MUNICIPAL GOVERNANCE PROGRAM AID 524 -10 - 00006

Municipal Governance Program

QUARTERLY REPORT

January 01 – March 31, 2020

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACRONYMS 3

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4

II. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS 7

III. SIGNIFICANT CONSTRAINTS/LESSONS LEARNED

AND BEST PRACTICES 15

IV. PLANNED ACCOMPLISHMENTS 16 V. ANNEXES 18

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ACRONYMS

APRODER Association for Progress and Rural Development AVODEC Association of Volunteers for Development CDM Municipal Development Committee FADCANIC Foundation for Autonomy and Development of the Atlantic Coast of GTI Indigenous Territorial Government ODHA BICU Observatory of Human and Autonomous Rights of the Bluefields Indian & University RACCN Northern Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region RACCS Southern Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region UCA Central American University URACCAN University of the Autonomous Regions of the Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast

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I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Component 1: Local Governance

Subcomponent 1.1 Citizen Participation

List the major activities undertaken List Key Achievements by Activity Indicate the status of these during the review period that activities in relation to approved contributed to the activity action/work plan and schedule. If objective/results. different from work plan, why? Activities focused on municipal · 990 people (48% female) presented Ongoing advocacy 60 project proposals through municipal advocacy in public spaces. · 10 project proposals responding to citizen demands approved by municipal governments for a total of $212,727 Activities focused on youth · 55 youth (64% female) have Ongoing increased capacities for advocacy around citizen participation, youth leadership, regional autonomy, nonviolent communication, and a culture of peace. · 50 disabled children’s families have an integral development plan created by a team of multidisciplinary experts that will allow their families to provide them with adequate care. · Creation of a teaching guide for Youth Citizen Participation, which promotes inclusivity, Interculturality, and prevention of violence. Activities focused on indigenous · 35 indigenous leaders (54% Ongoing and Afrodescendant populations women) graduated from the first diploma course on territorial property governance. · 36 indigenous leaders (50% women) completed the second diploma course on territorial property governance. · 26 trained representatives (55% female) from 7 GTIs are using GIS for community mapping of land invasion. · 20 indigenous rural community members (3 women) trained on GIS tools for documentation of land invasion. · 21 indigenous youth (33% female) with increased knowledge of indigenous identity and history, and increased capacities for defense of indigenous rights. · 25 indigenous children (48% female) with increased knowledge

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of indigenous history and culture, and skills for promoting social cohesion. Activities focused on women · 50 female human rights defenders Ongoing from Bluefields, , and El Bluff have increased capacities to provide support and accompaniment for female victims of violence. · 12 radio shows raising awareness of gender-based violence broadcast in Bluefields and other communities on the Caribbean Coast.

Subcomponent 1.2 Organizational Development List the major activities List Key Achievements by Activity Indicate the status of these undertaken during the review activities in relation to period that contributed to the approved action/work plan activity objective/results. and schedule. If different from work plan, why? Civil Society · 29 representatives (45% female) from 14 Ongoing local organizations have increased capacities for networking and alliance- building. · 5 local partner organizations used Appreciative Review of Capacity (ARC) to conduct a self-analysis of organizational capacities and develop capacity strengthening plans. 4 conducted follow- up analysis to measure their progress on their capacity strengthening plans. · 21 members (11 women) from 14 MGP partner organizations have increased capacities in digital security after participating in a 2-day workshop (16 hours total). · Creation of a guide on networking and alliance-building for local CSOs and activist groups. This guide will be made part of the MGP Dialogue and Conflict Resolution toolbox.

