Project 08ucs-5233

08ucs-5233 Political & operational strengthening of Unicafes Nacional

budget	€ 631.123,33	status	execution
start date	01-01-2009	date end	31-12-2011
location	Brasília - DF	country	brazil
financer	Trias
executor	Uniao das Cooperativas da Agricultura Familiar e Economia Solidaria	intervention level	national
Programmes	\| work area 04: Institutional Development (IS) \| IFAP 04: Involve farmers in decisionmaking processes \|
description	Main Objective: Desicive Cooperatives with solidary interaction of family farmers dynamize the rural society and form a strong pillar for sustainable development. Specific Objectives: 1) 309 commercialization cooperatives, in the rural areas of Brasil, are strengthened through identification of the demand and supply of adequete services delivery by Unicafes; 2) Unicafes works in (...more...)
description	Main Objective: Desicive Cooperatives with solidary interaction of family farmers dynamize the rural society and form a strong pillar for sustainable development. Specific Objectives: 1) 309 commercialization cooperatives, in the rural areas of Brasil, are strengthened through identification of the demand and supply of adequete services delivery by Unicafes; 2) Unicafes works in a member demand driven way, and is able to translate the needs of the local cooperatives to strategic trajetories of lobby on the national and international level. (...less...)
results & observations	Unicafes Nacional elaborated this project with two main objectives. The 309 commercialization cooperatives, in the rural areas of Brazil, need to be strengthened through identification of the demand and supply of adequate service delivery by Unicafes. In order to be able to realize this, Unicafes Nacional needs to be able (...more...)
final results & observations	Unicafes Nacional elaborated this project with two main objectives. The 309 commercialization cooperatives, in the rural areas of Brazil, need to be strengthened through identification of the demand and supply of adequate service delivery by Unicafes. In order to be able to realize this, Unicafes Nacional needs to be able to translate the needs of the local cooperatives to strategic trajectories of lobby on the national and international level (450.000members). Due to the recent start up of the project (second semester of 2009) not much can be reported on as yet. Although it is too early to notice the results among the members, the project already provoked changes in its internal structure and strategic choices. All coops were contacted to register their activities and organizational information at Unicafes Nacional and a dbase was created with 92 coop. The initial objective was to register all 320 commercialization & production coops. Many of these 320 coops did not respond to the inquiry. Unfortunately this visualizes the fragility of many of the coops member to Unicafes. Coops that hardly manage to sustain their own organization and are incapable to participate actively at Unicafes. Unicafes Nacional succeeded to maintain a active relation with several ministries and secretaries. Projects were elaborated and approved and contacts with potential partners initiated, creating a more diverse partnership portfolio. In order to start from a demand driven services delivery, a seminar was organized orienting the strategy for the coming year. According to the needs advisors are and have been contracted. Unicafes' participation in international agendas countries influences in the outcome of documents that will serve as base for discussion with governments, commercial blocs and other organizations at international levels. (...less...)
specialisms	\| Cooperative Development & Marketing Strategies \| Internal organisational strengthening \| Market and chain development \| Policy generation \|

	APPLICATION
	APPLICATION

	DEFINITION
	DEFINITION

	EXECUTION
	EXECUTION

	RESULTS
	RESULTS

	PROGRESS
	PROGRESS

	RELATIONS
	RELATIONS

PROPOSAL

Agri-agency	Own contribution executor	Other parties	Total requested budget
Trias	UNICAFES NACIONAL
€ 0,00 + € 0,00	€ 0,00	€ 0,00	€ 434.568,00

1. History
The Union of Cooperatives of Family Agriculture and Solidary Economy (Unicafes Nacional), was created on June, 21st 2005 due to the need of an organization that represents and lobbies for the interests and rights of many cooperatives of family agricultures and solidary economy all over Brazil. Since its foundation Unicafes already represents 1.000 cooperatives from all Brazilian regions.

After the foundation of “Unicafes Nacional”, Unicafes at regional level in the South, Southwest, Northeast, Center-west and North and at state level (RS, SC, PR, ES, MA, BA, CE) were founded. Today Unicafes 750 cooperatives are officially associated. The members of Unicafes are cooperatives from different branches such as credit & savings, commercialization, production, technical assistance and rural extension and infrastructure (habitation).

Unicafes represents a “new cooperativism”. The cooperatives are of and for the family farmers, farmers are the the decision makers, the management is in hands of the farmers. The organizations are also characterized by a decentralized structure with a high degree of membership participation. Unicafes invests in the social & financial capital of its members and promotes the autonomy of farmers and their organization in different cooperative structures. After a difficult start – when the cooperatives of family farmers and solidary intention were faced with suspicion – Unicafes and its associates are each day more recognized at local, regional, national and international levels.

The target group to benefit (specially indirectly) are the economically active family farmers with characterized by very different degrees of social & economic security. Family agriculture in Brazil is defined by:
- the size of the farm which is smaller than 100ha (average lays way below the 20ha depending the region)
- the % of contracted labour at the farm, where as the family should account for more than 50% of the applied labour.
Based on this information, the familiar agriculture represents 68% of all agricultural properties in Brazil and employs 77% of the labor in the rural zone. In 2003 the contribution of the family agriculture to the Gross Net Products was 10,1%.

