In Colombia 350 thousand families work in the panela sector and it is the second employer in the country after coffee. The sector is characterized by informality, which represents a major obstacle to the implementation of public policies, best practices, and development.

ABOUT

People: 1.500 families

Location: Colombia – Clusters in several regions

Solution provided: Training process in value approach and associativity. Training design for trainers. Profile, selection and training of regional trainers. Model - path of learning for sugar cane farmers, with available courses of different entities.

Status: in execution.

THE CHALLENGE

Promote (Boost) the panela production process to raise quality standards, value in international markets and diversify products. The farmers and producers of the sector adhere to rudimentary (primary) practices of cultivation and production of panela, which affects quality standards, delays logistics, and increases costs. On the other hand, producers have problems working collectively, which affects their decision-making processes, negotiations, competitiveness in general, and the construction of a social fabric that makes them less vulnerable to socio-political conditions.

In this Project there are several entities and parties involved and the producer families are not aggregated in a single institution. Several work fronts have been defined to involve, communicate, train, and monitor the development of families.



1. Communication strategy. With the aim of informing about the program, progress and convening meetings. Through local media and distribution of printed matter in small markets in the regions.
2. Design and development of an initial training program so that they recognize the value of working with better standards, the opportunities they can have as families and the community and develop a sense of associativity to strengthen the social fabric. Due to the conditions of the population and their access to technology, it is necessary that this training be carried out in person.
3. Design and implementation of a training of formators program to extend the experience to the 350 thousand families in the country, with the support of the team of foundations.
4. Design of an evaluation of digital literacy that will allow the design of specific digital inclusion programs, so that they access more market opportunities and platforms that link them with the final consumer, to which to formalization processes of employment, commercialization and banking.
   

THE RESULTS

The producers have begun to migrate from the production of panela in block to panela honey, necessary for the product export. Greater participation in the panela associations and some debates on the governance processes are beginning to be identified.