Subcomponent 1.3 Conflict Resolution and Dialogues List the major activities List Key Achievements by Activity Indicate the status of these undertaken during the review activities in relation to period that contributed to the approved action/work plan activity objective/results. and schedule. If different from work plan, why? Implementation of activities to · 48 youth (63% female) from , Ongoing promote conflict resolution and Mateare, Ciudad Sandino, Jinotepe, and dialogue Estelí participated in a youth exchange to discuss social polarization and a culture of peace, and propose local initiatives to promote social cohesion. · 16 illustrations produced by Nicaraguan female youth Cyberfeminists and published on LaQuimera website receive

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3,181 reactions, 1,352 shares, and 2,050 views as part of a campaign for ’16 Days of Activism’. · 7 infographics produced by Nicaraguan female youth cyberfeminists as part of a campaign against femicide published on the Observatory for Women’s Lives received over 3,050 reactions and over 1,700 shared in the weeklong campaign. · 453 youth (53% female) from 11 municipalities participated in 70 ‘citizen roundtables’ to discuss youth priorities at the territorial level and develop proposals to address them. · Creation of manual on negotiation and consensus building completed as part of the MGP toolbox on Dialogue and Conflict Resolution. The complete toolbox will be finalized and made available to the public during the next quarter. Increase capacities of local CSOs · 51 representatives (45% female) from 22 Ongoing and stakeholders to implement local partner organizations have increased conflict resolution and dialogue capacities for consensus-building and activities. negotiation. · 40 local activists (40% female) with increased capacities for nonviolent activism. · 30 psychologists (83% female) with increased capacities to provide psychosocial support to victims of violence.

Component 2: Fiscal Transparency List the major activities List Key Achievements by Activity Indicate the status of these undertaken during the review activities in relation to period that contributed to the approved action/work plan activity objective/results. and schedule. If different from work plan, why? Increase local capacity for · Municipal budget information for 11 Complete municipal budget analysis municipalities uploaded into online budget observatory. Promote investigation into · Completion of study of the livelihoods of Complete fiscal transparency and public Jinotega’s dry corridor, which will serve as an administration advocacy tool to for local leaders and organizations.

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II. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Citizen Participation

2.1 Territorial Indigenous Governments (GTI) in the RAACN strengthen territorial governance

36 members of the seven project GTIs completed the second edition of the “Governance of Communal Property” diploma course taught by the University of the Autonomous Regions of the Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast (URACCAN), in partnership with FADCANIC. The seven GTIs advanced in the implementation of the biocultural strategic framework,1 and continue to receive technical assistance from Fundación para la Autonomía y el Desarrollo de la Costa Atlántica (FADCANIC) in the formulation and implementation of their communal property governance plans. Table #1 Progress in support of GTI in the RACCN Goal Achievements Strengthen capacities of communal • 36 leaders (50% women) of 7 GTIs2 completed the diploma course property administration and the • 7 GTIs 3 have agreed to prioritize democracy, decentralization, establishment of a strategic transparency, and accountability actions for the implementation of framework for biocultural the Biocultural Strategic Framework. management of the 17 GTIs of the RACCN. AMASAU • Elected new communal authorities. • As a result of advocacy, the National Police established a mobile operational office at AMASAU to follow up on reports of land occupation by settlers. Twi Yahbra Strengthen the institutional • Agreed to territorial elections next May. mechanisms of the 5 prioritized GTIs Tawira to implement communal property • Updated its fisheries governance strategy, including the co- governance regulations and land management of the Miskito Cays Reserve. titling processes. Wangki Twi Tasba Raya • Completed a legal analysis of the effects of land titles granted by the Government of Nicaragua to the former combatants of YATAMA, AMIR, and ARMINGOB in indigenous territories. This analysis will support demands to the Supreme Court to prohibit the sale of these lands to third parties.

