Food and nutrition security and access to water for vulnerable families in Brazil.
Qualisan: Rating of public actions to promote food and nutritional security and access to water for families in situations of social vulnerability in Brazil.

Objective:
To provide specialized technical support to the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) in the qualified implementation of Brazilian government actions aimed at food production and distribution and access to water for rural and urban populations living in poverty and extreme poverty, through the implementation of proactive studies, the training of managers, and the development of executive methods and tools capable of intensifying the results of programs that mitigate or reverse the social vulnerability of families exposed to these conditions.
Project Data:
NbS Data:
Country:
Brazil
5454-00
IICA Code:
US$3,598,806
Amount:
In progress
State:
2024
Start year:
2028
End year:
Yeah
NbS application:
How has IICA integrated NBS into its projects?
This project includes elements of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in its actions, mainly from the Cisterns Program, whose objective is to “promote access to water for human and animal consumption and for food production, through the implementation of social technologies”, since:
1 - It faces global challenges:
It acts directly on water and food security in vulnerable regions, especially in the semi-arid and rural communities of the Amazon; it responds to water scarcity aggravated by climate change and social vulnerability.
2 - It is based on natural systems:
Social rainwater harvesting and storage technologies represent a form of sustainable and decentralized water use, a type of green or nature-based infrastructure.
3 - Reduces environmental impacts:
Reduces pressure on natural water sources. In addition, by ensuring water for small-scale agricultural production and animal watering with low environmental impact, the program avoids the collapse of small productive systems and reduces the need for migration or further degradation of natural resources.
4 - Provides multiple benefits to the environment and society:
It values traditional knowledge, local training and promotes participatory governance; it improves access to water, increases household autonomy and strengthens adaptive capacity in the face of climate variability.
What lessons learned can you share about working with farmers to implement BNS?
Farmers are the protagonists of this initiative. “The process of building and implementing the technologies is done on a cooperative basis, generating a sense of ownership, which promotes greater sustainability of the installed equipment.” By implementing the cisterns with the support of the program, the producers contribute to the maintenance of ecosystem services and the decrease in the exploitation of environmental resources, from a structure based on natural processes, thus implementing a Solution Based on Nature (SbN).
What examples of NBS innovation can you share from your experience at IICA?
Integration of cisterns with agroecological systems and soil conservation practices. Recovery of degraded areas through mechanical and vegetative practices through the construction of cisterns, a social technology.
How are you promoting NBS education and training among farmers?
It values traditional knowledge, local training and promotes participatory governance; it improves access to water, increases household autonomy and strengthens adaptive capacity in the face of climate variability.
What lessons learned can you share about working with farmers to implement NBS?
Farmers are the protagonists of this initiative. “The process of building and implementing the technologies is done on a cooperative basis, generating a sense of ownership, which promotes greater sustainability of the installed equipment.” By implementing the cisterns with the support of the program, the producers contribute to the maintenance of ecosystem services and the decrease in the exploitation of environmental resources, from a structure based on natural processes, thus implementing a Solution Based on Nature (SbN).
What examples of NBS innovation can you share from your experience at IICA?
Integration of cisterns with agroecological systems and soil conservation practices. Recovery of degraded areas through mechanical and vegetative practices through the construction of cisterns, a social technology.
How are you promoting NBS education and training among farmers?
The project included participatory and continuous training activities, field days, practical workshops and exchanges between producers, with demonstrations on model farms. It also promoted the production of accessible educational materials.
IICA works with strong community mobilization in the micro-basins, promoting participatory planning and the involvement of farmers. IICA also established integration with agricultural education institutions, universities and technical assistance services, forming knowledge networks on BNS; local technicians were trained as multipliers of the practices described in the manuals; and participatory monitoring was implemented through the incentive-based use of indicators such as erosion, soil fertility and vegetation cover, so that the farmers themselves can follow up on the results and adapt their practices.