Colombia
Close to 7 million people in the Colombia still live in extreme poverty.
NESsT invests in and accelerates social enterprises in Colombia that generate quality job opportunities for marginalized individuals, including women, Indigenous peoples, smallholder farmers and producers, and youth.
Through hands-on business assistance, we support these enterprises to bring their innovative business solutions to communities the market has traditionally overlooked, while developing their social and environmental practices.
We’ve invested in 5 social enterprises across Colombia.
368
dignified employment & income generation opportunities created
+US $1.6M
invested
95,973
lives improved
As of February 1, 2024
Discover our work advancing labor inclusion in sustainable agriculture in Colombia
NESsT portfolio in Colombia
Latest news
NESsT’s recent study and extensive research identifies that the term ‘bioeconomy’ is often broadly interpreted by bioeconomy funders and global policymakers, sometimes straying far from a vision of environmental stewardship. We interviewed Indigenous leaders and entrepreneurs as part of ongoing efforts to deepen our understanding of their perspectives, vision and expectations of the bioeconomy as not just as an economic model, but as a way of life rooted deeply in ancestral tradition.
This blog delves into the methodology behind NESsT’s publication to improve the targeting, accessibility, efficacy, and efficiency of investments in the Amazon bioeconomy; it homes in on NESsT’s firm intention to bring local voices to global discussions around Amazon bioeconomy funding and explores how NESsT anchored the publication in authentic narratives and diverse Amazonian contexts while tailoring the message for the international financing community.
NESsT’s extensive one-year research reveals critical insights to drive better-targeted investments for Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
The nine enterprises to join the South America Accelerator Program, co-created by NESsT and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, are set to drive sustainable development and inclusive growth across the region.
Flower producer Cattleya manages employs 350 individuals, primarily from the nearby rural towns of Suesca and Sesquilé, providing them with a stable source of income, fair wages, well-being services, and professional development opportunities. Over 50% of Cattleya’s workforce are women who are the primary earners of their families.
In 2022, the Lirio Fund made its first investment in Colombia, welcoming Pomario, a social enterprise that sells organic produce and provides jobs to rural communities.