WEC Launches Year In Review – A Look Back At Our Programs in 2022
We are thrilled to share our our Year In Review for 2022 gathering highlights from key programs and events that we hosted throughout the year.
We’re proud to have held multiple Thought Leadership events, both in-person and virtually, which brought together business leaders to address shared sustainability priorities. We also awarded our 38th Gold Medal to AB InBev and our Capacity Building programs supported small businesses in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East to build sustainable value chains. Learn more and checkout our full report below!
Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos lanza serie de concursos:“Empower Innovation Challenge” (EIC) – Inspira y diseña el futuro
Más de un millón de dólares serán destinados en pequeñas subvenciones para 24 ganadores que gestionen proyectos a beneficio de micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas lideradas por mujeres en Latinoamérica. El período de aplicación inicia el 1 de marzo de 2023.
Feb 27 2023. El Centro Mundial del Medio Ambiente (WEC) y sus socios: el Núcleo de Biotecnología de Curauma (NBC) y Baastel, desarrollarán la serie de competencias denominada “Empower Innovation Challenge” (EIC) en diferentes países de América Latina y el Caribe con el fin de apoyar la expansión del modelo de desarrollo “La RED de Innovación e Impacto (La RED).
La invitación a participar en el primer concurso EIC estará abierta del 1 al 20 de marzo de 2023 a través del link https://www.EICLaRed.org/ para todas aquellas organizaciones que desarrollen actividades encaminadas a empoderar a las micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas lideradas por mujeres en 10 países latinoamericanos.
Las organizaciones que deseen postular sus proyectos con este enfoque de género, pueden pertenecer a los siguientes países: Belice, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panamá, República Dominicana, Colombia, Perú y Ecuador. Los sectores hacia los cuales va dirigido el concurso varían desde la agricultura, pesca, turismo sostenible, tecnologías de servicios creativos, manufactura ligera y pequeña, así como textiles. Los proyectos que participen deben estar centrados en generar soluciones locales que apuesten por economías verdes y azules con enfoque en grupos vulnerables, brindar capacitación, acceso a oportunidades de capital, trabajo en red y propiciar el acceso a cadenas de valor con empresas locales e internacionales.
“Las organizaciones que desarrollamos esta iniciativa tenemos planeado poner en marcha una serie de tres desafíos que nos permitirán elegir soluciones innovadoras para potenciar el desarrollo de MIPYMES administradas por mujeres y que generen un crecimiento más inclusivo en cada uno de los países participantes”, señaló Ernesto Samayoa, director de operaciones de WEC Latinoamérica.
Los proyectos que participen pueden provenir de organizaciones de la sociedad civil, instituciones educativas, centros focalizados en el desarrollo de pequeños negocios, así como de organizaciones dedicadas a implementar y promover la producción más limpia o del sector privado en general. Durante el proceso de selección de los ganadores, se creará un jurado multidisciplinario compuesto también por asociaciones locales. En total la serie de desafíos permitirá generar alianzas con cámaras, gremiales, o diferentes instituciones representativas de cada país, para volver más transparente el proceso. Dentro de esta serie de desafíos, los organizadores seleccionarán a 24 ganadores, quienes recibirán fondos no reembolsables para sus proyectos de hasta un máximo de $50,000 por proyecto y además tendrán la oportunidad de ser miembros del modelo de desarrollo: La Red de Innovación de Impacto. El EIC premiará a 8 organizaciones en cada una de las tres ediciones que llevará a cabo. Cada concurso se realizará una vez al año, hasta el 2025, donde al final de la serie de concursos se contará con 24 ganadores en total, cada uno ejecutando proyectos a beneficio de las MIPYMES dirigidas por mujeres en la región latinoamericana.
