Connecting Sustainable Rural Development Projects and the Principles of Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems from the WWP Model: Lessons from Case Studies Across Seven Countries

The international literature shows significant growth in relation to sustainable rural development in response to ongoing problems. The Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI) enable projects to be aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this article, we present an empirically grounded analysis of these RAI principles based on in-depth case studies in seven countries (Spain, Ecuador, Peru, Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Colombia, and Mexico). This experience comes from an international project coordinated by the GESPLAN Research Group at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. The Working with People model is incorporated into the methodological process to analyze rural actors’ understanding of the CFS-RAI principles in different countries and in university–business relation contexts. The results show the effectiveness of the WWP model based on the integration of three dimensions—ethical–social, technical–business, and political–contextual—as an effective method for planning sustainable rural development projects in various contexts. The empirical evidence presented indicates that combining the WWP model with the principles of CFS-RAI in rural contexts allows progress toward sustainable development, balancing economic aspects with human, social, and environmental well-being.