FADCANIC USA, Inc.

FADCANIC

Mission

FADCANIC stands for the Foundation for the Autonomy & Development of the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua; a big title with a big mission.

The mission of FADCANIC is to nurture, strengthen &  develop the process of Autonomy of the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua from civil society through the qualitative transformation of social, economic, cultural & political relations that benefit the indigenous & ethnic communities of the region.


With this in mind, here are FADCANIC’s policies:

  • Promote the development of the region based on the specific characteristics of its multiethnic, multilingual & multicultural communities.
  • Promote use of the natural resources & biodiversity of the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua in a rational & sustainable way by & for the benefit of coastal population & the nation in its entirety.
  • Rescue, conserve, develop & disseminate the cultural patrimony of the Autonomous Regions.
  • Maximize the human & natural resources of the region as the foundation for the consolidation of Autonomy.
  • Ensure first call for the children of the Caribbean Coast in every endeavor.
  • Ensure broad & effective participation of coastal women in all regional affairs.
  • Make global science & technology accessible to the region´s indigenous peoples.
  • Work together with no political, economic, religious, language, gender, ethnic or any other form of discrimination among beneficiaries.
  • Forge genuine unity by protecting &  nurturing our diversity.
  • Promote knowledge & experience sharing among the regional, national & global cultures, to disseminate the process of Autonomy as a dynamic & transformative model.

Vision

FADCANIC is a model organization that serves as a source of inspiration & replication to coastal & national actors.
It designs & mobilizes funds for innovative projects & programs & ensures that these are carried out efficiently. It is recognized as an organization that contributes effectively to the implementation of the process of Autonomy to which the multiethnic communities of the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua aspire.

Values

With our vision in mind, these are our values:

  • Multiethnic & Pluricultural Identity
  • Solidarity & Sustainable Development
  • Competence & Productivity
  • Environmental & Biodiversity Defense
  • Gender Equality & Equity
  • Freedom, Justice & Participatory Democracy

Strategies

Our strategy is defined by the priorities that the peoples and communities of the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua demand to change and improve their living conditions, and by FADCANIC’s own contributions to the Autonomy process.

On this basis, the strategy identifies the following goals & priorities:

  • Seek to provide people’s access to effective means for a sustainable & rational use of the region’s biodiversity & natural wealth, in order to raise their living conditions to dignified levels as well as to enable them a protagonist role in building a more fruitful future.
  • Educate & build the capacity of community-based male & female leadership for self-management & negotiation needed to bridge generational gaps & lead the way in their communities, municipalities, regions, & beyond.
  • Prevent & respond quickly & effectively to natural & man-made disasters to mitigate their impact on the regions population & resources.
  • Articulate FADCANIC interventions linking rational & sustainable development with the defense & consolidation of the process of autonomy of the Indigenous Peoples & Ethnic Communities of the Autonomous Regions of Caribbean Nicaragua.

History & Foundation

FADCANIC is a model organization. In September of 1987, the National Assembly of Nicaragua enacted Law 28, the Autonomy Statute for the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua. The Statute vindicates historical demands of the six indigenous peoples & ethnic communities of the Coast for inclusion & more effective participation in political, social & economic decision-making —including decisions on the management & exploitation of the region’s natural & environmental resources—  and calls for the respect and promotion of their own historical & cultural traditions.

In this context, the Foundation for the Autonomy & Development of the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua (FADCANIC) was constituted to mobilize wills & resources to consolidate & drive the autonomous experience.

  • Legal entity established on March 15, 1990 by Nicaragua National Assembly Decree No. 102. Legal Statutes approved & published in the official national journal La Gaceta, on May 29, 1992.
  • Formed by coastal & non coastal women & men with a proven record in developmental work in multiethnic & multicultural contexts who are committed to the the region’s development
  • Staffed by highly qualified professionals in the fields of social science, natural resources & the environment, information technology, & finance
  • Non-government entity linking public workers, institutions & social networks who, in partnership with local communities & with the support of international aid agencies, strengthen & consolidate regional autonomy by promoting sustainable human development
  • Arena for building innovative development models that are more inclusive & respectful of the visions & organizational forms of the  indigenous peoples & ethnic communities of the region
  • Forum for debating & building consensus on political, social, & economic processes.