Tegucigalpa, Honduras, March 19, 2025 – MEDA and Global Affairs Canada (GAC) officially launched the Opportunities for Circular and Inclusive Diversification in Agriculture (OCIDA) program today during the high-level forum “Reimagining the Dry Corridor: Circular Economy and Inclusive Agriculture”, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
OCIDA is a five-year, CAD 12.3 million initiative implemented by MEDA in partnership with Lutheran World Relief (LWR), Fundacion para el Desarrollo Empresarial Rural (FUNDER), ALTERNA, Mennonite Social Action Committee (CASM), and Fundación Capital. OCIDA is funded by Global Affairs Canada, MEDA, and LWR. The project will strengthen market systems for producers and entrepreneurs working in the coffee, cacao, and horticulture sectors of Honduras’ Dry Corridor, with a particular focus on job creation for women and youth. OCIDA will run from 2024 to 2029 in selected departments of the Dry Corridor, including Copán, Santa Bárbara, Ocotepeque, Lempira, Intibucá, and La Paz.
“MEDA is excited to launch the OCIDA program today in partnership with the Government of Canada. The cacao, coffee, and horticultural sectors are vital sources of employment and income, especially for farming families. By investing in entrepreneurs, cooperatives, and businesses, and promoting circular and climate-resilient agricultural practices with a focus on women and youth, this program is poised to generate and sustain thousands of dignified jobs, driving economic resilience and reducing the economic pressures that contribute to transborder migration,” said Dr. Dorothy Nyambi, MEDA President & CEO.
OCIDA will create or sustain 7,000 decent jobs for women and youth in the agricultural sector. The project will work to strengthen business capacity, leadership skills, and financial inclusion while providing direct support to at least 80 enterprises – including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), cooperatives, and producers’ associations, with a strong emphasis on those led by women and youth. These enterprises will receive increased access to markets via technology, technical assistance, financial services, and business opportunities.
The project was launched during a forum that brought together development and international cooperation experts, alongside representatives from the Honduran government, the private sector, and civil society, to share best practices and insights on economic development initiatives in the Dry Corridor – especially those centered on women and youth. During the event, the Government of Honduras – through the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Secretariat (SRECI), GAC, and MEDA also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate collaboration for the successful implementation of the OCIDA project.
About MEDA
MEDA – Mennonite Economic Development Associates – is an international economic development organization that creates business solutions to reduce poverty. Our programs and investments drive transformation of agrifood systems to create economic and employment opportunities for women and youth. Since 1953, MEDA has advanced agricultural transformation in 83 countries.
Our expertise includes a full range of economic development tools: financial services, innovative technologies, business training, market access strategies, and equity investment. Our work focuses on women, youth, and rural communities.
We believe that all people deserve the opportunity to earn a livelihood, and that unleashing entrepreneurship is a powerful way to alleviate poverty.
Congratulations to MEDA on launching this new initiative! I believe this will be another significant milestone in transforming the lives of vulnerable communities. As a former MEDA employee, I can confidently say that MEDA is a reliable partner in the humanitarian and development sector consistently introducing sustainable solutions in partnership with local communities that uplift the lifestyle of local communities. Wishing MEDA great success in this new venture.