Developing business, improving income
The Yopal car wash grew with Fundacion Amanecer support
21,000 persons attended, 101,000 hours of training and over $18 million disbursed in credit through 2006 are the credentials of Fundacion Amanecer, created by BP and its partners in late 1994 to promote regional human and economic development in Casanare. This successful organization has become BP's main ally for spurring rural and urban business growth, underpinning sustainable progress in the region.
Discovery of Cusiana and Cupiagua generated thousands of job opportunities in Casanare, but also abandonment of traditional vocations and sudden migration. Oil wages (then five times the minimum, by law) were simply too high to resist for both locals and people from elsewhere in Colombia. This rapid influx created problems for authorities and oil and service companies.
It soon became evident that job openings would be entirely insufficient and that it was important to try and retain people in their traditional activities, especially in Casanare. It was against this backdrop that BP, Ecopetrol, Total, Triton and Lasmo Oil decided to create the Fundacion Amanecer (Dawn Foundation) in 1994, a non-profit organization that has since been the backbone of our support for sustainable and productive development processes in Casanare.
Activities began formally in January 1995, and the immediate objectives of Amanecer were to support income generation schemes and creation of micro-businesses. However, the strategic intent went far beyond: provide Casanare with an institution devoted to fostering productive and business growth that aside from affording microfinance schemes would also offer training, accompaniment and technical assistance to beneficiaries.
Discovery of Cusiana and Cupiagua generated thousands of job opportunities in Casanare, but also abandonment of traditional vocations and sudden migration. Oil wages (then five times the minimum, by law) were simply too high to resist for both locals and people from elsewhere in Colombia. This rapid influx created problems for authorities and oil and service companies.
It soon became evident that job openings would be entirely insufficient and that it was important to try and retain people in their traditional activities, especially in Casanare. It was against this backdrop that BP, Ecopetrol, Total, Triton and Lasmo Oil decided to create the Fundacion Amanecer (Dawn Foundation) in 1994, a non-profit organization that has since been the backbone of our support for sustainable and productive development processes in Casanare.
Activities began formally in January 1995, and the immediate objectives of Amanecer were to support income generation schemes and creation of micro-businesses. However, the strategic intent went far beyond: provide Casanare with an institution devoted to fostering productive and business growth that aside from affording microfinance schemes would also offer training, accompaniment and technical assistance to beneficiaries.
Unwavering philosophy and values
Both objectives and intent have been exceeded during these years, in part because the foundation's philosophy, "instead of giving the fish, we teach you how", has been widely promoted and accepted by regional inhabitants and beneficiaries.Fundacion Amanecer develops its work under a framework of social and environmental responsibility that integrates the values and practices of ‘Good Neighbours', ‘Partners in Development' and ‘Citizen's Enterprise', which kindle solidarity and mutual help as key foundations for productive development.
Based on the former and on the concept of self-management, the programmes of Amanecer follow guidelines that require effort and commitment by beneficiaries, along with the exercise of environmentally safe production and transformation practices, adjustment to the productive vocation of communities and the encouragement of citizen participation in solving own problems.
From the out set, Amanecer's initiatives have been geared toward human and economic development via the motivation of entrepreneurial initiative. Investment is aimed at urban small businesses and rural agricultural sectors, coherently with Casanare's traditional economic activity. As one of BP's principle vehicles to execute specific social initiatives, the Fundacion's work ultimately seeks to generate regional social profitability, discourage patronising and avoid oil-dependency.
Whether rural or urban, beneficiaries are routed through a common, time-tested path that includes initial business training, project prioritization, seed credit as well as technical assistance and follow-up during the entire cycle to ensure the best outcome. Interlaced within this formal education process are contents on ethics, citizenship, transparency and responsibility, values that have assisted in creating the social and human capital needed required to aid Casanare's development.
Helping others to help themselves
Strengthened by its value-oriented vision, with time Amanecer has refined a suite of programmes into two principle areas of focus: business micro-finance and sector productive development.
The first, Urban Entrepreneurial Development targets persons who run small urban businesses or are interested in setting up new ventures. Focus is on improving performance, competitiveness and market share through training, advice, technical assistance and credit. More than one thousand entrepreneurs have taken part in this initiative, which has helped to generate new jobs and maintain previously existing ones. The good results here were reflected in 2002 and 2003 with two consecutive first places for Casanare businessmen in Citibank's Colombian Entrepreneur Award.
Secondly, Solidarity Productive Nuclei targets farmer community organisation and rural development. Individuals create production units of minimum six beneficiaries who receive training and assessment, and are then eligible for loans that are paid by all of the participants, hence the solidarity label. This specific initiative is oriented to extending crop acreage or increasing number and weight of beef and dairy cattle.
Helping others to help themselves
Strengthened by its value-oriented vision, with time Amanecer has refined a suite of programmes into two principle areas of focus: business micro-finance and sector productive development.
The first, Urban Entrepreneurial Development targets persons who run small urban businesses or are interested in setting up new ventures. Focus is on improving performance, competitiveness and market share through training, advice, technical assistance and credit. More than one thousand entrepreneurs have taken part in this initiative, which has helped to generate new jobs and maintain previously existing ones. The good results here were reflected in 2002 and 2003 with two consecutive first places for Casanare businessmen in Citibank's Colombian Entrepreneur Award.
