Productive backyards program

1. General information

Location and description of the intervention

City or FUA

Cartagena (FUA)

Region

Latin America and the Caribbean

Native title of the NBS intervention

Programa Patios Productivos

Short description of the intervention

The Productive Backyards Program is led by the NGO Granitos de Paz with the goal of promoting food security and income generation for vulnerable families in Cartagena. The program supports the creation of green gardens in household yards, provide technical training in planting, plant care, and supplies, as well as guidance and support for the creation of productive gardens, it also supports the commercialization of crops, fostering social cohesion within homes and positively impacting their environmental surroundings, nutrition, and health (ref 2, 3). A productive backyard is a small plot of land dedicated to growing vegetables for the family's daily consumption, providing fresh, healthy, and nutritious food. Family labour is utilised, offering both economic and nutritional benefits. This activity helps reduce malnutrition, improve the environment, and enable the commercialisation of organic products by making use of household yards (ref 6).
The program is led by the NGO and occasionally receives support from the mayor's office. The mayor's office has provided kits to the families with gardening tools, a watering can, mesh for enclosures, and seeds for 12 species, including tomatoes, sweet peppers, eggplants, bell peppers, Swiss chard, cabbage, and other vegetables. In addition to these supplies, families received training in entrepreneurship and business ideas for marketing their products, self-consumption, and all related concepts aimed at increasing production (ref 1 and 2). Currently, the program counts with 450 backyards in different neighbourhoods of Cartagena (ref 1).

Website of the intervention

https://granitosdepaz.org.co/patios-productivos-2/

Principal problems

Resource Scarcity and Competition

Food insecurity due to disruptions in food production and distribution

Other

Please specify other principal problem

- Food security to families in vulnerable neighborhoods.
- Promoting social and environmental health.
- Income generation

Implementation area characterization

Climate

Tropical (Tropican rainforest, tropical monsoon, tropical savanna)

Ecosystem

Urban or built environment

Address

Calle 34 # 51-27
Cartagena
Colombia

Location

The NBS is a city-wide initiative, the GIS point marks the centre of the city

Area boundary (map-based)

Area description

Urban (main city)

Type of area before implementation of the NBS

Residential

Waste disposal site or landfill

Timeline of intervention

Start date of the intervention (planning process)

2004

Start date of intervention (implementation process)

2010

End date of the intervention

ongoing

Present stage of the intervention

Ongoing

2. Objectives of the intervention

Objectives of the intervention

Goals of the intervention

- Promote food security and income generation project for vulnerable families in Cartagena that aims to help reduce malnutrition, improve the environment, and market organic products by utilising household yards. Backyards are incorporated with the support of a private entity, as well as the older backyards, which have also received financial support from private organisations (ref 4, 9).
- Promote participation: Participation plays a crucial role in this initiative, as families act as co-managers of their own well-being (ref. 9). The foundation includes within its activities a pillar of training and income generation, supported by the Patios Productivos program. (ref 4).
-provides the households with training focused on the nutritional, economic, environmental, and social benefits of growing vegetables in their home patios (ref 6)
- Supply and construct the necessary systems to transform these spaces into productive gardens (ref 6).
- The transformation of spaces that were previously garbage dumps has been transformed into productive backyards (ref. 9).

Key Priorities

Social Justice and community

Sustainability challenge(s) addressed

Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)

Habitat and biodiversity restoration

Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)

Social interaction

Environmental education

Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)

Sustainable consumption

Sustainable production

Food scarcity / security

Please specify "other Habitats and biodiversity restoration activity"

The transformation of spaces that were previously garbage dumps has been transformed into productive backyards (ref. 9).

What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?

Ecosystem-focused

What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?

Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems

Public engagement

Other

Implementation activities and NBS focus

Implementation activities

- Open calls for the community to apply to become a member of the program (ref 1).
- Visits and feasibility evaluation select the appropriate households for the backyards (ref 1).
- Provision of technical training in planting, plant care, and supplies, along with guidance and support for the creation of productive gardens (ref 1). The beneficiaries receive technical training in planting, plant care, and supplies, as well as guidance and support in the implementation of these productive gardens to grow vegetables "We trained them through hands-on learning, and later on, there will be follow-up to ensure that it’s not just a one-time harvest, but something that continues over time" (ref 2).
- focus on the Olaya Herrera neighbourhood, specifically in the Rafael Núñez sector, as well as in other neighborhoods such as La Esperanza, El Pozón, Lomas del Peye, and rural areas like La Boquilla, Puerto Rey, and Manzanillo del Mar (ref 4)-
- Improve the food security of the population in its areas of influence through self-sufficiency in food and its commercialisation in hotels and restaurants in the city, as well as environmental restoration (ref 4).

Type of NBS project

Creation of new green areas

Creation of areas for food production (community gardens, allotments)

3. NBS domains, ES and scale

NBS domain and interventions

Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented

Community gardens and allotments

Allotments

Community gardens

Amenities offered by the NBS

Unknown

Design elements for well-being

None of the above

Services

Expected ecosystem services delivered

Provisioning services

Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables)

Scale

Spatial scale

Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)

Beneficiaries

Demographics in implementation area

Olaya Herrera is the neighbourhood where most of the barrios are located, located in the southeastern part of the city, specifically in the locality of La Virgen y Turística, has been shaped by dynamics of exclusion and inequality, immersed in a spiral of social violence. The Olaya Herrera neighbourhood is located in the communal government unit number five, locality two of La Virgen and Turística, in the southeastern part of the city of Cartagena de Indias. It is bordered to the north by the perimeter road and the Ciénaga de la Virgen; to the east by the Tabú wastewater canal; to the south by the Foco Rojo sector and Pedro Romero Avenue; and to the west by the Salim Bechara stream and the República del Líbano neighbourhood. This area is one of the territories that has fallen victim to symbolic violence and stigma. Territorially, Olaya Herrera is divided into eleven sectors: Rafael Núñez, Villa Olímpica, Once de Noviembre, Ricaurte, Central, La Magdalena, La Puntilla, Progreso, Stella, Zarabanda, and Playa Blanca. Despite its natural wealth due to the presence of the Ciénaga de la Virgen, the area suffers from the growing problem of land invasions and urban expansion due to the lack of adequate housing. The ciénaga is a vital resource and a hub of productive activity, as this ecosystem allows for fishing and offers highly productive soils. However, the uncontrolled invasion of land and the cutting down of mangroves along its shores have led to massive ecological disasters, compounded by the extreme poverty of those who occupy the invaded land. (ref 8 and 9).

Socio-economic profile of the area

Low-income

Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts

Yes

Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities

Low-income neighborhoods

Non-government actors

Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches

Primary Beneficiaries

Citizens or community groups

Food producers and cultivators (i.e. farmers, gardeners)

Coastal-dependent communities (e.g. small-scale fishers, coastal farmers, and indigenous peoples)

Marginalized groups

Specify primary beneficiaries

The population that benefits from this project consists of adult residents of the neighbourhood who are in a state of extreme poverty and wish to participate in the project. Once these requirements are met, the official registration process begins. The project then involves preparing the beneficiaries' backyards by constructing plots for growing aromatic herbs and vegetables. The income generation aspect of the project for the beneficiaries is facilitated through the foundation. Granitos De Paz sells the products cultivated by the farmers to important restaurants and hotels in the city. These products are supported by a registered brand, “Producto Natural,” which guarantees their quality (ref 8).

Marginalized groups

Women

Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed)

Disadvantaged ethnic or racial groups

Vulnerable populations in disaster-prone areas

Measures for inclusion of marginalised groups

Prioritisation of Low-income families and single mothers in the program (ref 8 and 9).

