Bucaramanga and Santander launch entrepreneurship support program

The Social Development Secretariat of Bucaramanga, in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), has launched an initiative to provide seed capital and technical training to over 100 vulnerable entrepreneurs in the Bucaramanga and Santander regions.

The program, which includes the ‘Santander Contigo’ strategy, focuses on empowering female heads of household and small-scale rural producers. To ensure sustainability, participants undergo a three-stage process: a call for applications, selection by the WFP through an implementing partner, and technical training in areas such as marketing, sales, digital media management, and cost calculation.

Following the training and the approval of an investment plan, beneficiaries receive resources to purchase machinery, tools, or supplies. Previous distributions have included items such as industrial stoves, sewing machines, coolers, and agricultural equipment, with individual support reaching up to five million pesos. The initiative aims to transition informal businesses, such as food vending and beauty services, into more structured and productive units.