Para información adicional puede contactar: contacto@laredinnovacionimpacto.com Ernesto Samayoa, Director de operaciones de WEC: esamayoa@wec.org
Acerca de La Red de Innovación e Impacto (La Red)
La Red es una iniciativa que reúne a organizaciones, sin fines de lucro y con fines de lucro, para apoyar a las micro, pequeñas y medianas organizaciones instituciones (MIPYMES) con el fin de promover el crecimiento económico sostenible y la prosperidad en Latinoamérica y el Caribe (ALC). La Red nació en 2014 a través de un proceso de selección de organizaciones que han venido acelerando el desarrollo de negocios sostenibles y promoviendo el crecimiento económico en Latinoamérica y el Caribe. El proyecto fue financiado por el Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos y ejecutado por el Centro Mundial del Medio Ambiente (WEC) y sus socios Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée (Baastel) y RioSlum Studio hasta junio de 2021. A partir de julio 2021, La Red se sustenta a través del liderazgo de sus propias organizaciones miembros y coordinada por el Núcleo de Biotecnología de Curauma (NBC) de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso en Chile.
WEC es una organización sin fines de lucro neutral, independiente, global, que fomenta el desarrollo sostenible a través de las operaciones de sus empresas miembros y en alianza con gobiernos, organizaciones multilaterales, organizaciones no gubernamentales, universidades y otras partes interesadas. La misión de WEC es promover los negocios y su valor social fomentando soluciones a problemas relacionados con el desarrollo sostenible.
Acerca de Núcleo de Biotecnología de Curauma (NBC)
NBC de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, es un Centro de I+D+i integrado por académicos y profesionales de excelencia, con más de 10 años de experiencia en desarrollo tecnológico, innovación y transferencia tecnológica en el área de ciencia y tecnología. El NBC busca hacer que las empresas sean más productivas, sostenibles y competitivas, visualizándose en tres años como un centro de referencia para apoyar a las pymes para que puedan aumentar su competitividad. NBCWe desarrolla tendencias innovadoras para afrontar los nuevos retos económicos, sociales y medioambientales para que mañana vivamos en un mundo más sostenible.
Acerca de Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée (Baastel)
Baastel está reconocido por sus servicios de calidad en Monitoreo y Evaluación (M&E), Gestión Basada en Resultados (GBR), planificación estratégica, gestión de proyectos y programas y construcción de capacidad individual e institucional en estas áreas. La reputación sobresaliente de Baastel en la industria se ha estado construyendo sobre un historial de éxitos nacionales e internacionales y experiencia respaldada por la atención al detalle, calidad, transparencia y neutralidad.
World Environment Center Launches Challenge: “Empower Innovation Challenge” Inspire and design the future
More than US$1 million will be awarded in small grants to 24 winners to manage projects benefiting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises led by women in Latin America. The application period begins March 1, 2023.
Feb 27, 2023. The World Environment Center (WEC) and its partners, Núcleo de Biotecnología de Curauma (NBC) and Baastel, will develop a series of competitions in Latin American and Caribbean countries called “Empower Innovation Challenge” (EIC) to support the expansion of the development model “La RED de Innovación e Impacto (La RED).”
The invitation to participate in the first EIC competition will be from March 1st to March 20th, 2023 at https://www.EICLaRed.org/ for organizations that develop activities aimed at empowering micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) led by women in 10 Latin American countries.
Qualified Organizations that wish to apply must be from the following countries: Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. The sectors targeted by the competition range from agriculture, fishing, sustainable tourism, creative services technologies, light and small manufacturing, as well as textiles. The participating projects must focus on generating local solutions that support green and blue economies with a focus on vulnerable groups, providing training, providing access to capital opportunities, networking, and promoting access to valuable chains in local and international companies.
“The organizations that developed this initiative are planning to launch a series of three challenges that will allow us to select innovative solutions to enhance the development of MSMEs managed by women and that generate more inclusive growth in each of the participating countries,” said Ernesto Samayoa, Project Director of WEC Latin America.
The participating projects may come from civil society organizations, educational institutions, centers focused on the development of small business, organizations dedicated to implementing and promoting cleaner production, and the private sector in general. A multidisciplinary panel composed of local associations will be created to select the challenge winners. The challenges will generate alliances with chambers, trade associations, and different representative institutions from each country to make the process more transparent. Three EICs will be held each year starting in 2023 to select up to 24 winners. Winners will receive non-reimbursable funds of up to a maximum of US$50,000 per project and will also have the opportunity to become members of the La RED de Innovación e Impacto network.
