The project aims to increase the economic empowerment of Indigenous women and youth in Alta Verapaz in Guatemala by strengthening business practices of small-scale enterprises led by Indigenous women and youth, and by developing an enabling environment for those enterprises to grow and prosper. The project contributes to increasing the entrepreneurship skills of Indigenous women and youth’s, as well as their access to resources and to markets. It works to increase the social, economic and political engagement of key stakeholders on issues regarding their rights, leadership, economic empowerment, social justice, and the prevention of gender-based violence. Project activities include: (1) training on business and financial administration, environmentally and climate-resilient production practices, and social responsibility; (2) providing technological innovation packages; (3) delivering awareness-raising sessions to market actors and service providers on gender-sensitive services; (4) developing advocacy plans with women’s rights organizations to influence public policies and programs; and (5) delivering awareness-raising campaigns and workshops to key community and economic stakeholders, and local authorities to improve policies and programs in support of Indigenous women and youth’s economic empowerment, rights, and environmental sustainability.
The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) strengthened innovative, clean and sustainable business practices in small-scale enterprises, especially those headed by women and youth, from Indigenous communities in particular; and (2) increased engagement by women’s rights organizations, community leaders and members, and governments in promoting Indigenous women and youth leadership of innovative, clean and sustainable small-scale enterprises.
Results achieved as of (March 2020) include: (1) 6,500 participants (of which 55% were women) were trained on small business skills, climate and resilient agriculture, women economic empowerment and Indigenous land rights; (2) nine Indigenous women’s groups were identified for the implementation and strengthening of their small businesses; (3) one diversified agriculture school was launched on green and socially responsible agricultural business practices; and (4) 826 project beneficiaries (of which 546 were women) received training in sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural practices.