Secondly, Solidarity Productive Nuclei targets farmer community organisation and rural development. Individuals create production units of minimum six beneficiaries who receive training and assessment, and are then eligible for loans that are paid by all of the participants, hence the solidarity label. This specific initiative is oriented to extending crop acreage or increasing number and weight of beef and dairy cattle.
Complementing these services, the Fundacion develops the following strategic programme lines:
Agro-forestry Citrus Production takes advantage of the Casanarean piedmont's environmental suitability and favourable market conditions. The programme combines perennial citrus fruits (orange, tangerine and lemon) with short cycle produce like pineapple which is planted in between the principle tree rows. The combination allows short-term cash generation while the main harvest crop reaches full production, and demonstrates an extraordinary level of regional agricultural vocation. Producers have installed over 2,000 hectares under this system.
This promising project is being executed in close partnership with the Departmental Government, the Municipalities of Aguazul, Nunchía, Sabanalarga, Tauramena, Villanueva and Yopal, as well as the Colombian Citrus Association and the Ministry of Agriculture.
Agro-forestry Citrus Production takes advantage of the Casanarean piedmont's environmental suitability and favourable market conditions. The programme combines perennial citrus fruits (orange, tangerine and lemon) with short cycle produce like pineapple which is planted in between the principle tree rows. The combination allows short-term cash generation while the main harvest crop reaches full production, and demonstrates an extraordinary level of regional agricultural vocation. Producers have installed over 2,000 hectares under this system.
This promising project is being executed in close partnership with the Departmental Government, the Municipalities of Aguazul, Nunchía, Sabanalarga, Tauramena, Villanueva and Yopal, as well as the Colombian Citrus Association and the Ministry of Agriculture.
To guide future development, a Regional Citrus Council was established and a competitiveness agreement was reached covering Casanare and neighbour department Meta. Employment generation is already significant and will be more so as harvests mature, in this long-term bid for regional development and sustainability.
Self-sustainable Cattle Production is equally strategic for the region. The emphasis here is to establish environmentally sound cattle breeding, a competitive option for Casanare in the face of growing demand for ‘green' products in which respect for the environment, animal well being and non-use of synthetic chemicals are fundamental. Improved methodology includes new animal nutrition practises employing natural sources of protein, redesign and rotation of pasture and grazing areas, together with construction of adequate installations for feed, water and mineral salt supply. This programme not only seeks productivity increase but also cultural change with positive impact on the environment. Read in a separate section how BP extends this programme to its neighbours.
Self-sustainable Cattle Production is equally strategic for the region. The emphasis here is to establish environmentally sound cattle breeding, a competitive option for Casanare in the face of growing demand for ‘green' products in which respect for the environment, animal well being and non-use of synthetic chemicals are fundamental. Improved methodology includes new animal nutrition practises employing natural sources of protein, redesign and rotation of pasture and grazing areas, together with construction of adequate installations for feed, water and mineral salt supply. This programme not only seeks productivity increase but also cultural change with positive impact on the environment. Read in a separate section how BP extends this programme to its neighbours.
Sites for learning
Critical to the aforementioned programme lines are two sites dedicated entirely to strengthening the learning imparted by Amanecer's technicians. The Mastranto farm, adjacent to BP's installations in Cupiagua hamlet (Municipality of Aguazul), is visited annually by hundreds of farmers who learn hands on new ways to do things. The 48-acre, multi-purpose demonstrative facility helps validate and transfer accessible technology and knowledge to Casanarean fields and breeding areas, while motivating a better understanding of the potential for development that lies within their own lands.The farm's infrastructure also houses the Centre for Farmer Formation, which offers human, technical and entrepreneurial training intended to further the capabilities and skills of local producers. Special emphasis is being placed on the so-called "farmer to farmer" system, by which peers are encouraged to transfer knowledge and abilities to neighbours and friends.
Joining hands for Casanare
The Fundacion Amanecer has also been very active in establishing local, national and international alliances in which Casanare development issues and resources are discussed and agreed to. A good example of this are the agreements with departmental and municipal administrations to develop joint projects of regional scope as in the case of the budding citrus belt, and the seat held in national policy-making bodies like the Superior Council for Micro-business. And going beyond national borders, Amanecer has been partnered by the Pan-American Development and Inter-American Funds and the U.N.D.P. for specific ventures.The role as a regional social actor, underpinned by positive programme results and a vocation to service, also implies leading and actively participating in initiatives that exceed entrepreneurial development. As such, Amanecer has participated in a prospective exercise that aims to build a collective vision of the future by defining an Agenda for Competitiveness, initiative that resonates with the need for a common north for regional development.
In regard to this and other topics of mutual concern and interest, Fundacion's facilities are point of contact for the public and private sectors.
Enduring legacy
Oil-backed foundations have existed in Colombia for years, and thus Fundacion Amanecer was really not the first of its kind. However BP and partners did draw from others when drafting its statutes and paid special attention to the lessons learned in similar, yet failed experiences. After thirteen years of operations the Fundacion Amanecer continues strong, characteristic that is perhaps attributable to the fact that it has effectively contributed to building up an entrepreneurial base in Casanare, while striving to procure well-being and better living quality for its inhabitants.The humanist and integral approach followed by Fundacion Amanecer is at the heart of its regional permanence and leadership. With time, the once-fledgling organization has transformed itself into a unique and successful model of stakeholder engagement between our industry and the surrounding communities of Casanare. Embodying that kind of legacy that the oil industry aspires to, Fundacion Amanecer will continue to spearhead BP's corporate responsibility with its neighbours in the years to come.
