Action by Churches Together (ACT)
Appeal - Nicaragua
Assistance to flood victims - LANI-21
Appeal Target: US$ 45,628
Geneva, 13 June 2002


On 27 May three tropical storm systems in the Pacific area of Nicaragua
caused extensive flooding and severe damage to infrastructure, mainly in
the municipality of Managua and, to a lesser extent, in municipalities in
the north and west of Nicaragua.

The Civil Defense reported that 2,995 people were evacuated from 113
communities in 42 municipalities, mostly along the Pacific coastline of
Nicaragua as a result of the rains.  The people were relocated to 35
refugee centers in Managua, Tipitapa, San Rafael del Sur, Ciudad Sandino,
León Granada, Rivas, Nueva Segovia and Jinotega.

There were also 35 stretches of highway reported damaged and 22 bridges
destroyed or damaged.  Road crews from the Ministry of Transportation and
Infrastructure worked to repair these roadways and re-establish them as
soon as possible.

The three ACT members in Nicaragua, Acción Médica Cristiana (AMC),
Interchurch Center for Theological and Social Studies (CIEETS) and the
Lutheran Church have been co-ordinating their response since the beginning
of the disaster. As the initial assessment indicated that the affected
population was mainly under the CIEETS operational area, they are
presenting the following proposal which includes:

 - Food and non food items for the affected population in the urban area
   of Managua
 - Reconstruction materials for the people affected in the urban area of
   Managua
 - Pastoral counselling
 - Seeds and tools for the people affected in the rural areas
 - Food for work for the reconstruction of roads
 - Training


Project Completion Date:  15 September 2002

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance
Requested

                                         US$
Total Appeal Target(s)                45,628
Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd.                 0
Balance Requested from ACT Network    45,628


Ms. Genevieve Jacques		Thor-Arne Prois		Robert Granke
Director			Director, ACT		Director
WCC/Cluster on Relations	LWF/World Service



REQUESTING ACT MEMBER

Interchurch Center for Theological and Social Studies (CIEETS).



IMPLEMENTING ACT MEMBER & PARTNER INFORMATION

The Interchurch Center for Theological and Social was founded by
protestant churches and ecumenical service organisations as a non-profit
educational and development organisation on 29 July 1986 in the city of
Managua.

Its mission defines the organisation as "an integrated rural educational
and development organisation, formed by evangelical churches and
ecumenical service organisations in order to promote holistic theological
education, sustainable human development and interdisciplinary research
with the purpose of raising the quality of the churches' ministries and
their community programs as well as contributing to improvement in the
living conditions of the population."

Since its founding, CIEETS has given special attention to the processes of
rehabilitation and development of the various populations with which it
has worked.  It has broad experience in assisting peasant and indigenous
communities.

CIEETS will be responsible for the implementation of the programme and
will be supported by the directors of the churches that are part of CIEET
general assembly in the affected neighbourhoods in Managua with assistance
and support from the technical people on the CIEETS work team.

In the case of the rural communities of the western region that are
included in this proposal, the work will be undertaken by community
promoters.  The organisation has trained these promoters in recent years
and they are part of a network of representatives and leaders that enjoy
the support of the communities with which they have promoted other actions
for collective benefit.



DESCRIPTION OF EMERGENCY SITUATION

Under the shadow of the El Niño phenomenon, forecasts for the central and
south Americas indicated an imminent drought.  However, on 27 May three
tropical storm systems in the Pacific area of Nicaragua caused extensive
flooding and severe damage to infrastructure, mainly in the municipality
of Managua and, to a lesser extent, in the municipalities of the north and
west of Nicaragua.

The government of Nicaragua, through the National System for Prevention,
Mitigation and Attention to Disasters (SNPMAD) declared a Yellow Alert in
the Pacific region of Nicaragua and a Green Alert in the rest of the
country.  Effective as of 28 May the Ministry of Education agreed to
partially suspend classes for 48 hours.  On 30 May a state of natural
disaster was declared for the provinces of the Pacific region.

Current situation:  The rains ceased on 31 May and the yellow and green
alerts were suspended.  However the state of "natural disaster" could
remain for the next 30 days depending on the monitoring of the
meteorological systems by the Nicaraguan Institute of Territorial Studies
(INETER)".

