The Challenge
Not far removed from the enchanting ruins of Machu Picchu, Peru lies the remote and poverty-stricken region of Apurimac. This indigenous population survives on less than $2 a day. The average villager spends a majority of their income on subsistence items such as housing and food.
The Innovation
We have pioneered a distribution business initially in rural Apurimac where we have established a product warehouse which also serves as a central meeting location that provides the “Chakipi Women” entrepreneurs sales skills training, equips them with branded uniforms and backpacks, and facilitates access to consigned products such as packaged foods, personal care items, over the counter pharmaceuticals, fortified foods, vitamins, reading glasses, and unique innovations such as solar lamps and clean cook stoves. Nestlé, VisionSpring, and Procter & Gamble have added some of their products into this last mile distribution network and have also engaged these women in skills training by providing them with nutrition and hygiene education, which enables them to add value in the sales of these products to others within their community.
The Impact
Our objective is to continue increasing the number and reach of “Chakipi Women” entrepreneurs and to scale from the current activities in Apurimac, Peru and soon to be developed network in Chiapas, Mexico to nationwide networks. The establishment of a self-sustainable network for selling fast moving consumer goods enables efficient usage of this same distribution system to introduce products specifically targeted to improving the lives of low-income communities.
The thousands of women that will become Chakipi entrepreneurs are expected to be able to at least double their current incomes, providing new opportunities for them and their families.
