For the second year, sustainable ventures developed within the Cotahuasi Sub-basin Landscape Reserve (Arequipa) will have the opportunity to access financial support to enhance and improve their initiatives based on the sustainable use of natural resources.
This coincides with the launch of the second edition of the "Entrepreneurs for Cotahuasi" competition, an initiative jointly promoted by the National Service of Natural Protected Areas (Sernanp), an agency attached to the Ministry of the Environment; the management and the Management Committee of the Cotahuasi Sub-basin Landscape Reserve and Profonanpe, Peru's environmental fund.
Through this competition, a total of $25,000 funding will be awarded (between $5,000 and $8,300 per project) to ventures based on the sustainable use of wild flora and fauna resources (molle, tara, medicinal plants, vicuña fiber, among others) and/or domestic resources (honey, fruit trees, beef, alpaca fiber, hydrobiological resources, semi-permanent crops, quinoa, kiwicha, corn, among others).
Legal entities with legally established businesses and residents within the reserve area with 10 or more partners/community members may apply, these being micro and small businesses, organizations established for the use of natural resources, cooperatives and peasant communities.
Furthermore, with the aim of empowering the role of women in the conservation and sustainable development of our biodiversity, it is established that approximately 201% of the winning proposals must be led by women.
To be eligible, projects must promote the improvement, expansion, and consolidation of businesses that provide a service and/or generate a product, through actions such as upgrading equipment and infrastructure, using technological tools, and developing technical skills, among others. Furthermore, proposals must be related to conservation; activities that jeopardize the integrity of ecosystems and their biodiversity are excluded.
The application process will be conducted virtually through the Profonanpe competition portal.: www.profonanpe.org.pe/concurso-emprendedores-por-cotahuasi-2/ . The application period will be open until June 22nd.
