EMPODERAR Program (PAR II Rural Alliances)

The project aims to improve market access for small rural producers in selected areas, focusing on promoting productive alliances between small rural producer organizations and buyers. It also seeks to empower rural producers through the creation and strengthening of self-managed grassroots organizations, increase access to productive assets, technology and financial services, promote more effective and responsible service organizations at the local level, and improve the environmental sustainability of practices. productive. The project finances the creation and strengthening of Rural Alliances (subprojects) in selected areas through communication and dissemination campaigns to inform local actors about the scope and rules of the project, support for institutional capacity to strengthen small rural organizations to form alliances and prepare investment plans, and creation of a database of technical service providers. It also finances subprojects of producer organizations to implement rural alliance plans through on-farm infrastructure, soil conservation measures, equipment, machinery, agricultural inputs, technical support for access to financial services, business management and markets. In addition, it finances municipal subprojects related to rural infrastructure to support the productive objectives of the alliances. The project has achieved important results, directly benefiting almost 51,000 rural households in 233 municipalities, with a significant focus on the inclusion of women and indigenous groups. Investments in the project have led to an average increase of 64% in the sales volume of the products involved in the alliances, contributing significantly to the improvement of income and food security of rural families. In addition, special emphasis has been placed on climate resilience, especially through the modernization of irrigation systems and the efficient use of water.