Community micro-projects

Community micro-projects
improve the livelihoods of rural families in
Madriz, Nicaragua
Authors: Alonso Espinoza
Torrez¹, Mauricio José
Cajina Canelo².
Editor: Jorge Ulises Cruz³
The Partners for Resilience (PfR) put their integrated approach and
vision of community resilience into practice to improve the livelihoods
of rural communities in Nicaragua. In the municipalities of San Lucas
and Las Sabanas, their micro-projects consist of speci�ic interventions
and management actions, which combine Disaster Risk Reduction
(DRR) with Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Ecosystem
Management and Restoration (EMR). The communities are directly
involved in each phase of the micro-projects: from the risk analysis and
design to the actual implementation.
Criteria for the implementation
of Disaster Risk Reduction and
Climate Change Adaptation
programmes that include
ecosystem management
(Eco-criteria)
The purpose of the Eco-criteria tool
is to successfully shift the paradigm
on to an approach in which the
preservation and restoration of
ecosystem services will contribute
to the integrated design of
programmes and projects for local
development, climate change
adaptation and disaster risk
reduction.
¹Technical coordinator, Wetlands International Nicaragua
²Technical team, Nicaraguan Red Cross
³ Editor
⁴http://lac.wetlands.org/Publicaciones/Nuestraspublicaciones/tabid/3079/mod/1570/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/34
99/Default.aspx
1
3
The Partners for Resilience organisations in Nicaragua, i.e. CARE-Nicaragua, Institute of
Human Promotion (INPRHU), the Madriz Association of Municipalities (AMMA), the
Nicaraguan Red Cross, Wetlands International, and the Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate
Centre, involve communities in each project phase.
Community members are more than mere project implementers; they are direct and
active participants in the process to identify the different risks, hazards, vulnerabilities
and capacities of the communities. They brought forward their needs based on their own
experiences. The actions to be taken have been chosen in consensus with all the
stakeholders involved in the area.
In the following case studies, communities have identi�ied the causes of vulnerability of
their livelihoods, as well as other of aspects related to their well-being, including water
shortage. These causes have been analysed using the Watershed Management and
Ecosystem Restoration approach. This allowed for the identi�ication of bad practices in
natural resource management, such as deforestation and the slash-and-burn agricultural
technique, as the origin of their problem.
In the identi�ication and design of the micro-projects the Eco-Criteria for
‘ecosystem-smart’ disaster risk reduction⁴ were applied. The criteria describe the
required steps to develop an ‘ecosystem-smart’ approach in the design, implementation
and evaluation of risk reduction programmes. They provide guidance on the required
capacities, partnerships, institutional set-up and planning needs and make sure that
ecosystems are included in actions to be implemented.
MICRO-PROJECTSCASESTUDY
Community self-management
in the design of micro-projects

⁵http://www.careclimatechange.org/cvca/CARE_CVCAHandbook.pdf
6
http://www.ifrc.org/Global/Publications/disasters/vca/whats-vca-en.pdf
7
http://www.climatecentre.org/downloads/File/Minimum%20Standards/Minimum%20Stan
dards%20for%20climate-smart%20DRR%20%202.0%20NOV%202013.pdf
8
http://www.climatecentre.org/downloads/File/PFR/PfR%20Resilience%20vision.pdf
2
The �irst step of the methodology is to do a vulnerability assessment. CARE-Nicaragua applied their Climate
Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (CVCA⁵) in Malpaso and the Red Cross their Vulnerability Capacity
Assessment (VCA⁶) in the community of El Pegador. Both methodologies contribute to the micro-project
participatory implementation logic and include the following steps: identi�ication, formulation, implementation,
and evaluation.
The micro-projects also apply the Red Cross / Red
Crescent Climate Centre’s “Minimum standards for local
climate-smart disaster risk reduction⁷”. This is a
practical control list used for identifying potential
future risks related to changes in climate. The
micro-projects also take the principles of resilience into
account, which have been established by the Partners
for Resilience8.
Each PfR partner is responsible for the process and
implementation stages of the micro-projects, including
follow-up, monitoring and evaluation. The following are
two micro-projects as implemented with the Partners
for Resilience framework:
Bismarck Benjamín Rodríguez Bermúdez, a community
leader from Malpaso:
“The creation and implementation of the micro-project began
in 2012. It is the result of the foremost and acute problem we
face in the community: shortage of water for human
consumption. The shortage is so severe that during the
summer we have to travel to a community 2 kilometres away
to get water rations – 2 or 3 jerry cans – per family. Then
CARE-Nicaragua, INPRHU, AMMA and Wetlands International
came to our community. With their collaboration we gave
priority to this micro-project, as water shortage affects
everyone and has done so for many years. The project to
rehabilitate the lagoon required an investment of
approximately 10.000 dollars, distributed among all the
participating institutions, and the community contributed a
matching fund of 10-20%”.
The Malpaso community is located to the West of
the municipality of San Lucas, in the department
of Madriz, Nicaragua. Its relief is inclined with
some �lat areas.
The community is well organised to achieve the
common good; this includes climate change
adaptation.
The micro-project consisted of applying erosion
mitigation and conservation measures to restore
the 11,104 m2 lagoon, which has a water storage
capacity of 1,100 m3.
Micro-project “Improving the community lagoon and preventing erosion in
the community of Malpaso, municipality of San Lucas, Madriz”
De�inition of the design of the water harvesting reservoir
of the community of Malpaso, San Lucas
Photo credit: CARE
Advisory process and community work in the micro-project located
in the Malpaso, community in San Lucas
Photo credit: CARE

