Consulting to generate economic alternatives for 200 alpaca-owning families, Ecuador.

  • Country: Ecuador
  • Location: Ecuadorian Andes, Cañar, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, and Imbabura moors.
  • Duration: May to October 2018.
  • Participants: 200 alpaca-owning families living in poverty and inequality.
  • Area of specialization: Rural Market Development.

Starting point

Between 2014 and 2017, Ecuador’s economy was destabilized by the sharp decline in oil prices. To counteract this situation, the Ecuadorian government, through a law, encourages foreign investment in the country’s strategic sectors and public services. However, this law is designed for large energy and infrastructure projects, neglecting potential local socioeconomic development initiatives. This project is being developed in areas at high risk due to climate change.

Objective

Reducing inequality and poverty among 200 alpaca-owning families.

What is the project about

CODESPA works in partnership with the Consortium of Provincial Governments and, for this specific project, with the private company PAQOCHA, which focuses on the alpaca fiber value chain. Its suppliers are small indigenous farmers, who own alpacas in the moorlands of Cañar, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, and Imbabura, with the goal of reducing inequality and poverty among these families.

The project focuses on:

  • Design and development of a marketing strategy that will allow PAQOCHA to expand into the international market.
  • Review of the business plan and aspects related to the current business structure, such as the quality and storage of raw materials, national and international product distribution, and administration, among other factors.

Entities that support this project