This initiative is funded by the U.S. Department of State (DoS) through the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI) 2021 Global Equity and Equality Action (GEEA) Fund and implemented by the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Policy Planning Coordination Office (WHA/PPC)
For additional information you can contact: www.EICLaRED.org contacto@laredinnovacionimpacto.com
About La RED de Innovación e Impacto (La RED)
La RED is an initiative that brings together non-profit and for-profit organizations to support micro, small and medium-sized institutions (MSMEs) in order to promote sustainable economic growth and prosperity in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). La RED was born in 2014 through a selection process of organizations that have been accelerating the development of sustainable business and promoting economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean. The project was funded by the U.S. Department of State (DoS) and implemented by the World Environment Center (WEC) and its partners Le Groupe-conseil Baastel ltée (Baastel) and RioSlum Studio until June 2021. As of July 2021, La RED is supported through the leadership of its own member organizations and coordinated by the Nucleo Biotecnología Curauma (NBC) of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso in Chile.
WEC is an independent, global non-profit, non-advocacy organization that promotes sustainable development through the business practices and operations of its member companies and in partnership with governments, multilateral organizations, non-governmental organizations, universities and other stakeholders. WEC’s mission is to promote business and its social value by advancing solutions to sustainable development related problems.
NBC of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso is an R+D+i Center integrated by academics and professionals of excellence, with more than 10 years of experience in technological development, innovation and technology transfer in the area of science and technology. NBC seeks to make companies more productive, sustainable and competitive, visualizing itself in three years as a reference center to support Small and Mid-size Enterprises (SMEs) so they can increase their competitiveness. NBC develops innovative trends to face new economic, social and environmental challenges so we will live in a more sustainable world tomorrow.
Baastel is recognized for its quality services in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Results Based Management (RBM), strategic planning, project and program management, and individual and institutional capacity building in these areas. Baastel’s outstanding reputation in the industry is built on a track record of international and national successes and expertise that is backed by attention to detail, quality, transparency and neutrality.
With funding from US State Department, and partnerships with EDI Consulting in Morocco and Water & Environment Centre/Cleaner Production Unit at the Royal Scientific Society of Jordan, Bank of Africa and CGEM, WEC is hosting this Clean Technology Fair on November 7th and 14th, 2022 from 9AM ET (US) / 14:00 (Morocco) / 16:00 (Jordan). The Virtual Fair presents a panel of speakers from companies that will illustrate case studies, financial opportunities, and latest technological solutions provided to local companies with a focus in Morocco & Jordan. Panels on each day will focus on following topics
Monday, Nov 7: Water & Wastewater
Monday, Nov 14: Energy & Air Emissions
If you are interested to join, please contact esamayao at wec dot org
funding from US State Department, and partnerships with EDI Consulting in Morocco and Water & Environment Centre/Cleaner Production Unit at the Royal Scientific Society of Jordan, Bank of Africa and CGEM, WEC is hosting this Clean Technology Fair on November 7th and 14th, 2022 from 9AM ET (US) / 14:00 (Morocco) / 16:00 (Jordan). The Virtual Fair presents a panel of speakers from companies that will illustrate case studies, financial opportunities, and latest technological solutions provided to local companies with a focus in Morocco & Jordan. Panels on each day will focus on following topics
Monday, Nov 7: Water & Wastewater
Monday, Nov 14: Energy & Air Emissions
If you are interested to join, please contact esamayao at wec dot org
La Red de Innovacion e Impacto (La Red) and World Environment Center, and financed by the U.S. State Department is organization Virtual Grand Summit: Reinventándose con Innovación e Impacto” supporting micro-enterprise growth in Latin America on March 23rd, 24th and 25th.
La Red is a network of the most innovative local solutions supporting the sustainable growth of micro and SMEs throughout Latin America. Since 2014, each year we gather our members of this network to share their experiences in scaling their solutions, and partnering with each other and external stakeholders. The members cross sectors, geography, and markets, but they all have in common a mission to support sustainable economic growth in their region, and to do so with innovative approaches.
