The project is centred on the technical support to the cooperatives that grow in the department of Matagalpa, in coordination with the cooperative movement at the national level.
housing co-operatives are Nicaragua to contribute to give effect to the right to decent housing thanks to the principles of self-management, mutual aid and collective ownership, which help address the real-estate speculation, reduce costs and strengthen the community organization and social cohesion.
The context
The housing deficit is important in Nicaragua and the government does not apply the existing law on social housing. In fact, the subsidies go to real estate developers that offer accommodation that does not correspond to the economic capacity of the majority of the population. The national movement of the housing co-operatives barely recognized the right to the grant of cooperatives. However, the municipalities recognize the validity of the cooperative model and support specifically of groups capita·es organized in cooperatives, in particular by facilitating access to land. The successes achieved by some co-operatives in the department of Matagalpa have already had a multiplier effect.
The approach
Seven co-ops are already organized and legalized in the department of Matagalpa with technical support facilitated by the project. We plan to strengthen them in full in their ability to self-management and negotiation with the local authorities in order to move up in the realization of their construction project and to demonstrate the viability and relevance of the cooperative model to the authorities and donors.
UrbaMonde is actively involved in the establishment of funding mechanisms based on solidarity which serve as a lever to strengthen the movement, while helping to reduce the housing deficit. Cooperation organizations are invited to join this effort.
Activities
- Impact policy
Permanent campaign with local and national authorities, through negotiations meetings, public events, in coordination with the movement at the national level.
- Strengthening the
Training of the members of the cooperatives in self-management, including financial, through training modules, participation in the national movement and in central america.
- Access to finance
Strengthening the functioning of the fund existing rotating, formulation of projects of construction, research funding, creating a revolving fund for loans to construction.
- Technical Assistance
Strengthening qualitative capabilities of the team, through training, technical assistance, internships.
Local partner
MULTIPRO, a cooperative of professional services, in coordination with the CENCOVICOD, an umbrella organization.
Beneficiaries
Directly, about 250 families with modest incomes, organized into a dozen cooperatives. The majority of these families is under the responsibility of the women. Indirectly, this program strengthens the movement for the right to housing, at the national level.
Progress 2022
The year 2022 has been marked by a difficult situation ; a strong increase of the migration to the USA, which has impacted some co-ops, increased difficulties in obtaining loans from local organizations, inflation, leading to an increase in the cost of materials. The training school co-op, which is a space for debate and reflection required for all new members confirms its important role, helping to create relationships of solidarity between the members of various cooperatives.
The Central cooperative CECOVI, a representative body that is legally recognised, has allowed the unions to take collective decisions to cope with the difficulties of the economic situation. The terms of the management of the revolving fund local have been developed to cope with the rotated states caused particularly by migration. These three bodies inter-cooperative (the school, the central cooperative CECOVI and the revolving fund), are supported by our local partner MULTIPRO.
The collaboration is enhanced with the municipality of La Dalia : thanks to an alliance with the municipality, the co-operative Victoria de Julio obtained a grant from the government. A campaign for local and international collection of donations and interest free credit of the revolving fund local were used to complete the amount required for this cooperative composed in its majority of agricultural workers to achieve its site and access to dignified housing.
In the same municipality, two new co-operatives composed in majority of agricultural workers are in an eco area with the active support of the municipality and in collaboration with the national University of engineering.
In the municipality of Matagalpa, the co-op Solidaridad has begun to work with international partners to finance citizen who expected to come into effect in 2023 and allow the start of work. A new cooperative was formed, despite the difficult economic environment.
Both of these co-operatives are formed largely of young professionals who do not have access to credit, commercial real estate remains high. Their strong engagement in the movement increases the diversity of links with social sectors such as health, education, small trade and crafts.
The construction of the adobe house in San Dionisio has revealed the complexity of the problem of the social and technical aspects of the use of local materials for the projects of social housing. A reflection and new experiments will continue in 2023, for which support additional techniques are being actively sought
co-Op Conversations Podcast, interview
Movie, “La Casa Soñada”, in free access
Talk of housing, it is about safety, education, hygiene, self-confidence, esteem for our children, for ourselves and for our environment.
Faniz Giron, coordinator of the cooperative CENCOVICOD, Nicaragua
