The launch event was held at Acceso El Salvador's "El Coyolito" Collection and Service Center and was presided over by USAID Assistant Administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean, Marcela Escobari; Acceso General Manager, Rob Johnson; Acceso Operations Director, Andrés Baiza; USAID El Salvador Director, Christopher Cushing; Grupo Calleja President, Carlos Calleja; and agricultural producer Dionel Deras Mendez.

With a total investment of $39.5 million ($12.5 million from USAID and $27 million from Acceso El Salvador), the project will benefit 30,000 producers and workers in the agricultural, aquaculture, and artisanal fishing sectors, as well as 50 small and medium-sized enterprises in the agroindustrial sector.

The overall objective is to contribute to the reduction of irregular migration by increasing the income of people at high risk of migration, especially women and youth, as well as increasing the resilience of the target population in vulnerable conditions.

Acceso El Salvador will expand its intervention to USAID-prioritized urban centers in the departments of San Salvador, Santa Ana and San Miguel and in rural areas of the departments of Ahuachapán, Sonsonate, La Libertad, Cuscatlán, Cabañas, San Vicente, La Paz, Chalatenango, Morazán, La Unión and Usulután.

The initiative will work closely with young people and women, cooperatives, small and medium-sized enterprises, since generating more employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in the country for these groups and others that are often excluded or left behind improves their quality of life and the resilience of their communities.

Baiza said: "We are very excited about the partnership between USAID and Acceso, which will allow us to join forces and leverage our capabilities and resources to address the challenges in the agriculture, aquaculture and artisanal fisheries sector. With this initiative, we will promote and strengthen national producers through our intervention to improve their capacities and access to markets. Through a focus on sustainable social impact, employment generation, and reduction of irregular migration, we will contribute to the future development of El Salvador".

Translated by: A.M