CIEETS, through its assembly representatives from local churches in the
neighbourhoods bordering on those affected, conducted rapid assessments of
damages and people affected in the capital Managua ands its surroundings
with the following conclusions:

The flooding provoked by the tropical systems caused damage to the houses
of many families as well as to their basic household goods. Families need
to be provided with basic foods for at least one month while the situation
normalises. It is also always necessary to give counselling to the
affected families to enable them to assume their losses and integrate back
into the normal life of their communities.

ICOAMA carried out preliminary assessments in various communities in the
rural western region where CIEETS works.  The assessments concluded that:

Taking into consideration the recent heavy rains and damages along with
further predictions of El Niño weather aberrations, the more vulnerable
rural farming communities desperately need some disaster preparedness
items such as planting materials and agricultural tools.  This will better
prepare the communities to combat the predicted weather conditions for the
2002 agricultural cycle.  In many communities in the western region of
Nicaragua, there has been comprehensive damage to the roads requiring
urgent rehabilitation work and assistance such as tools and food for work.

Effect on Human Lives:  The Civil Defense reported that 2,995 people were
evacuated from 113 communities in 42 municipalities, mostly along the
Pacific coastline of Nicaragua as a result of the rains.  The people were
relocated to 35 refugee centers in Managua, Tipitapa, San Rafael del Sur,
Ciudad Sandino, León Granada, Rivas, Nueva Segovia and Jinotega, as
illustrated in the following table:

Affected Population:

DEPARTMENT
MUNICIPALITY
REFUGES
FAMILIES
PEOPLE
CHILDREN

León
León
1
12
72
47


La Paz Centro
2
43
166
97


Nagarote
10
60
394
173

Managua
Managua
11
232
928
520


Tipitapa
2
43
187
121


Ciudad Sandino
1
81
248
146


San Rafael del Sur
1
6
38
18

Granada
Nandaime
1
42
211
136

Rivas
Potosí
1
84
395
276


Belén
1
27
106
58

Nueva Segovia
Dipilto
1
5
24
16

Jinotega
Wiwilí
3
26
226
127


TOTAL
35
641
2995
1735


There were also 35 stretches of highway reported damaged and 22 bridges
destroyed or damaged.  Road crews from the Ministry of Transportation and
Infrastructure worked to repair these roadways and re-establish them as
soon as possible.



The affected neighbourhoods in Managua are:
Name of Neighbourhood
Families
Adults
Children
Total

Managua

Los Tubos Batahola Sur
20
33
50
83

Argeo Sequeira
15
33
23
56

Hugo Chávez
78
97
169
266

El Laberinto
32
32
38
70

Sábana Grande
11
36
20
56

Memorial Sandino
6
10
24
34

Mirna Uriarte
10
18
36
54

Ayapal
21
61
63
124

Phase Four of Hialeah
7
22
16
38

Camilo Ortega
15
27
50
77

Santa Ana Sur Annex
17
39
31
70

 Total
232
408
520
928




Capacity in the areas of proposed implementation

CIEETS has permanent offices and personnel in the Managua or central
region and in the western regions.  In both cases, there are specialised
personnel with communication and transportation means to cover the work
areas proposed in the project.




IV. GOAL & OBJECTIVES

To provide assistance to the most vulnerable of the population affected by
the floods.


Objectives

In the neighborhoods of Managua, to provide assistance to 80 families in
seven neighborhoods

 - Provision of food for work for a period of one month
 - Provision of kitchen utensils
 - Provision of materials for the reconstruction of 80 houses in seven
   neighborhoods of Managua through supplying inputs such as nails,
   corrugated metal roofing, beams, wood, etc.
 - To provide counseling through individualized accompaniment of the most
   severely affected families.

In the rural area, assistance to 100 families in three communities

To provide seeds for basic grains and vegetable crops (an average of two
manzanas per family).

Supplying a package of agricultural tools for the cultivation of plots and
yards by the families.

To provide technical accompaniment of the 80 families with appropriate
crop and post-harvest technologies.

Support the improvement of community roads in three rural communities
through provision of food for work.

To provide food for work to 40 vulnerable families most affected by the
rains




TARGETED BENEFICIARIES

180 vulnerable families affected by the recent floods in urban and rural
areas.

Location
Managua:  The beneficiaries will be 80 families a total of around 480
persons. It is estimated that 54% of the family members are children and
adolescents.

