cordaid trackrecord centralamerica juli2014

1Pool of Trainers

ASPRODE/CORDAID

TRACKRECORD CENTRAL AMERICA

DEALING WITH POTENTIAL NATURAL HAZARDS

3 Countries

El Salvador Guatemala Honduras

2,7Million Euros

in 2013

114Communities

100.000 beneficiaries

15Partners united in the Central

American Alliance for Resilience

16Projects

n Our propositionn Our trackrecordn Impact study and results

PROJECTZONE

www.cordaid.org

WHERE WE WORK CORDAID

For a century, Cordaid has been fighting poverty and exclusion in fragile and conflict areas. We are ideally positioned to mobilize citizens, (social) enterprises, NGOs and governments to bring about real change. Working with over 800 local partners we are deeply rooted in the areas in which we operate.Our professionals work with communities to build resilience and self-reliance, tackling multiple disciplines from healthcare tofood security. We invest in social impact and have the track record to prove our innovative methods. Supported by 316,000 private and institutional donors we have a firm base and the leverage to get the job done.

care. act. share. like cordaid.

316,000 donors

99years experience

35 countries

540 staff worldwide

129 million euros of disposable funds

2,000 projects

459field partners

36 funding partners

43 network partners

35 strategic partners

21

knowledge partners

20alliances

Join us at www.cordaid.org

CONTACT

Jeannette HamersmaProgramme Officer DRR/DR Central [email protected]

3CONTENTOUR PROPOSITION

PREPARING HIGH RISK COMMUNITIES TO DEAL WITH POTENTIAL NATURAL HAZARDSTowards a resilient Central America 7

POOL OF TRAINERSBuilding Resilient Communities 9

OUR TRACKRECORD

BUILDING RESILIENCE IN THE COMMUNITIES OF RO PAZWater management, reforestation and food security 13

RISK REDUCTION BY RECOVERING FOOD SOVEREIGNTYMicro-region of Southern Ahuachapn 15

INTEGRATED WATER AND RISK MANAGEMENT IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SAN FRANCISCO MENNDEZ, AHUACHAPN, EL SALVADOR 17

STRENGTHENING CAPACITIES FOR RISK REDUCTIONConstruction of compost latrines 19

MOUNTAIN MICROORGANISMSEcosystem Management: a pilot project 21

THE BLUE RIGHTThe Right to Water 23

LAS VUELTASStrengthening Local Capacities for Water Resources Management 25

MOBILIZING COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT VITAL WATER SOURCES AGAINST CONTAMINATIONStop The Cerro Blanco Mine 27

STRENGTHENING THE RESILIENCE OF COMMUNITIES IN ZACAPA AND CHIQUIMULA, GUATEMALAIntegrating DRR, Climate Change and Ecosystem management 29

IMPROVING RESILIENCE THROUGH ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD IN CABAAS, ZACAPA, GUATEMALA 31

THE BIOLOGICAL RESERVE EL GISAYOTEProtection of water and territory 33

THE GISAYOTE BIOLOGICAL RESERVE A Heritage of Humanity 35

LA ASOMADABuilding Community Resilience 37

RIO BLANCO MICRO WATERSHED Sustainable water resources management 39

IMPACT STUDY

REGIONAL IMPACT STUDY OF THE CMDRRProgram in Central America 43

CARE. ACT. SHARE. LIKE CORDAID.

CARE. ACT. SHARE. LIKE CORDAID. 4

5 CARE. ACT. SHARE. LIKE CORDAID.

OUR PROPOSITION FOR DEALING WITH POTENTIAL NATURAL HAZARDS

Our world today is experiencing frequent and often more serious disasters which threaten to reverse the many development gains achieved over decades. Central America is one of the most disaster prone areas of the world affected by floods, earthquakes, landslides, hurricanes, droughts. Besides these problems Central America faces inequality, social conflict and high levels of violence. The Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) framework helps develop resilient communities capable of addressing disaster risk and climate change effects. CMDRR relies on the fundamental recognition that the communities affected by these hazards also have the solutions. It engages communities in identification, analysis, monitoring and evaluation of risks to reduce peoples vulnerabilities and enhance their capacities.

While it may not be possible to completely stop the occurrences of natural hazards, communities, governments and local institutions can work together to prevent hazards caused by humans, reduce risks to disasters, mitigate or manage when disasters do occur and minimize their effects on lives and livelihoods.

Cordaid started working on Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) in 2007 in Central America. CMDRR promotes a real community ownership, use of microorganisms, permaculture, local capacity building, food sovereignty, defense and management of water and actions against mining projects.

Reducing peoples vulnerability, strengthening their capacity and reducing the risk of hazards are all components of CMDRR. Cordaid partners receive training in this field, while they in turn train local communities. Local people themselves learn how to analyze the hazards and risks in their context.

UNIQUE SELLING POINTS OF CORDAIDS DISASTER RISK REDUCTION APPROACH

n The methodology introduced by Cordaid gives special emphasis to strengthening the capacities of the people. It places people of communities in a leading role; the people are subjects, not objects, which is the key to achieving a true local empowerment and community resilience.

n CMDRR method breaks with paradigms about the role of external organizations and their staff proposing a drastic change in the form of accompanying community processes. It changes the role from technical performer to facilitator and companion of these processes. The organization and its team learns with communities, they dont impose their agenda nor induce actions, but accompanies and guides the community processes to ensure that participants are actually those who take control of their reality and transform it for the welfare of the whole community. This creates strong and well organized communities.

n The CMDRR promoted by Cordaid guarantees the sustainability of the intervention in the medium and long term.

n CMDRR promotes the participation of all people in the community and gives voice to women, men, youth and children.

n We offer training of facilitators in the CMDRR method and participatory community video by the Pool of Trainers of ASPRODE/CORDAID.

n Video is a powerful tool to motivate young peoples participation in risk reduction in their communities.

n We link CMDRR with Disaster Response (preparedness of partners, emergency aid and rehabilitation) which enables us to follow the disaster management cycle and be present before, during and after a disaster.

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TOWARDS A RESILIENT CENTRAL AMERICA

PREPARING HIGH RISK COMMUNITIES TO DEAL WITH POTENTIAL HAZARDS


THE FUTURE

Resilience processes initiated in the three countries will be further consolidated, with emphasis on adaptation measures to climate change and livelihoods.

The idea is to continue the current work areas and expand the program to new communities and co parts of the region, especially in Honduras and Guatemala, linking disaster risk reduction, climate change and the improvement and restoration of ecosystems. The programme will be extended to Nicaragua in the near future.

Priority will be given to projects that promote the human right to water, management of water, WASH, ecosystem management, food sovereignty, organic farming and the use of technologies such as video for empowerment and community advocacy.

RESULTS

n The communities have strong and representative community organizations (Community Development Associations, Committees of Risk Reduction, Emergency Committees, among others), composed of representatives of different age groups and geographical areas, in addition to groups or organizations specific to women, youth and children.

n The communities conduct their own risk analysis, define their risk mitigation plans and contingency plans, and present them to public and private institutions succeeding support for their infrastructural projects such as roads, water systems and sanitation, among others.

n Women play an active role in the community and participate in decision-making processes. Youth and adults are now working together in community work, promoted by the use of community video mostly by young people as a tool for disaster risk reduction.

n Because of our intervention in communities the paternalistic culture has been reduced and in an emergency, people implement their own contingency plans and take community action without waiting for external entities involved in the internal dynamics of the community.

CONTACT

Jeannette HamersmaProgramme Officer CMDRR Central [email protected]

n Our approach to work on disaster risk reduction with multiple actors (communities, government, donors, local NGOs, faith based organisations etc.) and to work at multiple levels (local, national, regional and international).

n The innovative cooperation in the Partners for Resilience Alliance to work on resilience through integrating DRR, Climate Change and Ecosystem management & restoration.

n Our expertise in finding localized, simple and sustainable solutions for (the most) difficult disaster risk reduction questions.

PARTNERORGANIZATIONS

Partnerorganizations are united in the Central American Alliance for Resilience. This Alliance has one programme with a focus on water and soil and community resilience. All the projects are united under one contract with ASPRODE, the Central American community managed DRR/DR office with headquarters in San Salvador. In Guatemala, Caritas Zacapa is working on a project for capacity building and community management. Caritas Zacapa is part of a large consortium consisting also of Care, Red Cross Climate Centre and Wetlands International. In the same country, the organization Colectivo Madre Selva works closely with Ceicom (of El Salvador) in a project that seeks to stop the operation of the Cerro Blanco mine located near the border with El Salvador.

