Consolidation and Enhanced Livelihood Initiative – Central Region (CELI-Central) Quarterly Report – April 2015-June 2015

These activities focus on strengthening organizational structures, creating business plans with a strategic vision for development, improving planning and marketing capacities, and training to foster a generational shift in rural communities. The initiative has invested $2.2 million in three tailor-made public-private partnership activities, involving 35 organizations in the rubber-, cacao-, and coffee-producing sectors. CELI-Central's focus has been on empowering and mobilizing smallholder producer associations, and expanding private sector investment in rural communities to create economic opportunities for community stakeholders within the context of licit markets and the rule of law. The initiative has now invested in a new bundle of activities for the management and improvement of tertiary road networks in consolidation regions. These activities will provide technical support to link State-civil society dynamics through the strengthening of pro-roads community association models, promoting the overall growth of social capital, and encouraging the participation of local stakeholders in the creation of road maintenance models. In the Caquetá (Caguán) region, CELI-Central has been working to strengthen the organizational capacity of smallholder producer associations. The initiative has provided training and technical assistance to 15 associations, resulting in improved management and decision-making processes. In addition, CELI-Central has supported the development of business plans for 10 associations, which are expected to increase their income and improve their livelihoods. In the Cauca/Valle del Cauca region, CELI-Central has been working to improve the marketing capacity of smallholder producer associations. The initiative has provided training and technical assistance to 20 associations, resulting in improved marketing strategies and increased sales. In addition, CELI-Central has supported the development of a regional marketing plan, which is expected to increase the income of smallholder producers in the region. In the Meta (La Macarena) region, CELI-Central has been working to strengthen the organizational capacity of smallholder producer associations. The initiative has provided training and technical assistance to 12 associations, resulting in improved management and decision-making processes. In addition, CELI-Central has supported the development of business plans for 8 associations, which are expected to increase their income and improve their livelihoods. In the Southern Tolima region, CELI-Central has been working to improve the planning capacity of smallholder producer associations. The initiative has provided training and technical assistance to 15 associations, resulting in improved planning strategies and increased income. In addition, CELI-Central has supported the development of a regional planning plan, which is expected to increase the income of smallholder producers in the region. Overall, CELI-Central's activities have resulted in improved organizational capacity, marketing capacity, and planning capacity of smallholder producer associations in the Central Region. The initiative has also supported the development of business plans and regional marketing and planning plans, which are expected to increase the income and improve the livelihoods of smallholder producers in the region.