Food Security, Forest Management and Income Generation

Countries:

Honduras

Start project:

2016

Donors:

ICCO

Partners:

Comisión de Acción Social Menonita

The project aims to improve the socioeconomic and environmental situation of Miskitu communities in Honduras, through agricultural improvements and forestry production alternatives. The project pays particular attention to women, nurturing their potential to generate income. For this project, ICCO works with the Mennonite Social Action Commission (CASM), with funds from the Deutsche Gesselschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Background

The heart of the Miskitu Coast of Central America (Western Caribbean Zone) is the Coco River, which is the border between Nicaragua and Honduras. At both sides of the river, the Miskitu people have been struggling for centuries to achieve sustainable livelihoods in a context of war, poverty and natural dissasters. Miskitu communities are often persecuted by non indigenous land settlers who illegaly occupy their ancestral land. Many in Nicaragua have been displaced and re settled in Honduras, where they also face many risks due to organized crime.

The Miskitu communities reached by this project preserve their ancestral customs and means of organization and collective decision making processes; their livelihood is mainly based on agriculture. Despite the enormous potential for forestry, it is still not implemented by the communities.

In this context, CASM and ICCO support these communities with personalised accompaniment, respecting ancestral customs and collective processes in all the actions implemented.