BeeGreen project will support more than 1,000 producers in the beekeeping sector to promote green jobs in Bolivia.

La Paz, 08 March 2023 - The National Chamber of Commerce of Bolivia, in partnership with the Confederation of Farmers of Umbria (Italy), received a grant under the First Call for Proposals for Component 1 projects of the European Union's AL-INVEST Green AL-INVEST programme.

The grant received will enable the implementation of the BeeGreen Project, which aims to develop sustainable digital business opportunities in the beekeeping value chain in Bolivia, with scalability and replicability in other agroforestry value chains (emphasis on coffee and cocoa), with a market focus and a focus on halting deforestation. The project will be implemented over the next 30 months.

Specifically, Project BeeGreen seeks to:

  • Articulating 1,000 producers and entrepreneurs of the beekeeping value chain to drive sustainable transformation with tools that enable product traceability, skills development and the appropriation of Agritech's innovative solutions.
  • Promote at least 300 enterprises oriented to non-deforestation in agricultural value chains in Bolivia, through an Agritech platform as a knowledge hub to promote around 1,000 green jobs (60% women and youth).
  • Implementing the first National Agritech Observatory to develop a critical path for companies and entrepreneurs to adopt intuitive digital technology solutions for sustainable and deforestation-free development in Bolivia's value chains.

 

375,000 co-financed by the European Union and the implementing partners for the promotion of sustainable growth and employment generation in the region, with an emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Throughout its implementation, Project BeeGreen will provide training, technical assistance, trade promotion activities, networking and other actions to contribute to the productivity and competitiveness of SMEs in agro-productive sectors in Bolivia.

The European Union's AL-INVEST Verde programme has CAINCO in Bolivia as a local leader. The programme - through the implementation of its Component 1 - selected 24 projects out of the 136 proposals received during the First Call for Proposals, with the BeeGreen Project presented by the National Chamber of Commerce being the only initiative selected in Bolivia.

The President of the National Chamber of Commerce, Mario Paredes Vargas, ratified the organisation's commitment to the sustainable development of Bolivia. In this scenario, he indicated that "SMEs are key actors for the sustainable development of economies due to their high potential to respond to market needs, generate employment and allow access to better living conditions. With the BeeGreen Project, funds will be allocated to benefit SMEs and, at the same time, expand their commercial possibilities under European Union standards".

Through its Ambassador to Bolivia, Michael Dóczy, the European Union reaffirmed its commitment to environmental transition. For the European Union, Latin America is a very important region to achieve sustainable development. The implementation of a programme such as AL-INVEST Verde contributes to the achievement of the 2030 climate goals, taking into account the European Green Pact and contributing to the UN SDGs.

About AL-INVEST Green

AL-INVEST Verde is a European Union programme whose main objective is to promote sustainable growth and job creation in Latin America by supporting the transition towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient and more circular economy. Through Component 1, the programme manages funds for the implementation of innovative projects of small business associations to promote sustainable practices in the private sector. Component 1 is led by sequaThe German non-profit organisation, which operates worldwide with the aim of promoting the private sector.