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At Vale, we believe that civil society\u2019s 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 \u2013 individual, family and collective \u2013 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.<\/p>\n
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 Maranh\u00e3o, Par\u00e1, Minas Gerais, Esp\u00edrito Santo and Rio de Janeiro \u2013 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 Funda\u00e7\u00e3o Banco do Brasil Social Technology Award, the main instrument for identifying and certifying social technologies in the country.<\/p>\n
To cite some examples, in Cana\u00e3 dos Caraj\u00e1s, Par\u00e1, 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%.