Cordaid Trackrecord CentralAmerica Juli2014

www.cordaid.
org
TRACKRECORD CENTRAL AMERICA
DEALING WITH
POTENTIAL
NATURAL HAZARDS
n
Our proposition
Our trackrecord
Impact study and results
PROJECTZONE
15
Countries
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Partners united
in the Central
American Alliance
for Resilience
114
16
Communities
Projects
2,7
Million Euros
in 2013
100.000
beneficiaries
Pool of Trainers
ASPRODE/
CORDAID
CORDAID
WHERE WE WORK
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 to
food 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.
316,000 129 million

donors
euros of disposable funds
99
2,000
43
network partners
care. act. share. like cordaid.
CONTACT
Jeannette Hamersma
Programme Officer DRR/DR
Central America
Jeannette.hamersma@cordaid.nl
years experience
35
countries
Join us at
www.cordaid.org
540
staff worldwide
projects
459
field partners
36
funding partners
35
strategic partners
21
knowledge partners
20
alliances
CONTENT
OUR PROPOSITION
PREPARING HIGH RISK COMMUNITIES TO DEAL WITH
POTENTIAL NATURAL HAZARDS
Towards a resilient Central America
POOL OF TRAINERS
Building Resilient Communities
OUR TRACKRECORD
BUILDING RESILIENCE IN THE COMMUNITIES OF RO PAZ
Water management, reforestation and food security
13
RISK REDUCTION BY RECOVERING FOOD SOVEREIGNTY

Micro-region of Southern Ahuachapn
15
INTEGRATED WATER AND RISK MANAGEMENT IN THE MUNICIPALITY

OF SAN FRANCISCO MENNDEZ, AHUACHAPN, EL SALVADOR17
STRENGTHENING CAPACITIES FOR RISK REDUCTION
Construction of compost latrines
19
MOUNTAIN MICROORGANISMS
Ecosystem Management: a pilot project
21
THE BLUE RIGHT

The Right to Water
23
LAS VUELTAS
Strengthening Local Capacities for Water Resources Management
25
MOBILIZING COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT VITAL

WATER SOURCES AGAINST CONTAMINATION
Stop The Cerro Blanco Mine
27
STRENGTHENING THE RESILIENCE OF COMMUNITIES

IN ZACAPA AND CHIQUIMULA, GUATEMALA
Integrating DRR, Climate Change and Ecosystem management
29
IMPROVING RESILIENCE THROUGH ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD

IN CABAAS, ZACAPA, GUATEMALA31
THE BIOLOGICAL RESERVE EL GISAYOTE
Protection of water and territory
33
THE GISAYOTE BIOLOGICAL RESERVE

A Heritage of Humanity
35
LA ASOMADA
Building Community Resilience
37
RIO BLANCO MICRO WATERSHED

Sustainable water resources management
39
IMPACT STUDY
REGIONAL IMPACT STUDY OF THE CMDRR
Program in Central America
43
CARE. ACT. SHARE. LIKE CORDAID.
OUR PROPOSITION FOR

DEALING WITH POTENTIAL
NATURAL HAZARDS
PREPARING HIGH RISK

COMMUNITIES TO DEAL WITH
POTENTIAL HAZARDS
TOWARDS A RESILIENT
CENTRAL AMERICA
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.
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.
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.
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.
THE FUTURE
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.
Resilience processes initiated in the three countries

will be further consolidated, with emphasis on
adaptation measures to climate change and
livelihoods.
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.
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.
CONTACT
Jeannette Hamersma
Programme Officer CMDRR
Central America
Jeannette.hamersma@cordaid.nl
POOL OF TRAINERS
BUILDING RESILIENT
COMMUNITIES
The Pool of Trainers proposes a shift in attitude amongst people from organizations
and 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
WHAT IS THE POOL OF TRAINERS?
COURSE DESIGN AND COST
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.
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.
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,
as it is the communities themselves who have the necessary

knowledge to transform their reality.
PROJECTZONE
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.
LESSONS LEARNED
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 achievements

We 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.
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.
duration
ADDRESS
3 years
start date
January 2011
investment
7a. calle oriente, #9.

