PROGRAMS
SNN facilitates action on contemporary issues confronting the Latin America and Caribbean Region and the global South, including how to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate variability and change, and the interface with migration, environmental, social, economic and political priorities.
We convene stakeholders, including international and regional organizations, to discuss these challenges and support policy formulation, solution identification and learning from implementation. We leverage innovation and technology, to reduce disaster risk and impact, and promote adaptation to climate change with an emphasis on justice.
South North Nexus works with communities, civil society, government officials, researchers and professionals to promote mutual learning, partnership and action to confront location-specific challenges.
These complex issues require collaborative approaches which start with the daily challenges that people and communities face and linking their priorities with broader policies and proven technologies. The nexus between traditional knowledge and contemporary science and strategies for sustainable food systems, food security and nutrition are among our top priorities.
We convene stakeholders, including international and regional organizations, to discuss these challenges and support policy formulation, solution identification and learning from implementation. We leverage innovation and technology, to reduce disaster risk and impact, and promote adaptation to climate change with an emphasis on justice.
South North Nexus works with communities, civil society, government officials, researchers and professionals to promote mutual learning, partnership and action to confront location-specific challenges.
These complex issues require collaborative approaches which start with the daily challenges that people and communities face and linking their priorities with broader policies and proven technologies. The nexus between traditional knowledge and contemporary science and strategies for sustainable food systems, food security and nutrition are among our top priorities.
Learning, sharing and innovation take place using a variety of methods and tools, including research, evaluations, case studies and assessments, and sharing of technical experiences. Our tool kit contains livelihood and gender analyses, disaster risk and impact assessment, hazard mapping, climate assessments, adaptation and resilience planning, emergency preparedness, and disaster risk planning and reduction.
The countries of the Central American Dry Corridor - El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua- constitute a region of interest due to the seriousness of their climate, economic, migratory and political challenges. Many communities and countries in the south and north are experiencing severe climate, political and migratory challenges that require urgent action.
Livelihood Analysis South North Nexus (SNN) and BioRegions International (BRI) are undertaking livelihood analyses across bioregions with the aim of sharing best practices and solutions to understand how communities and families are coping and adapting to a variety of shocks. Specifically, SNN and BRI are lending their experience to support local partners who conduct a livelihood analysis with the objective of understanding the past, current and future challenges faced by families and communities. The analysis emphasizes discussing impacts due to shocks, the health-food security-nutrition nexus, the relationship with conflict, the loss of livelihoods and coping mechanisms, and the need to migrate. Collaborations among bioregions – regions defined by their cultural and natural environment – for the purposes of this project include communities in Colombia, Kenya, Mongolia, and Montana. The project is underway in all four regions and was finished in Kenya earlier this year. The sharing of experiences with collective learning will contribute to strengthening livelihood resilience, and enable families, communities, and local entities to better plan for and respond to shocks. Based on the results of the livelihood analysis, a sharing process will be organized at local level and then among all communities involved in the livelihood discussions. Using inputs from the local and bioregions discussions, SNN and BRI will present funding proposals with the aim of funding priority solutions to be implemented by communities. |
WHERE WE ARE WORKINGOngoing Activities
Nicaragua Socio Economic Analysis
COVID-19 has brought yet another dimension to the crisis in Nicaragua, aggravating the deep political and economic situation — Nicaragua is fast bordering on a humanitarian crisis. Economic recession that began on the back of the April 2018 political crisis will deepen significantly. GDP growth fell by 3.9% in 2019 and is expected to fall by 8.2% in 2020 and by 2.0% in 2021.This will have a devastating effect on the population, in terms of employment and income, access to basic services such as food, health, water and electricity. SNN and local partners are working to have a clear understanding of these social impacts including the magnitude and nature. The study includes projections based on available information and will facilitate an understanding of the required humanitarian and early recovery actions needed to mitigate the impact among the more vulnerable segments of the population. The SNN report was presented at a forum sponsored by SNN and the Fundación Arias that was opened by former president of Costa Rica Luis Guillermo Solis. Click here: Nicaragua's Converging Crises Nicaragua's Triple Crisis Article by William Vigil American University AULABLOG March 23, 2021 More Nicaragua Initiatives Nicaragua faces numerous ongoing challenges. According to German Watch, Nicaragua is 6th among the Long-Term Climate Risk Index (CRI) countries (1997 - 2016). An internal crisis broke out in April 2018 which has further impeded the realization of human rights. SNN is developing several initiatives related to the UN Strategic Development Goals with the aim of contributing to the country’s socio-economic development. SNN sponsored forums with the participation of top experts such as the ex-President of Instituto Centroamericano de Administración de Empresas (INCAE), Roberto Artavia, PhD. Discussions focused on the importance of tourism and progressing on the Social Protection Indicators. Forum on Nicaragua’s Indicator on Social Progress, April 22, 2021: 
NICARAGUA UPDATE Is a SNN weekly report that provides a compilation of news reports on Nicaragua from U.S., European and Latin American journals and periodicals. 
