Johann Mandlberger, Advisor for Environment and Economy

Photo: Johann Mandlberger with Oscar Maldonado in Waslala

Strengthen the managerial, technical and administrative capabilities of cocoa cooperatives to improve their access to the market.

There are 86 people directly involved (20 % women and 80 % men), indirectly involved there are 2320 people (15 % women and 85 % men).

Interior designer Johann Mandlberger began his career in Nicaragua, where he advised carpentry cooperatives. He then assisted organisations and companies in obtaining FSC certification and strengthening the value chains of various agroecological and agroforestry sectors.

• The project focuses on strengthening the capacities of technicians and promoters as multipliers within cooperative structures, as well as within the organisational structures of cocoa cooperatives, to promote the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the area. This is achieved through coordinated action with the NICACAO project.
• The value chain is improved through training and technical assistance in cooperatives, strengthening their management and infrastructure capacities, with an emphasis on cocoa collection and processing, and cocoa cultivation promotion under an agroecological and agroforestry approach.
• The support is integrated into the traceability processes of the cooperatives' cocoa production so that they can guarantee the full, verifiable quality of their cocoa, allowing them to access new and better markets and/or carry out their marketing processes more securely and advantageously. Additionally, the active participation of women and young people in rural areas of Matagalpa and the Waslala municipality is encouraged.
• SDG targets: 8; 9; 12; 15