Specify measures taken for vulnerable or marginalized communities

Unknown

Other beneficiaries

Unknown

4. Governance and financing

Governance

Governance arrangements

Led by non-government actors

Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative

The project is currently being led by the Granitos de Paz Foundation. They select the beneficiaries, provide the services and commercialize the products. The program was a response to a local government initiative, The District of Cartagena de Indias, through the Pedro Romero Social Emergency Plan, promoted a comprehensive public policy on nutrition and food security aimed at establishing a Comprehensive Nutrition System for the city's vulnerable population. The Granitos de Paz Foundation, as part of its income generation pillar, implemented this Strategic Plan through the development of the productive backyards project in the Rafael Núñez sector of the Olaya Herrera neighborhood in Cartagena de Indias (ref 9)

Key actors - initiating organization

Non-government organisation/civil society

Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)

Local government/municipality

Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders)

Unknown

Uncommon actors ("Missing actors")

Unknown

Land owners

Private sector or company

Policy drivers

NBS intervention implemented in response to a Regional Directive/Strategy

Please specify the "Regional Directive/Strategy"

The District of Cartagena de Indias, through the Pedro Romero Social Emergency Plan, promoted a comprehensive public policy on nutrition and food security aimed at establishing a Comprehensive Nutrition System for the city's vulnerable population. The Granitos de Paz Foundation, as part of its income generation pillar, implemented this Strategic Plan through the development of the productive backyards project in the Rafael Núñez sector of the Olaya Herrera neighborhood in Cartagena de Indias (ref 9).

NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan

NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan

Yes

Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"

Relevant strategy or plan

Urban agriculture or food security plans, policies, guidelines

Mandatory or voluntary intervention

Voluntary (spontaneous)

Intervention is mandatory

Other

Please specify other type of mandatory intervention

Response to Social emergency plan (ref 9)

Enablers & Barriers

Type of enablers

NGOs/Community groups driving the implementation

Please provide details (e.g, name of the plan or strategy) for the selected policies or initiatives.

NGO initiative as a response to Social emergency plan (ref 9)

Governace and decison-making instruments

Educational and knowledge sharing instruments (e.g. science/ living labs, awareness raising campaigns, specific educational programs, green hubs)

Arrangements for governance cooperation

Formal coordination mechanisms to oversee project implementation and decision-making (e.g., multi-stakeholder steering committees, working groups)

Financial mechanisms for resource pooling or sharing (e.g. cooperative financing)

Barriers

not mentioned.

Financing

Total cost

Unknown

Please specify total cost (EUR)

Unknown

What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?

Unknown

Source(s) of funding

Public local authority budget

Corporate investment

Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)

Type of fund(s) used

Earmarked public budget

Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)

Donations

Non-financial contribution

Yes

Who provided the non-financial contribution?

Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)

Citizens (e.g. volunteering)

Private sector (businesses, financial institution)

Type of non-financial contribution

Provision of goods

Provision of labour

Provision of expertise

Co-finance for NBS

Yes

Co-governance arrangement

Unknown

Entrepreneurship opportunities

Yes

What entrepreneurship opportunities have arisen from the NBS project?

Sustainable agriculture or agroforestry businesses

What types of actors are leading the entrepreneurship activities linked to the NBS project?

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

What types of support are provided to entrepreneurs engaged in NBS-related activities?

Financial assistance (e.g., grants, loans, equity investments)

Technical assistance or mentoring

Access to markets or supply chains

Business models

Local stewardship model

Green health model

Vacant space model

Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?

Public actor (e.g. municipality)

Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation)

Citizens / local communities

5. Evaluation and learning

Impacts, benefits

Environmental impacts

Green space and habitat

Increased green space area

Achieved increased green space area

Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems

Achieved increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems

Other

Please specify other environmental impact

Achieved increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems: transformation from local dump sites to productive backyards (ref 9)

Description of environmental benefits

- Achieved increased green space area: the project aims to help reduce malnutrition and improve the environment by planting organic products in household yards. this provides environmental benefits (ref 6 and 9).

