The IMPACT project is helping farmer associations in Colombia become registered as legal co-operatives, providing farmer groups with technical, management and marketing training, and facilitating commercial trade among co-operatives. The project is supporting and improving the ability of rural co-ops to manage productivity and growth, to expand into regional, national and international markets, and to access the financing necessary to allow this to occur.

The initiative will support sustainable, private-sector driven business activities of co-operatives and associations of producers in 10 departments of Colombia: Antioquia, Tolima, Boyacá, Cundinamarca, Huila, Meta, Valle del Cauca and the Eje Cafetero (Quindio, Risaralda and Caldas). Working in partnership with Colombia’s leading co-operatives as well as the Government of Colombia, CCA and Gestando will support building co-op capacity to compete in domestic and export markets.

The project is focusing on five key value chains.

• Cocoa
• Coffee
• Fruits and vegetables
• Plantain
• Dairy

IMPACT is improving the socio-economic conditions of over 14,000 farmers, reaching 84,000 women, men and children, by supporting 55 co-operatives and producer associations in 10 departments of Colombia. By the end of the project, these co-ops and associations will be financially sustainable, with expanded product sales both locally and internationally.

Rural co-operatives are a key part of the Colombian government’s strategy to build peace in communities affected by the armed conflict that was a reality in Colombia for over 50 years. While rural communities have made the transition to producing legal crops such as cacao, coffee, fruits and vegetables, farmers lack the methods and means to compete successfully in the marketplace. The government has encouraged the formation of associations to help farmers access needed services. CCA has been transforming these associations into registered, member owned and managed co-operative enterprises with its partner GESTANDO, the business development arm of Colombia’s co-operative sector.