CAF organizes training workshops for inclusive business

(La Paz, July 5^th, 2013). In order to strengthen the methodologies and knowledge of experts and companies that execute Inclusive Business Projects in Bolivia, CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, organized the Training Workshops for Inclusive Businesses which will take place on July 9^th and 10^th at the multilateral organization's headquarters in La Paz.

Technical personnel from the Fundación El Cinco de Colombia, which is dedicated to the promotion of a productive solidarity model which basically seeks the social and cultural transformation of disadvantaged sectors, will share the successful practices and experiences implemented in that country.

Emilio Uquillas, CAF's director representative in Bolivia, pointed out that "CAF's objective is to promote the creation and development of value chains for a comprehensive transformation of small Bolivian producers, seeking economic and social sustainability for their productive activities". He added "For this reason, we are bringing to the country a Foundation with experience in this field, which will contribute to the knowledge of these types of economic growth and social development initiatives".

CAF promotes this productive modality in Latin America, and in Bolivia it highlights the support for the Inclusive Business Program for Micro and Small Producers which managed to strengthen the competences and skills of close to 6,000 producer families in rural areas.  Currently, theDoble Via Inclusivaproject (Inclusive Two Lane Highway project) is under way, in alliance with the Dutch Cooperation for Development Agency and other cooperation entities, to support the wellbeing and productive capacity of the communities neighboring the La Paz-Oruro two lane highway.

The Fundación El Cinco  promotes the generation of a stronger social fabric through the implementation of the Productive Solidarity Model as an alternative for socio-economic development, supported by individual and institutional contributions, by creating new productive associations with sustainable productive chains that facilitate the synergies between different social actors.

Inclusive Businesses

Inclusive businesses are economic activities conducted by low income sectors, mainly located in rural areas who, through an association with large or anchor companies, may carry out joint sustainable projects through training to improve the standards of quality and production for an adequate provision of inputs, sales, services, or raw materials.

The large companies include the small producers in the productive chain as partners, and introduce the concepts of innovation, motivation, and use of resources, avoiding the possibility of mere philanthropy, incorporating economic activities with a tangible benefit that generates business opportunities under a scheme where all the participants are winners.