Economic impacts

Stimulate development in deprived areas

Achieved stimulate development in deprived areas

Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)

Achieved increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)

Generation of income from NBS

Achieved generation of income from NBS

Description of economic benefits

- Stimulate development in deprived areas: The productive backyards program becomes the main source of income for most of the families (ref 9). In addition to these supplies, families received training in entrepreneurship and business ideas for marketing their products, self-consumption, and all related concepts aimed at increasing production (ref 1 and 2).
- Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not): The program supports the creation of green gardens in household yards, they provide technical training in planting, plant care, and supplies, as well as guidance and support for the creation of productive gardens, it also supports the commercialization of crops, fostering social cohesion within homes and positively impacting their environmental surroundings, nutrition, and health (ref 2, 3)
- Generation of income from NBS: Family labour is utilised, offering both economic and nutritional benefits. This activity helps reduce malnutrition, improve the environment, and enable the commercialisation of organic products by making use of household yards (ref 6). ensure food security and income generation for vulnerable families by utilising their organic crops, making rational use of and protecting natural resources. (ref 4)

Evidence for use of assessment

Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process

Unknown

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

Name of any specific impact assessment tools

No impact assessment tools provided online but probably could be requested.

Use of GIS in mapping impacts

Cost-benefit analysis

Transparency

Inclusion of diverse stakeholders in project governance processes (e.g. planning, implementation, monitoring, etc.)

Community forums for information sharing and encouraging the participation of marginalized groups

Justice

Community satisfaction

Positive: The majority of feedback and reports indicate high levels of satisfaction and appreciation for the NBS project within the community.

Description of locals satisfaction with the project

Ref 9 performs interviews to members of the program and the feedback is that the program improved their quality of life.

Trade-offs & Negative impacts

Unknown

Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement

Unknown

High-quality & Transformative NBS

Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community)

Goal setting and impacts delivery

No, project goals were not set, and benefits were not delivered in all 3 key areas.

Reaching original project goals

All the intended project goals were achieved

Long-term perspective

Unknown: No information about the project's long-term sustainability.

Cost-effective solutions

Unknown

Equitable impacts

A. All stakeholders benefit fairly from the project

Transformative capacity

Social change (e.g. social relationships, networks and dynamics within them)

Magnitude of change

Incremental: shallow; that is, mostly maintaining business-as-usual approaches to adaptation

Application of lessons learned

Unknown

Perception of Environmental Change

Unknown

6. Sources

References

Cartagena Mayor's office (2023). PES -Pedro Romero entrega insumos para la sostenibilidad de patios productivos implementados en familias con pobreza extrema. Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Semana Magazine (2022). Cartagena: ¿de qué se trata ‘Patios Productivos’ y cómo ayudará a las familias en condición de pobreza extrema?. Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Granitos de paz (2024). PATIOS PRODUCTIVOS. Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Hernández Cotta, A. M., Turizo Arrieta, C. M. & Romero Cevallos, M (2021). International Cooperation and Urban Agriculture: Impact on Food Security of Vulnerable Populations of Cartagena. Revista Internacional de Cooperación y Desarrollo. 8(2), 152-163, Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Castellar Guzmán, Lizeth Cecilia; Oviedo Hernández, Sully Del Carmen (2013). Sistematización del proceso metodológico y estudio de impactos del proyecto patios productivos en el barrio Nelson Mándela de la ciudad de Cartagena durante los años 2010-2012. Universidad de Cartagena, Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

El Bolivarense (2023). Iniciativa busca promover la productividad de patios familiares. Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Montoya Rendón, Luz Elena (2021). PLAN DE ACCIÓN PARA IMPLEMENTACIÓN DE ESTRATEGIA DE ENCADENAMIENTO “PATIOS PRODUCTIVOS” COMO PROCESO INNOVADOR PARA EL DESARROLLO RURAL Y DE PAZ EN EL CORREGIMIENTO EL CASTILLO, MUNICIPIO EL CERRITO-VALLE DEL CAUCA. Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Vega Cañate, Daily (2013). Patios productivos como una estrategia para la atención integral a la familia. Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Álvarez Ortega, Odys Paola; Rebolledo Padilla, Silvana (2016). Patios productivos de la Fundación granitos de paz como dispositivo de transformación de las relaciones de género para la equidad en las familias del sector Rafael Nuñez del barrio Olaya Herrera al año 2016. Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Comments and notes

Public Images

Example of a productive backyard

Granitos de paz fundation

some of the neighborhoods mentioned with productive backyards

google maps