Project/activity information

The implementation of forest incentive programs in Guatemala has given rise to production initiatives by community groups based on goods and services derived from forests and/or forest plantations. Community enterprises are usually established through local non-profit social development projects and their most common weakness is a lack of capacity for effective production and marketing of products.

In this context, there is a clear need to strengthen the business management capacity of these community groups through the provision of technical assistance to develop their business profiles and identify sources of financial support as well as training on markets, product design, marketing and sales, and access to the formal sector to enable them to address new markets and expand their production.

To this end, the implementation of a pilot project is proposed to help build local business management capacities through INAB’s trade liaison officers, provide guidance to community groups in the identification, establishment and promotion of forest enterprises, and support the training of these groups in production, administrative, accounting, legal and business issues and product design, while providing them with technical assistance to facilitate their access to financing sources.

The development objective of the project is to “Contribute to poverty alleviation and local development by strengthening community enterprises involved in the production and marketing of timber and non-timber products and environmental services”.

Its specific objective is to “Improve local business management capacities to develop and manage forest MSMEs”.