Hurricanes ETA and iota HIT alta verapaz, guatemala, in november 2020, just when farmers were ready to begin their annual harvest of coffee and cardamom

This Project Grant from the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) Assistance for Overseas Programs (CFDA #85.750) provides $384,500 to Federacion De Cooperativas De Las Verapaces Responsabilidad Limitada (Fedecovera RL) from July 2022 through July 2025. Fedecovera will support economic recovery for members of four coffee and cardamom cooperatives in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala impacted by Hurricanes Eta and Iota in 2020. Through training, technical assistance, and value chain strengthening, Fedecovera aims to help the cooperatives reduce costs, increase prices, and strengthen disaster preparedness. Specifically, Fedecovera will provide processing equipment and support to allow each cooperative to dry organic coffee and cardamom using fewer resources like wood and water. This aims to lower transportation costs and generate $384,500 in revenue by selling the dried goods. Additionally, the cooperatives will receive assistance to develop early warning systems and improve disaster resilience. The funding is part of IAF's broader response strategy in Central America to address root causes of irregular migration.

Not only did families lose the income from harvest-ready crops, but many lost their homes, possessions, the next planting season, and an estimated five years of investment in their farms. The IAF supports community-led approaches to building sustainable livelihoods and disaster resilience. Our grantee federación DE cooperativas DE LAS verapaces, r. L. (fedecovera) will help members of four of its member cooperatives recover economically through training, technical support, and value chain strengthening. Fedecovera's support and investment in processing equipment that uses fewer scarce resources like wood and water will help each cooperative reduce transportation costs and sell dried organic coffee and cardamom for a higher price. Additionally, the cooperatives will learn about and develop early warning systems to improve their disaster preparedness. This grant is part of the IAF's broader ETA/iota response strategy and its efforts to address the root causes of irregular migration in central america.