ANNUAL REPORT

Project Name: Strengthening Capacities in Preparedness and ResponseCountry: ECUADORAgreement Number: USAID/DCHA / OFDA -11-000003Reporting Period: September 2011 – Julio 2013 (FINAL)Contact Person: HQ: Camille Davis Field: Fernando Unda

cdavis@care.org fernando.unda@ec.care.org 404 979 9298 593 2 253615

OVERVIEW

CARE proposed the FOCAPRE Project, Strengthening Capacities in Preparedness and Response, in response to OFDA’s APS for Building Disaster-Resilient Communities in Latin America and the Caribbean. The project considered increase the preparedness and response capacities of the population living in rural and urban areas of the municipalities of Pallatanga, Cumanada, El Triunfo, General Antonio Elizalde and La Troncal, which are frequently affected by adverse events such as landslides, floods and seismic movements. It did by building the capacity of the institutions responsible for disaster risk management at the local, provincial and national level.

The project included the rehabilitation of homes located in high risk areas with a focus on the most vulnerable populations (children, the disabled, seniors, women and others). Any reconstruction and/or improvements were properly designed according to international –SPHERE– and national standards – the Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion, the National Council for the Disabled (CONADIS) and the National Risk Management Secretariat. The project included strengthening of local capacities in construction techniques and alternative technologies that are applicable to areas that are highly vulnerable to natural disasters. The project generated extensive evidence for scale up.

The actions implemented by the project and taken over by the participating local governments, through the municipal risk management departments, made it possible to create a local institutional structure to prevent and respond to possible disasters in a planned and timely fashion. This is in addition to the strengthened capacities of local stakeholders, communities and schools, which are better able to prevent and manage risks. Moreover, the technical team worked to forge alliances with the Ministries of Health, Education and Economic and Social Inclusion, which makes it possible to talk about comprehensive risk management systems built from the ground up. It should be mentioned that the municipalities participating in the project have aligned their risk management processes, methodologies and systems to the policies and procedures of the National Risk Management Secretariat and its provincial offices.

One important achievement of the project was the collaborative work done based on synergies and actions planned and coordinated among the FOCAPRIN project, financed by the European Union, and FOCAPRE, financed by USAID/OFDA.

The project included small infrastructure works to reduce vulnerabilities in schools and among the population in general. These works were implemented in coordination with local stakeholders and have generated significant levels of replication, as their impact has been noticed.

The project involved coordinating with local governments, communities and institutions in each of the cantons, and also created forms of inter-canton coordination, as people recognize that the risks and threats that affect the most vulnerable populations do not respect political boundaries, but rather respond to hydrographic and orographic conditions, and other regional characteristics.

The project was carried out in constant coordination with the National Risk Management Secretariat, the Ministry of Education, the provincial health departments and MIES offices, and was also coordinated with other organizations, such as Plan, ADRA, SENDAS, and others.

The awareness-raising campaign developed within FOCAPRE made it possible to deliver educational and outreach messages to the majority of the urban population, and at least 80% of rural residents.

MONITORING METHODOLOGY

To ensure the proper monitoring of the fulfillment of the activities included in this proposal, CARE Ecuador prepared a Work Plan, detailed by activities and timetables. At the end of the project, the process and effect indicators that had been proposed through the results and activities were achieved, and it was concluded that the work plan was adequately complied with, with certain modifications necessary in light of the context and local dynamics.

During the execution phase of the project, monthly planning took place with local stakeholders, based on the objectives proposed and results expected, the baseline study and a monitoring plan, designed around the annual operating plans. The planning efforts were linked directly to the activity monitoring and evaluation processes, creating a system whereby certain people were responsible for certain activities, and the established timeframes were kept.

CARE prepared programmatic and financial progress reports on a monthly basis. The reports sent to USAID (programmatic and financial) were prepared each quarter, and included tables to monitor progress on key indicators.

Every two months, monitoring and evaluation meetings were held, with the participation of the national director of CARE and the national administrative – financial team, in which participants studied the progress being made, and made any adjustments necessary to overcome any obstacles that had been encountered.