With Asoseprodi and other partner organizations in Guatemala Cordaid supports an emergency programme after the earthquake of November 2012.

In Honduras, Cordaid is working with 4 partners, Hermandad de Honduras, PILARH, the Red Comal and Caritas Diocese of Santa Rosa de Copan in 4 projects to strengthen community resilience.

In El Salvador, the partner organizations are: ASPRODE / Pool of Trainers, Foro del Agua, UNES, ACUA, Caritas Diocese of Chalatenango and Ceicom in projects related to disaster risk reduction, climate change and enhancing ecosystems.

Cordaid supports in the region together with NIMD a project that promotes democratic dialogue between civil society and politics on safe environment. The focus region is the three country area of Trifinio.

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WHAT IS THE POOL OF TRAINERS?

We are a team of men and women who facilitate the Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction methodology. The focus of this methodology is the empowerment of community members to take actions for themselves and create their own development.It is a marvelous method that we didnt know about before. We are now trained to face natural hazards and disasters, states Jorge Pineda, resident of the community Santa Rita Cimarrn, Chalatenango, El Salvador.We currently work in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, countries that are vulnerable to various environmental and social-environmental hazards.Within the field of risk management, there are many initiatives and methodologies that are based on traditional risk management models in which organizations take control of risk reduction actions in the communities. This limits communities development, inhibits the strengthening of local capacities, and creates dependency. For the Pool of Trainers, the role of external organizations is to accompany processes whereas community members have active control over their processes and put concrete actions into place that reduce risks in their surroundings and contribute to transformations.We believe in peoples capacities. We believe that a world is possible where people in communities use their power to change their reality and their future, states Maggie Von Vogt, member of the Pool of Trainers.

Learn by doing!For us, the best way to learn is by doing. We use participatory, non-traditional methods that motivate people to use their knowledge and experiences and share it with others.We believe that learning by doing is valuable and liberating, and for this reason we choose to work this way and encourage people who participate in our courses to learn by doing, as well. We promote exploring and learning together with communities,

COURSE DESIGN AND COST

We design our courses to meet the needs of the organizations that request our services. The rate, length of the workshop, and times are tailored to the needs of each party. We also take into account the number of participants, geographical location, and characteristics of the location to calculate the cost.

The Pool of Trainers proposes a shift in attitude amongst people from organizationsand decision makers: a transformation from organizations that take control of DRR actions in communities towards communities that take DRR and emergency actions into their own hands

9

POOL OF TRAINERSBUILDING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES

as it is the communities themselves who have the necessary knowledge to transform their reality.

Where does the pool of trainers come from?We began in 2009 as a part of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Program in El Salvador and Honduras, funded by Cordaid. This program inspired the Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction project with four non-governmental organizations: Critas Chalatenango, UNES, and ACUA in El Salvador, and Critas Santa Rosa de Copn in Honduras.The Pool of Trainers was originally composed of people from these organizations. Now we have grown and have members from the organizations Asprode, Red Comal (Honduras) and Critas Zacapa, in Guatemala. As facilitators of the Pool of Trainers, we feel that the Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction Methodology is powerful and effective, and we want to show others how it works.

PROJECTZONE

duration3 years

start dateJanuary 2011

investment336,000 euros

ADDRESS

7a. calle oriente, #9. Urbanizacin Santa Mnica, Santa Tecla, El Salvador. Centroamrica.www.pooldetrainers.com

CONTACT

Arnulfo Ayala RodrguezGeneral [email protected]


LESSONS LEARNED

n Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction promotes the participation of all people in the community and gives voice to women, men, youth, and children.

n The key to transform the reality of a community is to strengthen the capacities of its habitants so that they can take actions for the development of their own community.

n Video is a powerful tool to motivate young peoples participation in risk reduction processes in the communities, and it helps them to see their reality through a different perspective: through a lens.

n Organizations must accompany these community processes and facilitate appropriate spaces so that people take control of their reality.

n Breaking away from the traditional teacher-student method creates a positive impact in communities. We learn from them and with them.

VIDEO AS A TOOL

I asked myself where a video production group fits into all of this, because when someone says video, you think of a music video or a movie, but later on I realized that it was a necessary and important element, because it means going along documenting what happens in relation to the different dangers that exist in the communitys surroundings, comments Carlos Merlos, member of the youth video production team from the community Sunapa, Chalatenango, El Salvador.In the Pool of Trainers we believe that participatory video is a valuable tool for disaster risk reduction. We facilitate participatory video courses in which we show how this tool empowers people, creates changes in attitude and perception, and helps to tell stories about the realities in communities. With these stories captured on video, it is also possible to go to decision makers and make important changes.

Some of our achievementsWe have facilitated Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction and Participatory Video courses in El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, in which we have worked with participants from universities, governmental institutions, dioceses, rescue organizations, municipal governments, representatives of funding agencies, non-governmental organizations, and more. This means that we have shared our methodology with more than 125 facilitators who work on issues related to risk reduction. We have also facilitated specialized courses on participatory video with approximately 100 young people from communities in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

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OUR TRACKRECORDIN DEALING WITH POTENTIAL NATURAL HAZARDS

A PROJECT FOR COMMUNITY RESILIENCE

During winter, the communities near Rio Paz are threatened by flooding, causing disasters that have destroyed families livelihoods and forced them to abandon agriculture.Lands are used to plant sugar cane, which causes agrochemical pollution and affects peoples health. People that work in the fields are especially impacted, causing chronic diseases such as kidney failure.

A project for resilience Despite these hazards and social-environmental problems, three communities of the coastal zone in the municipality of San Francisco Menndez, province of Ahuachapn are implementing small-scale organic production and using crops that are resistant to pests and climatic variations.

Since 2012, the Salvadorian Ecological Unit (UNES) has facilitated a three-year project titled Water Management and Disaster Risk Reduction through Advocacy, Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Change, in the communities of El Tamarindo, El Chino and El Guayabo. (371 Families-1,339 people).

UNES is a non governmental organization that fights for the protection and conservation of the environment in El Salvador.This project focuses on organization, advocacy, and development of local initiatives for climate change adaptation.The project has strengthened capacities in the community and municipal levels.Communities have formed local mangrove vigilance committees and reforested the area.

COMMUNITY HISTORY

Approximately 16 communities located in the Rio Paz lowlands were founded after the Agrarian Reform in 1980. Some of them transformed from farms into cooperatives. Families rebuilt their lives fabricating and founding their dream homes with reeds, palm leaves, mud, and other craft materials, giving life to the structures.Then the communities started to produce their own food, raise livestock and fishing.

Every winter 16 communities are threatened with river flooding, causing loss of humanlife and damages to belongings and livelihoods.

UNES has worked in this area since Hurricane Mitch (1998), generating awareness and building capacities on the issues of risk management, resilience, and adaptation to climate change.

13

BUILDING RESILIENCE IN THE COMMUNITIES OF RO PAZWATER MANAGEMENT, REFORESTATION AND FOOD SECURITY

Families have planted orchards as part of the initiatives for food sovereignty.There are also activities, such as reforestation of riverbanks, mangrove reforestation, and planting energy-producing trees.

The idea of this experience is to show the local authorities the success of this initiative so that they can replicate these activities in other communities.

A joint agendaThere is a shared space between communities and the municipality to build a joint working agenda for local development. Both the community and municipality are working to reforest the banks of Rio Paz, developing educational processes on environmental issues, propose putting up barriers along the river, and make up the Area Water Working Group, whose objective is to achieve adequate management of the Rio Paz watershed.

These actions described before are aimed at developing a Sustainable Management Plan for the lowlands of the Rio Paz area in the short, medium, and long term. This is Plan is a model that can be replicated on a national level.

Technical informationWater salinity studies were performed to determine salt levels in well water, with results determining that drinking water contains high salt levels, unfit for drinking. A GPS system has been used to track the flow of the river so as to later implement mitigation and prevention measures.

PROGRESS

n Communities have made action plans based on their needs and have identified hazards as floods and loss of terrains in the estuary of El Tamarindo.

n The technical investigations and studies as the diagnostic report on the mangrove forest and salinity studies of the area have important information for decision making and the creation of more effective disaster risk reduction work.

n It is important to continue with advocacy actions. The communities and municipality have a joint agenda to work on DRR, resilience, and climate change adaptation.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION

The three El Tamarindo, El Chino and El Guayabo are organized in:n Community Development Associations (ADESCOS

by its Spanish acronym)n Community Civil Protection Committeesn Inter-communal Development Association

(ADICOS by its Spanish acronym), those working with the Mayor and with NGOs on issues that affect communities.

