Gender and sustainability at the heart of the Amazon: a look at the bioentrepreneurs

The popular and solidarity economy (PSE) aims to achieve collective well-being through activities based on solidarity. The Amazon region of the Republic of Ecuador is closely linked to extractive activities, which risk affecting the health of local populations and accelerating forest degradation. Furthermore, poverty in this region affects 57% of the population, forcing families to engage in harmful forestry activities with significant environmental consequences. International cooperation, providing financing to promote bioenterprises, has generated sustainable alternatives for these populations. In this context, associativity emerges as a mechanism that generates sources of income for families dedicated to the preservation of forests, presenting itself as a viable solution to this problem. This research aims to determine how the financing of international cooperation influences the associative processes of the PSE, taking as a case study the Association of Wayusa Producers of Limoncocha, Ecuador. This association is part of the " Proamazonía " project financed by the Ecuadorian government and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Data was collected through semi-structured surveys and focus groups with key stakeholders. The results suggest that it is possible to achieve both economic and social benefits through the associative process. These include empowering Indigenous women, integrating them into the production process under fair conditions and preserving local culture. Consequently, this improves the quality of life of families and, at the same time, prevents the expansion of the agricultural frontier, promoting the economic and environmental sustainability of the area.