Inclusive grassroots governance

In the Ecuadorian Amazon, the Amazonian Chakra is an ancestral agroforestry system managed by Indigenous Peoples. It involves growing crops organically and sustainably alongside trees and plants, thereby protecting biodiversity and the Amazonian forests.

The Corporation of Associations of the Amazonian Chakra (Corporación de Asociaciones de la Chakra Amazónica) – also known as Corporation Chakra – represents five grassroots organisations: Ally Guayusa, Inti, Kallari, Tsatsayaku and Wiñak. Together, they bring together hundreds of producer families, mainly from the Kichwa and Waorani ethnic groups, who manage thousands of hectares under the Amazonian Chakra system.

To effectively influence public policies and ensure its own stability, Corporation Chakra needed to focus on inclusive internal governance, ensuring generational succession and the equitable participation of women and youth in decision making.

Forest and Farm Facility activities

This is where the intervention of the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) marked a turning point. Since 2021, FFF has provided financial and strategic support, focusing directly on strengthening the organisation’s internal governance. FFF funded the local technical team, consulting services for planning and the logistics needed to mobilise communities for the assemblies.

The process was methodical and deeply democratic. A new management model and a comprehensive strategic plan were developed in a participatory manner. This effort culminated in the approval of annual operational plans.

Significance of impact

Corporation Chakra’s general assembly formally approved the reforms to the bylaws and internal regulations. But the greatest victory has been to embed equity into the corporation’s policies: the new statutes have established the Directorate of Gender, Generational and Climate Justice. This unit is directly led by young people and operates in constant coordination with the newly consolidated Amazonian Youth Network (Red de Jóvenes Amazónicos), composed of 33 Indigenous Kichwa and Waorani representatives.

The integration of young people ensures the intergenerational transfer of knowledge and innovation, while women’s empowerment guarantees that women’s perspectives guide production decisions. Their involvement ensures the next generation sees the chakra as a dignified, profitable and legally protected way of life.

This robust internal governance became the indispensable catalyst for external advocacy. Corporation Chakra – endowed with greater legitimacy, administrative transparency and a structured action plan – is no longer just producers asking for support. It is a professionalised institution presenting solid technical arguments.

Thanks to this legitimacy backed by FFF, it has succeeded in getting authorities in Napo province to officially recognise its demands. While there are other aid partners in the region, the organisations themselves acknowledge this level of impact would not have been possible without FFF’s investment.

Conclusion

FFF’s work with Corporation Chakra demonstrates that investing in Indigenous Peoples’ organisations, their internal regulations, women’s voices and youth leadership is the essential first step toward securing public policies that incentivise the bioeconomy and intergenerational knowledge transfer, and transform rural life.

Inclusive grassroots governance

Forest and Farm Facility activities

Significance of impact

Conclusion

Further reading