PROJECTZONE

duration3 years


investment in the first 2 years

100,000 euros

ADDRESS

Unidad Ecolgica Salvadorea, UNES. Calle Colima # 22, Colonia Miramonte, San Salvador. El Salvador. Centroamrica.www.unes.org.sv

CONTACT

Angel IbarraExecutive [email protected]


REDUCING RISKS THROUGH FOOD SECURITY

The microregion of Southern Ahuachapn is formed by four municipalities: San Francisco Menndez, Jujutla, Guaymango and San Pedro Puxtla.This region is considered one of the most vulnerable ones in the country; it has a high poverty index, which is why the communities are more vulnerable to climate threats.

Phenomena related to climate change are becoming more frequent and severe. This has a direct impact on communities livelihoods in the region and puts food security at risk.Most of the families in this zone live from agriculture. About 81% of the micro-regions territory is used for farming primarily basic grains, sugar cane, coffee, bananas, and to a smaller degree, pasture for cattle.

Although agriculture is the economic engine of the region, natural spaces have been lost and the zone is severely deforested. Only 16% of the area has its natural forests intact. In addition, there are many problems related to the excessive use of agro-chemicals, water pollution, and inadequate use of soils. All of this worsens the environmental crisis faced in the region.

DRR initiativesThe Salvadorian Ecological Unit (UNES by its Spanish acronym) is implementing the project Reduction of vulnerability to agro-climatic risks, through advocacy, awareness raising, and implementation of agroecological alternatives in 12 communities (240 families-1,200 people) since January 2013.

UNES is a non governmental organization that fights for the protection and conservation of the environment in El Salvador.The objective of the project is to work towards food sovereignty and to reduce non-sustainable agricultural practices. This will be achieved by community capacity building and the implementation of adecuate agroecological practices.

TRAINING AND AWARENESS- RAISING PROCESSES

Community members are participating in training processes on alternative practices for the implementation of sustainable agriculture. Within these processes, the integration of young people, women, men, and community organizations has been achieved. Together they work towards food sovereignty reducing non-sustainable agricultural practices

Communities in action with sustainable agro-ecological practices to improve localagriculture and economy

15

RISK REDUCTION BY RECOVERING FOOD SOVEREIGNTYMICRO-REGION OF SOUTHERN AHUACHAPN

STAGES OF THE PROJECT

1. Training in agro-ecology and local capacity building

2. Practice of alternative agricultural production technique

3. Creation of a chain of local producers who sell their products on local markets

DEMONSTRATION PLOTS

As part of the project, 12 demonstration plots have been constructed to show that there are sustainable alternatives which improve the livelihood of the families.On these plots, corn and vegetables are being farmed. Later on, beans will be farmed, as well.

The communities are learning techniques both in theory and practice and acquiring the tools to practice ecological agriculture. This way local producers can improve as well the productivity.

Before the implementation of the project, the communities farmed only for their own consumption. Now it is expected that with the improvement in production more can be harvested, allowing them to sell the surplus on the local markets. It is also expected that local governments will support this type of initiatives upon seeing its success.

PROJECTZONE

duration3 years


investment in the first year

122, 300 euros

ADDRESS

Unidad Ecolgica SalvadoreaCalle Colima # 22, Colonia Miramonte, San Salvador, El Salvador. Centroamrica.www.unes.org.sv

CONTACT

Angel IbarraExecutive [email protected]


PROJECT COMPONENTS

The project intervention is integral, as it is composed of four closely related components:1. Improvement and expansion of the

potable water system in the four communities.

2. Construction of mitigation works along the banks of the Rio Paz.

3. Disaster preparedness and capacity building on Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction.

4. Capacity building in communities on the issues of food sovereignty and food security.

Cordaid, together with the Basque organization Euskal Fondoa, are supporting this initiative which will directly benefit 7,000 people

17

The project Integrated water and risk management in the canton La Hachadura began in December 2013 and will run for two years.The objective of this project is that communities improve their capacity for an integrated management of their risks and disaster response.The beneficiary communities are: Hachadura town center, Paz and Progreso 1 and 2, and the community El Guayabo, which all form part of the canton La Hachadura, located in the municipality of San Francisco Menndez, Ahuachapn, El Salvador. These communities are vulnerable due to their location on the lower bank of the Rio Paz, a river that overflows every rainy season, causing serious damages, such as the destruction of homes and loss of belongings, crops, and even life.In addition, some families do not have access to clean water, as it is an area with an increasing population and the existing water system is insufficient and does not supply all residences.

WORKING TOGETHER

One aspect of this project is the way in which it will be implemented, which unites the efforts of various actors.It reflects an interesting cooperation model between the Dutch agency Cordaid, the Basque organization Euskal Fondoa, the Municipality of San Francisco Menndez, the organization UNES (Unidad Ecolgica Salvadorea), community organizations (Water Boards and Community Development Associations), as well as the work of the communities themselves.This type of intervention that involves different entities gives important value to the project and impacts the expected outcomes of the project.UNES, a local partner of Cordaid, is the organization that will implement components 3 and 4 of the project and has extensive experience working in the area. UNES has supported community organization, risk management, land planning, and climate change adaptation processes, amongst others. Components 1 and 2 will be the responsibility of the Municipality of San Francisco Menndez and the involved communities.

TOWARDS INTEGRATED WATER AND RISK MANAGEMENT

ACTIVITIES

Some of the concrete actions within the project are:n Construction of a new water system for

475 families who do not have access to this resource at home.

n Construction of a stone masonry retention wall (Gabions retention wall) on the banks of the Rio Paz, to help avoid the flooding that often occurs every rainy season in the town center of the canton La Hachadura.

n Awareness-raising sessions on disaster risk reduction.

n Installation of agro-ecological demonstration plots using permaculture techniques.

n Elaboration of community plans and action strategies on disaster risks.

n Reconstruction and training for four civil protection community commissions on the prevention and mitigation of disasters.

n Elaboration of four community civil protection plans on disaster prevention and mitigation.

n Training in the use of tools for disaster prevention and response.

n Elaboration of maps and school protection plans by students and teachers from four local schools, using the Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction approach

PROJECTZONE

duration2 years

start dateDecember 2013


1,108,483 euros

cordaids contribution

591,749 euros

ADDRESS

Unidad Ecolgica SalvadoreaCalle Colima # 22, Colonia Miramonte, San Salvador, El Salvador. Centroamrica.www.unes.org.sv

CONTACT

ngel [email protected]


A REPLICABLE MODEL

It is expected that this project will serve as an example that can be replicated in other communities in the region. It is important to emphasize that in order to achieve tangible outcomes and important changes in the communities, active participation and join work is necessary between different actors (local government, communities, NGOs and international cooperation agencies).

STRENGTHENING TECHNICAL, ORGANIZATIONAL AND ADVOCACY CAPACITIES FOR RISK MANAGEMENT

The United Community Association for Water and Agriculture (ACUA by its Spanish acronym) is a non governmental organization that works in processes related to water, food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture.

ACUA is implementing the project Strengthening technical, organizational and advocacy capacities for risk management with the objective of improving the quality of life of 180 families (900 people) that face social, alimentary, and environmental problems.

To achieve this objective and reduce the impacts of climate change, these communities are working with the Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) methodology.

The participating communities, Paniagua, El Milagro, Santa Luca, El Bebedero Arriba, Parcelacin San Jos and El Cofre, were directly affected by the tropical depression 12E, a climate phenomenon that provoked emergencies and severe damages all around El Salvador. Floods and landslides were the most common consequences provoked by the storm.

This experience motivated community leaders to seek help with the municipal governments and ask ACUA for support on the issue of risk prevention.

The community of El Milagro is composed of 60 families that relocated to the zone after their houses were damaged during the 2001 earthquakes. The community is located on the La Pepesquera riverbed, which overflows and floods the community each winter. El Milagro has shown high interest in the CMDRR process and excelled its organization.

A LEARNING PROCESS

The communities involved in the project have completed their risks analyses, which include hazard, vulnerability, and capacity assessments.They have also elaborated their community planning. They created development plans where they detail and prioritize their needs based on the gaps identified in the risk analyses.Next, they planned community development actions and contingency plans in which they analyzed possible scenarios to identify what todo in case of an emergency.As part of strengthening community capacities, 20 young people from 6 communities have been trained in the use of video as a tool to reduce risks. This group produces videos about different risks in the community.

