Peru

Our impact

Context

In Peru, Socodevi works in territories where rural families face multiple challenges: economic vulnerability, limited access to markets and services, persistent gender inequalities, climate and environmental pressures, and—in some regions—socio-economic impacts linked to extractive activities.

In this context, our interventions aim to strengthen the capacity of families and collective organizations to build sustainable and competitive economic activities, while improving their resilience to shocks (climate, price volatility, access to natural resources). We work at the heart of agricultural value chains by combining: technical and management capacity building, improved governance and performance of associations/co-operatives, access to finance and markets, and the integration of concrete climate adaptation and environmental sustainability measures.

Objectives and expected results

  • Sustainably improve the economic and social living conditions of rural women and men, especially in vulnerable territories (extractive zones and forest landscapes).
  • Strengthen the resilience of producers and families to climate change, biodiversity loss, and volatility in agricultural markets.
  • Increase the adoption of sustainable and climate-smart practices: agroforestry systems (cocoa), agro-sylvo-pastoral systems, water management, landscape restoration, and approaches compatible with natural resource conservation.
  • Diversify and enhance the competitiveness of rural households’ economic activities, while increasing productivity and value added.
  • Strengthen the performance of associations, co-operatives and associative enterprises to provide relevant services to producers (post-harvest, processing, marketing, financial services) and support their development.
  • Improve access to markets (local, regional and international) and structure commercial strategies aligned with environmental standards (e.g., zero deforestation).
  • Strengthen women’s economic empowerment and participation in decision-making (household and organizational), and improve the business environment for vulnerable groups, including Indigenous Peoples.

Sectors of activity

  • Sustainable agriculture and agricultural value chains
    • Cocoa (agroforestry)
    • Agro-sylvo-pastoral systems (diversified production)
    • Supported value chains: quinoa, avocados, peaches, asparagus, passion fruit, pomegranate, dairy products, etc.
  • Climate change adaptation and resilience
  • Nature-based solutions, biodiversity, and forest landscape restoration
  • “Zero deforestation” approach and environmental sustainability
  • Water management and irrigation
  • Strengthening collective enterprises (associations/co-operatives): governance, management, accounting, leadership
  • Access to finance, financial inclusion and risk management
  • Marketing, commercialization and market access (including exports)
  • Gender equality and women’s economic empowerment
  • Human rights, inclusive governance and Indigenous empowerment
  • Institutional strengthening of local and regional public authorities

Results and impacts

Gender equality and leadership

  • 88% of women trained in sub-projects have a medium or high level of participation in household economic decision-making.
  • 75% of participants in the training program reported a positive impact on their quality of life.
  • 735 women gained the confidence to apply leadership skills, access/control resources, and manage farms.
  • 26.5% of board positions in new associative enterprises are held by women.
  • 888 women completed 80% of the gender equality program; 1,553 family businesses were sensitized to joint decision-making; 14 associative enterprises developed and implemented gender equality action plans.

Management capacities and institutional strengthening

  • 1,765 people (1,159 women producers; 606 men producers) trained in basic accounting and production cost calculation.
  • 358 leaders able to assume their roles and responsibilities, including environmental responsibilities.
  • Strengthened capacities of public actors: representatives of 20 local governments, 7 provincial governments and 3 regional governments better equipped to support the competitiveness of value chains.
  • Partnership with MINAGRI: pilot project supporting commercialization for 11 associative enterprises; creation of the Alto Chicama Agricultural Co-operatives Center (Cecoalt); 7 PNIA/MINAGRI projects implemented (CAD $487,000).

Living conditions and human development

  • +25% increase in the Human Development Index (HDI) in the 38 intervention districts (0.2851 → 0.3570), a faster progression than in comparable regions.
  • +95% increase in average annual net agricultural income for family farms (S/. 3,697 → S/. 7,226).
  • More than 1,600 hectares reforested (1,613 ha).
  • 96 irrigation modules/reservoirs installed for more rational and efficient water use.
  • 18 associative enterprises adopted good environmental practices and use environmental management tools; 413 farm plans were developed.

Employment and economic spillovers

  • 2,334 jobs created (1,317 men; 1,017 women) and 769 jobs protected (499 men; 270 women).
  • 3,109 family agro-sylvo-pastoral farms with profitable and sustainable economic activities.
  • 14 associative enterprises with profitable and sustainable activities; 20 associative enterprises with a growing market.

Strengthened organizations and markets

  • 24 associative enterprises consolidated, including 21 newly registered.
  • 19 associative enterprises using marketing and commercialization tools; 17 implementing their marketing plan.
  • 30 development programs and plans produced to support enterprises in the identified value chains.
  • Marketing and supply mechanisms put in place (supplier/buyer database, exporters), reducing costs and improving yields.

Productivity and technologies

  • 4,100 family businesses using improved productive technologies.
  • Average yield per hectare: +212% among leading family farms; +104% among selected farms.
  • 4,539 family agro-sylvo-pastoral farms acquired technical capacities to add value to traditional products and new products.

Testimonial

“These investments contribute to strengthening the power of women, Indigenous communities and small businesses, while supporting regional stability and protecting vital ecosystems like the Amazon.”

  • Randeep Sarai
    Secretary of State (International Development) of Canada

Projects in Peru

CACAO+

The CACAO+ project strengthens the climate and economic resilience of cocoa-growing families in the Peruvian Amazon by promoting climate-smart and nature-based practices, zero-deforestation agroforestry systems, and high-performing, inclusive co-operatives, with a particular focus on women’s and Indigenous communities’ leadership.Socodevi supports the adoption of these sustainable practices, the establishment of responsible agroforestry systems, and the strengthening […]
  • Funded by:
    Global Affairs Canada
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Partners

Funders and co-financiers

  • Global Affairs Canada
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Contact

Peru Office
Avenida General Santa Cruz 666,
Jesús Maria, Lima
(+51) 1483-7390

Countries where we work

Senegal

For more than two decades, Socodevi has been working in the Casamance, Tambacounda, Thiès, Saint-Louis and Sine Saloum regions to strengthen climate resilience, professionalize economic enterprises (co-operatives, economic interest groups), and increase women’s economic empowerment. Interventions combine sustainable and climate-adaptive agricultural practices, Nature-based Solutions (ecosystem restoration and inclusive governance of natural resources), access to financial […]

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Ukraine

Since 2008, Socodevi and its Ukrainian partners have been working to professionalize dairy and grain value chains, strengthen the co-operative movement and, since 2022, increase the resilience of rural families—particularly women and displaced people—facing war.

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Vietnam

Vietnam is a country where Socodevi has been active for more than two decades, working to strengthen the co-operative sector, improve rural livelihoods, and promote both social and economic inclusion. Projects focus on diversifying and increasing income, improving co-operative governance, supporting women’s entrepreneurship, and promoting biodiversity.

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