Urbanizacin
Santa Mnica, Santa Tecla,
El Salvador. Centroamrica.
www.pooldetrainers.com
336,000 euros
CONTACT
Arnulfo Ayala Rodrguez
General Manager
arnulfo.ayala@asprode.org
10
OUR TRACKRECORD
IN DEALING WITH POTENTIAL
NATURAL HAZARDS
11
12
BUILDING RESILIENCE
IN THE COMMUNITIES
OF RO PAZ
WATER MANAGEMENT,
REFORESTATION AND FOOD
SECURITY
Every winter 16 communities are threatened with river flooding, causing loss of human
life and damages to belongings and livelihoods.
A PROJECT FOR COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
COMMUNITY HISTORY
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.
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.
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 threeyear 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.
13
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.
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.
PROJECTZONE
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 agenda
There 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 information
Water 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.
duration
ADDRESS
3 years
start date
January 2012
investment in the
first 2 years
Unidad Ecolgica Salvadorea,

UNES.
Calle Colima # 22, Colonia
Miramonte, San Salvador.
www.unes.org.sv
100,000 euros
CONTACT
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 Committees
n Inter-communal Development Association
(ADICOS by its Spanish acronym), those working
with the Mayor and with NGOs on issues that
affect communities.
Angel Ibarra
Executive director
ibarrangel@gmail.com
14
RISK REDUCTION
BY RECOVERING FOOD
SOVEREIGNTY
MICRO-REGION OF
SOUTHERN AHUACHAPN
Communities in action with sustainable agro-ecological practices to improve local

agriculture and economy
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 initiatives
The 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.
15
TRAINING AND AWARENESSRAISING 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
DEMONSTRATION PLOTS
PROJECTZONE
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.
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
duration
ADDRESS
3 years
start date
January 2013
investment in the
first year
122, 300 euros
Unidad Ecolgica Salvadorea

Miramonte, San Salvador,
www.unes.org.sv
CONTACT
Angel Ibarra
Executive director
16
TOWARDS INTEGRATED
WATER AND
RISK MANAGEMENT
Cordaid, together with the Basque organization Euskal Fondoa, are supporting
this initiative which will directly benefit 7,000 people
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.
17
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.
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
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).
duration
ADDRESS
2 years
start date
December 2013
investment in the first

year
1,108,483 euros
cordaids
contribution
591,749 euros
Unidad Ecolgica Salvadorea

Miramonte, San Salvador,
www.unes.org.sv
CONTACT
ngel Ibarra
President
18
STRENGTHENING CAPACITIES
FOR RISK REDUCTION
CONSTRUCTION OF
COMPOST LATRINES
Six communities in San Julin, Sonsonate, are working with the Community Managed
Disaster Risk Reduction methodology.
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.
19
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 to
do 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.
Organization
PROJECTZONE
Risk 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.
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.
duration
ADDRESS
3 years
start date
January 2012
investment in 2 years
Avenida Monseor Romero

31-E, Barrio La Cruz, Municipio
de Zaragoza, Despartament of
La Libertad, El Salvador.
http://www.acua.org.sv/
139,987 euros
WHAT REMAINS TO BE DONE?
CONTACT
acua@acua.org.sv
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.
20
MOUNTAIN
MICROORGANISMS
ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT:
A PILOT PROJECT
Contributing to the preservation and restoration of ecosystems in the municipality of
Santa Isabel Ishuatn
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.
Changes
During 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
21
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.
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.
PROJECTZONE
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.
duration
ADDRESS
3 years
start date
January 2012
investment in
2 years
194,907 euros
THE FUNCTIONS OF THE

MICROORGANISMS ARE:
n Decomposition of organic material
n Compete with harmful
microorganisms
n Recycle nutrients for plants
n Filter nitrogen in the ground
n Break down toxic substances (such as
pesticides)
n Produce natural substances and
components that improve the
grounds texture
Avenida Monseor Romero

