What the earthquake did to micro-business — and what funding changes

Pereira Commercial Core

Pereira's downtown is a dense grid of small storefronts. The buildings can be repaired; the trading cycle behind them restarts only if the merchant has stock, tools and a plan.

~70%

of central commerce affected by the earthquake

Source: El Colombiano, as of 15 Aug 2026

~34%

of establishments fully closed

Source: El Colombiano, as of 15 Aug 2026

6,300+

business units across the three central districts

Source: Confecámaras / press reporting, Aug 2026

79

deaths recorded in Pereira

Source: La Patria, as of 16 Aug 2026

Quibdó & Chocó Systemic Impact

In Chocó, micro-commerce is not a sector — it is the survival engine. When a cart or a stall stops, a household's entire income stops with it. Firm density is 16 per 1,000 inhabitants, against 46 in Pereira, and nine large companies exist in the whole department.

97.6%

of Chocó firms are microenterprises

Source: Cámara de Comercio del Chocó, Estudio Económico 2025

9,095

registered businesses for ~600,000 inhabitants

Source: Cámara de Comercio del Chocó, 2025

29 of 31

Chocó municipalities affected

Source: BBC Mundo, Aug 2026

>45,000

people affected in Chocó

Source: BBC Mundo, Aug 2026

The response

The campaign target is €20.000: 100 programme places at €200 each. Each place combines debt-free working capital with practical training and mentorship delivered by Rebel Business School Colombia, so merchants trade again instead of starting their recovery in debt.