GESPLAN-UPM

The Gesplan Group was created in the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) in 2006 under the direction of Mr. Adolfo Cazorla Montero.

It brings together a group of professors and researchers who have been working in the area of Projects and Planning for a Sustainable Rural Development of the communities, during the last 20 years. Among the members of the group are young researchers and professionals in agronomic engineering, industrial engineering and economics, who combine their teaching and research with an intense professional life. This group of experts has extensive experience in the planning and management of development, the evaluation of programs, the direction of projects, and the problems associated with the underdevelopment of rural areas.

The Group collaborates with governments, universities and companies in the elaboration of development programs in local, regional and national spheres, as well as in various works of evaluation of policies related to the EU's regional and rural development, education, research, or development cooperation. These collaborative relationships have led us to work with international organizations -such as the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) or the General Directorate of Agriculture of the European Union-; national governments -such as those of Spain, Mexico, Peru or Uruguay-; or prestigious universities - such as Wageningen, Cork, Postgraduate College, Stanford, UC. Berkeley, or UC. The Angels-.

The objective of the Group is to address in an interdisciplinary way the problems surrounding rural / local development; both in terms of the dramatic situations that are experienced in developing countries, and in the specific problems of the most disadvantaged regions of developed countries.

The Group intends to take advantage of the experience of its professionals to find solutions to these problems. The actions to be developed are not unique and independent. On the contrary, more than punctual actions, it is a package of projects and activities, which must be carried out simultaneously, in order to eradicate the problems associated with underdevelopment. For this purpose, planning, management and evaluation models are needed that, based on a knowledge of reality, improve the way of approaching development programs and projects. What is intended within the group is to collaborate in the development of adequate models for such planning, management and evaluation, as well as to be interested in specific problems such as the gender perspective, regional decentralization or food security.

Since the creation of the group, the research work has been continuous, as well as contact and collaboration with other researchers and groups of Spanish, European and American universities. In this respect the interests of the group focus on:

Promote research and cooperation spaces in the European, North American and Latin American areas. 
Share experiences and collaborate with other groups with similar interests, principles and lines of research. 
Facilitate the contact, exchange and stay of other researchers at the Polytechnic University of Madrid.