In order to monitor the impacts of the project, during the first quarter, a baseline study was done on knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) in the area of risk management. The information was gathered by teachers, community leaders, students, Red Cross and SNGR volunteers, fire fighters, who were trained ahead of time by the FOCAPRE team on the survey methodology and tools. 338 interviews were conducted, 65% of women and 35% men; 23% of those interviewed were in the 25-34 age group, and 22% between 18 and 24, the two largest age groups. The results of the baseline study are in Annex #12.

The results obtained in the baseline study guided the capacity-building component, the communication strategy, and the approach of the actions taken. In coordination with the FOCAPRIN project, financed by ECHO (DIPECHO), and based on the information gathered on the knowledge, attitudes and practices in the area of risk management, an external evaluation was carried out, primarily to measure the achievements and impacts on the beneficiary population, both in terms of their social and economic context as well as their attitudes, in addition to measuring the impact and changes attained within the

partner institutions of both projects, and to evaluate their specific activities, in order to improve future intervention strategies within the same region.

The evaluation was conducted in the cantons of Cumanda and Pallatanga in Chimborazo Province, and Bucay in Guayas Province, with the objective of: identifying and analyzing the measureable changes in the lives of men, women and children (achievement of results and objective); identifying the factors of success and limitations in the project; identifying those social, organizational, economic, political and gender processes that the project was working with, and which require long-term engagement.

SECTOR 1 NATURAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL RISKS

Cumulative number of beneficiaries targeted to date: 2,070

Cumulative number of beneficiaries reached to date: 6,386

Total numbers of beneficiaries targeted and reached to date: 6,386

The project directly and indirectly benefitted at least 100,900 people living in the cantons of Cumanda, Pallatanga, El Triunfo, Bucay and La Troncal, by building capacities and providing response equipment to cantons, communities and schools. It also reached this target population through an outreach and communication campaign, using mass media such as: fairs, a mural contest, street theater, posters, radio spots, and others. Below is a table with an estimate of the indirect beneficiaries:

 

Projected population, INEC 2010

TOTALURBAN RURALAREA AREA

LA TRONCAL 50,116 43,079 7,037PALLATANGA 12,342 4,797 7,545CUMANDA 10,737 8,214 2,523EL TRIUNFO 38,578 27,451 10,127GENERAL ANTONIO ELIZALDE (Bucay) 9,833 5,738 4,095

TOTAL POPULATION 121,606 89,279 31,327

       % OF THE POPULATION BENEFITTED FROM PROJECT ACTIONS

  85% 80%

TOTAL # OF PEOPLE BENEFITTED FROM PROJECT ACTIONS 100,900 75,887 25,062

Objective: Build the preparedness and response capacities of populations and institutions in areas prone to adverse events.

SUBSECTOR 1.1: DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, MITIGATION AND MANAGEMENT

1.- INITIAL PROCESSES:

1.1 Local Coordination :

The implementation of the project involved an initial phase of institutional contact and coordination. From the beginning, the project had the backing of the National Risk Management Secretariat (SNGR) (Annexes 1 and 2). Working and coordination meetings were held with the Provincial Units of the SNGR in Guayas, Cañar and Chimborazo (Annexes 3 and 4) and with the municipalities of El Triunfo, la Troncal, Cumanda, Pallatanga and Bucay (Annexes 5, 6 and 7).

5 agreements were signed with municipal governments (Pallatanga, Cumandá, Bucay, El Triunfo and La Troncal), and 3 with national government institutions linked to the sector for project implementation and follow-up: SNGR, Ministry of Education, MIES, PLAN, ADRA, o support the management of shelters during the winter season.

Each of the 5 municipalities, delegated at least one municipal official during the entire life of the project as a focal point to coordinate activities, thus facilitating the creation of inter-institutional teams which achieved very effective levels of communication and coordination. At the end of the project, spaces for coordinating risk management efforts have been established in each municipality, with the participation of various local organizations and institutions. Furthermore, inter-canton coordination efforts have been revived, with the recognition that risk management crosses over geographic boundaries.

