Colombia
Through CGSGI’s partnership with Fundación Pies Descalzos, in Colombia, the owner of a carpentry business in Barranquilla, receives marketing and business development training.
Colombia, a diverse nation of about 45 million people and the fourth largest country in South America, has experienced sustained rates of economic growth throughout the last decade. The country possesses significant natural resources and is a major producer of gold, silver, emeralds, platinum, and coal, in addition to having substantial oil reserves. Despite advances in poverty reduction, approximately 42.8 percent of the population lives on less than $2 per day, and approximately 22.9 percent on less than $1 per day. CGSGI’s projects address these challenges by providing more Colombians access to economic opportunities, education, and health and nutrition services. CGSGI has launched several projects to develop sustainable, market-driven businesses in some of the most under-resourced areas of Colombia, which include:
Taná Organic Spices Enterprise Development Project
This project is scaling up a promising organic spice business run by 120 Afro-Colombian women in Chocó, a rural region of about 455,000 people. The project’s goal is to increase Taná’s sales by introducing the spices to new markets and by establishing Taná as a self-sustaining business.
Fondo Acceso Investment Fund
In partnership with Fundación Carlos Slim, CGSGI launched a $20 million investment fund that will invest in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are seeking to expand but are underserved by existing capital markets. The fund’s goal is to enable job creation and sustainable income increases in Colombia.
Cartagena Hotel Supplier Development Project
In conjunction with the National Hotel Association of Colombia, CGSGI is helping low-income producers in Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Bogotá develop the capacity and quality needed to service local hotels that traditionally have overlooked these small suppliers in favor of more established suppliers. The project aims to help small producers generate enough sales to grow their businesses, create jobs, and help uplift their communities.
Construction Job Training
CGSGI has established the first on-site job training and certification program for construction workers in Colombia. The portable, on-site training facility is located in the Ciudad Verde ("Green City") low-income housing development in Soacha, Cundinamarca, near Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, and offers free training and certification for 5,000 construction workers. The on-site training program utilizes courses developed by SENA, the National Learning Service of Colombia, and trainees are evaluated by CAMACOL B&C, the Colombian Chamber of Construction. This CGSGI program aims to strengthen Colombia’s construction workforce, improve productivity, and reduce accident rates.
Pies Descalzos
CGSGI and Shakira’s Fundación Pies Descalzos have been implementing an initiative that provides child nutrition, education, vocational training, and support for microenterprise development in Barranquilla, Bogotá, Quibdó, and Soacha. Through highly acclaimed Pies Descalzos public schools, this project is expected to positively impact the lives of 4,000 students and their families.
PROFILE
Thanks to CGSGI support, TANA – an organic spice business in Chocó, Colombia – has become one of the most successful enterprises in the troubled region. The thriving business, started by Maritza Parra Córdoba 13 years ago, now employs 85 women and is cont
