Economic Development

Mercy Corps fosters market-driven economic development in some of the world's most challenging places. We make use of already existing relationships — among buyers, sellers, producers and consumers — to bridge social and political divides via business and trade.

Special Report: Coping with the Economic Crisis ›

The economic crisis has spread all over the world, to millions of families that Mercy Corps serves. They worry about the same things we do: how to pay bills, put food on the table and take care of their children.

Special Report: Reinterpreting Tea Leaves ›

Mercy Corps and Tazo Tea Company are helping almost 13,000 people empower themselves and find opportunities to build better lives for themselves, their families and communities.

Perfect Harmony Family ›

The 500 pounds of homemade noodles that Guo Guifen sells each market day keep local cook-pots full - and have won her family the village's top honor.

Blog Post: We're all the beneficiaries ›

Mercy Corps' offices in Jerusalem rest on the Mount of Olives, in a grove of olive trees that are hundreds of years old. Looking to the west, you can see all of the Old City and beyond.

Blog Post: Faster is better ›

Every morning at 3:30, Ridwan starts making tempeh. He’s been doing this for almost 18 years. But, these days, it's just a little easier.

Blog Post: Mama na come ›

I think the women of Liberia are showing the way to this beautiful country's future.

Blog Post: Six days on the road ›

I'm both exhausted and exhilarated by my six-day journey through the red clay rocky back-roads of Tajikistan's border area with Kyrgyzstan in the Rasht Valley.

Blog Post: Cocoa, arm wrestling and opportunity ›

Mercy Corps is helping Annie Garfree and other Liberian women farmers meet their country's own goals by becoming more successful farmers.

Blog Post: Lasting change ›

Lasting change — the important kind — comes from teaching people how to do things differently and supporting them along the way.

Blog Post: Can you spare a square? ›

I didn’t expect my first blog post from the field to be about sanitation. I thought maybe microfinance or agriculture programs or mobile commerce.

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Program Details

Mercy Corps fosters market driven, locally appropriate economic development in some of the world’s most challenging areas. We make use of already existing market relationships – those between buyers, sellers, producers, and consumers – to bridge social and political divides via business and trade.

Read more ›

Recent Blog Posts

November 21, 2009
We're all the beneficiaries
November 19, 2009
Faster is better
November 19, 2009
Mama na come

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Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.

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