Fortalecimiento de las capacidades organizacionales de productores de cacao en Chiapas, México

The project is directed towards Rainforest Alliance México and Sociedad de Productores de Cacao Sostenible RAYEN, a group of 27 cacao producers managing 57 hectares in the Soconusco region of Chiapas. The RAYEN cooperative has been a sustainable producer of high-quality cacao, with a production of over 12 tons annually. Their plantations are based on climate-smart agriculture practices, such as crop diversification and protection of flora, fauna, and water resources. The cooperative has received international recognition, including the "Chocolate Alliance Awards," and has established partnerships with Mexican and international companies, such as Hecho Chocolate, Buna, and Chocosol. The analysis of the cooperative's dynamics reveals a lack of participation and involvement from members other than the president, secretary, and treasurer. These individuals have taken on a leadership role, guiding and directing activities, but also assuming responsibilities. This has led to a lack of engagement from other members, as evident in the comments during the initial meeting: "We were informed about the meeting, and the president even visited each of us to remind us, so we're the ones who are here." Despite this, there is a sense of identity and belonging among the members, as evident in the comments during the analysis of the cooperative's history and purpose. One of the founding members, a 68-year-old producer, comments that he joined the cooperative to increase the value of his cacao production, which had become unprofitable due to the presence of intermediaries. Another member comments that the cooperative has allowed him to increase the profitability of his production through the professionalization of techniques and the elimination of intermediaries. The project aims to strengthen the organizational capacities of the cooperative, including the development of indicators for community, producer, and environmental sustainability. The creation of these indicators will help the cooperative to measure its progress and make informed decisions about its activities. The project also aims to promote the involvement and participation of all members, ensuring that the cooperative is a truly collective and sustainable enterprise. The project's design includes the establishment of a quality control committee, a commercialization committee, a logistics committee, a security committee, and a human resources committee. These committees will be responsible for ensuring the quality of the cacao, managing the commercialization process, coordinating logistics, ensuring the security of the cooperative's activities, and developing human resources. The project's implementation will be carried out in collaboration with the cooperative's members, who will be involved in the decision-making process and the development of the project's activities. The project's success will depend on the cooperative's ability to work together and make collective decisions, ensuring that the project's goals are achieved and that the cooperative becomes a truly sustainable and profitable enterprise.