Applications are now open for the 2nd edition of the Small Business Mentoring Program promoted by Conservation International Brazil (CI-Brasil). Twenty initiatives with the potential to boost more sustainable and regenerative tourism in the Far South of Bahia will be selected to receive guidance and initial funding.
This action is part of the Turismo + Sustentável Project, an initiative of CI-Brasil, with the partnership of Aliança Futuri and Raízes Desenvolvimento Sustentável for mentoring.
The main purpose of this project is to boost responsible enterprises and contribute to promoting more sustainable tourism in the far south of Bahia State, Brazil. For this edition of the mentoring program, we are looking for entrepreneurs who are developing initiatives that expand the benefits provided by nature and for local communities, so that we can support them with training, mentoring, and seed capital.
The mentoring program covers the municipalities of Nova Viçosa, Caravelas, Alcobaça, Prado, Porto Seguro, Santa Cruz de Cabrália, Belmonte, Canavieiras, and Una, all in the far south of Bahia.
Who can take part in the mentoring?
- Associations, cooperatives, and companies (MEI, micro or small) formalized or not, in operation for at least one year;
- Initiatives operating directly in one of the project’s 09 municipalities;
- Initiatives that work directly with tourism (e.g., lodging, attractions, gastronomy, operators, agencies, etc.) or related areas such as handicraft production, and cultural development, among others;
- Entrepreneurs who have stable internet access;
- Businesses that have 2 representatives available to take part in the mentoring sessions – approximately 6 hours per week;
- Priority will be given to businesses run by women, traditional communities, and FUTURI allies.
ACCESS THE FULL CALL FOR PROPOSALS
What will the selected initiatives receive?
- The chosen businesses will receive collective mentoring with experts from the responsible tourism market, individual advice from mentors appointed for each business, support for improvement in 6 areas: structure and governance, people, products and services, communication and market and local development, as well as seed capital of up to R$15,000 to invest in business improvements.
- Through sustainable and regenerative tourism, it is possible to establish a connection between economic development and the preservation of nature. If you’re interested and your business fits the criteria, GO AND APPLY NOW.
Tourism + Sustainability Program
- Tourism is a crucial tool for economic, social, cultural, historical, and environmental development in this region, and has the potential to promote and disseminate sustainable practices and products. The Business Mentoring Project is part of the Turismo + Sustentável Program.
- This project aims to encourage tourism practices that are more sustainable, regenerative, and integrated with nature, generating better income distribution, valuing local society, conserving and regenerating the environment, always for the benefit of people – locals and visitors.
The region of the extreme south of Bahia shows remarkable tourism potential, characterized by unique biodiversity, which opens the way for the creation of opportunities to generate income and well-being, while at the same time favoring environmental conservation.
The tourism sector has the potential to become an ally in environmental conservation and to further boost socio-economic progress in the area. Although the large influx of visitors to parts of the Abrolhos Land and Sea region every year has a positive impact on the local economy, it is clear that tourism is not yet being conducted sustainably.
CI – Brazil has been working in the far south of Bahia for more than 22 years, and for the last 8 years, more intensively, connecting sustainable tourism and protected areas.
Get involved! Here at Raízes, we’re looking forward to this edition.