31-E, Barrio La Cruz, Municipio
de Zaragoza, Departamento
La Libertad, El Salvador.
http://www.acua.org.sv/
CONTACT
acua@acua.org.sv
For additional information

about this experience, please
visit: http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=cNJtYZoVus&feature=
youtu.be
22
THE BLUE RIGHT

THE RIGHT TO WATER
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.
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 started

The 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 proposals
Between 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.
23
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.
ADVOCACY ACTIONS
PROJECTZONE
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.
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.
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 rightwing 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.
duration
ADDRESS
3 years
start date
January 2012
investment in
2 years
214,228 euros
7a. calle oriente, #9.

Urbanizacin
Santa Mnica, Santa Tecla, El
Salvador. Centroamrica.
www.forodelagua.org.sv
CONTACT
Xenia Marroqun
xenia.marroquin@asprode.org
24
LAS VUELTAS
STRENGTHENING LOCAL
CAPACITIES FOR WATER
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
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.
25
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.
ACHIEVEMENTS
PROJECTZONE
Water filters and fish tanks

Three 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 planning
The 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 nursery

Communities 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 together
There 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
duration
3 years
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.
start date
January 2012
investment in
2 years
154,234 euros
ADDRESS
Colonia Reubicacin 2,
Calle Principal, San Bartolo,
Chalatenango, El Salvador.
www.caritaselsalvador.org.sv
CONTACT
Eberto Domnguez
General Coordinator
negroeberto@gmail.com
Lorena Alvarenga
Monitory and Planing
lorena_ar7@hotmail.com
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.
26
MOBILIZING COMMUNITIES
TO PROTECT VITAL
WATER SOURCES AGAINST
CONTAMINATION
Communities in El Salvador and Guatemala are struggling to stop the Cerro Blanco
mining project, which will cause pollution of important rivers in the region
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 goldmine

The 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.
27
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 biomonitoring of micro-invertebrates
in order to show the social and
environmental impacts of the
Cerro Blanco mining project.
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 communities
4. Two public protests
PROJECTZONE
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.
duration
ADDRESS
3 years
start date
January 2012
investment in 2 years
236,000 euros
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 Madreselva
6. avenida sur A 0-26, zona 2,
Guatemala.
www.madreselva.org.gt
CONTACT
Edgardo Mira
miedgar.mira@gmail.com
David Pereira
pereiradavid15@yahoo.es
28
STRENGTHENING THE
RESILIENCE OF COMMUNITIES
IN ZACAPA AND CHIQUIMULA,
GUATEMALA
Integrating DRR, Climate Change and Ecosystem management & restoration.
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN ACTION TOWARDS RESILIENCE
METHODOLOGY
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.
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.
Cordaids intervention
Out 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)
29
RESULTS
PROJECTZONE
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 resilience
1. 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 incidence

1. 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).

duration
ADDRESS
4 years
start date
January 2011
project Investment
CARITAS DIOCESIS DE
ZACAPA.
12 calle A, final zona 1. Barrio
La Laguna, Zacapa. Guatemala.
www.caritasguatemala.org
1.2 Million Euro
CONTACT
Christian Domnguez
Director
caritaszacapagt@gmail.com
30
IMPROVING RESILIENCE
THROUGH ALTERNATIVE
LIVELIHOOD
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.
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.
31
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.
PROJECTZONE
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.
duration
ADDRESS
1 year
start date
December 2013
Investment
12 calle A final, contiguo

a Colegio Nuestra Seora
de Ftima, zona 1,
Zacapa, Guatemala..
www.caritasguatemala.org
248,000 euros
CONTACT
Christian Domnguez
Executive Director
caritaszacapagt@gmail.com
32
THE BIOLOGICAL RESERVE

EL GISAYOTE
PROTECTION OF WATER
AND TERRITORY
El Gisayote is a region of cloud forests in the department of Ocotepeque in southwest

Honduras. 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.
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 action
The 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 activities
The 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
33
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.
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.
PROJECTZONE
Risk reduction measures