The people assigned by the municipal governments participated in ongoing training events, thus creating greater levels of continuity and sustainability of processes, since most of these persons are participating in and leading the Municipal Risk Management Committees.

From the beginning, the project promoted a participatory dynamic in which local organizations and civil society were able to contribute and take part in an ongoing learning process, through formal courses and practical training appropriate to local contexts. The content of the training opportunities, related to risk management, motivated many municipal officials and grassroots organizations to take part on a voluntary basis, for example: in El Triunfo, the work was coordinated with the vice Mayor and the Community Women’s Network.

Another important achievement that came out of the project was the recognition on the part of other municipal departments of the importance of risk management; thus the municipal public works, communication, environment, and other offices worked with the project.

1.2 Community selection:

In coordination with the different municipalities, 30 communities were selected for the project, considering criteria such as: vulnerability and risk to floods and landslides, accessibility, public safety, visibility and the potential for replication.

In the cantons of Pallatanga, Bucay and Cumanda, the project prioritized the communities selected by the FOCAPRIN project being carried out within the framework of DIPECHO VI, with ECHO funds, in order to complement and increase the impact of the efforts being made. In the cantons of El Triunfo and La

Troncal, a community selection and prioritization process was carried out based on predefined criteria, in a participatory fashion. (Annexes 8, 9, 10).

The following communities were selected:

Canton CommunitiesCumandá Buenos Aires, La Nueva Unión, Los Laureles, Isla 87, La Modelo, Producción

Agrícola, NaranjapataPallatanga Trigoloma, Barrio Jiménez, Pilchipamba, Los Santiagos, JalubíBucay Matilde Esther Centro, San Francisco, Inmaculada Concepción, El Carmen,

Fortuna Baja.El Triunfo Pueblo Nuevo, El Paraíso, Arbolito 1, Arbolito 2, Arbolito 3, Virgen del

Cisne, Santa Rosita, Aníbal Zea, Río GuayasLa Troncal Ananías, Barranco Amarillo, San Martín, Dos de Octubre.

1.3 Baseline on Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP)

At the start of the project, a baseline study was conducted on the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) in the area of risk management within the target communities. The information was gathered by teachers, community leaders, students, Red Cross and SNGR volunteers, fire fighters, who were trained ahead of time by the FOCAPRE team on the survey methodology and tools. 338 interviews were conducted, 65% of women and 35% men; 23% of those interviewed were in the 25-34 age group, and 22% between 18 and 24, the two largest age groups. The results of the baseline study are in Annex #12.

The process was complemented by the information gathered by the FOCAPRIN project, in the cantons of Cumanda, Bucay and Pallatanga (Annex 11), and with specific surveys on disaster preparedness in each canton (Annexes 13, 14, 15 and 16).

The information obtained formed the basis for planning the processes and capacity-building approach of FOCAPRE.

2. CREATION OF COMMITTEES AND STRENGTHENING CAPACITIES

2.1 Canton Risk Management Committees

At the completion of the FOCAPRE project, there are 5 (five) Canton Risk Management Committees formed and functioning, in the cantons of Cumandá, Pallatanga, Bucay, La Troncal and El Triunfo.

The awareness-raising, organization and training work was done in accordance with the methodology of the National Risk Management Secretariat, and included the following stages: a.-Introduction to risk management as part of the development processes; b.- The risk management context; c.- Structure and operational guidelines for the risk management committee; d.- Implementation of technical roundtables.

The formal trainings for the members of the Canton Risk Management Committees covered the following topics: 1. Administrative Foundations for Risk Management (BAGER). 2. Damage and Needs Assessments (EDAN), 3. Emergency Shelter Management, 4. MACOE, 5. ARCGIS, 6. SPHERE. This process was coordinated with the SNGR and OFDA.

For the members of the response institutions, the training packet included: 1. EDAN, 2. Basic vertical rescue (intermediate and advanced), 3. Course for instructors.

In order to complement the capacity-building at the municipal level, and with the participation of other institutions, an ARCGIS workshop was held, in order to develop skills in the area of geo-referencing and creating risk maps.