Name of Neighborhood
Families

Argeo Sequeira
10

Sábana Grande
11

Memorial Sandino
6

Mirna Uriarte
10

Ayapal
10

Camilo Ortega
10

Hugo Chávez
18

Santa Ana Sur Annex
5

 Total
80


Rural areas: The beneficiaries will be 100 families (around 600 persons)
in three rural communities most affected by the recent rains in the
Municipality of Leon in the western region of the country.  All are
located in the areas forecast for extensive drought during the second
planting season due to El Niño.


Community
Families

La Corona
20

B. Cántaro
40

Amatitán
40

Total
100



Criteria for Selection of Beneficiaries

That they be members of the communities where CIEETS works.

That they have been affected directly by the recent flooding.

That they are willing to assume the commitment to support others in their
neighborhood or community.

In the case of the rural communities, that they have lands available to
establish the crops.

That they are willing to undergo training in the appropriate technology.

That there is a minimal local organization formed for follow-up to the
project.




PROPOSED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE & IMPLEMENTATION

Distribution of food and non food items

A package of food for one month will be distributed to 80 families in
seven neighborhoods in Managua. Each package will contain: 50 lb of rice
and 50 lb beans, 80 lb corn, 8 ltrs oil and 44 lb sugar.

A set per family of kitchen items will be distributed in seven
neighborhoods in Managua.



Housing

Support will be provided for the reconstruction of 80 houses in seven
neighborhoods, supplying the following package per house:

25 panels of 26 caliber corrugated metal roofing, standard 12 feet.
8 beams
3.25 pounds of nails
3 tools per family (hammer, shovel, digging bar)



Food Security:

In the rural area it is estimated that a family can better survive if they
are able to plant and cultivate the following variety of crops:

Basic Grains: Two manzanas distributed as follows:  corn, beans, sorghum,
rice (the last two only where conditions allow).

Musaceas:  a variety of 20 plants.

Backyard Production: One small backyard vegetable garden with a variety of
vegetables:  tomatoes, sweet peppers, radishes, carrots, garlic and
onions.



Training Workshops

Two per year per community :  one on production and hand selection of
seeds for basic grains and vegetables and the other on post-harvest
management.



Road Construction Brigades

Brigades for the construction of the roads affected by the floods will be
formed. The reconstruction of the roads is indispensable for the
transportation of the agricultural products.  Packages of food for one
month will be supplied to the families participating in these brigades.



Description of the implementation

CIEETS will be responsible for the implementation of the programme and
will be supported by the directors of the churches that are part of CIEET
general assembly in the affected neighbourhoods in Managua, with
assistance and support from the technical people on the CIEETS work team.

In the case of the rural communities in the western region that are
included in this proposal, the work will be undertaken by community
promoters.  The organisation has trained these promoters in recent years
and they are part of a network of representatives and leaders that enjoy
the support of the communities with which they have worked on previous
projects that benefitted the community.

Monthly implementation plans will be written with special forms for the
follow-up and monitoring process.

Maximum support to the communities' own networks and structures and their
promoters and leaders.

This proposal falls within the areas of local risk prevention and
management of CIEETS.




ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, MONITORING & REPORTING

Administration

The general management of CIEETS will name a working group under the
co-ordination of the local Risk Management Director to assure the quality
of assistance, monitoring and follow-up of the project.



The implementation of the project will follow the following steps:

All management will be co-ordinated by the working group named for this
purpose.

The decisions of this working group are co-ordinated by the
representatives of the local neighborhood churches and the committee of
community leaders (in the rural areas) who are charged with implementing
the activities.

The group of promoters in each community will hold a meeting in the
presence of the technical advisor for each community. Based on a needs
assessment, they will develop a calendar for the implementation of the
project in each community or neighborhood, depending on needs.

The regional co-ordinator of the technical team will present the needs of
the communities to the co-ordinating committee for review and approval.

The co-ordinating committee will plan specific purchases based on the
needs and plan for reconstruction of the various areas.

The aid package will be issued after a written agreement with the
beneficiary families is made through the agencies linked to the community
work.

The project co-ordinating team will follow up on the process of
distribution in the communities based on the previously established needs.



Finance

A special account will be opened for funds from ACT as an external audit
will be conducted on the application of these funds in all the member
institutions in the country.  A cash flow will be prepared that will be
adapted to the application of project expenses.  The coordinating team
will prepare a report every two months on the application of the budget
and the development of activities.  The registered signatures on the
account will be those of the project coordinator and the financial and
logistical manager for the project.



