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Nexus First Advisory Board meeting: Engaging Colca Valley Stakeholders

August 22, 2024

The Arequipa Nexus Institute officiated its first Advisory Board meeting on August 5th in the city of Chivay in Arequipa, Peru. The primary aim of the meeting was to formally introduce the goals, planned activities, and expected outcomes of each of the Phase III Nexus projects, and obtain the critical feedback and support needed to ensure that these projects will have the greatest impacts within the Colca Valley.

The event was hosted at the Caylloma Provincial Municipality Auditorium. 16 participants attended the event including leaders from each of our three target communities (Sibayo, Yanque, and Madrigal). UNSA Nexus Codirector Dennis Macedo kicked off the event with an introduction of the Nexus and our four Phase III projects. This was followed by individual presentations by the UNSA PIs of the four projects (i.e., organic farming systems, camelids, renewable energy, and regenerative tourism), and a general discussion around questions and comments from the advisory board.

Remarks from the advisory board included: 1) a desire to move towards a more natural agriculture and the need for in-depth training that will produce results and empower farmers; 2) the need for accessible energy for to improve the functions of machines and heat water; 3) the need for alternatives/opportunities, capacity building and marketing in the tourism sector in each district; and 4) the need for better strategies to maintain pastures for camelids and for more social work in the countryside.