At NCBA CLUSA, we are committed to supporting Indigenous communities worldwide. As we aim to alleviate poverty through social and economic empowerment, we recognize the critical role indigenous communities play in bridging the economic gap.
While the world’s estimated 476 million Indigenous peoples make up less than 5 percent of the population, they represent at least 15 percent of the extremely poor. NCBA CLUSA seeks to lift up their voices and create space and opportunity to further their approaches to building resilience, economic security and well-being for themselves and future generations. Working in partnership with and learning from Indigenous cultures is a unique and enriching experience that NCBA CLUSA is integrating into its global programming.
To celebrate International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, observed worldwide on August 9, we are highlighting some examples of how our projects are implementing inclusive programming to empower Indigenous people in the Americas.
USAID Cooperative Development Program: Cooperative Ecosystem and Social Inclusion (CESI)
NCBA CLUSA implements the five-year Cooperative Ecosystem and Social Inclusion (CESI) project in Guatemala, Kenya, Madagascar and Peru under the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Cooperative Development Program (CDP). CESI aims to strengthen cooperative capacity and enabling environments and works with Indigenous peoples in all four countries to support their communities through cooperative development.
In Peru, CESI collaborated with the Awajun people of San Ignacio to launch their coffee cooperative Kajui Ikamia, which means “Mountain Coffee.” CESI and its partners provided training and technical assistance to support farm initiatives as well as topics outside the scope of traditional farming methods such as governance, cooperative principles, and the financial education and economic empowerment of women. Today, Kajui Ikamia represents 240 people across four communities in San Ignacio, 25 percent of whom are Indigenous women member-owners. This year, the co-op anticipates harvesting 2,500 kg of coffee and is laying the groundwork for a stronger harvest of 60,000 kg in 2025.
In Guatemala, NCBA CLUSA worked with the Indigenous women’s recycling cooperative Atitlan Recicla across multiple CDP program cycles to support the co-op’s growth from an informal organization of women who wanted to preserve the natural beauty of their community and home, to a recycling cooperative that provides benefits to members while protecting the ecosystem around Lake Atitlan. Today, Atitlan Recicla has more than 60 members and is 100 percent led by Indigenous people.
USAID Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F)
NCBA CLUSA’s USAID-funded F2F Program is implemented in Peru, Ecuador, Honduras and El Salvador. The project will deliver 300 impactful, demand-driven volunteer assignments in local communities that support agricultural diversification and climate-smart production, and strengthen producer organization and cooperatives.
In Peru, the F2F program is working with Cooperativa Agraria Sonomoro del Vraem, located in Pangoa. This cacao cooperative produces and exports a wide array of chocolate products using cacao pods harvested by its associates, including cacao powder and chocolate bars. Approximately 30 percent of the co-op’s members belong to the Indigenous communities of San Antonio de Shimapango and San Antonio de Sonomoro, both of which belong to the Nomatsigenga people. In addition, some members come from the Marankiari community and belong to the Ashaninka Indigenous group. The F2F program in Ecuador also provided training on financial management with a focus on organizational development and community banks to the Indigenous-led Waylla Kuri Rukullakta Agricultural Production Association (ASOPROAKURI) and the Ruku Kawsay Association, a group working to produce and commercialize guayusa, a tree native to the Amazon Rainforest. As a result, ASOPROAKURI established its organizational chart, approved the implementation of community banks in the association and built its capacity in record-keeping practices. In addition, 30 members of the Ruku Kawsay Association built their capacity in these areas to strengthen their association.
USAID Rural Financial Inclusion (RFI) in Guatemala
These communities depend primarily on agriculture livelihoods, raising their vulnerability to climatic and economic risks. RFI is encouraging investment in the agricultural sector to improve food security and resilience, as well as developing financial products tailored to the needs of these communities, promoting the use of mobile technology to overcome geographical barriers, strengthening community networks and supporting favorable government policies.
Working in key regions such as the Western Highlands, Alta and Baja Verapaz, and areas where the concentration of the Indigenous population is high, RFI seeks to provide these Indigenous communities with the necessary financial tools to develop their local economies and improve their quality of life. The combination of education, innovation and collaboration is creating a more inclusive and prosperous future for all, demonstrating how a well-structured initiative can have a significant positive impact. For example, the RFI project, in collaboration with MasterCard, is supporting the design and development of a digital wallet. This initiative aims to expand the reach of a digital platform to rural areas where most Indigenous people live. During the second quarter of this year, more than 4,000 people accessed digital savings services through this digital wallet, 43 percent of whom were women.
USDA Strengthening Co-op Capacity for Historically Underserved Farmers in the U.S.
In our work with Indigenous communities through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-funded Strengthening Co-op Capacity for Historically Underserved Farmers program, NCBA CLUSA is dedicated to supporting traditional agricultural practices and fostering cooperative development. Through our partnership with the Diné Community Development Corporation, we are conducting research to identify enabling environments for cooperative development in Indigenous communities. This research is vital in understanding the complex interplay of federal, tribal and state laws and policies that enable cooperatives and impact agricultural and rural business development.
Additionally, the Indian Country Grassroots Support initiative is focused on creating a law review article and white paper to bolster traditional Indigenous collective systems on the Navajo Nation. This effort is informed by forums held with Navajo Nation officials and community members, ensuring that the perspectives of those most affected are central to the process. Furthermore, we are engaging tribal members through the Northwest Cooperative Development Center in Washington, who are participating in agricultural cooperative initiatives that support both emerging entrepreneurs and eldercare within their communities.