Investing in Local People And Their Communities

Investing in Local People And Their Communities

Our mission is to empower people to work their way out of poverty, transforming their lives, their children’s futures and their communities.

CED STRATEGIES…

Opportunity International MISSION

• Identify and work with communities that have organized leadership in place, engage leadership aspirationally

• Use economic data and asset research to assess potential value added economic opportunities

• Lead with economic development w/ focus on sustainable SME development

• Leverage local/US business expertise to evaluate, prioritize and implement investment opportunities

• Co-invest with the poor & share ownership benefits to incentivize social/community action

CED STRATEGIES…

Community Economic Development STRATEGIES

CED FOCUS FOR NICARAGUA…

Agricultural Investments

Goal: Target improved agricultural practices, add value to local crops, access new markets through…

- Access to farm Loans- Transfer of Technology- Co-invest in a processing plant- ID new markets for local

products- Profit sharing with farmers

Agricultural Program Impact-to-date Growth 2014

Farm loans 220 200

Farmers recieving technical assistance

299 450

Increase in crop yields 30% per acre 30% per acre

Increase in net income/mza

50% At least 20%

Extension agents trained 30 50 per year

Products processed 7 maintain products

Production margin 18% maintain margin

Agricultural SME IMPACT

Rural Aqueduct as SME

• Poorest 2 communities in Granada• Without water for 12 years• Cost of buying water: $5.30/cm• Time hauling water: 2-4 hours day

Co-Investment Policy:– Establish legal entity to operate aqueduct– First investors in the project – Provide Non-technical Labor– Manage aqueduct as a business

La Laguna Water Aqueduct

Financial Impact of Rural Aqueduct as SME

Before SME

After SME

Impact

Cost of Water (per cubic meter) $5.30 $ 0.80 $4.50/cm savings

Monthly Cost per family $24.00 $6.00 $18.00/mo savings

Monthly water consumption 4.5 cm 8 cm

Annual Cost for water/family $288. $72.00 $216.00/annual savings

Community Impact of Aqueduct as SME:• More than 30 active leaders (70% women)• Affordable Potable Water – 3,000 persons• Unity among diverse groups• Community Development Fund – Home Repair Loans• Public/Private Collaboration: Road repair project (over $90k)

Community Economic Development Principles

PRINCIPLES TO GUIDE Our WORK…

•Work is community based, with growth and transformation best realized in the context of community.

• The primary focus is on assets, both in people and in communities, not on needs or limitations.

• Lead with economic development. Make a Change!

• Lending to the poor has benefits beyond charity, and investing with the poor has benefits beyond lending.

• Invest in the leadership capacity of the community.

•Never do for the poor what they can do for themselves. Don’t get ahead of the people.

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES