At CODESPA we have been working since 2012 on the creation and consolidation of the Enredarte Network, a social enterprise made up of indigenous women from northern Cauca who come together to make handicrafts and sell them in the local market.

After studying the value chain of handicrafts in the department of Cauca, our local team identified that there is great potential for this product in the market. Adding more value to the product and channeling this income to the women artisans improves their social conditions and those of their families.

In 2018, we started a new project, together with a North American foundation in the textile sector, to strengthen the Enredarte association and make it a sustainable livelihood and a source of income and empowerment for the women of Cauca. The project is carried out in 5 municipalities: Silvia, Jambaló, Corinto, Caldono and Toribio, where the population is mostly indigenous (Misak and Nasa).

We are committed to women’s empowerment

With the project, we want to help 200 women between the ages of 18 and 35, who have suffered the violence of armed conflict, who have enormous difficulties in accessing education, income generation, land ownership and decision-making.

Our goal is for these women to increase their income by 20%. To this end, we aim to increase their productivity, improving their capabilities and the quality of their products.

In addition, we work to strengthen Enredarte’s management, we help them create new sales channels and link them with markets where they can sell their products at a higher price.

By now, we have managed to integrate 141 artisans in Enredarte, who have increased their income by 7% with the sale of handicrafts. The network has managed to charge €17,900 (53% of the target) and has reached 4 commercial agreements. In addition, 4 product lines have been standardized, with their respective technical data sheets and 115 women have obtained certification that gives them access to new markets.