SABMiller plc, one of the world's largest brewers, announced at the World Economic Forum event in Lima, Peru, the launch of an initiative to improve the lives of 40,000 tenderos (shopkeepers/grocers) across Latin America.
SABMiller Latin America will invest $17m over four years in the '4e, Camino al Progreso' programme that has been designed in collaboration with the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). It will be launched in the six core markets for SABMiller in the region, and will target around 10% of tenderos. These tenderos supply to some 1.7m homes, with an estimated population of over 7 million people. Small stores are often run by individuals and families, the majority of which are women who are close to the poverty line and have the potential to become a more effective income generator, thereby helping thousands of families to escape poverty within just one generation.
Tiendas (shop/store) often also play an important role within their communities and the programme aims to leverage this, encouraging them to take a lead in local projects which accelerate social inclusion and strengthen community engagement. The 4e program will focus on the development of the capabilities of the tenderos to improve their business, the quality of their and their families' lives, and to enhance their leadership skills, enabling them to take on responsibilities in their communities.
Karl Lippert, president of SABMiller Latin America, said: "Human development and growth in prosperity are our strongest interest here and we want to help ensure that the Latin American region fulfils its abundant potential. If societies thrive, business also thrives. The 4e program will serve as a model of poverty alleviation and social and financial inclusion and will also act as an instrument for broader social change, particularly when one considers the leadership potential of the retailers we will reach out to and their ability to make a difference in their communities."
Nancy Lee, MIF's general manager said: "In recent years, many Latin American economies have been among the world's strongest performers, achieving both impressive growth and poverty reduction. Small firms have been key actors in this regional transformation. And small retailers play a unique role in serving local communities as well as creating jobs. Farsighted programmes such as this can help drive economic and social mobility through building vibrant and inclusive communities across the region. The MIF is actively exploring how it can be helpful in this effort."
The manager of the IDB's Office of Outreach and Partnerships, Bernardo Guillamon, added: "This programme has the potential to become a leading example of the innovation that private and public sector organisations can jointly deliver when they collaborate in addressing the region's development priorities."
The work will take best practice from other SABMiller projects which have run successfully in Latin American countries, such as 'Oportunidades Bavaria' in Colombia, and 'Progresando Juntos' in Peru and El Salvador.
The programme 4e will be structured in four phases, designed to address different areas of development:
• Phase I: Responsible tendero (Secure the business): provide the tendero with the basic capabilities to ensure the existence of the business, improve his income and provide the basic elements for the quality of life of his family.
• Phase II: Sustainable tendero (Help my family): further advance the tendero's development, enabling him to contribute to the improvement of his family and begin to make a positive impact on the community.
• Phase III: Excellent tendero (Growth with excellence): develop the tendero with excellence and growth to diversify products and services and to attain positive acknowledgement in the community.
• Phase IV: Leader tendero (Contribute to the community): develop the tendero as a community leader and convert the tienda into a meeting place for neighbourhood development.
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