3
The Climate Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment
determined water shortage as the main threat,
putting the lives of families at risk due to a lack of
food, the impact on agriculture, livestock and all
other community activities. Therefore, and also
based on the assessment’s recommendations, the
micro-project included strategic actions to be taken
by the community adopting a climate change
adaptation vision, taking existing hazards into
account and applying a risk prevention culture that
ensures the sustainability of the existing
livelihoods.
With the use of machinery the lagoon was levelled
at its deepest part. This resulted in increased water
capture during the rainy season.
With the participation of 85 community members water pipes were installed to �ill a trough where animals come
and drink and to provide water for household use. Also, a 12 m long retaining wall was expanded and compacted,
and a 600 m perimeter was demarcated using wire.
All these measures contribute to maintaining water quality, while in the past the population would carry out their
activities and have livestock roam in the vicinity of the lagoon, thereby contaminating it.
In parallel, the community took soil conservation
actions in 2.8 hectares (or 4 manzanas) of
mountainsides, including the building of
containment dykes and planting of 4.400 trees
(mahogany, cedar, macuelizo). This reduces runoffs
and related erosion and improves the quality of the
water �lowing into the lagoon. In the past,
sediments settled in the lagoon and saturated the
water very quickly, causing the lagoon to over�low
and �loods put the lives of inhabitants at risk.
Plans for the second stage of the micro-project
include alley cropping in neighbouring hillsides and
planting rapidly growing trees, such as Moringa and
Madero Negro, in an 800-metre radius of the
lagoon.
The “Municipal Heritage Site of La Bruja lagoon” is located in the community of El Pegador and part of the sub-basin
of the Inalí River. In this mountainous region, the Inalí River is a signi�icant tributary to the Coco River, part of
Watershed No. 45.
Micro-project “Community ecotourism as a means to strengthen
livelihoods” in El Pegador community, Las Sabanas Municipality
Water harvesting reservoir, Malpaso community in San Lucas. Photo credit: CARE
Photo: Bathing and washing facility, built with a water harvesting reservoir,
Community of Malpaso. Photo credit: CARE

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La Bruja lagoon is volcanic in nature9 and covers
an area of 2.81 ha. It is characterized as a wetland
and site for natural conservation with hydric
potential. Therefore it is necessary to manage the
lagoon wisely, and the micro-project represents an
alternative to link the conservation of the lagoon
with the sustainable use through
community-based tourism. This type of
management includes the diversi�ication and
strengthening of local livelihoods for the
population consisting of 138 people that bene�it
from the generated income.
The lagoon’s main threats are sedimentation and
eutrophication10, as they generate the growth of
plant species that reduce the size of the water
mirror, which has direct consequences on this
aquatic ecosystem.
This micro-project was identi�ied and formulated
through a participatory process that started in
2013 and applied the same integrated approach
that combines Disaster Risk Reduction with
Climate Change Adaptation and Ecosystem
Management and Restoration. Implementation
began in 2014 with the joint collaboration of all
participating stakeholders.
This initiative brought together Partners for
Resilience organisations (Nicaraguan Red Cross
and Wetlands International), the municipality of
Las Sabanas, the community through its Family,
Community and Life Cabinet, producers
cooperatives, local providers of eco-tourism
services, and state institutions, including the
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
(MARENA) and the Tourism Institute (INTUR).
A study determined the necessary equipment for eco-tourism: a �loating dock for small boats, wildlife watching,
and the design of a booth with tourist and environmental information, as well as a hiking trail. At the same time,
the project procured the required certi�ied forest lumber to build the dock and booth as well as two �iberglass
rowing boats with oars and life jackets. Deposits for solid organic and inorganic waste were also designed.
Local youth participated in activities to clean up of solid waste in the community.
One of the objectives is to strengthen sustainable
development, through capacity building for
community ecotourism, as an alternative for
nature conservation and generation of
socioeconomic bene�its for the community.
Through the Partners for Resilience programme in
Nicaragua, the implementation of this
microproject has reached a few initial milestones,
among which the development of a local
organisation process with the participation of 30
community members, representatives from
MARENA, INTUR, and the municipality of Las
Sabanas. Sites were also geo-referenced in order
to prepare a local map and place markers around the lagoon that de�ine its geographic boundaries.
9
Municipal Development Strategic Plan in Las Sabanas municipality (2005-2017).
10
Eutrophication is a type of chemical contamination of the waters that advances gradually with sedimentation. It is the result of excess nutrient in�lows into an aquatic
ecosystem. Phosphorous and nitrogen are its main culprits. Eutrophication caused by human activity alters the characteristics of the aquatic ecosystem environment, it
alters the trophic chain and increases ecosystem disturbance.
Eutrophication and sedimentation are closing the water mirror of the La Bruja
lagoon, in the El Pegador community in Las Sabanas.
Photo credit: Nicaraguan Red Cross
Members of the Municipal Mayor’s of�ice of Las Sabanas, community members
and institutions representatives during the formulationof the community’s
micro-project. Photo credit: Nicaraguan Red Cross
Community members presenting the micro-project to a group of NGOs and
institutions participating in a workshop on the use of ecocriteria. May 2013.
Photo credit: Nicaraguan Red Cross

