In August 2025, Quixote Center joined forces with PeaceWorks and Green Empowerment to support the CACAONICA cooperative located in Waslala, Nicaragua. Founded in June 2000, CACONICA is currently comprised of 372 members from 42 communities with a 40% women representation. They sell organically certified cacao to the European market with the Small Producers Symbol (SPP) and Rainforest Alliance labels.
Located in the Autonomous Region of the Northern Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua, the CACAONICA producers live scattered in very remote areas beyond the reach of the national power grid and sewage system. These challenging conditions not only affect the quality of life of the families who are left without electricity or sanitation systems, but they also limit their production capacity.
CACAONICA has developed a pilot project, co-financed by the Quixote Center, that will install photovoltaic systems and latrines over the next 5 months for the 40 most financially vulnerable families in the cooperative. During the installation process, CACAONICA will offer 80 days of training for 200 members to strengthen their skills and capacity to make adequate use and maintenance of the energy and sanitary systems.
By joining the CACAONICA cooperative, farmers also receive training in organic production techniques, allowing them to sell their cocoa beans at a higher price thanks to the Rainforest Alliance organic certification that opens export markets in Europe. CACAONICA has clients in France and Belgium which enables them to pay their members 44 cordobas per pound compared to the 30 cordobas offered at the local market.
However, compliance with organic certifications requires producers to make some adjustments to their cultivating methods to meet environmental and social standards. Indeed, building latrines at the cacao farmers’ homes is fundamental to meeting Rainforest Alliance’s requirements. Producers live in the middle of their cacao fields so having well-built latrines avoids soil contamination while considerably improving the health and safety of every family member.
Additionally, the installation of 165-Watt photovoltaic electric systems in the 40 identified homes will completely transform the quality of life of these families. School children will be able to read and do their homework after dark, and parents can charge their devices, including essential humidity measurement tools to ensure that their soil has the optimal conditions to produce the highest quality cocoa crop.
This pilot project is designed to be scalable and replicable to reach more families in the region. We look forward to seeing the results of this pilot stage in person during a future trip to Nicaragua. In the meantime, our partners on the ground with CACAONICA and Green Empowerment will keep us informed through regular progress reports highlighting the impact of these initiatives on the farmers' lives.
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