Active Project
Mexico
National Executing Agency: Rainforest Alliance
A key focus and achievement of DGM Mexico is the promotion of the participation and inclusion of women and youth, as well as the design of community-based participatory tools and methods. The project developed a Local Community Promoter (PCL) program and selected 16 PCLs (12 women and 4 men). The PCLs provide capacity-building support to financial and social inclusion window subprojects through the implementation of the participatory monitoring and evaluation implementation strategy. Promoters also provide individual accompaniment to subproject implementers to improve the use of digital tools and strengthen strategic planning skills.
The project’s participatory monitoring system, which as part of its design has been adapted according to the needs of the subprojects, mainly the social inclusion window beneficiaries, ranging from aspects of coordination between actors, strengthening the support of PCLs to subprojects, design of tools and didactic materials for its implementation.
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DGM Mexico has helped improve women’s leadership, livelihoods, and influence in decision-making by promoting and supporting the proactive participation of women in the social inclusion window working groups and in procurement and contracting processes, as well as in the implementation of the Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation activities with the support of local technical assistance and PCLs.
DGM Mexico received a total of 720 subproject proposals in both the financial and social inclusion window calls for proposals, of which 587 were women-led. Of the 107 financial inclusion window (FIW) subproject proposals, 39 subprojects were awarded and 5% are women-led. Of the 613 social inclusion window (SIW) subproject proposals received, 49 subprojects were awarded of which 86% are women-led.
DGM Mexico has made important progress in terms of gender inclusion and promotion. Social inclusion window groups have realized the importance of women and youth inclusion in all projects, recognition of the importance of gender considerations in the reallocation of funds, and monitoring and reporting on gender at subproject level.
To learn more about DGM Mexico, visit the project website www.mde-mexico.org and page on the DGM Global site www.dgmglobal.org/mexico.
DGM Mexico Facts
Credit: Rocio Aguillar
Project Highlight
The Jamaica of Chacala Group cultivate creole jamaica (hibiscus) in the Jalisco region and is a DGM Mexico women-led subproject. The group is composed of 11 Nahua Indigenous women and 1 man from the Indigenous Community of Chacala. The group’s main challenge is to ensure the participation of young women and mothers in a productive activity while regenerating 6 degraded hectares and implementing sustainable practices that help improve the quality and yield of the creole hibiscus flower. This has allowed them to offer and compete in a local-regional market dominated by middlemen who pay a low price. The women's group has worked steadily in the development of this subproject, having completed its first implementation period (1 of 3) during the first half of 2022, and actively participating in training, follow-up and technical assistance activities provided by the NEA.
In May 2022, through DGM’s support the women's group participated in a fair in Manzanillo, Colima, as well as in its own community. In both fairs, the first version of their packaged and labeled jamaica criolla was presented. In May, the group was also invited to a session of the Board of Directors of the Junta Intermunicipal de Medio Ambiente de la Costa Sur (JICOSUR) of the state of Jalisco to receive recognition for the application of sustainable development principles.
DGM’s support includes financing, technical and financial assistance at the local level, and training under participatory processes. The financing was used to purchase equipment and tools, agricultural inputs, labor for clearing practices, crop preparation and harvesting, labeling, and expenses for packaging.
The expected outcome of this subproject is to ensure the cultivation, harvesting and sale of good-quality packaged hibiscus flowers by a group of Nahua women. Also, to obtain a better price in markets in the states of Jalisco and Colima, to improve the economy of their families.
Hibiscus flower farming. © MDE Mexico
© MDE Mexico
“We are doing very well with the sale and we are managing to sell it for $200 a kilo. Previously, middlemen would come here to the community and buy the kilo for $130. We are very motivated to have managed to sell it at a higher price. We are getting our hibiscus to be recognized in our community.”
— Gabriela Edith Luna Arias, Representative of Grupo Jamaica de Chacala