Six communities in San Julin, Sonsonate, are working with the Community ManagedDisaster Risk Reduction methodology.

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STRENGTHENING CAPACITIES FOR RISK REDUCTIONCONSTRUCTION OF COMPOST LATRINES

ACHIEVEMENTS

In the community of El Milagro, a sanitation project is underway that consists of constructing 45 composting latrines.This is one of the needs prioritized in the development plan, which responds to the hazard of inappropriate waste disposal.

In five other communities orchards and fruit gardens have been planted, plants barriers have been planted avoid erosion of the soil, and cleaning campaigns held, and drainage placed to avoid floods.

As part of the contingency plan, some people in the community have joined the Civil Protection Commission of the municipality, keeping them alert and prepared in case of emergencies.

PROJECTZONE

duration3 years


investment in 2 years139,987 euros

ADDRESS

Avenida Monseor Romero 31-E, Barrio La Cruz, Municipio de Zaragoza, Despartament of La Libertad, El Salvador.http://www.acua.org.sv/

CONTACT

[email protected]


OrganizationRisk committees have been conformed in the six communities and each of them has a good relation with the municipality and other local authorities.

Together they are working to implement different projects as the construction of a longhouse, water projects, construction of water tanks in each community, lands legalization among others.There are also 15 new community leaders (7 women and 8 men) working in the risk reduction process.

WHAT REMAINS TO BE DONE?

n Joint work: The six communities are organized, but they plan to create a joint work plan and involve other organizations and local authorities, as well.

This could lay the foundation for creating a multi-sectored advocacy space for implementing Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction actions at a municipal level.

n Finishing the construction of 15 latrines. n Continue with actions for environmental awareness, cleaning campaigns, planting natural

barriers, grow family orchards and make workshops about agriculture.n Seeking food security measures for the involved families.

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MOUNTAIN MICROORGANISMS

The United Community Association for Water and Agriculture (ACUA) is a non governmental organization that works in processes related to water, food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture.ACUA is implementing the pilot project Mountain Microorganisms with the objective of promoting the use of them to contribute to the preservation and restoration of ecosystems. In this project, there are 60 families (300 people) from the Chiquilequita, La Ceiba and Los Daz communities, from the Santa Isabel Ishuatn municipality, in the department of Sonsonate, which is located 72 kilometers from San Salvador.

What are mountain microorganisms (mm)?Mountain microorganisms are a combination of beneficial bacteria, yeast and fungi of natural origin that were discovered during the 1970s by the Japanese doctor Teruo Higa.In the beginning, they were used exclusively in agriculture, but recently it has been discovered that they can be used for residual water treatment, organic waste treatment, food for animals and there are even some that state that it can be used to treat problems related with diseases affecting human health. ChangesDuring many decades, the families that participated in the project have grown basic grains, principally corn, bean, sorghum, and occasionally squash. Their communities are now severely deforested, mainly because of destructive agricultural practices that have damaged their soils.Before the start of the project, the communities did not have knowledge about sustainable agriculture, nor ecological practices which reduce their dependence on agro-chemical products.Now, the families of the involved communities have learned to reproduce the MM and use them in agriculture, make organic fertilizers, prepare repellents for pests, and

Before, we did not know how to put that on (The MM). Now we feel happy because we can use the microorganisms and I feel it is easier, because I can water it without being afraid of getting something contaminated, also the stomach feels better by eating things without the chemicals.Ada Luz Lpez de Portillo, community member and participant.

Contributing to the preservation and restoration of ecosystems in the municipality ofSanta Isabel Ishuatn

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MOUNTAIN MICROORGANISMSECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT: A PILOT PROJECT

IMPACT OF THE PROJECT

Participants state that the project has allowed them to improve family nutrition, as it promotes respect for the environment by reducing or eliminating the use of chemical products as fertilizers or pest control methods. ACUA has included the use of Mountain Microorganisms in their Sustainable Agriculture Programme, so this practice is promoted in other communities where Acua Works as well.Acua facilitators have been trained in this method so they can replicate this knowledge in different communities.Acua is promoting the use of Mountain Microorganisms through a video documentary, texts and other educational materials.Tours and experience exchanges have been made with other organizations that Works in similar processes.Community people also participate in public spaces to promote the use of MM.

PROJECTZONE

duration3 years



ADDRESS

Avenida Monseor Romero 31-E, Barrio La Cruz, Municipio de Zaragoza, Departamento La Libertad, El Salvador.http://www.acua.org.sv/

CONTACT

[email protected]

For additional information about this experience, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNJtYZoVus&feature=youtu.be


elaborate foliar fertilizers and bio-stimulants for use in composting latrines.In the communities, the learn by doing methodology is used. As part of the learning process, one collective plot was divided into 35 parts in order to allow each family to improve and diversify their crops, planting variety of crops.The use of MM is an effective alternative to stop soil pollution and change to sustainable agricultural practices.

THE FUNCTIONS OF THE MICROORGANISMS ARE:

n Decomposition of organic materialn Compete with harmful

microorganismsn Recycle nutrients for plantsn Filter nitrogen in the groundn Break down toxic substances (such as

pesticides)n Produce natural substances and

components that improve the grounds texture

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FIGHTING FOR WATER AS A RIGHT

The Water Forum works towards achieving the right, equity and sustainability of water in El Salvador. It is a broad platform of the Salvadoran social movement that brings together more than 100 nongovernmental organizations, churches, community associations, funding agencies and municipalities.

How the water forum startedThe Water Forum made its first public appearance in October 17th, 2006 on the shores of the Acelhuate River. This place is emblematic since it is the dirtiest and most contaminated river in all of the country. Solid waste and untreated water (coming from different industries) is dumped into this river. Thousands of families live along this river. The Water Forum publicly denounces the scarcity of a regulatory legal framework that assures sustainable water management.

Law proposalsBetween 2006 and 2008, the Water Forum presented three law proposals to the Legislative Assembly (Congress) that aimed to respond to the lack of water legislation:n General Waters law proposal (2006)n Drinking water and sanitation law proposal (2007) n Constitutional Reform to recognize the human right to water (2008)

The Congress didnt review the proposals. The Water Forum updated the General Waters law proposal and went back to Congress in 2011 to present it again.Since there was still no answer, the Water Forum joined forces with El Salvadors Human Rights Office and agreed to take the issue to the international level, presenting a first report to the Inter American Court of Human Rights in October of 2011.

The General Water Law contains more than 100 articles. The objective of this law is:To regulate the sustainable and integral water management, no matter its location or physical state, as an essential element for sustainability in El Salvador.

The Water Forum works against projects that threaten the sustainability of water,such as metallic mining, large-scale dam constructions and others that decrease the disposition and renovation of water and that put the quality of life of the Salvadoran population in danger.

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THE BLUE RIGHTTHE RIGHT TO WATER

IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENTS

In April 2012, a positive result was achieved, when Congress, with 81 votes in favor, approved the constitutional reform to recognize the human right to water.

Article 69, Section IV of the Constitution titled Public Health, Food, Water and Social Assistance was modified to state: All people have right to adequate food. The water is an essential resource for life, and therefore it is the States duty to preserve and take advantage of water and to assure its access to all the population.

After six years of fighting for a legal framework in the country that regulates and assures sustainable water management, finally on January 2013, the Environment and Climate Change Commission of the National Assembly started the revision of the General Water law proposal presented by the Water Forum in 2011.

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources presented its own proposal to the Congress, which is also under review. The General Water Law contains more than 100 articles. The objective of this law is:To regulate the sustainable and integral water management, no matter its location or physical state, as an essential element for sustainability in El Salvador.

PROJECTZONE

duration3 years



ADDRESS

7a. calle oriente, #9. Urbanizacin Santa Mnica, Santa Tecla, El Salvador. Centroamrica.www.forodelagua.org.sv

CONTACT

Xenia [email protected]


ADVOCACY ACTIONS

In 2010 the Water Forum started the advocacy campaign Because water is my right, to demand that Congress reviewed and passed the water law.Radio announcements and programs, press conferences, television shows, public mobilizations, local forums, and other actions were made for this purpose.

A new fight!Since 2012, a new struggle seeking sustainable water management has been undertaken by the Water Forum: Trans-border Waters.

El Salvador depends on its neighboring countries of Guatemala and Honduras for its water. The basin of the Lempa River is the main source of potable water for the whole country, and it originates in Guatemala, with many rivers from Honduras which flow into the Ro Lempa.

A mega mining project Cerro Blanco located in Asuncion Mita, Guatemala, is the greatest threat for Salvadorans; along with the existence of other exploration projects located along the Honduran border.

