Ecos Fund brings together 32 community organizations for a workshop on managing eco-social projects.

Held between March 11 and 13, the in-person event in Imperatriz (MA) and Palmas (TO) addressed planning, accountability, and communication of initiatives focused on women and young people.

Representatives from 32 community organizations participated in the Initial Workshop on Project Planning and Management in Imperatriz (MA) and Palmas (TO), between March 11 and 13. Organized by the Institute for Society, Population and Nature (ISPN), the event took place simultaneously in both cities and addressed planning, accountability, and communication for the management of eco-social projects.

The participating organizations had projects selected in calls for proposals 38 and 39 of the Ecos Fund, focusing on the socio-productive inclusion of women and young people in the context of rural education. These projects were led by babaçu coconut breakers, family farmers, agrarian reform settlers, indigenous associations, Family Agricultural Schools (EFAs), Rural Family Homes (CFRs), and rural workers' unions. In Palmas, the workshop brought together ten community organizations. In Imperatriz, there were 22. At the end of March, another 19 organizations will be in Brasília to participate in another workshop, exclusively for projects from call for proposals 39. 

Included in call for proposals 39, the Association of Women Extractivists Babaçu is LifeBased in the village of Cajueiro, in São Mateus do Maranhão, the organization works with the processing of babassu, extracting oil and producing soap, cakes, and biscuits. With 15 women members, this is the first time the organization has received funding from the Ecos Fund. "Seeing the experiences of other organizations, which dream like we dream, enriches our work and allows us to return home with renewed energy and spirit.""This is a great achievement," comments the association's president, Nanuzia Silva, who participated in the workshop in Imperatriz. 

In Tocantins, the project of Association of Agro-extractive Women of Cantão (AMA Cantão) aims to build a community kitchen for women who make a living from harvesting fruits from the Cerrado region. Representatives of the organization present at the workshop in Palmas stated that they were afraid they wouldn't be able to execute the project. "But, in this workshop, we realized it was possible, since everything was presented in a didactic and calm manner," explains the president, Lidejane Oliveira.We leave here feeling lighter and certain that we are capable of achieving our goal, continuing our journey and inspiring women in other territories.". 

In addition to technical training in various aspects of project management, the workshops offer an opportunity for the exchange of knowledge and experiences among organizations. During the workshops, the ISPN team encouraged the development of collaborative actions within the projects to ensure the strengthening and sustainability of initiatives in each territory. 

Although it's not the first time that Rural Family Home (CFR) of Zé Doca Accessing a call for proposals from the Ecos Fund, the school monitor, Olga Oliveira, emphasizes that the workshop is another step towards realizing a dream: continued improvement in the institution's infrastructure.The workshop gives us the confidence to execute the project and move towards truly fulfilling what CFR aims to do, which is to provide quality rural education and offer opportunities for young people and their families in rural areas."He explains. 

On the first day of the event, the partnership for financing eco-social projects was celebrated with the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the company Suzano.

“Investing in community-based eco-social initiatives is one of the solutions for achieving goals such as social justice and environmental balance. After all, it is grassroots initiatives, led by indigenous peoples, traditional peoples and communities, and family farmers, that show us how it is possible to generate income while promoting environmental conservation. These projects are based on local solutions that contribute to a global debate on adaptation to and mitigation of climate change,” says Terena Castro, technical advisor and coordinator of the GEF Project at ISPN. 

 

By Ariel Rocha and Camila Araújo