USAID Cooperative Agreement AID-520-A-12-00004 ANACAFE - USAID

The Rural Value Chains Project (RVCP) falls within the FtF framework and is designed to address the interdependent objectives of economic growth and improved nutritional levels. The project's primary goal is to promote direct ties between economic growth and improved nutritional levels, with a focus on expanding the reach of coffee, horticulture, and handicraft value chains to include a greater number of small producers, particularly women, young adults, and indigenous groups. The RVCP is implemented by a consortium of organizations led by ANACAFE, with the support of CONFECOOP, FUNCAFE, and FUNDASISTEMAS. The project's implementation strategy is flexible and dynamic, with a focus on institutionalizing activities within producer organizations to ensure sustainability. The three RVCP implementation pillars are participation, competitiveness, and improvements to the livelihood of beneficiaries. The project targets 22 municipalities in the provinces of Huehuetenango and San Marcos, with a focus on reducing poverty and malnutrition rates among small producers and their families. The project aims to increase household income through innovative production techniques and better access to markets, as well as improve nutrition through behavioral changes among the target population. The RVCP implementation context is characterized by remote and difficult-to-access communities, with limited access to basic services and a significant reliance on coffee production. The communities are primarily indigenous, with a high percentage of the population working in coffee production or as day laborers. The project considers education, training, and family planning to be key areas for engagement and strategy development. The project's implementation activities are structured around six components: improved competitiveness along the value chains, expanded participation in the value chains, improved agricultural productivity, expanded trade and increased markets, improved food production and use, and improvements to the handicrafts value chain. The project also includes crosscutting themes such as education and training, entrepreneurial development, environmental mitigation, financial services, communications, and engaging local and national government. The RVCP's expected results include increased producer income, improved nutrition, and sustained behavioral changes among the target population.