The main activities that generate income are: dairy production (specially in the South) and grain production. In second place horticulture, coffee production and meat (cattel, pigs, poultry). The target group almost doesn’t have activities that add value to the agricultural products. Most products are commercialized without receiving any transformation process. The farmers are mostly merely the suppliers of raw material for the big (multinational) companies and industries.

In this context, Unicafes Nacional elaborated the project of "Political and operational strengthening of Unicafes” with two main objectives:
1) 309 commercialization cooperatives, in the rural areas of Brasil, are strengthened through identification of the demand and supply of adequate service delivery by Unicafes;
2) Unicafes Nacional works in a member demand driven way, and is able to translate the needs of the local cooperatives to strategic trajetories of lobby on the national and international level (450.000members)

The commercialization cooperatives have great difficulties, especially in the strategic and operational management and access to markets. Since the family agriculture income is directly influenced by the development of those cooperatives it is essential for Cooperativism of Family Agriculture and Solidary Interaction that these coops receive a adaquate support to improve their viability.

Regarding the national and international representation, Unicafes requires an effective and proactive attitude in order to defend and lobby for the members. Currently Unicafes is deficient in its internal information supply. Therefore it is important that Unicafes becomes able to elaborate agendas, dossiers and statements in different areas such as: taxes, Union Budget, Legislation, Biofluel and food security, Dairy chain and participation of Unicafes in REAF, Others.

2. Main Activities
2.1. Strengthening of the commercialization cooperatives
2.1.1. Mapping of the commercialization cooperatives of family agriculture and solidary economy and their opportunities and demands
- In the 8 states where Unicafes actuates at state level
- In the North region of Brazil by Unicafes Nacional
2.1.2. Analysis of 5 commodity sectors (cooperative structure) and elaboration of a document on factors of success in accessing markets, with a focus on dairy, coffee, honey, horticulture and handicraft.
- 5 cases of reference
2.1.3. Workshops on the areas of:
a) public policies of commercialization
b) networks of commercialization cooperatives
c) commercial deals for the cooperatives
- 8 workshops at state level
- 1 workshop on the North region
- 1 workshop at national level
2.1.4. Monitoring and negotiation:
a) research and systemization of the legal regulations regarding certification, fairtrade, taxes and sanitary legislation
- Inform the 309 commercialization cooperatives on above mentioned issues, in order to enable them to comply to all necessary laws and regulations, to improve the access to internal and external markets
b) Unicafes Nacional will assist the commercialization cooperatives on negatiation and commercial deals that involves two or more cooperatives from different states and regions.

* Trias Brasil will support & advise Unicafes Nacional on international issues for commercialization cooperatives

2.2. Strategic trajetories of lobby on the national and international level, and representation of the 750 cooperatives of family agriculture summing 450.000 families
2.2.1. Representation & definition of demands of the Brazilian Movement of Solidary Cooperativism at national level
- Yearly definition of demands of the members through bottom up methodology, including the cooperatives of both first (750) and second levels (8) in the commercialization, production, Technical Assistance and Rural Extension (ATER), credit & savings and infra-structure branches.
* 5 diagnostics at regional level
* 8 diagnostics at state level
* 1 diagnostic at national level
- Yearly elaboration of document (2009, 2010, 2011) containing the systemization of those demands.
- Presentation of this document to the Ministry of Agricultural Development, Secretary of Territorial Development, National Council of Rural Sustainable Development, National Confederation of Workers in Agriculture and other stakeholders in the negotiation rounds.
- Yearly analyses of results and future follow-up for each branch at the national meeting of the cooperatives, based on this document.

2.2.2. Representation of the cooperatives at national and international levels
- Research, systemization of existing studies and internal discussion upon relevant issues related to the dairy chain, biofuel, food security, GMO, governmental programs and its implications for the cooperatives, biodiversity and the right to freely access genetic resources (International Seed Treaty) in order to promote an institutional agenda and proactive attitude
- Elaboration of documents and statements and proactive participation at national and international levels (such as FIPA, REAF - Specialyzed Meeting of the Family Agriculture) based on the results of the systemization above.

* Trias Brasil will support & advise Unicafes Nacional on international meetings, discussions, seminaries and other policy issues

3. Budget
Budget for 2009 : € 139.245,00
Budget for 2010 : € 104.205,00
Budget for 2011 : € 104.205,00

Total budget for 3 years: € 347.655,00 + 25% special services = 434.568 €

contribution UNICAFES: The expenses with transportation, hostage and alimentation of the participants of the workshops will be accounted for by the local counterparts.

4. Monitoring and Evaluation
The monitoring and evaluation will be done as following:
- All contracted/involved persons will start upon a clear Term of Reference consisting of: Objective, results, activities & cronogram and budget;
- Monthly disbursement of salaries and payments upon monthly reporting of executed activities;
- Quarterly meetings with involved persons and the TRIAS facilitator to monitor the financial reporting and evaluate and plan the project. Deadline: 15th of the next month following to the closed trimester.
- Yearly report elaborated by Unicafes Nacional, deadline 31st of December of every year

Trias regional office in Paraná keeps a continue dialogue and follow up with Unicafes. This way of working is an important strategic tool that guarantees the good implementation of this project within the overal strategy of Unicafes Nacional.

GOALS

	Partner Sites
	Partner Sites