At Vale, we believe that civil society’s protagonism is strategic for achieving sustainable development. With this, we build our relationship with the communities where we operate every day. Through the Vale Foundation, for example, we developed the Agir Program (Support for Income Generation and Increase), which supports the development of social businesses – individual, family and collective – with training, technical and managerial advice, mentoring, direct investment (seed capital) and monitoring of ventures. The initiative seeks to contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 1, which aims to eradicate poverty in all its forms. With Agir, Vale encourages community protagonism to achieve its own income generation, valuing its local vocations. In this way, where everyone wins, the business environment is productive and sustainable, attracting more investors and socioeconomic development.
The economic activities supported include: artisanal food production, horticulture, beekeeping, fish farming, family farming, selective collection services, cleaning and conservation of environments, in addition to clothing manufacturing and the creative economy. In 2016 alone, nine projects were implemented in the states of Maranhão, Pará, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro – with 1,125 entrepreneurs directly benefiting, 663 entrepreneurs trained, 106 business plans developed and 81 social businesses incubated or accelerated. The Agir program was recognized by the Fundação Banco do Brasil Social Technology Award, the main instrument for identifying and certifying social technologies in the country.
To cite some examples, in Canaã dos Carajás, Pará, six social businesses that went through the incubation or acceleration process were graduated, obtaining significant results: an increase in revenue from 70% to 278% and in income from 167% to 499%. 
Among these businesses is Fábrica e Malharia Criativa, led by women, which initially produced crafts and sewing items aimed at the socialization and integration of participants. With the support of the project, the group expanded its product line and improved its production infrastructure, becoming a relevant player in the local market. Through a partnership with Serigrafia GFN, also incubated by the project, the factory now also sells uniforms and t-shirts for municipal events.
On the Carajás Railroad, more than 160 entrepreneurs participate in Agir, distributed across 11 communities in seven municipalities: Arari, Vitória do Mearim, Alto Alegre do Pindaré, Buriticupu, Bom Jesus das Selvas, São Pedro da Água Branca and Marabá. The ventures range from the production of babassu oil and olive oil, to cutting and sewing products, to sweets and baked goods. In 2016, the first stage of acceleration of social businesses was carried out, which included technical advice and mentoring in management (purchasing, sales, production and administration). The year was also marked by the inauguration of five factories/headquarters of social enterprises in Alto Alegre do Pindaré and Buriticupu and by the holding of fairs for the sale of products in Açailândia and São Luís.