1 The biocultural strategic framework includes an agenda for the various territorial and regional governments to articulate the demand for the rights of autonomy, communal property, and human development. Through the use of a public policy approach, it ensures an intercultural relationship of indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples and the worldview in their intrinsic connection with the social, environmental, and economic environment. 2 Mayangna Sauni As, Mayangna Sauni Bas /Sikilta, Mayangna Sauni Arungka /Matumbak, Tuahka, Prinzu Awala, Prinzu Auhya Un and Tasba Pri. 3 Wangki Twi Tasba Raya, AMASAU, Tawira, Twi Waupasa, Tuahka, Mayangna Sauni Arungka and Mayangna Sauni Arungka

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Goal Achievements MATUMBAK • Developed a six-month work plan to implement the Internal Regulations of the PANMUKWAS community. • Presented the regulations of PANMUKWAS to the Regional Government of the RACCN, which will approve them in April’s ordinary session for their subsequent publication in the official gazette “La Gaceta.” Twi Waupasa • Worked on a conceptual framework for the management of communal property for the five communities in the territory.

2.2 Prilaka promotes indigenous rights in four municipalities of Nicaragua

PRILAKA conducted a survey to assess the impact of 13 radio vignettes broadcasted in Puerto Cabezas, Waspam, Estelí, and Matagalpa. The survey indicated good retention and understanding of the messages by persons who had heard them on the radio. Among the issues that attracted the most attention were: corruption of territorial and regional authorities, settler invasions of indigenous lands, and violations against indigenous communities' rights. The vignettes focused on the identity of the Caribbean Coast, the communities' position on the colonist invasions, and the relationship between the national crisis and local problems. The survey validated that the radio continues to be essential in indigenous and municipalities because it allows for public social denunciation of right violations.

2.3 Ten citizen proposals included in 2020 municipal budgets

Ten projects presented by the Municipal Development Committees (CDM) related to infrastructure projects, sanitation, and sports fields for an approximate amount of 7.2 million cordobas ($212,727), were included in the 2020 municipal budgets of and Santo Domingo. The CDMs of both municipalities presented a total of 46 project proposals, with the contextual understanding of limited financial resources due to the socio- political situation of the country and the drastic decrease of municipal transfers. Table #2 Advocacy in municipal budgets # of proposals # of proposals Amount in CS$ Organization Municipality presented included of proposals included

Muelle de los Bueyes 21 6 4,992,752.00 APRODER Santo Domingo 25 4 2,258,623.00 TOTAL 46 10 7,251,375.00 % of inclusion 22% Approximate amount in USD 212,727.02

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2.4 Los Pipitos strengthened families’ ability to support children with disabilities

Parents of 50 disabled children supported by Los Pipitos have expressed that they are more knowledgeable about their children's disabilities, have learned how to be more supportive of their children's development, to handle their children's anger, how to play with their children, and how to help them be independent. Parents report that they have been more accepting and appreciative of their children, and in turn, have noticed that their children are more aware of their surroundings and are less isolated and are spending more time with the family.

Los Pipitos successfully completed their project during the reporting period. The project mapped 53 families of children with disabilities in Bluefields, identifying families with disabled children, interviewing them, referring them to specialists as needed, and organizing assessment sessions with a team of interdisciplinary specialists. A total of 50 children, teenagers, and young adults were assessed by the team of specialists, who created integral development plans with the parents. In addition, 25 early education teachers were trained in the holistic care approach to disability, and 43 nursing, psychology, and medical students were trained on the importance of early intervention.

Multidisciplinary team helps family create care plan (left), and early education teacher using holistic approaches to teaching children with disabilities (right). 2.5 Youth in Pearl Lagoon have increased capacities to promote local youth advocacy

FADCANIC supported the formulation of six project proposals by 12 youth (8 female) from Pearl Lagoon, which were presented to municipal authorities. Proposals included the construction of a rehabilitation center for youth with alcohol and drug addictions, a municipal hospital, a youth recreation center, the reconstruction of the technical school, a teen pregnancy prevention campaign, and an animal protection initiative. No feedback had been received from municipal authorities by the end of the reporting period, but the youth will be following up in the coming quarter to see if any of their proposals were accepted for funding by the municipality.