Caritas 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.
DEFENDING GISAYOTE!
LOCAL LEADERS
duration
3 years
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.
start date
January 2012
investment in
the first
2 years
180, 307 euros
ADDRESS
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.
Calle Centenario, next to

Parque infantil, Santa Rosa de
Copn, Honduras.
www.caritashonduras.org/
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.
Jos Romero
Director
jr.ramos1960@gmail.com
CONTACT
Pastoral Social
Critas de Honduras
34
THE GISAYOTE
BIOLOGICAL RESERVE:
A HERITAGE OF HUMANITY
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.
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.
35
The Association Hermandad de Honduras is implementing a risk reduction

project in the Biological Reserve El Gisayote, Honduras with Cordaids support
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.
PROJECTZONE
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.
duration
ADDRESS
1 year
start date
January 2014
Investment in
one year
128,000 euros
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.
Asociacin Hermandad de
Honduras, HDH-OPD,
Barrio La Herradura,
San Marcos, Ocotepeque,
Honduras.
ahdh@hermandadhonduras.com
www.hermandadhonduras.org
CONTACT
Jos Antonio Valle
Executive Director
jvalle@hermandadhonduras.org
36
LA ASOMADA
BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
Communities working together for the defense of water resources, sanitation of the
Caje and Suptal River watersheds, and improved livelihoods
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 resilience

Red 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.
37
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.
PARTICIPATION
PROJECTZONE
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.
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.
duration
3 years
start date
November 2012
investment in the
first year
70,000 euros
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.
Value
MORE
INFORMATION
Red Comal Alternative
Trade Network
www.redcomal.org.hn
ADDRESS
Km. 5, road to La Esperanza,
Siguatepeque, Honduras.
info@redcomal.org.hn
CONTACT
Jos Ismael Garca
Facilitator
joisma89@yahoo.com
Jess Misael Crcamo
Executive Director
jcarcamo@redcoml.org.hn
Red 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.
38
RIO BLANCO
MICRO WATERSHED:
SUSTAINABLE WATER
RESOURCES 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.
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.
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).
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
39
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.
PROJECTZONE
duration
ADVOCACY
ADDRESS
1 years
start date
January 2014
investment in
one year
104,700 euros
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.
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.
Asociacin PILARH (PILARH)

Barrio Santa Teresa,
3 Avenida, 2 y 3 calle,
Santa Rosa de Copn,
Honduras.
www.pilarh.org
CONTACT
aspilarh@pilarh.com
40
IMPACT STUDY
41
42
REGIONAL IMPACT STUDY

OF THE CMDRR
PROGRAM IN CENTRAL
AMERICA
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.
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.
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.
43
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).
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.
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 by linking it to disaster risk reduction, climate
change adaptation and improvement and restoration of ecosystems when
possible.
d. The possible relation in practice between CMDRR and Emergency Aid.
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.
Methodology used in the impact study

