Publications

In 1997, a group of farmers in southern Ecuador set up the Association of Small Banana Producers ‘El Guabo’ to export directly to the Fair Trade markets in Europe and the United States. This case describes how with a lot of hard work, a reliable importer, and the assistance of SNV, the Association is now exporting to markets that offer producers stable prices for their bananas year round. For the 300 members and the 1000 or more workers who depend on them directly or indirectly, the Association has achieved substantial improvements in their incomes, job security and working conditions.

Esta historia destaca los desafíos de la deforestación y el cambio climático en el sur de Honduras y el impacto que ha tenido un proyecto innovador liderado por SNV Honduras y financiado por CORDAID y DANIDA para reforestar el área con Jatropha (piñón). Los resultados se ven no solamente en la mejora de las tierras previamente degredadas, sino también en la generación de ingresos para pequeños productores y en la reducción de gases de efecto invernadero a través de la producción de biocombustibles.   

This document summarises the systematisation of the project “Sustainable Biofuel Value Chain Development in an Existing African Oil Palm Plantation”, executed by SNV, WWF and HONDUPALMA, from October 2007 to March 2009, in El Negrito, Yoro, Honduras.

The purpose of the systemisation was to analyse the process followed in the design and implementation of the project and to identify the factors and key elements of: i) best agricultural practices (BAP) in production of African oil palm; ii) cleaner production (CP) in oil extraction and production plant; iii) bio-gas recovery project for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), in order to replicate and enlarge this experience at national and regional levels so as to share the lessons learnt throughout the process.

• The first section presents a summary of the methodological process followed to carry out the systematisation of the project;
• The second section makes reference to the context in which it was developed;
• The initial vision project (concepts, objectives, expected results, central themes, methodology and participants) is described in the third section;
• The fourth section deals with the formulation, formalisation and execution of the process, focusing on three main subjects: Cleaner Production (CP),
• Best Agricultural Practices (BAP), and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM); and one cross cutting subject: Business Model with a Value Chain Focus;
• Finally, the document includes the lessons learnt from the phases and the main subjects of the project, from which recommendations were derived to improve the implementation of the planned activities and achievements.

This story relates the challenges of deforestation and climate change in Southern Honduras and the impact that an innovate project led by SNV Honduras and financed by CORDAID and DANIDA has achieved in reforesting the area with Jatropha. The project has achieved results not only in improving previously degraded lands, but also through generating income for small holder farmers and contributing to reduced greenhouse gas emissions through producing biofuels. 

In Bolivia, more than 605 of the population lives in conditions of poverty. Economic activities are focused in the informal sector, and employment and market access opportunities are few and seldom offering long-term stable support. In this context, the SNV technical assistance offered to Bolivian companies helps to connect the private sector and economic actors to the BoP in a more formal, economically sustainable and mutually profitable relationship. In 2010, SNV and CAF signed an Agreement with the purpose of promoting Inclusive Business (IB) in Bolivia, as a sustainable solution that contributes to the reduction of the poverty, with the participation and the leadership of the private sector. In short, the SNV-CAF program has contributed to improving the business climate and assuring sustainable mechanisms of economic and social inclusion for people from the Base of the Pyramid.

This case highlights how SNV and WBCSD alliance approached PRONACA, one of the largest food companies of Ecuador, to develop an Inclusive Business scheme directed at strengthening its national network of maize suppliers. They sought to integrate the company’s strategy of increasing its base of local BoP suppliers with the needs of small-scale maize producers in Ecuador by linking them to the company’s value chain.

The politics of Cleaner Production (CP) is part of a response to commitments of Honduras on trade and environment. There’s a momentum of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (SERNA), the private sector's active participation and support of international cooperation. The overall objective of this policy is to promote, develop and consolidate the CP in the country, ensuring environmental protection, social welfare, economic growth and business competitiveness, as a sustainable long-term challenge.

In Hondupalma, the voluntary application of this policy meets the objective of promoting corporate environmental management to generate greater efficiency and profitability in the process, increase their competitiveness and reduce environmental impacts. SNV, as an ally of SERNA (public sector) and Hondupalma (private sector) became interested in linking the two actors and to promote and support the implementation of CP policy in the company.

En la zona del litoral Atlántico que colinda con el Arrecife crecen plantaciones de palma africana y operan plantas de procesamiento y extracción de aceite, cuyo funcionamiento representa una amenaza a la sostenibilidad del Arrecife. Así, constituye un reto disminuir los impactos ambientales negativos y, a la vez, aumentar la competitividad de las empresas que responden a los requerimientos del mercado World. Las acciones a emprender son diversas y entre ellas se encuentran la reducción del uso de agroquímicos y contaminantes y la reducción del consumo de aguas subterráneas.Para contribuir al desarrollo de tales acciones, durante el período 2007-2011, SNV apoyó a la empresa Palmas Aceiteras de Honduras (HONDUPALMA) en el diseño e implementación de una estrategia de producción más limpia (P+L) en la planta de procesamiento y extracción de aceite, y en la aplicación de mejores prácticas agrícolas (MPA) en las plantaciones de palma africana que se ubican en la zona de influencia del Arrecife Mesoamericano

Leading Peruvian coffee exporter Perhusa discovered the value of working with small-scale producers in order to increase its market share in certified specialty coffees. The farmer’s technical and organisational capabilities were increased by an extension program developed by Perhusa and SNV, and are now integrated in the specialty coffee value chain. After successful engagement with 4,000 farmers, with technical and financial assistance from SNV and IDB, the company expanded the programme to include an additional 5,000 farmers at its own cost. Farmer’s income from coffee production has grown by over 30%, on the basis of increased production and improved prices for the certified specialty coffee. Fifty people in the coffee company were trained in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for the production and management of specialty coffees and rural extension methodologies. Perhusa can now continue to expand the impact of the program.

Dole in Peru, a company that traditionally sources from large producers and company-owned plantations, implemented an Inclusive Business model that links small-scale banana producers to the company’s value chain through a mutually beneficial relationship. Productivity and quality of production of 2500 small farmers was increased with 75% over a period of 3 years. This went together with the organic certification of their product, and forward integration of farmers in the chain: they are now obtaining added value to their product through packaging the bananas themselves. Certification, together with the transfer of processing capacities to farmers’ associations generates increased sustainable incomes for the producers and improves employment conditions in an economically depressed zone that has considerable potential for agricultural business. The company gained through increased efficiency and larger export and trading of organic banana, a product with a growing demand in international markets.

See also: Inclusive Business at SNV