FADCANIC also created and distributed 60 copies of the guide “Youth Citizen Participation.” The guide contains information and methodological tools used during the training process. Youth supported by the project, partner organizations, and other programs of FADCANIC will

9 MUNICIPAL GOVERNANCE PROGRAM AID 524 -10 - 00006 now use this tool for training youth on advocacy and citizen participation (available at https://bit.ly/3ep8MmD).

2.6 Female youth activists Las Malcriadas launch webzine aimed at young activists, adults, feminists, and non-feminists

Las Malcriadas completed the production of an innovative youth-designed webzine with a feminist approach. It seeks to link the private and public spheres, along with the local and the national, for a situational analysis and its implications for the lives of women. The first edition of the magazine will be released to the public in April (http://lasmalcriadas.org/revista/), with four more editions pending; all five editions will be distributed both digitally and physically.

Front page of the magazine Malcriadas.

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Dialogue and Conflict Resolution

2.7 Las Enredadas tracks of violence against women and femicide

From February 14-28, EnRedadas implemented the campaign "What's Behind FEMICIDE" through its Observatory for Women's Lives, demystifying the erroneous beliefs that exist around the causes of femicide. The messages triggered debates and conversations in social networks, promoting the visibility and viralization of the messages. This campaign reinforced the need for more information on femicide in Nicaragua and in the Latin American region to demonstrate its socio-structural roots. In March, within the framework of International Women's Day, EnRedadas published a special edition of their online journal entitled “Machista violence and the situation of women's human rights" at www.laquimerafeminista.com, with eight articles written by the network of collaborators from La Quimera, which received a combined 2,593 views.

Table #6 Reach of the “What’s behind femicide?” # Date Topic of the infographic Link Shares Reactions 1 Feb-14-2020 What’s behind a femicide? Post #1 124 168 2 Feb-17-2020 The objectification of women Post #2 434 615 3 Feb-19-2020 The sum of different violence Post #3 420 556 4 Feb-21-2020 Normal men Post #4 269 656 5 Feb-24-2020 A society tolerant of violence Post #5 172 387 6 Feb-26-2020 The education and toxic Post #6 198 355 socialization of men 7 Feb-28-2020 Precedents of violence Post #7 91 322 TOTAL 1,708 3,059

Pictures of the sections (from left to right): Feminist humor, Ciberchicas and Gafas violetas.

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2.8 Red Sanar develops tools to help heal trauma and grief

In March, Red Sanar began the project "Reconnecting with Life," which will create and disseminate content for emotional support in times of crisis. They will be providing information and self-directed exercises that provide an outlet for the psycho-emotional experiences that trigger individual and collective trauma. The project is led by a group of young women feminist psychologists who are committed to providing tools with healing content. For this purpose, they plan to publish the manual "Techniques for Healing Nicaragua," containing information on grief, coping with suicide, techniques, and exercises for stress reduction and mindfulness that can be performed individually and tips for self-care.

The manual and other materials to be created will be distributed physically to at least 20 local MGP partner organizations and made publicly accessible on social networks.

2.9 Training manual on negotiation and consensus building completed

The fourth training guide of the Conflict Resolution and Dialogue toolkit was completed during the reporting period. Entitled "Between Consensus and Negotiation, Clues to address conflicts collaboratively," it is part of the methodological toolbox that will be made publically available to Nicaraguan activists and civil society organizations. This toolbox seeks to transform conflicts through dialogue, consensus, and negotiation.

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Organizational Development

2.10 17 partner organizations with increased digital security capacities

Security, anonymity, and discretion were addressed in a 2-day workshop (16 hours total) on digital security attended by 26 participants from 17 MGP partner organizations (11 women). These issues are a necessity for secure communications and use of information at the individual and organizational levels. The material was transmitted in a simple, practical, applicable, and replicable way. Participants stated that the content they acquired would be shared with other members of their organization in order to maximize impact of the workshop and increase security for local organizations and activists.

