News

USAID and ANDE present the Entrepreneurship Development Initiative in Guatemala

13 July 2022
ANDEglobal.org

Guatemala City, Guatemala, July 12, 2022 - The Aspen Network of Entrepreneurs for the Development of (ANDE), with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Guatemala, announced eight organizations selected to receive funds under the Entrepreneurship Development Initiative in Guatemala (GEDI). Vice President Kamala Harris announced GEDI in June 2021.

The selected projects will employ creative and novel approaches to address the problems faced by Guatemalan entrepreneurs, particularly around access to financing and markets. These innovative solutions will also raise capital and provide business support services for Guatemalan entrepreneurs in the departments of Quetzaltenango, Alta Verapaz, Sololá, San Marcos, Chimaltenango, Quiché, Totonicapán, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Santa Rosa, Retalhuleu, Suchitepéquez and Huehuetenango.

The initial portfolio of projects led by business services organizations will receive investments of more than $10.3 million from USAID, and organizations and companies from various sectors to support Small Businesses in Growth (SCE).

Representatives from the United States Embassy, ​​USAID, ANDE, civil society organizations, and the business sector recognized the following organizations leading the projects during an announcement event:

  • Alterna It will provide technical business-market intelligence services, strategic-financial knowledge and digitalization for 80 SMEs and six groups that produce organic coffee, cocoa and vegetables.
  • EARTH University it will help entrepreneurs in rural communities increase investment capacity and access new markets for coffee products, honey and specialty mushrooms.
  • FOUND will support entrepreneurs to establish new points of sale with access to seed capital and new markets. The project will also establish 100 companies with a social microfranchise model for the sale of prepared foods.
  • INCAE Business School will create a peer network of women entrepreneurs through personalized business training and mentoring for 80 small and medium-sized women-led businesses.
  • Mercy Corps will help 770 coffee farmers gain access to more profitable markets through coffee quality certification; and provide improved water and sanitation to communities of 1500 coffee farmers.
  • Multiverse will establish a regional business center to foster a stronger business ecosystem and create links between distant communities and regional centers.
  • Pomona Impact Foundation will develop a $3 million private equity portfolio for SGB, of which $1,5 million will be invested in renewable energy companies.
  • Global Network of Indigenous Entrepreneurs will offer business services in local Mayan languages ​​designed for enterprising indigenous entrepreneurs to overcome barriers to entry to the formal market.

Contact GEDI Manager Alissa Moen for more information: alissa.moen@aspeninstitute.org