Factores socioeconómicos en la gestión organizacional en comunidades productoras de Chontaduro (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) en Buenaventura (Colombia)

The Colombian Agricultural Research Corporation (Agrosavia) has been advancing the implementation of a technological package for the renewal of chontaduro (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) plantations in the municipality of Buenaventura, in the Colombian Pacific region. As part of this effort, the institution has documented the status of local organizations, their administrative practices, and their approaches to community management in the execution of territorially focused projects. Accordingly, this study aimed to characterize the socioeconomic and organizational factors of Afro‑Colombian communities engaged in chontaduro production in the Colombian Pacific, and to analyze—through the lens of organizational theory—their forms of thought, community worldviews, and alignment with institutional development criteria. The methodology consisted of an analytical and descriptive approach using qualitative tools that enabled the identification of characteristics, challenges, and expectations among members of the different organizations. The findings indicate that organizational management factors can be classified into exogenous elements—such as political, economic, and environmental influences, as well as sociohistorical processes embedded in Afro‑Colombian collective action—and endogenous elements internal to community organizations, including production systems, marketing practices, and socially oriented business models. A key finding is the need to develop business models and market studies with an ethnic-territorial focus, which will make it possible to recognize the cultural and productive value of chontaduro, identify actual demand, strengthen value chains through commercial networks, and establish sound financial frameworks based on cost analysis—all of which are essential for consolidating sustainable commercial processes in these communities. The study concludes that understanding the current state of community organizations is crucial for designing appropriate interventions aimed at improving quality of life, while acknowledging the differences between community and institutional worldviews in programs implemented in Afro‑Colombian territories. Finally, the research highlights the organizational conditions of Afro‑Colombian communities and the diverse perspectives through which they pursue collective well‑being.