Annexes 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 include reports and records of training events.

2.2 Community Risk Management Committees

At the end of the FOCAPRE Program, there are 30 Community Risk Management Committees up and running.

The process followed in creating the Community Committees was the following:

Organize the committed (organizational structure, functions, SNGR regulations and selection of the people who would make up the brigades).

Formation of 4 brigades at the community level: Search and Rescue, EDAN, First Aid and Shelter Management.

Community Training, in the following areas related to risk management: socio-economic matrix, risk and resources matrix, identification of high-risk areas and safe areas, evacuation routes, identification of potential shelters, community storage and distribution centers, the creation fo geo-referenced community risk maps.

Consolidation of information: information obtained in the field and secondary information is consolidated in one single document, constituting the Community Risk Management Plan.

The methodology used at the community level was dynamic, practical, and participatory, and made use of the contributions and strengths of other local organizations.

At least 1300 people organized into Brigades, educated and trained, within the 30 Community and 5 Municipal Risk Management Committees.

Annex #30 presents a matrix with the details of the training events held within the context of the implementation of FOCAPRE, according to which, 6,386 people were trained with support from the project.

Observation tour:

Between May 29 and 31, 2013, an observation tour was organized of risk management projects being carried out in the province of Santa Elena. 40 people participated in this tour, including: municipal authorities, teachers, community leaders, and municipal government officials from Pallatanga, Cumanda, Bucay, Triunfo and Troncal.

Within the process of building response capacities to adverse natural or man-made events, training efforts were coordinated with the Social Development departments of the provinces of Chimborazo, Cañar and Guayas, and the canton risk management units of Cumanda, Pallatanga, Bucay, El Triunfo and La Troncal, who are still working together. On this occasion, they had the opportunity to exchange experiences and lessons learned with stakeholders in the province of Santa Elena.

3. RISK MANAGEMENT EQUIPMENT

By the end of FOCAPRE:

5 (five) Municipal Risk Management Committees -- El Triunfo, La Troncal, Bucay, Pallatanga and Cumanda -- have the basic equipment needed to respond to adverse events.

30 (thirty) Community Risk Management Committees have the basic equipment needed to respond to adverse events.

18 (eighteen) schools have the basic equipment they need to respond to adverse events.

The implementation process began with an emergency response needs assessment, and it was determined that the basic equipment should include the following elements, at a minimum: backpacks – first aid kits, spinal splints, nylon ropes, flashlight, megaphone, leather gloves, danger signaling tape, metallic whistles, a dry chemical powder fire extinguisher, and medium and large batteries.

At the municipal level, the project also provided furniture necessary for the operation of the Municipal Risk Management Unit, which includes a plasma television screen, through which the unit will have permanent access to new and information on risks at the national and global level. ‘Annex #32 includes the donation reception certificates for the equipment supplied at the municipal, community and school level, and annex 33 includes the report on the distribution of equipment to educational institutions.

4. RISK MANAGEMENT PLANS

4.1 Canton Risk Management Plans

At the end of the FOCAPRE project, 5 municipalities: Cumanda, Pallatanga, El Triunfo, La Troncal and Bucay, have Canton Risk Management Plans.

The Risk Management Plans (RMPs) are considered to be a strategy for strengthening the disaster response capabilities of the Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) of the various cantons.

The Canton RMPs were prepared by the members of the Emergency Operations Committees (EOCs), with the purpose of protecting and ensuring the comprehensive safety of the population in regard to the effects of possible natural and/or man-made events, with special emphasis on the preparation phase. The idea was to teach local stakeholders that outreach, prevention and mitigation can ensure a quick and appropriate response from the institutions that make up the Canton EOC.

These plans have been prepared through highly participatory processes, with all members of the EOCs , and contain information on a number of areas, such as: socio-economic information, general and specific objectives; the organizational structure of the Committee, its functions and responsibilities, the risk analysis, management strategy and an action and monitoring plan (Annex 23A).

By the end of the project, the Community Risk Management Network was established in the Cumanda canton (Annex 23B).

