El Salvador

The Micro-retail Development Project was a three-year initiative designed by TechnoServe, in partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and private sector partner CBC. The project was developed with the goal of improving the livelihoods of micro-retail store owners—both women and men—across El Salvador by enhancing business practices and facilitating access to finance, while also expanding consumer access to essential goods and services. By strengthening micro-retail businesses, the project aimed to contribute to local economic growth and help reduce migration pressures through sustainable income opportunities.

The Maximizing Opportunities in Coffee and Cacao in the Americas (MOCCA) project was a seven-year initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Food for Progress program. Implemented by TechnoServe and partners, MOCCA worked to support over 120,000 farmers across Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and Peru to overcome barriers to effectively rehabilitating and renovating their coffee and cacao trees.

Crece tu Empresa (CRECE) is an ongoing program since 2015 in Central America with the support of the Citi Foundation. The objective of the program is to support young entrepreneurs to promote the sustainable growth of their businesses, by helping them develop their skills and business competencies.

The Better Coffee Harvest (Cosechemos Mas Cafe) project is a four-year initiative funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, the J.M. Smucker Company and the PIMCO Foundation to reduce poverty and increase farm sales for coffee farmers in El Salvador and Nicaragua.

Youth face unique challenges in obtaining formal employment or becoming successful entrepreneurs. Crece Tu Empresa, TechnoServe's program in partnership with Citi Foundation, is working to address the challenge of youth unemployment in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Panama.

TechnoServe helped coffee producer groups become more profitable by growing and selling lucrative specialty coffee. Using tools such as traceability software and quality management systems, TechnoServe business advisors trained the producers in industry best practices.

TechnoServe partnered with the Millennium Challenge Corporation to reduce poverty and boost economic development in northern El Salvador by strengthening the dairy value chain.

Impulsa Tu Empresa aims to help small and growing businesses boost their growth through mentoring and business training. Since its launch in 2012, the program has increased the sales of over 1,500 businesses and helped create 1,600 new jobs in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Colombia, and Burkina Faso.