TERRITORIALIZED AND PARTICIPATORY GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT FOR THE PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE AND HEALTHY TERRITORIES
The Territorialized and Participatory Governance and Management model of the Observatory of Sustainable and Healthy Territories of Bocaina (OTSS) represents an innovative approach in social technology. It focuses on establishing governance processes that are participatory and focused on territories, challenging conventional practices to strengthen the organizations of traditional peoples and communities. Through groups formed by academic and community researchers, the model promotes a dialogue between different types of knowledge. This ongoing dialogue enhances the management and governance capacity of these peoples, valuing their traditional lifestyles through the development of public policies and social technologies adapted to their specific realities.
PROBLEM SOLVED
There is a notable lack of coordination between research institutions and government agencies with social movements in developing solutions for traditional peoples and communities, which often fail to take into account the specific territorial challenges faced by these communities. This decontextualized approach fails to recognize the complex cultural, social, and environmental dynamics of these peoples, resulting in public policies and research solutions that do not meet their real needs. Furthermore, a fundamental aspect of the problem is that traditional communities are often not included in the process of developing these solutions, and are merely passive recipients of proposals that should solve their problems.
SOLUTION ADOPTED
The Bocaina Observatory of Sustainable and Healthy Territories (OTSS) is organized around eight thematic coordinations, aiming to support the rights, culture, health and quality of life of traditional communities. In its 15 years of operation, the OTSS has brought together around 150 collaborators from various areas of knowledge, including community researchers from 37 traditional territories. Using approaches such as the Ecology of Knowledge and the pedagogy of autonomy, the OTSS seeks to promote the autonomy of communities through participatory methodologies that emphasize traditional knowledge.
The OTSS's Territorialized and Participatory Governance and Management structure allows the participation of community and non-community researchers in the creation, management and evaluation of public policies and social technologies adapted to the territories. The OTSS's area of operation is divided into three mesoterritories: mesoRJ (Mangaratiba and Angra dos Reis), MesoInter (Paraty and Ubatuba) and MesoSP (Caraguatatuba, São Sebastião and Ilhabela), facilitating the integration of processes and the decentralization of decision-making.
Instruments such as Critical Success Factors (CSF), Planning Mandala, Action Plans by Mesoterritory and Planning and Monitoring Spreadsheets are used to organize strategic and territorial planning. The CSFs are defined annually, with the participation of community members and partners, to align actions with the needs of the territories.
The collegiate bodies, formed by community and non-community technicians, collaborate in the implementation of territorial actions. They operate in a way that guarantees the inclusion and effective participation of communities in the planning and management process. The Mesoterritorial Boards (CMs) are responsible for planning and monitoring actions, promoting autonomy and the implementation of local agendas.
This approach to governance and management, based on the participation and integration of different stakeholders, reflects the OTSS's commitment to sustainable development and the quality of life of traditional communities, adapting to territorial dynamics and needs.
RESULT ACHIEVED
The implementation of the governance model of the Bocaina Observatory of Sustainable and Healthy Territories (OTSS) has yielded significant results, including the creation of two Forums of Traditional Communities, located in Sergipe and in the Ribeira Valley. This governance structure has been recognized and adopted by other initiatives, such as the Thematic Chamber of Traditional Peoples and Communities of the National Commission for the SDGs (CNODS), which uses it for the territorialization, articulation and mobilization of the 2030 Agenda, focusing on Traditional Peoples and Communities. An important milestone in this journey is the consolidation of the strategic planning of the Forum of Traditional Communities (FCT), which has already held 18 Expanded Meetings with the active participation of 65 Traditional Communities, including indigenous, quilombola and caiçara groups. These meetings have been fundamental for the planning and execution of actions in several areas, such as social mapping, ecological sanitation, agroecology, community-based tourism (CBT), health promotion, differentiated education and socio-environmental justice. Furthermore, recognition of the effectiveness of this governance system was consolidated with the certification of Social Technology by the Banco do Brasil Foundation in 2024, standing out as a replicable and efficient model for the management and sustainable development of traditional communities.