The consultant in charge of the impact study developed three main
activities:
a) Evaluation workshops of the Regional Program in June 2012. Cordaid held
an evaluation workshop of the regional program with the participation of
partner organizations of 3 countries (El Salvador, Honduras y Guatemala)
in El Salvador.
b) Review and analysis of documentation related to the program: CMDRR
projects, reports, methodology and community visits.
c) Visits were made to 14 communities in El Salvador, Guatemala and
Honduras.
This sample represented 50% of the total communities covered in the
program. The objective was to know their characteristics, their ways of
facing and diminishing their vulnerabilities, knowing their actions, and
learning about their appreciation of the program. During one of the visits,
there was a chance to participate in a community video workshop developed
with young people from several communities.
Partner Organizations
At geographical level, Cordaids CMDRR program in Central America is
conducted in:
a) El Salvador with 4 Partner Organizations: ASPRODE, that coordinates the
program, the United Community Association for Water and Agriculture
(ACUA by its Spanish acronym), Critas Chalatenango and the Salvadorian
Ecological Unit (UNES by its Spanish acronym).
b) In Honduras: Critas Santa Rosa de Copn, and the diocese of the same
name.
c) In Guatemala: Critas Zacapa, in its first phase, as nowadays it forms
part of the Partners for Resilience program, executed by 5 Dutch
organizations.
Additionally, the synergy of the projects and partners of Cordaids Conflict
Transformation Program (CTP) with the CMDRR projects (from 2011) around
extractive practices (mining) in the border between Guatemala and El
Salvador and other zones of Guatemala that do not form part of the impact
study, but should be taken into consideration.1
1. Partner organizations in CTP program are: Pastoral de la Tierra de San Marcos, Collectivo
Madreselva (in Guatemala) and CEICOM (in El Salvador)
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
COMMUNITIES
a. They are rural, poor communities that have been
affected by disasters (hurricanes, droughts, floods,
landslides) and find themselves in vulnerable
situations. Their livelihoods are based on the
harvest of basic grains. Most of them lack land of
their own, which is why they rent plots on which
they grow crops, often far away from their homes.
b. Lack of public transportation, roads in very bad
conditions (sometimes practically inexistent) and
in other cases, they are connected by suspension
bridges. Communities risk of getting cut off by a
natural phenomenon is high.
c. The communities are located in highly vulnerable
areas, some of them in high risk zones due to
their geographical location: between creeks
and riverbeds (for example, Cerco de Piedra in
Guatemala, El Corozal in El Salvador).
d. Political polarization affects the relationship
with local authorities, and lessens possibilities of
participation due to the involvement of political
parties and clientelism in municipalities. The 2009
coup dtat that occurred in Honduras has affected
situations in the communities and is increasingly
complex.
44
CONCLUSIONS
There has been a change in the general
situation of the communities, not
only at a physical level but also in the
communitys dynamics, in collaboration
networks and the solidarity between their
members and in joining efforts around a
work plan elaborated by the community.
Partner organizations now have trained
personnel (facilitators) in the CMDRR
methodology. The training experiences
have allowed clearing up and unifying
the conceptual frame for CMDRR,
which has set the base for a shared
(common) language between the partner
organizations and facilitators with
different experiences and backgrounds.
The CMDRR methodology has allowed
exploration and implementation of
different participatory techniques,
which has created spaces for sharing and
discussions about the difficulties and
realities on community and institutional
levels.
The application of the CMDRR
methodology has contributed to the
development of facilitators skills
and experiences. Within the partner
organizations there is openness and
receptivity on issues. Staff express

their doubts and share experiences and
reflections, which results in mutual
support.
Communities have expressed their
satisfaction for the quality of the
facilitators work, as well as the affection,
high esteem and trust they have for
facilitators. Even when there has been
a change in facilitator, people continue
referring to the people they formerly
worked with.
There is mention that one of the
principal achievements and strengths
of the CMDRR program is the creation
and/or strengthening of community
organization, which is considered an
essential element for the development of
the communitys plans.
CMDRR has shown to be a pertinent,
effective and sustainable approach for
enhancing resilience in the communities
affected by recurrent natural threats
such as droughts, floods, hurricanes, and
other possible risks like environmental
contamination, poor distribution and
quality of water, and privatization
attempts among others.
Community video is an attractive,

powerful and innovative tool for DRR
that has motivated and incorporated
participation amongst youth, becoming
mechanism to integrate youth into
community tasks. Is a tool that has been
used for awareness raising, advocacy,
speaking out, promotion and fundraising.
Communities have had access to new
information, implementing new forms
of working, emphasizing and valuing
their capacities, skills, and abilities,
while modifying and expanding their
relationships. They have learned to
effectively manage themselves while
working with other organizations,
municipalities and state entities, which
also gives sustainability to their efforts.
Communities are the main protagonists
in the CMDRR processes.
Another accomplishment achieved
through the implementation of the
CMDRR Program is Asprode becoming
a regional reference for training on
CMDRR and community video for DRR for
NGOs, universities, government entities,
municipalities, cooperation agencies and
others who work in related areas.
RECOMENDATIONS
The recommendations are principally related to the
communities, such as coordination and relationships
with the municipality with the goal of activating
communication, strengthening local actions and
advocacy plans, and increasing inter-institutional
coordination within the communities.
Other recommendations are directed to the partner
organizations and are related to the need of having
educational plans for facilitators, and institutional
development plans, which implies reviewing criteria,
strategies, politics and mechanisms in order to
articulate and coordinate the different programs that
the partner organizations implement in the same
communities where the CMDRR Program is active.
There are recommendations to seek information
regarding water systems in communities and their
relation with Climate Change (identification of the
hydric recharge areas for a zone, the pollution points,
etc.). The importance of studies that transcend the
communities and focus on riverbeds in several
municipalities has to be considered.
45
Regarding CMDRR and livelihoods, the programs

