Strengthening sustainable agriculture and community-based tourism in southern Ecuador

Southern Ecuador has historically faced high rates of migration from rural to urban areas.

Youth leaving for larger cities have left rural farming communities with weakened social networks and reduced ability to market their goods collectively. The IAF supports community-led solutions that expand economic opportunity and provide viable alternatives to migration.

Our grantee partner the Asociacin de Desarrollo Agropecuario Familiar de Gel (ADAF-Gel) will build on the infrastructure constructed using its previous IAF small grant to broaden marketing strategies and diversify incomes, including adding value to its produce and formalizing an existing agritourism component.

Additionally, this grant will support the establishment of Ecuador's first permanent mobile farmers' market, which will allow for safer food distribution and purchase during the pandemic and provide continued income generation once the crisis has passed.