4.2 Contingency plans at the canton level:

In the period of January to May 2012, several communities from the cantons of Cumandá and Bucay were affected by the harsh winter weather that occurred in the region. In view of this, the CARE Ecuador Risk Management Team took various actions in response to this as described below:

With the help of the FOCAPRE project Contingency Plans were established in the cantons of Pallatanga, Cumandá, El Triunfo and Bucay, with the objective of preventing any negative effects caused by climatic conditions. These plans were executed in conjunction with representatives from the government and non-governmental institutions present and also included the active participation of members of the Risk Management Committee from each of the cantons.

At the end of the winter season, the response actions undertaken were evaluated as being positive, as they allowed to put into practice the knowledge imparted with the help of the FOCAPRE project and there were no losses of human life to report. (Annex # 24 A).

In September 2012, a forest fire occurred on the El Corazon hill in Pallatanga canton. The response to the fire was supported by CARE in coordination with the municipality of Pallatanga, the canton’s first responders, and the community brigades, which already had received training and equipment by that

time. The support was focused more on organization and logistics, since the magnitude of the event required highly trained personnel (Annex #24B).

4.3 Community Risk Management Plans:

At the end of the FOCAPRE project, 30 communities have risk management plans.

The Community Risk Management Plans were prepared by the members of the Community Risk Management Committees of the different towns and communities; in order to have a tool in place to guide disaster preparedness and response efforts, and to protect the environment by implementing prevention, mitigation and preparation actions for existing risks, to thus reduce the impact of potential disasters.

The Community RMPs were prepared through highly participatory processes, and contain information on general topics, such as: socio-economic information, general and specific objectives; the organizational structure of the Committee, its functions and responsibilities, risk and resource assessments, management strategy and an action and monitoring plan (Annexes 25, 26, 27, 28, 29).

4.4 Risk Management Plans in Schools

By the end of FOCAPRE, 25 risk management plans were reported to be in place at different educational institutions, which had been worked on in coordination with the National Risk Management Secretariat, the Ministry of Education (Risk Management Dept.), and the school communities, comprised of: teachers, parents, and students.

Following is a detailed list of the schools supported by FOCAPRE:

# Name Community Canton1 Celso Augusto Rodríguez Planta Baja Cumandá2 Sultana de los Andes Centro de Cumandá Cumandá3 José Nicanor Carrión Buenos Aires Cumandá4 Alfredo Lobato La Modelo Cumandá5 Rosa Paredes Jumbo Producción Agrícola Cumandá6 General Ángel Flores Nueva Unión Cumandá7 Dieciocho de Mayo Los Laureles Cumandá8 Arnaldo Merino Isla 87 Cumandá9 Colegio Manuel del Pino Isla 87 Cumandá

10 Alfredo Baquerizo Moreno Naranjapata Cumandá11 Luz de América Pilchipamba Pallatanga12 José Orosco Trigoloma Pallatanga

13 Unión Bolivariana Fortuna Baja Bucay14 Edmundo Valdés Inmaculada Concepción Bucay15 Colegio Francisco Flaquez Ampuero Inmaculada Concepción Bucay16 Hernán Navas El Paraíso El Triunfo17 Rio Guayas Rio Guayas El Triunfo18 Aníbal Zea Aníbal Zea El Triunfo19 Doce de Octubre Centro del Triunfo El Triunfo20 Primero de Agosto Santa Rosita El Triunfo21 Xavier Quintana Ananías La Troncal22 Joel Jara Barranco Amarillo La troncal23 Colegio Enrique Arízaga 2 de Octubre La Troncal24 Centro Infantil Mi Segundo Hogar Inmaculada Concepción Bucay25 Escuela Horacio Hidrovo El Carmen Bucay

Annex #31 contains the Institutional Risk Management Plans prepared with support from the FOCAPRE project.

The training of the teachers and Ministry of Education officials in the design of the School Risk Management Plans was coordinated with and supported by UNICEF, and was done in accordance with the Risk Management Policy of the Ministry of Education. The methodologies employed had been validated by the Ministry of Education and the National Risk Management Secretariat.