WITNESSES BEHIND THE GLASS

Since the analysis of the General Water law proposal started, the members of the Water Forum have constantly monitored discussion on the subject. Every Tuesday, a congressional commission studies and discusses the water law with members of the Water Forum, community representatives, and members of the coordinating commission, listening and watching behind a glass wall.The discussion sessions are also live broadcasted through the Water Forum Website www.forodelagua.org.sv. This site is also used to publicly denounce the negligence of some right-wing congress people who trying to stall discussion and analysis of the General Water Law. The Water Forum publishes audios of the sessions through community radios in different places, where many people are eager to learn about the development and progress of the legislative sessions.

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CLEANING OF THE TAMULASCO RIVER BY SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES

Las Vueltas is one of the 7 municipalities that integrate the Montaona municipal group, which is an association dedicated to the protection of natural resources in the mountain known as La Montaona.

This area provides water to a large part of the department of Chalatenango and is considered one of the lungs of Salvadoran territory.For management purposes, the municipality is divided into 6 cantons and 35 hamlets. Caritas Chalatenango has been working in 5 of these 6 cantons since 2012: La Ceiba, La Laguna, Conacaste, San Jos Amatillo y Los Naranjos. (249 families-1,245 people)

Caritas Chalatenango is an organization of the Catholic Church of El Salvador that encourages, promotes, and manages organized charity efforts in Chalatenango. Currently they work in 12 municipalities in the department on issues such as sustainable agriculture, water, community organization, and community savings and credit systems.

In these communities, CORDAID funds the project Strengthening Local Capacities for Water Resources Management which uses the Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction methodology.

Critas Chalatenango is implementing this project and is focused on helping communities increase their capacities in integral management of water resources. This means improving the cleaning of the Tamulasco River, transforming farming practices, and creating a more active involvement from the Mayors Office in regulation of natural resource use.

LESSONS LEARNED

1. It is necesary to raise awareness on the CMDRR approach with organizations in the area in order to strengthen the co-operation between them.

2. It is important to strengthen participatory facilitation techniques to increase community participation and inspire involvement in every stage of the project.

3. It is important to promote an integral vision of Water Resources Management within the communities. Up until now, the actions have generally been reactive.

4. Communities advocacy processes towards local governments should be strengthened.

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LAS VUELTASSTRENGTHENING LOCAL CAPACITIES FOR WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

ACHIEVEMENTS

Water filters and fish tanksThree filters for greywater treatment have been made. These filters are also used for irrigation in family orchards and for maintaining handmade fish tanks. Currently, 4 families have elaborated fish tanks.

Water community diagnosis, risk assessment and community planningThe identified disaster risks reduction measures are aimed towards infrastructure management, strengthening community organization, revision of agricultural practices, reforestation, construction of filters to treat greywater, and cleanup campaigns along the shores of the Tamulasco River.

Community plant nurseryCommunities participated in the collection of seeds from native species to create a plant nursery with fruit and forest trees. The farmers produced 200 trees and the project contributed 100 more, making a total of 300 trees, which were delivered and distributed in the backyards of the houses and on the plots of the participating families.

Working togetherThere is an agreement with the municipality of Las Vueltas to strengthen community organizations that manage water systems.There is also a tree planting campaign underway in the areas where water springs collect water.

ACTIVITIES PROJECTION

n Experiment with mountain microorganisms for treatment of greywater and water from tributaries. The treated water will be used for fish farming and irrigation.

n Implement sustainable agricultural practices such as soil conservation projects, crop diversification, elaboration of organic agricultural products, and the collection and reproduction of mountain microorganisms.

n Strengthen the group of youth video producers in the municipalities of Las Vueltas and Nueva Concepcin by improving their technical and methodological abilities, facilitation skills, and production of participatory community videos that make an impact in the municipality.

CLEANING CAMPAIGNS

In 2012, two cleanup campaigns were conducted in the urban area of Las Vueltas and another one along the shores of the Tamulasco River. In these campaigns, children and young people from the Basic Education School and Secondary Educational Institute from Las Vueltas participated.

In Las Vueltas there is a Rescue Committee for the Tamulasco River, which is formed by members of all 6 cantons of the municipality and other organizations working in the area. This is a space to discuss different problems in the communities, elaborate proposals, and to come to agreements on actions to protect and conserve natural resources in the area.

An average of 35 people partipate in the Intersectorial Committee for the Rescue of the Tamulasco River; amongst them representatives from local governments, the Catholic Church, Community Development Associations, government institutions (health, Civil Protection, and Education), and NGOs.

The actions taken by this group have been: educational talks, clean-up campaigns, reforestation campaigns, and awareness-raising activities for tourists regarding solid waste treatment and forest fire prevention.

PROJECTZONE

duration3 years



ADDRESS

Colonia Reubicacin 2, Calle Principal, San Bartolo, Chalatenango, El Salvador. www.caritaselsalvador.org.sv

CONTACT

Eberto DomnguezGeneral [email protected]

Lorena AlvarengaMonitory and Planing [email protected]


THE FIGHT TO DEFEND LIFE IN CERRO BLANCO

On September 29th, 2007, the government of the Republic of Guatemala granted authorization to the company Entre Mares de Guatemala S.A., (subsidiary of the Canadian company Goldcorp Incorporation), for the extraction of metallic minerals through the mining project Cerro Blanco.

This project represents a high risk of environmental disaster on the border between Guatemala and El Salvador. The contamination of the goldmine will go directly into the Osta River causing pollution of riverbeds and riverbanks down river.

The mine will also affect the Gija lake, which flows into the Lempa River, the most important river in El Salvador. Pollution by filtration of superficial waters will also generate mid-and long-term impacts. The EIS (Environmental Impact Study) presented by Entre Mares/Goldcorp contains no plan for the mitigation of these risks, especially once mining company has finished its activities.

Stop the Cerro Blanco goldmineThe project titled Defense of life and national heritage of Guatemala and El Salvador, is being implemented by the Investement and Trade Investigation Center (CEICOM by its spanish acronym) and Madreselva in 21 communities (8 in Guatemala and 13 in El Salvador) and is financed by Cordaid. (1,863 families- 12,765 people)

Ceicom is an organization that works in processes related to free trade, food sovereignty, water and protection to the environment.Madreselva is a group of organizations that works to protect nature and accompanies projects and communities that are organized against projects that threaten the ecological balance.

The principal objective of the project is to stop the Cerro Blanco mining project. To achieve this advocacy, legal and diplomatic actions will be implemented to defend cross-border water resources from arsenic and cyanide contamination. Capacities of community members and social organizations will be strengthened.

THE GENERAL OBJECTIVE IN 2013 IS:

To strengthen community and social organizations capacities for analysis, organization, coordination, and elaboration of proposals, implementing advocacy and legal and diplomatic action plans against the Cerro Blanco mining project and in defense of the cross-border water resources.

This objective will be achieved by working on the following guidelines:Intensification of community and partner organizations social and political mobilization actions Strengthening local capacities to take actions to stop the Cerro Blanco mining project.

Continue water monitoring, a health baseline and the bio-monitoring of micro-invertebrates in order to show the social and environmental impacts of the Cerro Blanco mining project.

Communities in El Salvador and Guatemala are struggling to stop the Cerro Blancomining project, which will cause pollution of important rivers in the region

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MOBILIZING COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT VITAL WATER SOURCES AGAINST CONTAMINATION

PROJECTZONE

duration3 years



ADDRESS

Centro de Investigacin sobre Inversin y Comercio, CEICOM.Urbanizacin Universitaria, Calle Las Violetas, Av. Los Lirios, No. 93, San Salvador, El Salvador.www.ceicom.org.sv

Colectivo Madreselva6. avenida sur A 0-26, zona 2, Guatemala.www.madreselva.org.gt

CONTACT

Edgardo [email protected]

David [email protected]


Principal actions planned to achieve this objetive: 1. Work meetings with community leaders and local

organizations.2. Awareness raising talks aimed at residents in the

target communities and urban populations of Asuncin Mita and Metapn

3. Workshops in risk with communities4. Two public protests

ACHIEVEMENTS

1. Community awareness raising and organization around the Cerro Blanco mine, Gija Lake and Metapn municipality. Communities play an active role in advocacy-based actions aimed at stopping the Cerro Blanco Project.

2. Sharing experiences between community leaders and improved coordination between the partner organizations of Guatemala and El Salvador.

