Rural indigenous communities form the majority of guatemala's small farmers, but are often only able to grow crops for their own families to eat, lacking the resources to grow products for sale

This $614,100 Project Grant from the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) under the IAF Assistance for Overseas Programs (CFDA 85.750) will support Asociacion De Mujeres Mayas Majawil QIJ Nuevo Amanecer's efforts to promote economic empowerment for indigenous women in Guatemala through April 2025. The grantee will diversify local production, train women in sustainable agriculture and small business administration, and support the development of community stores to increase market access and income generation for women across 15 municipalities in seven Guatemalan departments. This aligns with the IAF's Women Investing in Growth and Security initiative and efforts to address root causes of irregular migration in Central America by empowering women as business and community leaders.

In these communities, women have especially few opportunities to generate income outside of their homes. IAF grantee asociación DE mujeres mayas majawil Q'ij, EL nuevo amanecer (majawil Q'ij) will promote indigenous women's economic empowerment by diversifying local production and training in sustainable agriculture and small business administration. Majawil Q'ij will also support the development of community stores to promote market access and income generation. This will promote livelihoods in multigenerational communities across 15 municipalities and seven departments of guatemala. This grant is part of the IAF's women investing in growth and security (WINGS) initiative to empower women as business and community leaders, and efforts to address the root causes of irregular migration in central america.