In 2007, USAID’s Global Development Alliance supported the “Inclusive Market Alliance for Rural Entrepreneurs in Guatemala” project that brought together partnerships of Mercy Corps, Wal-Mart and a local NGO called Fundacion AGIL in Guatemala.
The purpose of the alliance was to build the capacity of small-scale farmers to help them move away from traditional production to demand-driven production to supply Wal-Mart in Central America with targeted crops like tomatoes, pepper, potatoes and onions. Training programs given to small-scale farmers would increase productivity, create entrepreneurship and also improve the household incomes.
USAID’s Global Development Alliance provided funding of more than $1 million while Wal-Mart contributed $600,000 and Mercy Corps up to $500,000.
