In the Peruvian Amazon, indigenous Shipibo Conibo communities are finding new ways to earn income while protecting their forests

“Our ancestors charged us with caring for our lands,” says Diana Mori, a leader in Peru’s indigenous Shipibo Conibo communities. “We will never abandon our forests.”

Forests contribute significantly to community health and resilience. Nowhere is that more true than in Peru’s rich Amazon rainforest, where Diana’s grandmother taught her how to gather and use medicinal plants sustainably with skills that her Shipibo Conibo ancestors have passed down for thousands of years.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Diana has seen increasing value placed on forest resources, including traditional medicines.

“This situation made [communities] more aware about the importance of the forest,” she says. “Indigenous peoples have not had access to medicines or treatments from the government in the last months, and that’s why they have been using the medicinal plants. …

Découvrez comment un couple de la République dominicaine a persisté et réussi pendant la pandémie

En 2015, Jenny Almonte et Fernando Disla ont acheté une ferme de cacao dans la région nord de la République Dominicaine. Pourquoi? Ce couple dominicain s’est aventuré à créer une entreprise combinant leurs deux grands amours: la famille et le cacao. Natural Hispaniola est la concrétisation de ce rêve. Au cours des cinq dernières années, Jenny, avocate, et Fernando, ingénieur en mécanique, ont fondé ce qu’est aujourd’hui Natural Hispaniola: une petite entreprise familiale dédiée à la production de cacao et à la fabrication de produits à base de cacao.

Leur premier produit, la poudre de protéines à base de cacao Energykao, s’est avéré rentable. Ce succès est en partie dû au marketing lors d’événements sportifs à travers le pays, où il a été promu comme une alternative protéique saine pour améliorer la performance des athlètes. …

Conoce cómo una pareja de República Dominicana persistió y tuvo éxito durante la pandemia

En 2015, Jenny Almonte y Fernando Disla compraron una finca de cacao en la región norte de República Dominicana. ¿Por qué? Porque esta pareja dominicana se aventuró a crear un negocio que combinara sus dos grandes amores: la familia y el cacao. Natural Hispaniola es la materialización de ese sueño. En los últimos cinco años Jenny, abogada, y Fernando, ingeniero mecánico, han dado forma a lo que es hoy Natural Hispaniola: una pequeña empresa familiar dedicada a la producción de cacao y elaboración de productos a base de cacao.

Su primer producto, la proteína en polvo a base de cacao Energykao, resultó rentable. Este éxito se debió en parte al marketing durante eventos deportivos en todo el país, donde se promocionó como una alternativa proteica saludable para impulsar el rendimiento de los deportistas. …

Learn how a Dominican Republic couple persisted and succeeded during the pandemic

In 2015, Jenny Almonte and Fernando Disla purchased a cocoa farm in the northern region of the Dominican Republic. Why? This Dominican couple ventured to create a business that combined their two great loves: family and cocoa. Natural Hispaniola is the materialization of that dream. In the last five years Jenny, a lawyer, and Fernando, a mechanical engineer, have shaped what Natural Hispaniola is today: a small family business dedicated to producing cocoa and making cocoa-based products.

Their first product, the cocoa-based protein powder Energykao, proved profitable. This success was partially due to marketing during sporting events across the country, where it was promoted as a healthy protein alternative to boost the performance of athletes. …

USAID is strengthening economic development by training local entrepreneurs in the tourism industry

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism was one of the fastest-growing sectors globally. Recognizing the unique heritage and availability of unspoiled landscapes, the governments of Central Asia identified tourism as a sector to develop and have been facilitating investment in hotels and transport.

Five trends to watch

Democracy was already backsliding in many countries before COVID-19. In authoritarian environments, governments are using it as an excuse to further limit political freedoms and consolidate power. This is likely to last well beyond the pandemic.

Meanwhile, in fragile democracies, the response to COVID-19 is straining weak institutions and democratic norms. This can result in less equitable distribution of resources, weakened labor rights, diminished rule of law, increased corruption, the undermining of trust in governments and increased conflict.

Without robust donor support for democracy, human rights and governance, years of investments could be lost, and it will be even harder to reverse future backsliding. Keep reading for trends that USAID identified in our new paper on backsliding amid COVID-19 — and positive developments to counter these issues. …

COVID-19 radio distance education program prepares Haitian children for return to in-person learning

When COVID-19 forced schools to close in Haiti earlier this year, brothers Marc and Daniel Maitre, first and seventh graders from Cap-Haitien, did not know when they would see their school, teachers, or classmates again.

Without access to a computer or a cellphone to stay in touch, they worried about getting behind in their schoolwork. Even at this young age, the brothers understood the importance of education and the role it would play in making their dreams a reality. But thanks to USAID, students like Marc and Daniel, did not need to worry so much.

Today, thousands of students in Haiti who have returned to school, are sitting in classrooms, and well-prepared to learn from their teachers thanks, in part, to USAID’s Read Haiti weekly distance learning radio programs. …

By USAID Acting Deputy Administrator John Barsa

Acute food and drinking water shortages. Crippling power outages. Severe gasoline scarcity. Collapsed health and education sectors. A destroyed economy, once among the wealthiest in the world. Today, ninety-six percent Venezuelans are poor and seventy-nine percent languish in extreme poverty, according to the latest ENCOVI survey from the country’s Andrés Bello Catholic University.

This is the stark reality for the average Venezuelan. It is estimated that seven million Venezuelans are in need of humanitarian assistance. Then, there are the more than five million Venezuelan migrants and refugees who have fled into neighboring countries. Is this the aftermath of a war, you ask? …