More value and flavor with the cacao routes in Ecuador

In the framework of a strategic regional alliance between CAF and ICCO, an intervention is about to start with the Fundación Maquita Cushunchic Comercializando como Hermanos (MCCH), (Maquita Cushunchic Marketing Like Brothers Foundation) to contribute to the inclusive growth of the Ecuadorean economy in line with the Plan Nacional del Buen Vivir, (National Plan for Good Living) public policy to prioritize cacao and tourism, with the particular goal of transforming the productive matrix. 

The result of this effort is the integration and enrichment of the productive and tourism sectors in the framework of the cacao value chain, which generates employment for women and youths in rural areas, reduces migration from rural areas to the cities, guarantees inter-generational links, respect for the cultural identity, production which is friendly with the environment, and food security. 

CAF and ICCO joined Maquita´s actions, which impacts over 360,000 people. In particular, CAF´s contribution is aimed at improving the economy of cacao producing families in  Esmeraldas, Manabi, Guayas, Los Ríos, El Oro, Napo-Pastaza, which are territories that are part of the Cacao Tourism Route. 

The cacao semi-processed products plant will be inaugurated in coming weeks in Guayaquil. The goal is to produce cacao paste during a first stage, and later to process powder, cocoa butter, and chocolate. The plant will operate next to the cacao bean collection center in Guayaquil, with a cocoa bean processing capacity of 120 tons/month, and a monthly production of approximately 90 MT of paste per month. The raw material to be used by the Plant will be the one supplied by the 22 Community Gathering Centers, enabling the use of quality products and contributing to improve the quality of life of the small cacao producing families. 

Ana Mercedes Botero, Director of CAF´s Social Innovation Initiative, stated that "this collaboration is aimed at visualizing and working on two innovative axis. The first, of an institutional character, contributes to the transformation of MCCH from a foundation to a social enterprise in order to ensure and consolidate its growth and sustainability. The second, of a productive character, adds value to the cacao chain through its processing to cacao paste and the promotion of tourism routes in bean producing areas". 

MCCH is an Ecuadorean organization with a social and solidarity economy, created in 1985 to respond to the needs of the economically vulnerable population through a supportive marketing framed in the quality of the product, with a fair weight and price. MCCH works in 17 Ecuadorean provinces, in sectors with high poverty and exclusion rates, facilitating their access to technical-economic information to improve their position and conditions in the  relationships of equality within their families, organizations, and community. The main objective is to improve their quality of life. 

ICCO is a Dutch NGO created in 1964, with presence in more than 40 countries, with an experience of over 45 years managing and monitoring more than EUR 70 million annually in areas such as food security, nutrition, agriculture, education, and gender. Its objectives regarding the issues of poverty and social development translate into three policy subjects: basic infrastructure, democratization, and the construction of peace and a fair and sustainable economic development.

Maria Jesus Perez, Director of Maquita Cushunchic, commented: "This tripartite  coordination between CAF- ICCO and MCCH represents an opportunity to consolidate productive and commercial processes which have been promoted for 30 years in the Ecuadorean coast and Amazon region, with the participation of 4,287 families from vulnerable sectors, who are determined to develop a direct marketing model between the producer and the consumer, incorporating value added to the production of cacao and icreasing the levels of quality in community tourism services. The proposal is based on the principles of a social and solidarity economy, thus contributing to the improvement of the family's income, promoting an endogenous sustainable development". 

Conny Toornstra, Regional Director of ICCO South America, stated: "This project will enable a direct influence in the improvement of family life conditions in relation to tourism activities and cacao production in six territories of Ecuador, integrating training processes, social management, agro-industrial management, and entrepreneurial management of the cacao value chain. The project is supported by a firm institutional decision from the different actors involved (National Government, Municipalities, ICCO-MCCH, CAF, Spanish Cooperation, and Association of Producers, among others) guaranteeing greater possibilities of success, scalability, and reproducibility of the model in other value chains. 

The aforementioned proves that it is possible to establish  businesses, participate and compete in demanding traditional markets through an approach based on a social and solidarity economy, guaranteeing sustainable development and equity. In addition, through the promotion of the Cacao Routes, visitors will see and value the natural and human resources of Ecuador".