Supporting indigenous and rural women in the production and marketing of ethnic textile crafts in northeastern Cauca, Colombia.

  • Country: Colombia
  • Location: 5 municipalities in northeastern Cauca: Silvia, Jambaló, Toribío, Corinto, and Caldono.
  • Duration: October 2015 to May 2016.
  • Participants: 74 indigenous women artisans, belonging to 5 different associations and ethnic groups (Guámbianos, Nasas, Ambalueños, Kiswueñas, and Mestizas).
  • Area of specialization: Rural Market Development, Training, and Microentrepreneurship.

Starting point

The Department of Cauca is characterized by the historical presence of armed groups, which violate the rights of the population, and by having suffered greatly from the Colombian conflict. It is one of the poorest regions in Colombia, where its inhabitants lack basic rights such as food, housing, healthcare, and education.

In Cauca, where 17.85% of the country’s total population lives, ethnic groups and women are the groups most affected by this situation of vulnerability. The role of Indigenous women is key as transmitters of cultural identity to the next generations. However, they face chronic rights violations: domestic violence, family abandonment, lack of access to education and training regarding their rights, limited political participation, and the impossibility of enjoying economic autonomy.

Objective

The objective of the project is to strengthen the organizational and business processes of five associations of indigenous and rural women, to market the textile crafts they produce and improve their income.

What is the project about

The activities are focused on ensuring the marketing of handcrafted products made by the beneficiary women through fair trade channels.

This will be achieved through training and technical assistance in business consulting for:

  • Design a business plan and annual operating plans.
  • Identify new markets and participate in national fairs.
  • To advertise, communicate and develop the corporate image of the network to make it known.
  • Implement a purchasing fund for artisans.

This project is expected to increase the income of participating indigenous women by 30% through the marketing of their handicrafts.l.

Entities that support this project