Monitoring

Follow-up will be undertaken in two ways; the first through direct
technical - methodological accompaniment, which the technical working
group will provide on-site in the communities where the project will be
implemented.

In the case of support to rural communities, this technical -
methodological accompaniment will be conducted in conjunction with the
promoters working group from each community.  This working group will
manage information about the assistance provided to the families and will
contribute to the effective implementation of the plan.

The technical - methodological accompaniment will be done through field
visits, exchanges among promoters, meetings, etc.

Monthly monitoring reports will be sent to ACT Co-ordinating Office
according to the agreement with the Geneva office.




IMPLEMENTATION TIMETABLE

15 June to 15 September 2002



CO-ORDINATION

The coordination of the project will be directly assumed by CIEETS with
the support of the other ACT members in Nicaragua: Medical Christian
Action and the Lutheran Church that make up ACT NICARAGUA.  Within CIEETS,
a committee is being formed and will be co-ordinated by the Director of
the local Risk Prevention and Management area.




BUDGET

ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE

Description Type of No of Unit Cost Budget Budget
Unit Units NIO NIO US$
FOOD AND NON FOOD INPUTS
Food baskets for 80 urban &
40 rural families Family 120 1,000.00 120,000 8,433

Kitchen utensils for 80 families Kit 80 200.00 16,000 1,124

Reconstruction of 80 Houses
Corrugated metal iron for roofing Sheet 2,000 110.00 220,000 15,460
Beams Number 640 25.00 16,000 1,124
Nails for roofing Pound 260 15.00 3,900 274
Tools Kit 80 130.00 10,400 731
Sub Total    250,300 17,590

Food and Fertilizing Seeds in 100 Pounds packages
Vegetables Package 100 604.45 60,445 4,248
Beans Package 100 700.00 70,000 4,919
Corn Package 20 500.00 10,000 703
Sorghum Package 28 300.00 8,400 590
Fertilizing bean seeds Package 10 500.00 5,000 351
Sub Total    153,845 10,811

Tools
Machettes Number 100 36.08 3,608 254
Hoes Number 100 48.40 4,840 340
Picks Number 100 80.85 8,085 568
Shovels Number 100 55.66 5,566 391
Sub Total    22,099 1,553

Training Food Production
& Seed Selection Workshop 12 1,466.63 17,600 1,237

Total Food and Non Food Inputs    579,844 40,748

MATERIAL TRANSPORT, STORAGE, WAREHOUSING AND HANDLING
Transport of seeds Trip 1 4,000.00 4,000 281
Transport of tools Trip 1 4,000.00 4,000 281
Transport of construction material Trip 2 1,500.00 3,000 211
Transport of food Trip 2 1,500.00 3,000 211
Total Material Transp, Storage, W/housing & Handling  14,000 984

PERSONNEL, ADMINISTRATION, OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT  5,640.00
Salaries
Technician for follow up activities Month 6 5,640.00 33,840 2,378
Volunteer / promoter Month 6 500.00 3,000 211
Office Operations
Telephone and fax Month 6 1,400.00 8,400 590
E-mail Month 6 300.00 1,800 126
Office supplies Month 6 500.00 3,000 211
Description Type of No of Unit Cost Budget Budget
 Unit Units NIO NIO US$
Vehicle Operation
Fuel Gallon 24 100.00 2,400 169
Total Personnel, Admin, Operations & Support   52,440 3,685

EVALUATION
Evaluation Lumpsum   3,000 211

TOTAL ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE   649,284 45,628

BALANCE REQUESTED FROM ACT NETWORK   649,284 45,628



Rates of Exchange:
Budget : USD 1 = NIO  14.23
Actual : USD 1 = NIO  1.00


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Action by Churches Together (ACT) is a worldwide alliance of churches and
their related agencies, meeting human need through co-ordinated emergency
response.  The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of
Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


   Ecumenical Centre                          Phone: ++41-22-791.60.33
   150, route de Ferney                         Fax: ++41-22-791.65.06
   P.O. Box 2100                             E-Mail: act@wcc-coe.org
   1211 Geneva 2                              Telex: 415 730 OIK CH
   Switzerland                                 http://www.act-intl.org


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