are offered training and skills development, they will be better equipped to take advantage of these opportunities, which is also a core element of the government's Digital Agenda."}, {"bbox": [71, 604, 1160, 659], "category": "Text", "text": "Additional support aimed to fostering digital transformation of MSMEs will be made available, in particular targeting the creative and artistic industry. Sectors specially hit by the pandemic and mostly featuring youth initiatives."}, {"bbox": [71, 669, 1160, 750], "category": "Text", "text": "In summary, under component 1, enhancing digital connectivity (including the possibility of using blending or guarantees), digital skills and support services to foster digital transformation will contribute to an inclusive post-COVID economic recovery."}, {"bbox": [71, 761, 1160, 976], "category": "Text", "text": "With regards to public finances, the COVID-19 pandemic has put additional strains on the Salvador public management system as authorities have found it necessary to spend more funds to address the impact of COVID-19, leading to higher debt levels, underlining the necessity of strengthening PFM systems remains highly relevant, including fiscal risk management, medium term processes and to provide macroeconomic information for policy makers. If the Ministry of Finance and Court of Auditors strengthen their capacity to implement their respective Strategic Plans, this will improve both their capacities to better perform their tasks, and achieve the indicators in the respective plans. For the Ministry of Finance specifically, this will mean advancing on its strategic targets related to public investment, result-oriented interventions, and their design to be based management, as well as transparency of the budget."}, {"bbox": [71, 986, 1160, 1067], "category": "Text", "text": "Strengthening oversight, in particular the role of the Court of Auditors, and transparency of fiscal information will contribute directly to more efficient and targeted use of public resources, but also, more broadly, constitute a core element for strengthening democratic institutions."}, {"bbox": [71, 1077, 1160, 1186], "category": "Text", "text": "In summary, under component 2, strengthening public finances will contribute to strengthen the government's capacity to an inclusive post-COVID economic recovery, as well as to strengthen democratic control that will be needed to make any recovery sustainable, under the underlying assumption that authorities will contribute to address the weaknesses identified in the latest PEFA and prioritize the targets in the Law on Fiscal Responsibility."}, {"bbox": [71, 1196, 1160, 1517], "category": "Text", "text": "The EU has been an important supporter to the implementation of Social Policy in El Salvador, and following the elaboration of a new Social Plan (prepared with EU support) there is an opportunity for the EU to continue its engagement with the new Social Plan, focusing on women's empowerment, given the prevailing gender inequality in El Salvador, and where women have been hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. By means of component 3 on women's economic empowerment component, the action will contribute to promoting the economic empowerment of women in the prioritized municipalities of the Social Plan, through the development and / or strengthening of sustainable economic enterprises, improving women labor and business training and promoting the full exercise of their citizenship and rights, as well as the accessibility to care services that reduce their reproductive workload and therefore facilitate their productive inclusion. The project will begin with a first identification phase in which the knowledge of the intervention territories, the identification of key actors and the strategic involvement of all institutions will be deepened. For this process, the key institution will be MINDEL through the staff of the Ciudad Mujer centers. The next step will be the convocation and registration of the participants who meet the established criteria, and start the activities."}, {"bbox": [597, 1615, 633, 1639], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "[20]"}]