During the workshop, participants received physical and digital versions of the MGP- developed "Basic Digital Security Guide," a guide presented in a didactic, clear, and accessible manner that helps ensure the safe use of digital networks and devices.

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2.11 Reference materials on networking and partnership building is available

As a result of the last MGP organizational development workshop, a booklet was produced and designed in order to help local organizations promote networking and strategic alliance- building. The guide, entitled "Working in networks in times of crisis, ideas for organizations and leaders seeking to bring about social change" is available in a digital format (https://bit.ly/3atZ9jr). It also provides methodological guidelines on how to understand and replicate the content and offers a practical and interactive tool for the design of networks. Because of its link and validity to the topic of Dialogue and Conflict Resolution (DRC), this material is part of the DRC toolbox produced by MGP.

Fiscal Transparency

2.12 AVODEC completes assessment of the livelihoods of Jinotega's dry corridor to serve as an advocacy tool for community leaders and local organizations

Asociación de Voluntarios para el Desarrollo Comunitario (AVODEC) completed an assessment that has become an advocacy tool for local leaders and organizations, which maps out the prevailing modes of livelihood within the project's area of intervention and identifies the environmental, climatic, and anthropic factors which make it one of the most vulnerable zones in the country. The assessment highlights the need to outline strategies to address multiple threats and the importance of public policies that foster the acknowledgment, defense, and promotion of the economic, social, and political rights of the communities of the dry corridor of Jinotega. Based on the assessment, AVODEC broadcasted a radio vignette for a month and a half on ABC Stéreo, a radio station with broad coverage in northern Nicaragua. The vignette advocated for public policies and increased investment in the Dry Corridor of Jinotega to promote livelihoods (AVODEC radio vignette).

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III. SIGNIFICANT CONSTRAINTS/LESSONS LEARNED AND BEST PRACTICES

3.1 CONSTRAINT: COVID-19 demands the modification of work methodologies. The health crisis caused by COVID-19 has forced partner organizations to postpone or modify activities.

Corrective measure: A majority of partners adopted teleworking as a social distancing measure. Global Communities promoted adoption of health and safety measures, and avoidance of in-person activities. Organizations are implementing activities remotely using virtual forums and only carried out in-person activities in exceptional circumstances with fewer than ten participants, using preventive measures including the use of alcohol, masks, and social distancing. Many partners have switched to complete or near-complete virtual implementation, using platforms such as Zoom, Google Hangouts, and Microsoft Teams to conduct meetings and trainings virtually. MGP will continue to offer technical assistance to partner organizations to enable them to use technologies to perform work virtually.

3.2 CONSTRAINT: Escalation of violence in indigenous territories of the Caribbean Coast. Violence on the Caribbean Coast is rekindling past inter-ethnic disagreements and clashes between indigenous groups on the Caribbean Coast. If this issue is not tackled through non-violent actions and peace-building processes, there is a risk that it may lead to inter- ethnic conflict, and thus divert attention from the core problem: third-party invasions and the absence and complicity of the Nicaraguan state.

Corrective measure: MGP will expedite the PRILAKA activity to create and implement the “Response Protocol in case of emergencies stemming from the invasion of indigenous territories" and expand the PRILAKA Community Network. The protocol is a document and tool which will allow local indigenous communities to more rapidly identify, report, and raise awareness of any human rights violations related to illegal land occupation, and the Community Network is a network of community guardians who are connected via WhatsApp and/or telephone so that they can quickly share any information of armed invaders on indigenous lands.