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Migration Fund
The Migrant Legal Fund managed by South North Nexus aims to assist migrants and their families in Montana with legal support to address pressing issues related to their residency in Montana. Support includes document preparation, lawyers’ fees, and travel for court appearances.
Some of the migration issues that have come to our attention include: preparation for “court order to appear” dates, change of venue requests, assistance with asylum requests, and responses to deportation orders. Other local issues include are related to drivers’ licenses, car registration and document preparation for health service- related matters.
Funds have already helped a number of families with asylum requests.
Some of the migration issues that have come to our attention include: preparation for “court order to appear” dates, change of venue requests, assistance with asylum requests, and responses to deportation orders. Other local issues include are related to drivers’ licenses, car registration and document preparation for health service- related matters.
Funds have already helped a number of families with asylum requests.
Nutrition Assessment at the US - Mexico Border
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Separation of immigrant and refugee children and their families at the US Mexico border is a public health crisis that has the potential to negatively affect these children and their families for years to come. SNN and partners will be conducting a nutritional assessment at the border and will then identify follow-up nutritional and health support actions. Actions would assist partners to support the appropriate responses for the identified needs.
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Kenya Resilience Pilot Project
A South North Nexus and BioRegions International livelihood analysis undertaken in the Turkana Region of Kenya in late 2020 and early 2021 highlighted that increasingly marginalized communities are likely to be the most severely affected by climate change impacts and yet are least equipped to cope and adapt. It also confirmed that women are most affected by shocks, partially because of the traditional roles they carry out and because of cultural gender biases. A third important finding was that traditional livelihoods are under threat and that coping mechanisms, some once effective, are no longer sufficiently resilient to mitigate the impacts of climate variability, health pandemics, economic downturns or social conflicts.
As a next step South North Nexus, Blessed Community Organization (BLEC) and Innovative Solutions launched a pilot project, Enhancing Women’s Resilience and Empowerment in Turkana, Kenya (EWRET). Through a community based, participatory strategy, this pilot project is working with women and men community members and leaders, local government and nongovernmental organizations to design and test community-led actions that enhance the resiliency of livelihoods and the ecosystems. Trainings and knowledge generation and sharing feature strongly in the actions and support the diversification of livelihoods. Trainings integrate nutrition and human rights components with income generating opportunities. This project is a catalyst, generating knowledge and lessons on adaptation and resiliency actions that have the potential to be scaled up to achieve broader impact in the Turkana region.
A South North Nexus and BioRegions International livelihood analysis undertaken in the Turkana Region of Kenya in late 2020 and early 2021 highlighted that increasingly marginalized communities are likely to be the most severely affected by climate change impacts and yet are least equipped to cope and adapt. It also confirmed that women are most affected by shocks, partially because of the traditional roles they carry out and because of cultural gender biases. A third important finding was that traditional livelihoods are under threat and that coping mechanisms, some once effective, are no longer sufficiently resilient to mitigate the impacts of climate variability, health pandemics, economic downturns or social conflicts.
As a next step South North Nexus, Blessed Community Organization (BLEC) and Innovative Solutions launched a pilot project, Enhancing Women’s Resilience and Empowerment in Turkana, Kenya (EWRET). Through a community based, participatory strategy, this pilot project is working with women and men community members and leaders, local government and nongovernmental organizations to design and test community-led actions that enhance the resiliency of livelihoods and the ecosystems. Trainings and knowledge generation and sharing feature strongly in the actions and support the diversification of livelihoods. Trainings integrate nutrition and human rights components with income generating opportunities. This project is a catalyst, generating knowledge and lessons on adaptation and resiliency actions that have the potential to be scaled up to achieve broader impact in the Turkana region.
Gallatin Vally Migrant Livelihood Analysis
South North Nexus and Montana State University are partnering in the Gallatin Valley, Montana USA with the aim of bringing greater understanding regarding the opportunities and the challenges faced by the migrant population in Gallatin Valley. Dialogue with a range of stakeholders centers around livelihood strategies and responses to shocks including the COVID-19 pandemic, housing insecurity, legal status, employment and healthcare, with particular emphasis on occupational health injuries and safety measures. As the livelihood framework incorporates a holistic approach, cross cutting issues are central to the analysis including gender roles and empowerment, the health-food-security-nutrition nexus, reasons for migration, and discrimination in the workplace and people’s daily lives.
South North Nexus and Montana State University are partnering in the Gallatin Valley, Montana USA with the aim of bringing greater understanding regarding the opportunities and the challenges faced by the migrant population in Gallatin Valley. Dialogue with a range of stakeholders centers around livelihood strategies and responses to shocks including the COVID-19 pandemic, housing insecurity, legal status, employment and healthcare, with particular emphasis on occupational health injuries and safety measures. As the livelihood framework incorporates a holistic approach, cross cutting issues are central to the analysis including gender roles and empowerment, the health-food-security-nutrition nexus, reasons for migration, and discrimination in the workplace and people’s daily lives.
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Sharing Experiences
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