3. Communities have improved their abilities in identifying aquatic invertebrates that indicate water quality. Water quality has been monitored from specific locations related to the Cerro Blanco Project.

4. The Cerro Blanco project is considered a bi-national issue, with the Salvadoran government placing it on their agenda and increasing negotiations with the Guatemalan government.

This has provoked reactions by congresses, chancellors, Plan Trifinio, the Salvadoran Human Rights Defense Attorney, The Central American Parliament, governmental ministries and the media.

5. There are two investigations conducted by national and foreign experts that support scientific arguments to pose technical questioning of the Cerro Blanco mining project.

6. The Human Rights Defense Attorney has elaborated a Special Report on the Cerro Blanco Mine, questioning its authorization and pressuring the Salvadoran government to immediately declare in defense of the human rights threatened by this project.

7. The issue of the Cerro Blanco mine has been inclused in the 2013 agenda of the Interamerican Human Rights Commission and will take more force in during the year.

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VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN ACTION TOWARDS RESILIENCE

Partners for Resilience (PfR) is a consortium of the Dutch non-governmental organizations: Dutch Red Cross, Climate Center of the Red Cross, Care the Netherlands, Cordaid and Wetlands International.This organizations work with the objective of strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities to deal with the disaster risks increased by the climate change effects and the degradation of environment.PfR has a 4 year programme, from 2011 to 2014, in which they focus on 3 strategic lines:1. Communities Resilience: The communities increase their capacities to reduce the risks and adapt

to climate change.2. Strengthening of the civil society: The capacities of local and/or civil society organizations are

strengthened for the development of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Improvement and Restoration of Ecosystems (IRE), which favors the implementation of political dialogue initiatives, in every level.

3. Political incidence: The institutional context favors the DRR/CCA/IRE approaches at national, departmental and local levels.

Cordaids interventionOut of the five organizations that form PfR, three have field work: Red Cross, Care and Cordaid.The local partner of Cordaid in Guatemala is Critas Zacapa, which is working on the Strengthening of Resilience in communities of Zacapa and Chiquimula project.Critas, Dicesis de Zacapa is an organization of the Catholic Church of Guatemala that works towards community development, equality and social justice in the departments of Zacapa and Chiquimula.

The project is executed in eleven communities: two from the Camotn municipality and one from Concepcin Las Minas (Department of Chiquimula), and eight communities from the Cabaas municipality (Department of Zacapa). In total, there are 1,313 families that are being benefited. (6,600 people)

METHODOLOGY

Critas Zacapa implements its project with a CMDRR approach, a methodology that characterizes Cordaids work in Central America and that seeks to empower the communities and make them more resilient.

Integrating DRR, Climate Change and Ecosystem management & restoration.

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STRENGTHENING THE RESILIENCE OF COMMUNITIES IN ZACAPA AND CHIQUIMULA, GUATEMALA

PROJECTZONE

duration4 years


project Investment1.2 Million Euro

ADDRESS

CARITAS DIOCESIS DE ZACAPA.12 calle A, final zona 1. Barrio La Laguna, Zacapa. Guatemala.www.caritasguatemala.org

CONTACT

Christian [email protected]


RESULTS

By the end of the first semester of 2013, some of the concrete results of the projects execution in all the proposed strategic lines are already visible.

Communities resilience1. The eleven communities within the project

have risk assessments and risk maps, as well as development and contingency plans.

2. Drinking water projects have been implemented in all the communities. Additionally, 4 thousand trees have been planted as part of reforestation projects in the watersheds that feed the communities.

3. There is a strong community organization. All the communities have risk reduction committees, youth video producers groups, women groups, environment and agriculture brigades, among others.

4. New micro projects have been identified, to be executed in the second semester. Projects such as wood saving stoves, manure latrines and ecological filters.

Civil society strengthening 1. Local, departmental and national authorities have

knowledge about DRR/CCA/IRE.2. The eleven communities of the Project have

knowledge of the Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction methodology and climate change. The Critas Zacapa personnel have also been strengthened in these subjects.

3. There is a decision of local actors, leaded by Critas Zacapa, of forming a Regional Climate Change Table that includes the DRR/CCA and IRE approaches.

4. There is an agreement between Critas Zacapa and MARN (Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources by its Spanish acronym) for the elaboration of educational texts in environment and CMDRR for students in the communities of three municipalities (Huit, Cabaas and San Diego).

Strengthening of political incidence1. The orientation of public budgets for DRR/CCA and

IRE has been achieved. For example, there is a good relationship and agreement with the Cabaas municipality, which has agreed to contribute with 20% of the funds for the micro projects in the eight communities of the municipality.

2. There is a permanent dialogue with the governing bodies of the DRR in Guatemala, which are the government organizations: Executive Secretariat of the National Coordination for the Disaster Reduction, SECONRED, MARN (Ministry of environment and Natural Resources) and the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP).

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The municipality of Cabaas is situated in the socalled Dry corridor that includes the eastern and south-eastern areas of Guatemala. The average temperature on this area is 32C and can reach extreme temperatures of 43C.

The scarce rains of this area further deepen the difficulties of access to water and the food security of the communities settling in the region.

Since december 2013, Critas Dicesis de Zacapa executes the Project: Improving resilience through alternative livelihood, in Cabaas, Zacapa, Guatemala. This project will last one year and will benefit 3,204 people (604 families).

The participant communities are: Cerco de Piedra, El Arenal, Los Encuentros, El Sols, Sunzapote, Plan de la Cruz, Santo Toms and Lomas de San Juan. The objective of the project is to strengthen the community resilience and to reduce the impact of the drought in the community livelihoods.

RESULTS AND ACTIVITIES

This Project has three expected results and specific activities have been proposed to achieve them.

1. The communities have alternative livelihood with a permaculture approach.Activities:

Implementation of farm and orchards (the beneficiary families will be able to choose between raising chickens, pigs, or implementing an orchard).

Trainings on Permaculture. Incorporation of at least 4 community

irrigation systems. Use of resources such as mountain

microorganisms on the family gardens. Support for 50 women for the elaboration

of crafts such as pots, griddles, hammocks and souvenirs.

It is important to stand out that the Colegio de Ingenieros Agrnomos, CIAG, will advise the communities in the use of the irrigation system. Likewise, the Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadera y Alimentacin, MAGA, will give technical assistance on the agricultural subject.

Eight communities from the Cabaas municipality, in the department of Zacapa, Guatemala, are executing a project with the support of Critas Dicesis de Zacapa and Cordaid.

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IMPROVING RESILIENCE THROUGH ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD

PROJECTZONE

duration1 year

start dateDecember 2013

Investment248,000 euros

ADDRESS

12 calle A final, contiguo a Colegio Nuestra Seora de Ftima, zona 1, Zacapa, Guatemala..www.caritasguatemala.org

CONTACT

Christian DomnguezExecutive [email protected]


2. Sustainable management of the water sources, and improvement of the quality of water by the communities.

Activities: Protection of at least 8 local water sources and

reforestation of its surroundings. Use of ecological filters for the purification and

improvement of the quality of the drinking water of every household.

Cleaning and maintenance of eight tanks to supply water to the communities.

Reforestation of the high zone of the San Vicente river basin.

3. Guaranteeing the food security of the population.

Activities: Delivering two allocations of food to each family:

corn, beans, sugar, rice, oil, oatmeal and milk. The deliveries will be made on April and May, the two months considered to be the driest of the summer.

Supply each family with corn and beans seeds for their crops.

Education on climate change and disaster risk reduction on the schools.

IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION

Critas Dicesis de Zacapa is the social arm of the Catholic Church and has focused its efforts on the support for the impoverished communities.

Critas is the local partner of Cordaid in Partners for Resilience (PfR), where they work along with the following organizations: Dutch Red Cross, CARE Netherlands, the Climate Center of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, Cordaid and Wetlands International. In the context of this alliance, Critas executes a Disaster Risk Reduction Project on the communities of Zacapa and Chiquimula since 2011, including the eight communities of Cabaas.

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Cordaid partner Caritas of the diocese of Santa Rosa de Copn has been working since 2012 on the project Protection of water and territories of the Gisayote mountain with a Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction focus, basis this project primarily in the municipality of La Labor.

Caritas Santa Rosa de Copn is an organization of the Catholic Church of Honduras that works towards development and the social transformation of the communities. Initially six villages started this process. In 2013, the project included six more communities. (Total: 1,253 families-6,265 persons) in the 6 municipalities that cover the reserves territory as well as the park rangers.

