Processus d'autonomisation et développement de nouveaux marchés pour la coopérative Frutos del Ande, partenaire de l'ONG Autre Terre

Abstract

The Belgian NGO Autre Terre focuses its work on internal democracy and participatory management to improve the quality of life of disadvantaged populations by promoting alternative entrepreneurship. In the southern countries, Autre Terre supports local partners in the training process and the development of sustainable economic projects. The Peruvian cooperative Frutos del Ande – Autre Terre’s local partner for 8 years – trains small producers, plants, processes and sells Andean grains and legumes. Autre Terre financially supports the cooperative and co-manages the project by strengthening its capacities and by transferring expertise. Its objective is to make Frutos del Ande autonomous over time and to have an impact through this model of Social and Solidarity Economy. After defining and providing a theoretical framework for the different key elements of the Thesis, the five important pillars to make the local partner autonomous are developed. As a result, the themes of financial empowerment, governance, staff policy, added value for producers and political advocacy are addressed and studied through interviews and field visits. My journey in Lima and Ayacucho also helped me better understand how the organization works. The last part is devoted to present the results of the customers matchmaking in Peru and Europe. This point aims empower the cooperative on a financial level in order to hire its staff and invest on the long run.