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Colombia
Despite the ongoing civil insurgency in Colombia, and a poverty rate of nearly 50 percent, there are several local products that are in high demand around the world, including coffee. Colombia is the world's second-largest coffee producer. However, due to a variety of factors, including small farm sizes and low-grade processing equipment, many coffee farmers aren't producing up to their potential. TechnoServe is working to change this.
TechnoServe/Colombia
Avenida 15 No 122-35 of 606
Bogotá, Colombia
Tel: 57-1-620-0078, ext. 1080
technoserve@tns.org
Andean Regional Support Manager: Andres Rico
Established: 2006
Practices: Developing Entrepreneurs, Building Businesses and Industries
Sectors: Agriculture & Agribusiness (coffee)
Developing Entrepreneurs
Business Plan Competitions
TechnoServe is introducing its successful business plan competition model to help the country's fledgling entrepreneurs turn good ideas into thriving, growth-oriented businesses. The program will focus on small and medium businesses that benefit people at the bottom of the economic pyramid by generating jobs and markets while also increasing the supply of high-quality, affordable goods and services. There will also be an emphasis on businesses in the fields of energy, food, health, housing, basic services and information technology.
Key supporter: Inter-American Development Bank
Building Businesses and Industries
Agriculture & Agribusiness › Coffee
TechnoServe is working with Nestlé's Nespresso business unit to help 3,000 smallholder farmers in three cooperatives to increase their production of high-quality, sustainably produced coffee to meet Nespresso's increasing global demand. The program is helping the cooperatives improve their production, processing and business management practices. Our business advisors are also helping set up a more efficient pricing system that provides quality-based incentives.
Key supporters: Nespresso, Expocafe and the Colombian Coffee Federation