Community in actionThe twelve villages have worked on their disaster risk reduction plans, development plans, and participatory risk analyses. Caritas has facilitated the process for the organization of 6 Local Emergency Committees and 12 waterboards, which are trained to respond to threats to the reserve such as mining and chemical use in agricultural production.These committees are also working to reduce risks related to natural hazards that could affect the forests, water, and the habitants of the region.

Mitigation activitiesThe buffer zone of the reserve is an area that allows for agricultural production. This leads to deforestation as well as environmental contamination due to the heavy use of chemicals that seep into the small water sources that supply water to the seventeen villages of the La Labor municipality. Despite the prohibition of human settlements in the nuclear protected zone of the reserve, several families live here already for many years. Because of the lack of latrines and waste management and chemical use in agricultural production, these families

Located in parts of six municipalities of Ocotepeque, Gisayote is a major watershed for Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, including a source of the Rio Lempa, El Salvadors principal river. Its more than seventy square kilometers including a protected area of eighteen square kilometers in the zone. The cloud forest has a height of 2,100 meters.

El Gisayote is a region of cloud forests in the department of Ocotepeque in southwestHonduras. It is a mayor watershed for Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.El Gisayote was designated a Biological Reserve by the Honduras Congress in 1987. UNESCO declared it a Heritage of Humanity.

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THE BIOLOGICAL RESERVE EL GISAYOTEPROTECTION OF WATER AND TERRITORY


daily habits have contributed to contamination of water sources. Bacteriological and chemical analyses of the water of the six communities have been made, finding Fecal Coliforms in the water.

Risk reduction measuresCaritas and the affected communities have undertaken other risk reduction measures. In 2012, three latrines were built and ten more are in process this year. Small chlorine filters were installed in the water holding tanks of two communities.In addition, Caritas has employed a new staff person to work with farmers in the area on incorporating organic agricultural practices in their fields.

SOME ACHIEVEMENTS

n Fifteen young people in 6 communities of Gisayote have been trained in the use of community video as a tool to reduce risks.

n Members of the six communities have received training in treatment of solid wastes and other themes related to the care and defense of water and the reserve.

n Caritas has assisted the 12 villages and 12 municipal water boards. Thirteen local water boards are in the process of obtaining legal status. Another major result has been the formation of an organization that includes the municipal water boards of five of the municipalities that form part of the reserve.

n There is a consciousness raising campaign directed to the local population, working with the local media as well as local schools.

PROJECTZONE

duration3 years


investment in the first 2 years180, 307 euros

ADDRESS

Calle Centenario, next to Parque infantil, Santa Rosa de Copn, Honduras.www.caritashonduras.org/

CONTACT

Jos [email protected]

LOCAL LEADERS

Community leaders have good relations with the current mayor of La Labor as well as the pastor of the local parish. They were especially active in preventing the change of status of the reserve. In 2013 they plan to work with the six municipalities that cover the reserves territory, as well as with the park rangers.

DEFENDING GISAYOTE! The reserve is rich in minerals, including gold and silver, which puts it at risk of mining interests. In the face of these threats, Caritas has assisted local leaders in their formation of the Committee for the Defense of Gisayote. This Committee is conformed by local leaders and the Mayor of La Labor.

In 2012, with the cooperation of the mayor and other groups in the area, the Committee prevented the proclamation of a law in the National Congress that would have changed the status of the reserve to a national park, which would have opened the way to mining in all areas of the reserve. Caritas has assisted the Committee in understanding Honduras environmental legislation, including the Law of Drinking Water and the Law of the Environment. The Committee is working on strengthening its capacities and working to become a foundation that will continue in its work to defend the reserve.

Pastoral SocialCritas de Honduras

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Since 1975, the Association Hermandad de Honduras has been working for the promotion of sustainable human development and agricultural practices. It currently serves more than 2,000 families in over 60 communities. In the department of Ocotepeque, they work in the municipalities of Beln Gualcho, Mercedes, San Francisco del Valle, La Labor, Dolores Merendn, San Jorge, San Marcos, Sensenti, Lucerna, and Ocotepeque. In the department of Lempira, they work in the municipalities of San Manuel, San Sebastin, and Cololaca. Since January of 2014, Cordaid is financing the project Territorial Management for Disaster Risk Reduction with an Emphasis on Water and Soil in the Gisayote Biological Reserve, Department of Ocotepeque, Honduras. This project will benefit 17 communities from 4 municipalities: Mercedes, La Labor, San Marcos, and San Francisco, in the Department de Ocotepeque, Honduras, serving a total of 446 families (5,860 people). The Gisayote Biological Reserve is of international importance because one part of it forms the border between Honduras and El Salvador. In addition, it provides water to both countries, principally the Lempa River, which is the most important river in El Salvador.

Reduction of firewood consumption (resulting in less cutting down of trees) through the installation of 100 firewood-efficient stoves, organic farming, soil conservation, and drip irrigation systems.

The Association Hermandad de Honduras is implementing a risk reduction project in the Biological Reserve El Gisayote, Honduras with Cordaids support

THE GISAYOTE BIOLOGICAL RESERVE:A HERITAGE OF HUMANITY

ORGANIC AGRICULTURE AND CMDRR As part of the project, three demonstration plots will be built to produce vegetables with organic farming techniques. Each plot has an area 1,747 square meters and will be equipped with a covered area built of wood and tin to serve as a venue for trainings for farmers as well as an irrigation system and macro tunnel. This is the site where organic fertilizers will be produced and integrated crop management techniques will be applied.The plots will be located in areas that facilitate access to people from various communities, and it will serve as a teaching/learning model on the productive cycle of vegetables. The goal of implementing these practice plots is to reduce farmers use of chemicals and encourage the use of biological products for organic production.Furthermore, the project seeks that the involved communities begin the Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) process. In this process the community does a risk analysis as well as the elaboration and implementation of risk reduction plans, contingency plans, and the implementation of mitigation measures. Such measures include the reduction of firewood consumption (resulting in less cutting down of trees) through the installation of 100 firewood-efficient stoves, organic farming, soil conservation projects, and drip irrigation systems.It is also expected that community organization will be strengthened through this process and that partnerships for disaster risk reduction will be formed with different institutions such as municipal governments, municipal groups, and government institutions and ministries.

ADDRESS

Asociacin Hermandad de Honduras, HDH-OPD, Barrio La Herradura, San Marcos, Ocotepeque, [email protected]

CONTACT

Jos Antonio ValleExecutive [email protected]


WORKING TOGETHER Work in the municipality of La Labor will be coordinated with Caritas Santa Rosa de Copan, another organization that also works in the area and is funded by Cordaid. This coordination will serve as a means of sharing experiences, planning actions together, and for policy implementation for advocacy work with the local government and governmental institutions.Monthly meetings will be held between staff of the two institutions to evaluate and plan activities.

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT As part of the activities of the project, training was included for technical staff of Hermandad de Honduras on the Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) methodology and the use of participatory video as a tool for risk reduction.

This 10-day training was facilitated by the Pool of Trainers (ASPRODE) and is expected to strengthen the foundation of facilitators work, as the CMDRR methodology seeks to deeply analyze field workers practices in their work with communities.

This methodology is a unique characteristic of Cordaid partners work and the foundation of their philosophy on working with communities.

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duration1 year


Investment in one year

128,000 euros

PROJECTZONE

TOWARDS COMMUNITY RESILIENCE

La Asomada Community is located 17 kilometers north of the city of Gracias, department of Lempira, Honduras, and is located near the crucial protected area of the Puca Wildlife Sanctuary.La Asomada is made up of approximately 1,096 families who produce corn, beans, vegetables, and coffee and sugar cane on a small scale.Currently, their production activities and their water sources are under threat by resource privatization, deforestation, chemical use, and more.

A project for resilienceRed Comal is a small producers and consumers association that promotes the solidarity economy.Comal organizes workshops and trainings about production and trade processes in the communities with this approach.Since November 2012, Red Comal is implementing in La Asomada the project Building capacities for risk and climate change impact reduction.With the support of CORDAID, La Asomada and the neighboring communities of El Tabln, Catatao and El Zapote (676 families- 4,056 people) have held different activities to improve community organization and build capacities. The water boards have begun taking action to protect water and begin sanitation in the Caje and Suptal River watersheds.They have done a basin diagnosis, created a list of springs in the area, and are currently in the process of learning about environmental laws.Farmers have created four agro-ecological farms, which integrate the raising of hens and crops in an environmentally friendly way, contributing to adaptability to climate change.They also built 4 demonstrative plots oriented to guarantee families food sovereignty and security through small-scale production of corn, beans, coffee, sugar cane and some vegetables.

