Fighting Poverty through local economic development

Crossroads has been working with local partner Foncresol, a microfinance institution working with impoverished communities in Bolivia, for more than a decade. In 2006, Crossroads volunteer Kevin McCarty conducted a needs assessment which looked at every stage in the value chain for rural coffee producers in Bolivia to identify where capital investment was required. For several years following his placement, McCarty continued to support Foncresol and rural producers as a Crossroads e-volunteer doggedly researching potential markets for coffee producers. More volunteers followed to help develop the program and the new loan product and to conduct market analysis with Foncresol.

“Just to see the women sitting down together, figuring out exchange rates and interest, discussing plans and making decisions for social projects they could fund with the interest, with pencils and pieces of paper… The women were just doing it, because they finally had a little bit of money to manage as a group, with just enough support to give them confidence in their calculations and in their plans.

 Working with Crossroads volunteers, AFEME has established a batik workshop – a social enterprise aimed not only at tackling poverty in the community, but also empowering local women.

 Stirring the contents of two large rubber containers, their eyes focused on the task, two women prepare raw shea butter for refining. Produced for centuries by women from a local nut, shea butter is a moisturizer that's also edible, and is used not only in skin-care products and cosmetics, but in a number of chocolate-based products, too.

Dressed in their finest garb, eleven women belonging to the Coprokazan shea butter cooperative arrived at the Canadian embassy in Bamako, to take their place as guests of honour among government officials, NGO representatives and diplomats, including the Canadian ambassador.

For women struggling to escape the cycle of poverty, even a small investment can be enough for start-up materials for all kinds of small businesses. That is why Crossroads has partnered with the Asociaicion Nacional Ecumenica de Desarollo (ANED), a Bolivian financial organization working to alleviate poverty.

Crossroads' partners develop innovative programs to provide youth with practical skills to find employment or establish small business that respond to reality of Mali’s economy.

Crossroads International’s local partner, Kilabo works with some of the poorest communities in Mali. Based in Bamako, Kilabo tackles poverty by promoting the political development of rural communities.

Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world. More than 80 per cent of the population makes a subsistence living from farming.Seasonal food insecurity is common, leaving already poor communities extremely vulnerable, particularly women and children.

By working with Crossroads and the CDEC Centre-Nord, the ONPHDB is implementing new projects to develop the local economy and provide skills training for residents in rural communities.

As market forces have driven down the costs of many food staples, European producers have flooded Niger’s market with agricultural products selling below cost. The impact on local farmers has been devastating.