The Government of Costa Rica has launched the new public policy COSTA RICA IMPULSA, which aims to tackle poverty through coordinated work among institutions to promote social mobility for people living in poverty.
What is COSTA RICA IMPULSA?
COSTA RICA IMPULSA is a public policy declared of public interest by decree, focused on the social promotion and protection of households in extreme and basic poverty.
Its main objective is to help people escape poverty through more years of education, job training, and support for productive ventures.
The policy involves institutions from the Welfare, Labor, and Social Inclusion sectors, as well as other public entities aligned with these goals.
Origin in the IMAS Impulsa model
The policy originates from the IMAS Impulsa Intervention Model, implemented by the Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social (IMAS) since 2025 to transform the approach to households in poverty.
This model requires beneficiaries to commit to concrete goals such as studying, training, or starting a business in exchange for state subsidies.
COSTA RICA IMPULSA expands this approach, coordinating multiple institutions to strengthen results and avoid duplication.
Three areas of action
The policy focuses on three main axes:
- Increasing the years of schooling of people.
- Technical or vocational training to improve employability.
- Promotion of productive ventures to facilitate employment or self-employment.
Through these components, the policy seeks to provide households with more and better opportunities to generate sustainable income.
Interinstitutional coordination and tools
Minister Yorleny León Marchena emphasized that fighting poverty cannot be done by a single institution and requires close interinstitutional coordination.
Participating entities will use the Costa Rican Reference System (SIREC) to send and receive cases, monitoring families on their path to social mobility.
The approach encourages institutions to share information, coordinate services, and continuously support people.
Official sources
Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social (IMAS): official statement “COSTA RICA IMPULSA: Government launches new public policy to address poverty.”
Welfare, Labor, and Social Inclusion sector: guidelines and documents associated with the IMAS Impulsa Intervention Model and the use of SIREC.