Communities working together for the defense of water resources, sanitation of theCaje and Suptal River watersheds, and improved livelihoods

ACHIEVEMENTS

n Active participation by community organizations in every phases of the process.

n The communities understand and implement concepts about disaster risk reduction, climate change and livelihoods.

n All communities involved in the process have made hazard maps. The principal hazards are drought, agrochemical pollution, and deforestation, among others.

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LA ASOMADABUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE

INVOLVED ACTORS IN THE PROCESS

Community Level: Members of 9 farmers associations, 4 water boards, 4 community boards, 4 womens groups, 4 ecclesiastical base communities, and 4 youth groups.

Municipality Level: The Municipalitys Emergency Committee (CODEM in its Spanish acronym) the local government of Gracias, Lempira participate in meetings with community members where they work on water issues.

Regional Level: Allied organizations for the defense of water, such as as the Regional Board for Risk Management Advocacy, The Puca Foundation, and Jicatuyo Foundation.

There are also other NGOs that work directly with the community on issues such as food security and agro-ecological agriculture such as: World Food Program (WFP), the Land Access Program (PACTA), and The Sciences and Technology Direction (DICTA).

Other institutions working in the communities: ANAFAE, that works on family orchards and FIPHA which works in the issue of climate change and improved seeds.

ValueRed Comal is using Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction methodology to implement its work in the communities.

Agroecological demonstration plots are part of the project.

Comal also promotes access to clean water as a human right.

PARTICIPATION

Women and youth groups participate in different trainings, such as youth environmental consciousness raising camps and workshops where they learn how to make videos related to the protection of the Puca Mountain and their livelihoods. Womens groups participate in meetings, trainings, and other activities.

PROJECTZONE

duration3 years

start dateNovember 2012


70,000 euros

MORE INFORMATION

Red Comal Alternative Trade Networkwww.redcomal.org.hn

ADDRESS

Km. 5, road to La Esperanza, Siguatepeque, [email protected]

CONTACT

Jos Ismael GarcaFacilitator [email protected]

Jess Misael CrcamoExecutive Director [email protected]


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THE PROJECT Since January 2014, PILARH is administering the project Community Management for Risk Reduction in the Rio Blanco Micro Watershed. This project is supported by Cordaid and will directly benefit 2,599 people. There are also an estimated 3,000 indirect beneficiaries located in the watershed area.

The project intervention area is located in the town of Las Flores Lempira, specifically in the village of Mariposa, hamlet El Progreso (of the same village), the village of Monte de la Virgen, and the hamlets of El Plann and Corralitos, all located in the Rio Blanco Micro Watershed (31.73 km2) within the Buffer and Influence Zone of the Celaque Mountain National Park.

As a part of the project activities, it is contemplated that communities start the Community Management for Disaster

Risk Reduction (CMDRR) process. This process includes the communities doing their risk analysis as well as developing and implementing risk reduction and contingency plans.

It is also expected that young people will be trained in the use of participatory video as a tool for risk reduction.

Other planned activities are related to implementing different measures to address the adverse impacts of climate change. These actions include training for community organizations in watershed management, the implementation of soil conservation projects, creating family gardens, creating local plant barriers to reduce the risk of landslides and slope movements, and trainings on solid and liquid waste management.

The Rio Blanco Micro Watershed is an area of great importance because seven water systems depend on it. These systems have been affected by landslides, flash floods, soil erosion, and silt accumulations.

Five rural communities in the villages of Mariposas and Monte de la Virgin, in the Municipality of Las Flores and Department of Lempira, Honduras, will be benefitted by a project administered by the organization Proyectos e Iniciativas Locales para el Autodesarrollo Regional de Honduras (PILARH) (Projects and Local Initiatives for the Regional Self Development of Honduras in English).

COMMUNITY MANAGED DISASTER RISK REDUCTION IN THE RIO BLANCO MICRO WATERSHED

PILARH is a private, non-profit development institution with experience in administering subsistence, land buying and microcredit projects. They have more than 15 years of experience in the organization and strengthening of microbusinesses and agricultural producers. PILARHs work area is centered in Western Honduras, specifically the departments of Copn, Ocotepeque, and Lempira. PILARHs work is centered on promoting the organization and strengthening of community groups in order to create a basis for future business development.

RIO BLANCO MICRO WATERSHED:SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT As part of the project activities, a training for PILARH technical staff on the Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) methodology and the use of participatory video as a tool to reduce risk has been included.This training has marked the starting point for facilitators work with the beneficiary communities.The CMDRR training is key for follow-up on project activities and the communities progress.

ADVOCACY An expected outcome of the project is that the Las Flores Municipal Government shows political will to incorporate CMDRR into sustainable water resources management of the Rio Blanco Micro Watershed.To achieve this goal, community organizations will be trained to develop and implement an advocacy plan for the municipality. It is also expected that at least 3 agreements or letters of understanding be signed between committees and the local population to ensure coordinated risk management actions in the Rio Blanco Micro Watershed.Another goal is to establish at least 2 partnerships with governmental and non-governmental organizations for the promotion of the CMDRR approach.

duration1 years


investment in one year

104,700 euros

ADDRESS

Asociacin PILARH (PILARH)Barrio Santa Teresa, 3 Avenida, 2 y 3 calle, Santa Rosa de Copn, Honduras.www.pilarh.org

CONTACT

[email protected]


PROJECTZONE


IMPACT STUDY

COMMUNITY MANAGED DISASTER RISK REDUCTION IN CENTRAL AMERICA

Since 2007, Cordaid, through Asprode and other six partner organizations, run a Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction Program in the Central American countries of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. The objective of the program is to build resilient communities.Capacity-building is the cross-cutting, basic element in the CMDRR process, which consists of a conjunction of actions and participatory tools that develop new skills, knowledge and attitudes at community and partner organizations levels.These organizations are now also using CMDRR methodology in their different programs funded by other cooperation agencies. This shows the relevance of the methodology and its appropriation by partner organizations.

The most important thing is that the blindfold has been taken from our eyes. Communities have opened our minds and now we see reality in a different way. We have more knowledge; we can achieve what we set out to do. (Jorge Pineda, Sta. Rita El Cimarrn, El Salvador)For me its really satisfying to see what we have done. Here, it really is a community. We can have differences, but we are united. All of us support and look for the benefit of the community, because all of us are benefitted (Alejandro Chacn, Cerco de Piedra, Guatemala).

This article summarizes the most important findings of the impact study performed on the Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction CMDRR- Program in Central America developed by Cordaid.

CORDAIDS RESPONSE

The programs work has various characteristics: capacities building; collective construction of knowledge; political advocacy by communities and partner organization, administration, and complementary fundraising.In this context, Asprode cooperates with organizations and networks with political influence and capacities at national and international level, focusing on actions related to sustainable water management, climate change and organic agriculture.This has resulted in law proposals, actions to defend water, and pressure towards local authorities to assign resources and determine budgets to improve drinking water maintenance and access systems for communities.

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REGIONAL IMPACT STUDY OF THE CMDRRPROGRAM IN CENTRAL AMERICA


VARIATIONS OF THE CMDRR ON CENTRAL AMERICA

The use of community video is one of the greatest contributions and successes of the Regional CMDRR program in Central America. The use of this tool motivates young people and encourages their participation in community process. It has also proved useful to raise awareness in communities and among other actors, for advocacy, speaking out, and for sharing information on natural resource management.Another variant of the program is the focus on sustainability of water resources as a central element for environmental protection and political advocacy. The program supported the elaboration of law initiatives that seek to protect water resources and the advocacy in El Salvadors Congress for the approval of a constitutional reform that recognizes the human right to water.

IMPACT STUDY

The principal objective of the Impact Study was to determine in what measure Cordaids CMDRR Program in the last 4-5 years in Central America, has contributed in building resilient communities. The objective was to determine if CMDRR is a pertinent, effective and sustainable approach for enhancing the resilience of communities in zones affected by recurrent natural hazards such as floods, hurricanes, droughts and others.

1. Partner organizations in CTP program are: Pastoral de la Tierra de San Marcos, Collectivo

Madreselva (in Guatemala) and CEICOM (in El Salvador)

PURPOSE OF THE IMPACT STUDY

The Impact Study focused on 4 main subjects:a. The progress of the CMDRR program in the 2007 2011 period.b. The impact of the CMDRR program in the 2007 2011 period.c. Identifying best practices in CMDRR: Identifying the promotion of

sustainable livelihoods

cordaid trackrecord centralamerica juli2014

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