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The Collaborative Management Committee
manages the lagoon with the participation of the
community organisation, Partners for Resilience
organisations, a producers’ cooperative, Las
Sabanas municipality, MARENA and INTUR.
Through a participatory process, several
regulations have been established on the
organisation and responsibilities, the management
of a funding mechanism and an environmental fund,
as well as on the public use and recharge capacity of
the lagoon.
This process created the foundation for social,
economic and ecological sustainability as it
consolidates the Collaborative Management
Committee, which is the governing body for the
implementation of project activities and ensures its
continuity.
Best practices
Both communities identi�ied water management as
their main priority for a micro-project, which
indicates that it is one of their biggest problems.
The topic brought communities and PfR
organisations together. They worked side by side
from a land-use planning perspective, linking all
efforts to the public sector planning strategies at a
broader scale.
The best practices adopted by community members
in the La Bruja lagoon indicate that they are
motivated to ensure the micro-project’s
sustainability on the long-term. These best
practices include: continued reforestation, lagoon
maintenance, clean up, and installation of
additional tree nurseries in each parcel and in the
community itself.
Training by PfR on disaster risk reduction has
helped to identify community vulnerabilities and
improve their disaster preparedness. Furthermore,
the agroforestry system management workshop in
Malpaso applied the ecosystem management and
restoration (EMR) and climate change adaptation
(CCA) approach. The 50 families that participated in
the workshop adopted the practices of alley
cropping, and established clean tree and
eco-forestry coffee crops with accompanying soil
and water conservation measures.
Active participation from the community
throughout the micro-project process (assessment,
formulation, implementation and follow-up) was
key to reaching the foreseen goals. The
communities contributed their time, organisation,
local know-how and many person-hours to the
activities.

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Lesson 4:
The Eco-criteria is a tool that helps micro-projects to apply Ecosystem Management and Restoration efforts in a
practical way. In Malpaso they were used to analyse the adequate uses of ecosystem services and as a planning tool
for the micro-project. In El Pegador, they helped to identify the ecosystem services the lagoon provides to the
community and its proper use. The use of the Minimum Standards assured that the micro-project took the
changing climate into account. In El Pegador, the community analysed how the trends of changing risks (chemical
sedimentation and pollution of the water that cause the growth of plant species that reduce the water mirror and
deteriorate the aquatic ecosystem) could affect the decision-making and community planning processes.
Lessons Learned
Lesson 1:
Due to the fact that it sought to
solve a widely shared problem,
the micro-project as proposed by
the community was successful in
achieving the desired outcome.
The micro-project assured water
availability for household use,
reduced erosion and
sedimentation of the lagoon.
Lesson 2:
Everybody in the community was
actively included and involved in
a non-exclusive or divisive
manner in the project. This
resulted in the integration and
articulation of all the organised
expressions in the community
(Water Committee; the Family,
Community and Life Cabinets;
health committee and education
committee) to reach the
community’s common goal of
improving their livelihoods.
Lesson 3:
Micro-project implementation,
using participatory
methodologies (such as CVCA and
VCA, community talks,
consultation meetings and
trainings) helps to increase the
community’s self-management
capacities by creating
interdisciplinary alliances and
links that strengthen bene�iciary
communities.
Lesson 5:
The communities participated and contributed 10% in person-hours to all the stages of the micro-projects. This
motivated the municipal of�ices to also contribute �inancial resources from the municipal budgets (up to 10% of
the total amount of the micro-projects funded by Partners for Resilience) in 2013 and 2014. The municipality of
Las Sabanas, for example, contributed land with an estimated value of USD 20,000 (without including the value of
its ecosystem services), additional to the contributions for environmental clean-up services of USD 1,500, the
improved access to La Bruja lagoon for USD 1,500 and the erosion mitigation and protection measures in the
“Municipal Heritage Site of La Bruja lagoon” for USD 7,183.
Community members played an active role in the implementation of these two community-based micro-projects
in the San Lucas and Las Sabanas municipalities of the department of Madriz. They were their own agents of
change and transformed their own lives and that of their communities, as they now have improved access to water
and improved livelihoods. They have become more resilient to disasters and the effects of climate change.
Wetlands International: wi.nicaragua1@gmail.com
Panamá (507) 317-1674
pfrprogramaca@gmail.com
Contact person: Alonso Espinoza Torrez
Nicaraguan Red Cross: prensa@humanidad.org.ni
Managua (505) 22 65 14 19 | Somoto (505) 27 22 22 85
CARE Nicaragua: nicaragua@care.org
Managua (505) 22 78 00 18 | Somoto (505) 27 22 09 09

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