The Grand Summit will take place over 3 days virtually including a public open event and closed sessions only for La Red members. Throughout these days we will be featuring a series of speakers, panelists and organizing a business roundtable. For this special Grand Summit, we connect with experts who can provide valuable insight to our members in meeting the challenges of sustainability, innovation and growing their solutions and, we believe that your participation could be of a great value.
March 23 & 24 are open to members only & March 25th is an open to public/interested participants.
November 9, 2020
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10:00 am
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1:00 pm UTC+0
Under WEC’s State Dept funded Environmental Governance project, in partnership with Jordan Engineers Association, Royal Scientific Society of Jordan, WEC kicks off its Virtual Training & Study Tour Panel 1 on November 9th, with Frank Werner, Director of WEC Europe & Associate Professor Weslynne Ashton making a business case of circular economy and environmental management systems to increase performance by Jordanian companies.
WEC & Partners host first Panel session of its Virtual Training & Study Tour
Left to Right: Frank Werner, Director WEC Europe & Dr. Weslynne Ashton, Associate Professor, Illinois Institute of Technology making a business case for of circular economy and environmental management systems to increase performance by Jordanian companies.
Under WEC’s State Dept funded Environgmental Governance project, in partnership with Jordan Engineers Association, Royal Scientific Society of Jordan, WEC kicks off its Virtual Training & Study Tour Panel 1 on November 9th, with Frank Werner, Director of WEC Europe & Associate Professor Weslynne Ashton making a business case of circular economy and environmental management systems to increase performance by Jordanian companies.
Increasing the adoption of improved environmental practices, technologies, and services, particularly in addressing air pollution, and water and waste management challenges is the objective of WEC’s environmental governance program in both the private and public sectors through a combination of building local experts and business capacity and developing industry self-assessments for data creation and awareness raising for solutions to address environmental challenges. These efforts will incentivize continued improvement and acquisition of advanced environmental technologies and services
Environmental self-audits allow a company to identify present and potential compliance problems and tackle them before they mushroom and lead to liability or penalties. Increased awareness about environmental management performance can help the company devise strategies to improve manufacturing processes and achieve cost-savings.
With a clear business case to increase environmental performance of Jordan companies, this Training & Virtual Study Tour is designed to strengthen capacity building in companies that join the project, by training their staff – split into 4 virtual sessions and in a practical part by making an environmental self-audit in their companies with the support of WEC/RSS – providing access to international experts and interacting with relevant stakeholders of the Industrial Sector that provide technological solutions.
Agenda for the event can be found here (PDF opens in a new window). To find more information about WEC’s Capacity Building Programs you can visit here.
The World Environment Center works to build the capacity of small entrepreneurs in Latin America and other regions of the world. Meet some of the members of La Red de Innovación e Impacto (La Red) and learn about the impact of their work throughout Latin America. Learn about their work to generate sustainable prosperity for local communities and throughout Latin America.
La Red is a network of member organizations that support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to drive sustainable economic growth and prosperity across Latin America and the Caribbean. La Red’s record of transformative success in the region has been recognized and supported by the U.S. Department of State three times.
If you would like to learn more you can contact Ernesto Samayoa at esamayoa@wec.org
La Red & NBC PUCV Webinar: STRATEGIES FOR SMEs POST COVID-19
La Red de Innovación e Impacto partners with Núcleo de Biotecnología de Curauma de la PUCV to host an online conversation on strategies for SMEs post COVID-19 (being held in Spanish). Speakers include:
Rolando Chamy Maggi, Director of the Curauma Biotechnology Center
Juan José de la Torre, Global leader in Strategy, Innovation and Digital.
Marcelo Mena, Expert in Sustainability and Environment
October 22, 2019
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October 23, 2019
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5:00 pm UTC
Funded by the US State Department La Red continues to create tremendous impact in Central America. La Red is holding its upcoming Annual Summit in Panama City, Panama, on October 22-23, 2019.