interventions have been few. Nevertheless, the
partner organizations have developed diverse
actions with funds from other funding sources that
complement their efforts at community level.
46
47
CARE.
ACT.
SHARE.
LIKE CORDAID.
Contact
P.O. Box 16440
2500 BK The Hague
The Netherlands
+31(0)70-31 36 300
cordaid@cordaid.nl
www.cordaid.org

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TRACKRECORD CENTRAL AMERICA

Impact study and results

For a century, Cordaid has been

316,000 129 million

euros of disposable funds

care. act. share. like cordaid.

RISK REDUCTION BY RECOVERING FOOD SOVEREIGNTY

INTEGRATED WATER AND RISK MANAGEMENT IN THE MUNICIPALITY

THE BLUE RIGHT

MOBILIZING COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT VITAL

STRENGTHENING THE RESILIENCE OF COMMUNITIES

IMPROVING RESILIENCE THROUGH ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD

THE GISAYOTE BIOLOGICAL RESERVE

RIO BLANCO MICRO WATERSHED

CARE. ACT. SHARE. LIKE CORDAID.

CARE. ACT. SHARE. LIKE CORDAID.

OUR PROPOSITION FOR

CARE. ACT. SHARE. LIKE CORDAID.

CARE. ACT. SHARE. LIKE CORDAID.

PREPARING HIGH RISK

Our world today is experiencing frequent and often more serious

UNIQUE SELLING POINTS OF CORDAIDS

n Our approach to work on disaster risk reduction with multiple

In Honduras, Cordaid is working with 4 partners, Hermandad de Honduras,

In El Salvador, the partner organizations are: ASPRODE / Pool of Trainers,

Resilience processes initiated in the three countries

The idea is to continue the current work areas and

CARE. ACT. SHARE. LIKE CORDAID.

COURSE DESIGN AND COST

We design our courses to meet the needs of

as it is the communities themselves who have the necessary

Where does the pool of trainers come from?

Some of our achievements

n Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction promotes the

7a. calle oriente, #9.

CARE. ACT. SHARE. LIKE CORDAID.

CARE. ACT. SHARE. LIKE CORDAID.

Approximately 16 communities located in the Rio Paz

A project for resilience

UNES has worked in this area since Hurricane Mitch

Families have planted orchards as part of the

The idea of this experience is to show the local

Unidad Ecolgica Salvadorea,

CARE. ACT. SHARE. LIKE CORDAID.

Communities in action with sustainable agro-ecological practices to improve local

TRAINING AND AWARENESSRAISING PROCESSES

As part of the project, 12 demonstration

STAGES OF THE PROJECT

Unidad Ecolgica Salvadorea

CARE. ACT. SHARE. LIKE CORDAID.

investment in the first

CARE. ACT. SHARE. LIKE CORDAID.

Unidad Ecolgica Salvadorea

Risk committees have been conformed in the six

Avenida Monseor Romero

WHAT REMAINS TO BE DONE?

CARE. ACT. SHARE. LIKE CORDAID.

What are mountain microorganisms (mm)?

Before, we did not know how to put that on

elaborate foliar fertilizers and bio-stimulants for use

IMPACT OF THE PROJECT

THE FUNCTIONS OF THE

CARE. ACT. SHARE. LIKE CORDAID.