So...what have I been doing, exactly?

During service, every Peace Corps volunteer has the opportunity to apply for grants to assist in the realization of capacity-building projects. The funding mechanisms differ in their focus area, application requirements, and funding limit. For those of us in the health arena here in Nicaragua, there is the Volunteer Activities Support and Training (VAST) mechanism, the Peace Corps Partnership Program (PCPP) mechanism, and the Small Projects Assistance (SPA) mechanism.

The idea behind this provision of monitory support is that, in the right situation, this resource (though relatively small, with a maximum of $10,000 USD in funding) can make a tremendous impact on community development. When we talk about “the right situation” we mean one in which 1) the problem and its solution have been identified and prioritized by the community itself, 2) the community can build on its own strengths and abilities to solve the problem, and 3) that the community can continue to actualize the solution in the absence of external support (the solution is sustainable). To quote the Peace Corps, “A cornerstone of the Peace Corps approach to development is the belief that success is achieved by helping people develop the capacity to use their own skills and resources to improve their lives. Identifying assets and resources from within the community and building on such assets to increase self-reliance and sustainable development are critical elements of the Peace Corps philosophy. While sustainable development efforts depend first and foremost on local commitment, resources, and skills, outside resources may help expand a community’s own asset base and strengthen an activity’s positive impact.”

As anyone who has ever worked on a grant application knows, a lot goes into the process. Writing the application itself can take weeks to months; after a project is identified and developed, one must carefully craft a convincing argument, complete with evidence, as to why that project deserves to be funded. Data is gathered; price quotes collected; letters of commitment from community partners secured; plans, timelines, budgets developed. There are rounds of edits to the draft before the final application is presented to a small grant committee, who reviews the application and determines whether or not it is worthy of funding. Before an application is accepted, however, the volunteer and a relevant colleague must travel to Managua to defend the application before the committee. A successful defense results in a final round of edits, followed by transmittal of application to Washington, DC, where funding is awarded. And then the real work begins.

This all to say that I’ve spent the last few months working with my colleagues on a SPA proposal to implement a series of trainings on three strategies developed by the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health (MINSA) that are designed to prevent maternal and infant morbidity and mortality through an increased understanding of maternal child health and the promotion of institutional care, promote healthy infant and childhood development through proper nutritional practices, and increase women’s knowledge of and access to family planning methods. We’ll be conducting these trainings with over 100 lay community health workers, or “brigadistas,” from three of Pearl Lagoon’s more inaccessible communities. If this project accomplishes what we intend it to do (and we certainly hope it does!), the brigadistas will serve as the communities’ first line of defense in the protection of maternal and child health, working autonomously in places that MINSA cannot reach with any regularity, and keeping MINSA informed of the health of their community members. This is extremely important work, as these communities all suffer from relatively high rates of high risk pregnancies (such as those among adolescents and those who have already birthed numerous children), obstetric emergencies, and childhood malnutrition.

While this is not all that I’ve been doing, it is without a doubt the project I am most excited to be working on. I was in Managua on May 3 to defend the proposal, which went very well. There are still several hurdles to jump, but I’m cautiously optimistic that things will work out. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Words of the Week: recursos – resources, desarrollo - development