How USAID/Honduras and FINTRAC Helped Smallholders Upgrade and Compete Sustainably in High Potential Value Chains (Presentation)

Geoffrey Chalmers of USAID/Mexico presented “How USAID/HONDURAS and FINTRAC Helped Smallholders Upgrade and Compete Sustainably in High Potential Value Chains.” The seminar was the 7th installment of the monthly Linking Small Firms to Competitiveness Strategies Breakfast Seminar Series sponsored by the USAID Microenterprise Development office.

Mr. Chalmers focused his presentation on how USAID/Honduras and FINTRAC helped Honduran smallholders compete in high potential value chains. He also spoke about USAID/FINTRAC efforts to make their interventions sustainable. Mr. Chalmers detailed the challenges the value chain actors faced, including how producers were able to finance their participation in the market. Mr. Chalmers also raised the issue of how donors can facilitate access to financial services that enable smallholder participation. He concluded by discussing the link between finance, skills and upgrading and how value chain integration impacts creditworthiness.