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IV. PLANNED ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Fiscal Transparency / Citizen

Local Governance (Component 1 - Subcomponents 1.1 Institutional strengthening Participation in Electoral Quarter and 1.3) (Component 1 - Sub component 1.2) Process (Components 2 and 3) Q3 • PRILAKA: Elabora instrumentos para el registro y respuesta • APRODER, ha fortalecido los mecanismos • Las Subversivas realizan cuatro ante conflictos producto de las invasiones de tierra, animando de uso seguro de las redes y herramientas conversatorios virtuales con FY20 y acompañando su implementación en el ámbito comunitario. digitales en un nuevo contexto de participantes del programa e • FADCANIC: acompaña a las oficinas de propiedad comunal (7 distanciamiento social. invitadas, sobre ecofeminismo, territorios GTI) para aumentar su capacidad de formulación de • Finalizado el ciclo de evaluación final del feminismo decolonial, arte feminista demandas y denuncias ambientales y de abuso a la propiedad ARC con 6 organizaciones comunitarias y feminismo interseccional. comunal. acompañadas por las organizaciones • Las Malcriadas: Desarrollan cuatro • FADCANIC-Juventud: Realizan ocho (8) talleres de capacitación socias: APRODER Y CANTERA. conversatorios virtuales (de dos días cada uno), dirigidos seis de ellos a 25 jóvenes de territoriales, con mujeres líderes, y Bluefields (15 mujeres), segmentados en grupos de no más de elaboran sus respectivas hojas 10 participantes cada uno y dos (2) dirigidos a 20 jóvenes del resumen. CETAA-Wawashang (10 mujeres). • La Corriente: inicia ciclos de • FADCANIC-Juventud: Realiza al menos 2 acciones locales de capacitación con jóvenes, 20 incidencia social de jóvenes, como ejercicio de ciudadanía lesbianas, 20 mujeres trans y 20 transformadora y una auditoría social en Bluefields, sobre el comunicadores/as sociales. seguimiento a la ejecución de los proyectos sociales propuestos en 2019 y aprobados para ejecutar en 2020. • FADCANIC-Juventud: Realiza 2 debates escolares en el CETAA- Wawashang, sobre temas de participación juvenil y el ejercicio de los derechos de adolescentes y jóvenes. • SANAR elaborará un material psicoemocional para recuperación emocional y contención en crisis (artes, publicará Manual “Técnicas para Sanar Nicaragua” (impreso y en redes sociales). • Global Communities publicará los Cuadernillos No. 4 y No. 5 de la “Colección Aportes a la construcción de una cultura de paz” como parte del componente de “Diálogo y Resolución de Conflictos”.

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Fiscal Transparency / Citizen

Local Governance (Component 1 - Subcomponents 1.1 Institutional strengthening Participation in Electoral Quarter and 1.3) (Component 1 - Sub component 1.2) Process (Components 2 and 3) Q4 • CANTERA: ejecuta concurso a nivel nacional de videos juveniles • La Corriente completa los esfuerzos que difunden y rescatan valores comunitarios y ciudadanos en de capacitación y favorece las FY20 momentos de crisis. alianzas entre grupos LGBTI. • SANAR elaborará 17 material psicoemocional para • La Corriente: Encuentros de recuperación emocional y contención en crisis. activistas para la elaboración de • PRILAKA: Finaliza la difusión de programas radiales sobre los agenda por los derechos de la derechos de los pueblos indígenas en la Costa Caribe de comunidad LGBT Nicaragua y otros pueblos indígenas de Latinoamérica. • La Corriente: divulga de agenda por • FADCANIC-Juventud: Completa la divulgación de seis (6) spots los derechos LGBT. televisivos/viñetas radiales (en idiomas inglés, Miskitu y • EnRedadas: produce una edición castellano), en al menos 5 medios locales (3 radiales y 2 especial sobre las mujeres de la Costa televisivos) y la implementación de programa de radio entre Caribe en la Quimera. jóvenes, conceptualizado y dirigido por ellas y ellos. • Las Malcriadas: Producen y distribuyen una edición especial de la revista Malcriadas.

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V. ANNEXES

The following annexes are attached:

1. MGP Project List 2. MGP Logical Framework Indicator Report 3. MGP TEAMS Report 4. MGP Cost Share Report 5. MGP Accruals

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