CATIE conducts training program for associative rural enterprises in the Trifinio region

• The management capacity building process is implemented by CATIE's ESCALAR project, with support from Swedish Cooperation, in municipalities in the dry corridor of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

October 6, 2023. Associative rural enterprises in El Trifinio are enhancing their managerial capabilities through the Territorial Business Training Schools (EFET), a component of the ESCALAR project: Scaling Climate Change Adaptation Solutions for Resilience and Migration Reduction in the Central American Dry Corridor. This initiative is implemented by the  CATIE Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center with support from the Swedish Cooperation in 17 municipalities across the Central American Dry Corridor, spanning the Trifinio region in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

The process commenced on July 26 and 27 in the city of Esquipulas, Guatemala, with guidance from specialists in sustainable agribusiness from CATIE's Environmental Economics and Sustainable Agribusiness Unit.(UEAAS/EfDThe inaugural session, focused on organizational management, was led by Evelyn Chaves, a specialist in sustainable agribusiness at CATIE. It was attended by 11 individuals holding strategic and administrative positions in five associative rural enterprises from the Central American Dry Corridor: Integral Agricultural Cooperative Cafetales (CAINCAFE) from Guatemala, Producers Association of Olopa (APOLO) from Guatemala, Agricultural Producers Association of Suchitán (APAS) from Guatemala, Ecological Coffee Cooperative La Labor Ocotepeque (COCAFELOL) from Honduras, and Rio Lempa Company from El Salvador; these enterprises participate as implementing partner organizations of the ESCALAR project in the territory.

Laura Rodríguez, specialist in agribusiness and incubation for the ESCALAR project, stated that the goal of this process is to enhance the managerial management of beneficiary associative rural enterprises of the ESCALAR project. To achieve this, a business diagnostic was conducted to determine the current situation of each enterprise, forming the basis for the construction of three training modules focused on organizational management, business management, and financial management.

Abel Fuentes, General Accountant of the CAINCAFE Cooperative in Guatemala, noted that the most valuable aspect of EFET was the opportunity to interact with all the rural enterprises in attendance and become acquainted with their diverse organizational structures. "This process enriches our organization and prompts us to reflect on the importance of having a communication plan and creating and implementing manuals and standards that strategically drive the organization," commented Fuentes.

Abel Fuentes, general accountant of the CAINCAFE Cooperative of Guatemala.

On September 19 and 20, the second working session took place at the COCAFELOL facilities in La Labor, Ocotepeque, Honduras. During these days, experiences were shared between the host organization COCAFELOL and the associative rural enterprises represented by administrative personnel and decision-makers from CAINCAFE, APOLO, and APAS from Guatemala, as well as Rio Lempa Company from El Salvador. This exchange aimed to learn about the history, business management model, and progress experienced.

Facilitation during the process also covered topics such as strategic planning, business models, and marketing strategies, led by Evelyn Chaves, with the support of Anthony Gamboa and Laura Rodríguez, all of them agribusiness experts from CATIE.

"We feel excited and grateful that a model organization in the region like COCAFELOL has opened its doors to the project, especially for this enriching exchange of experiences where the attending associative rural enterprises take away valuable lessons and reflections to apply in their organizational systems. This workshop serves as an incentive, affirming that with hard work and perseverance, significant projects can be consolidated," expressed Gamboa.

Blanca Lima, representing El Salvador's Rio Lempa Company, highlighted the importance, in her learning process during this second edition of EFET, of creating a business plan tailored to the reality and context of their enterprises. Lima also extended her gratitude to all attending organizations for sharing their knowledge, with special acknowledgment to COCAFELOL. "After these days, I am motivated knowing that we are capable of creating great things, great enterprises," Lima declared.

Julio Tinoco, president of COCAFELOL, was in charge of guiding the tour of the company's facilities to strengthen the exchange of experiences for organizational strengthening.

Assistants from the associative rural enterprises working with the ESCALAR project touring the COCAFELOL facilities in Honduras for the exchange of experiences.

The EFET process for 2023 will conclude on November 22 and 23 in Esquipulas, Guatemala, addressing the topic of financial management, along with a graduation ceremony for those who participated in the entire training process.