Financial education and internal governance on short food supply chains: evidence from vulnerable rural communities in Latin America

This study examines the relationship between financial education and the development of SFSCs in vulnerable communities in Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia—a connection rarely addressed in the literature. Using a qualitative methodology, the research involved in-depth interviews with cocoa producers in Esmeraldas (Ecuador), banana by-product producers in Condorcanqui (Peru), and blackberry producers in Cauca (Colombia). The findings reveal that financial education—tailored to the cultural and productive context of each community—strengthened chain internal governance, understood as producers’ capacity to organize, manage, and make collective decisions around shared values. Key outcomes include improved resource management, expense control, productive investment, responsible access to and use of credit, and enhanced planning and commercial negotiation skills. These capabilities enabled producers to reduce intermediaries, access better markets, innovate products and processes, and improve both economic and social conditions. The three experiences overcame typical governance challenges in SFSCs—such as structural uncertainty, small scale, and lack of coordination—through business planning, local associations, and partnerships with universities, companies, and NGOs. Nevertheless, limitations remain, including regulatory barriers, insufficient government support, and shortages of key infrastructure. The study highlights financial education as a potentially relevant, yet underexamined, dimension of internal governance in SFSCs, contributing to ongoing debates on resilience, hybrid supply chain participation, and rural development in Latin America. © The Author(s) 2026.