The Annual Summit convenes stakeholders, investors, and La Red members that are dedicated to promoting sustainable economic growth and prosperity across Latin America and the Caribbean. With financing from the U.S. Department of State coming to an end after 2020, this year’s Summit promises to be one of our largest-ever events with a special focus on connecting key stakeholders and investors with La Red members.
The Summit will feature a series of trainings, panels, and open networking including:
Workshop: Developing Business Models & Innovation
Session: Breaking into & Expanding International Market Shares for Micro-Enterprises
Capacity Building Session: Marketing, Communications & How to Apply for Funding
Panel: Resilient Agricultural Processes & Sustainable Development
Panel: Developing & Strengthening Value Chains with Micros
Panel: Financial Inclusion & Access to Markets for Small Enterprises
Session: Trade Regulations & How to Meet Supply-Chain Quality Standards/Metrics
You can find the draft agenda here in Spanish & English.
Imagine a vast array of ecosystems comprising a diverse and beautiful countryside with millions of hard-working people committed to the environment. Central America is a region that faces enormous challenges conserving healthy areas that represent their biological and natural resources heritage. Also, challenging is that the population growth and lack of economic vitality that can contribute to stress in this region.
Ernesto Samayoa, Director of Latin American Operations for the World Environment Center, for more than a decade has been working with micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to build capacity, build competitiveness, and educate about sustainable growth.
“Our network throughout the region into Europe or even Northern Africa can be the real difference for many of these micro, small and medium sized businesses,” Samayoa said. “With the support from the agro-business company Vista Volcanes, WEC helped many smallholder farmers work in partnership with a cooperative to supply green beans with organic practices, which now can be found in grocery stores and restaurants throughout the United States. This has made a real difference to hundreds of farmers with a better and fair price at the end of the day.”
Or another great example of working with smallholder farmers in terms of helping them work together to build capacity is that of cocoa producers in Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua. “They were small farmers and just didn’t have the capacity to do it on their own, but by coming together and then with our help in building the connections and linkages, we helped them fill two shipping containers and that cocoa was sold in Belgium to make fine chocolate,” Samayoa said. “They earned a much better price as well as learned from each other on different methodologies of their agro-businesses.
With up to 95% of companies in Central America as MSMEs, which creates 61% of all jobs in Latin America and the Caribbean, the prosperity of these companies is vital for the stability of the region. WEC has supported a Red de Innovación e Impacto since 2014. La Red is a collection of 37 innovative organizations from 11 countries in the region. The U.S. State Department has funded WEC and its partners, Le Groupe-conseil baastel Itée (Baastel), and RioSlum Studio, to select organizations that are accelerating business development and promoting sustainable economic growth in Latin America.
Samayoa said, “it has been amazing to see the passion of small farmers and micro-entrepreneurs for the environment with these businesses on things like improving soil conditions through organic agricultural practices, which allows the healthier supply of products to the final consumer. As a fourth-generation coffee grower and an industrial engineer, there is nothing more fulfilling than to see my five children grow up in a region that is perhaps better because of my work contribution.”
With the financial support from the Walmart Foundation, WEC is starting “Creating Sustainable Value Chains: from subsistence farming to successful agribusinesses in Central America” Program.
Through this innovative initiative, WEC and local partners will provide integral technical assistance to more than 1100 small farmers in Central America. Training on business, financial and agricultural skills will be shared, helping farmers on competitiveness increasement through higher productivity and cost savings based on technical skills. WEC will also help them on the development of business connections to access markets, national and internationally, as well as sharing digital technology and connectivity toolkits.
Building on Walmart Foundation’s involvement, Ernesto and the WEC team see a promising opportunity for WEC members and other companies to provide similar support for small producers in their supply chains–in Latin America and other developing regions. “The Walmart Foundation’s support is a great example of enlightened philanthropy–doing good for people and nature in a region of strategic importance to the company,” said Glenn Prickett, WEC’s President & CEO. “We can provide WEC members with similar opportunities through our capacity building programs.”
