GAL VALLETENZANO (LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

 GAL VALLETENZANO
(LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
OF THE
SOUTH BOYACA DEPARTMENT - COLOMBIA)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Date of establishment: 2011
Territory:
The GAL VALLE TENZANO covers the South of Boyacá department (Colombia), which includes 14 municipalities of the
provinces East and Neira.
The territory has an extension of 1,877 km2, with a population of 73.572 inhabitants. It is characterized by the diversity of
its plateaus landscapes, slopes and foothills of the Oriental Cordillera, hosting a wide variety of climates, lifestyles and
human communities and, for this reason, constituting a great potential in terms of ecological and water richness. The
presence of La Esmeralda (or Chivor) dam stands.
The economy is predominantly rural, with horticultural products (blackberries, pineapples, tree tomatoes, passion fruits,
herbs, tomatoes, beans, etc.), coffee and cocoa; moreover, the production of handcrafts, implemented using ancient
techniques, has national recognition.
Members: Public Sector (7): Corpochivor, Alcaldías de Sutatenza, Guayata, Somondoco, Tenza, Campohermoso, y Boyaca;
Private and civil sector (11): Cannor, Coopvallede Tenza, Artefibras, Dcscubrir ONG, Sendero Verde, Corposunuba,
Chinguaya, Corpoturismo, Asoprovita, Junta communal Sochaquira, Corpdesa); Institutional Sector (2): Unad, Incubar
Main objectives:
General Objectives: To improve employment and income; to develop and consolidate an articulated and diversified
production structure, based on innovation and value creation, moving towards the development and the improvement of
the rural economy.
Specific Objectives:
•
promoting sustainable comprehensive territorial development;
•
promoting the participation of the population;
•
coordinating local development initiatives, raised by the different public administrations and local actors;
•
encouraging, guiding, supporting, and accompanying the efforts of entrepreneurs and local economic actors.
IMPACTS
Economic Impact
The GAL has strengthened the value chains of tourism, crafts, and special coffee. It has generated 30 direct and 120
indirect jobs.
Strategic Impact
The GAL has developed and contributes to the implementation of Valle de Tenza regional development plan, which has
served as input for the elaboration of the municipal development and management plan of CORPOCHIVOR region. The
LEDA has developed the tourism plan, which has served as input for the structuring a public policy on departmental
sustainable tourism.
Environmental Impact
The GAL, working in coordination with the Environmental Authority of the
CORPOCHIVOR region, has generated sustainable projects in the sectors of
coffee, crafts and tourism.
Social Impact
The GAL has sustained the creation of 5 producer organizations and supported
the strengthening of 15 producer organizations on business management and
social cohesion. It works together with savings groups, formed by women heads
of household.
Financial Impact
The GAL has provided technical assistance to 12 groups in establishing a local
credit union, as a strategy of social-cultural cohesion for self-savings, aimed at
generating productive projects. The LAG has realised a market and performance
assessment of the financial sector in the region.
National Impact
The GAL, through Red ADELCO, carries on advocacy initiatives on national policies.
Institutional Impact
In 2012, the GAL led the creation of the Stations Network in Tenza Valley. It also led the “Tourism and Crafts” round
table, and participated actively in the coffee round table, led by CORPOCHIVOR.
OTHER
Projects
The GAL has executed projects, worth about 450,000 USD, aimed at strengthening the artisanal, trade, agriculture,
ecotourism sectors, and the citizen participation in local development processes.
Networking
It is part of the National LEDAs Network – Red ADELCO, and of ILS LEDA International Network.
To know more www.galvalletenzano.org.co