BCTA MEMBERSHIP STATUS
Active

SECTOR
Consumer Goods

HEADQUARTERS
Colombia

REGION OF INITIATIVE
Latin America & Caribbean

SDG CONTRIBUTION

The Impact Goal 

Elepha joined Business Call to Action in December 2020 and made a commitment that 15,000 women in Colombia's rural area will source incremental income on a sustained basis through Elepha´s micro-franchise, training and credit system by 2025. Elepha will also provide access to key essential needed products and services to more than 10 million people living in the rural areas of Colombia. Elepha will also provide 35,000 women with basic hard and soft skills training by the end of 2025. 

The Market Gap 

Women in Colombia suffer from social inequality and lack job opportunities while basic consumer goods sold to households in poor rural areas are few and expensive. 60% of the rural population in Colombia has unsatisfied basic needs. This includes inadequate housing, critical overcrowding, lack of access to public services and children going without education. In the same areas, there is gender inequality in remuneration and employment rate. 

The Business Solution 

Elepha creates livelihoods for unemployed or underemployed women, to bring high quality and essential goods at reasonable prices to communities, and to establish new distribution networks for partner companies using the last mile distribution model:  

• Elepha improves the local economy as credit, goods, and services are offered in areas with no prior opportunities.

• Women are the primary participants of the program, profits from their operation are more likely to be invested in education, health, and family well-being.

• By offering training and empowerment to local women, they contribute to the improvement of their communities.

• Through its business model, Elepha, re-builds the social network loss that occurred during the armed conflict in Colombia. Women starting interacting with each other again helps to build relationships and trust amongst the local communities.