Strategic Alliances
Cecilia Rivadeneira Foundation
In August 2023, República del Cacao closes a collaborative partnership with Fundación Cecilia Rivadeneira, a civil society organization that works with families affected by childhood cancer to strengthen networking, social entrepreneurship and financial sustainability.
One of its projects is Cecilia Café & Lunch, a cafeteria managed by the mothers of children with cancer who have not been able to reinsert themselves into the workforce due to the support they provide to their children because of the disease. In this sense, República del Cacao, committed to generating a positive impact on the community, will work for at least one year to strengthen this social gastronomic enterprise through workshops on chocolate making, customer service, communication and social networks, food safety, among other technical training, which will allow the development and innovation of this business.
World Food Program
During the second half of 2023, República del Cacao becomes the first Ecuadorian SME to formally seal a partnership with the World Food Program. This United Nations organization works to improve the nutrition of women and children, help smallholder farmers improve productivity and reduce losses, help countries and communities prepare for and cope with climate shocks, and boost human capital through school feeding programs. For this work, WFP received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.
República del Cacao will work with this organization for the project that promotes the consumption of bananas and cacao in vulnerable communities in Ecuador. To this end, we will strengthen several of its components through training for small farmers at our Collection Center in Vinces, training with our corporate chef and allied chefs to create healthy recipes with cacao and knowledge exchange through Cacao Talks with the private sector, international cooperation and strategic allies on how to contribute to reducing the levels of malnutrition in Ecuador.
Fudela
Fudela (Fundación de las Américas) is an Ecuadorian NGO that, since 2005, has been implementing high-impact programs for the social and economic insertion of vulnerable groups, including the population in human mobility.
Fudela works with cooperation funds in projects with different components in which we will participate to strengthen those related to technical training associated with gastronomic issues for women, youth and migrants.
National Cooperative Business Association - CLUSA INTERNATIONAL
We are committed to the capacity building of our farmers. For this reason, we have partnered with NCBA CLUSA to implement the Farmer to Farmer project, funded by USAID. Through on-site training by American experts, we seek to improve agricultural practices, increase the productivity and profitability of fine cacao farmers and improve the sustainable use of natural resources.
This collaboration seeks to improve the lives of farmers and their communities, as well as to ensure a sustainable and high quality supply of cacao, creating a cycle of mutual benefits and long-term sustainable development.