Quarterly Report: Municipal Governance Program

The program's vision is to tie citizen participation and civic advocacy efforts to achieving short-term tangible improvements in the lives of target citizenry. Citizen participation activities reported significant advances this quarter. Partner organizations reported that 93% of the projects they advocated for were included in the 2016 municipal budgets, with 121 projects officially registered in the TRANSMUNI. Of these projects, 55 (45%) are in the implementation phase, representing 31% of the total amount budgeted for these projects or $698,336 of the $2,260,567. Social audits conducted by members of Disabled Persons Organizations in Bluefields and Corn Island showed significant advances in monitoring the implementation of public funds. The Board of Directors of FECONORI in Bluefields verified that the municipality has constructed ramps at a Health Center and access roads to the houses of Persons with Disabilities living in the area. In Corn Island, the municipality has invested in providing supplies that PwD had requested in the budget. Municipal Council sessions and other advocacy activities also reported progress. The Afro Women's Association presented their priorities to the regional council and three municipalities with the RACCS, and formed a committee to continue monitoring their requests and meet with the regional council and municipal authorities on a periodic basis. Members of the LGBTI community met with the Municipal Council in Bluefields and Rama, where they presented a short video on sexual diversity and human rights, demonstrating their progress while also highlighting the limitations they face in accessing citizens' rights. Awareness activities also reported significant advances this quarter. Two organizations developed and launched awareness campaigns, including a campaign by the Red Afro Women's Association using television and radio to focus on Justice and Development for Afro descendants. Workshops and roundtables were also held, including a workshop on Law 763 to provide additional information on the law and further understanding, and a workshop for 10 Corn Island municipal officials to ensure that new construction takes into account standards regarding accessibility for PwD. Organizational strengthening was also a key focus this quarter. The MGP held workshops on Communications Campaigns with 15 partner organizations, focusing on using lessons learned from the CSOs' previous experience preparing campaigns to improve their capability to design and implement a successful campaign. Workshops on Gender Mainstreaming were also held, focusing on self-confidence and awareness, understanding of international and Nicaraguan legal framework for women's rights, and communication and presentation skills. Fiscal transparency was also a key focus this quarter. The MGP local partner IEEPP strengthened the capacities of ten CSOs to provide advocacy in the national and municipal public budgeting process. To date, 20 CSOs have learned different means to support outreach activities with key stakeholders through the creation and dissemination of the website Open Municipal Budgets. IEEPP also held various activities to promote the use of civic apps and infographics to raise awareness about social issues and promote the use of Information Technology by young people with the goal of increasing access to information across the population. Climate change was also a key focus this quarter. The MGP completed the design of the climate change campaign through a participatory process taking into account recommendations from journalists, students, members of civil society in Bluefields and Pearl Lagoon. Parts of the campaign were showcased at the Bluefields' annual fair, Mayo Ya, and further promoted via the Radio Program Onda Local, which specializes in covering issues related to the municipalities. The program showed how the Bluefields communities have become aware of the need to adapt to climate change. Additionally, the MGP successfully advanced in community training sessions on climate change adaptation, focusing on the use of new technologies and traditional forms of social mobilization.