In coordination with the efforts of the FOCAPRIN project financed by ECHO within the context of DIPECHO VII, work was done on the pilot plan designed by the Ministry of Education, SNGR and UNICEF to disseminate the risk management methodology in Educational Plans.

Two meetings were organized in coordination with the Education Department of Chimborazo, and with the participation of 30 teachers representing 22 schools in Pallatanga, Bucay and Cumanda. The first 2-day meeting was focused on risk management standards and regulations, and the second on reviewing the institutional risk management plan for educational institutions.

Subsequently, the Provincial Education Department replicated the training with at least 90 teachers, in the areas of first aid and fire safety.

Finally, the workshops on designing institutional risk management plans were replicated in El Triunfo and La Troncal, with the participation of 28 teachers, representatives and supervisors from the Ministry of Education, and the Education Working Group of El Triunfo and La Troncal.

During the period of intervention of FOCAPRE, at least 70 teachers and 700 students were able to participate in events and activities related to risk management.

5. RISK SIGNAGE

By the end of FOCAPRE: 30 (thirty) communities have risk signage, which was installed based on the data outgained from the geo-referencing done in each community, and the creation of the community-level risks and resources maps.

The risk signage is linked to the training processes held in the different areas. The usefulness of the signs was confirmed during the emergency drills.

Annex 34 contains a report on the installation of the signage.

6. DRILLS

During the period of implementation of the FOCAPRE project, the following drills and simulations were held:

At the canton level:

Drills were held in the cantons of Cumanda and Pallatanga, in coordination with the FOCAPRIN project, in the context of DIPECHO VII.

At the community level:

Emergency simulation drills were held in the following communities:

Canton Community Cumanda 1. Buenos Aires.

2. Nueva Unión3. Naranjapata4. La modelo5. Los Laureles6. La 87.

El Triunfo 7. Virgen del Cisne La Troncal 8. Ananías, Barranco Amarillo y 2 de Octubre

At the school level:

In the Celso Augusto Rodriguez school of the Cumanda canton, two drills were held to simulate fire scenarios, in which 700 boys and girls participated. In addition, teachers from 17 schools in the region took part, thus allowing the process to have a multiplier, scaling-up effect.

In the Arnaldo Merino school of La Isla 87 community and 18 de Mayo school in the Los Laureles community, flood drills were carried out, with the participation of over 130 children.

Drills were also held at the following schools: Sultana de los Andes; Doctor Joel Jara Sevilla and Francisco Xavier Quintana, with the participation of students, teachers and parents.

The drills were carried out with the participation of the communities and the schools, and were coordinated with the Provincial Risk Management Offices, the canton municipal governments, first response institutions and health care institutions.

Before the drills, the project went through the entire training process for students, teachers and parents of the institution, including the issues of: evacuation routes, meeting places, and others.

The strategy of the SNGR recommends doing drills in communities and schools, in order to methodologically generate an inductive path “from the particular and specific to the universal and general.”

These events allowed the communities and the schools to put their knowledge from the basic courses, their organization and their levels of coordination into practice, and to evaluate them. Annex 35 contains model reports on the drills and simulations that took place.

7. COMMUNICATION STRATEGY:

On February 18, 2013, a consulting contract was signed between the Yupana Foundation and CARE to carry out an outreach campaign on risk management, within the context of the FOCAPRE project, in the cantons of Cumanda, Bucay, Pallatanga, La Troncal and El Triunfo.

The objective of the campaign was: to raise awareness and educate people in the 5 cantons about risk management, in order to prevent threats and risks, with the participation of children, adolescents, women, and authorities.

The proposal was based on the experience of Yupana, a non-governmental organization that uses a participatory methodology involving art, play and recreation, and with a focus on gender and human rights.

The characteristic of the campaign was to generate a happy, colorful, positive and constructive feeling, so that risk management could be a way to strengthen individual and collective capacities for prevention, care, attention, mitigation, solidarity, and cooperation.

The report of the outreach process is found in Annex 36. A number of communicational products were produced, which make it possible to better visualize the achievements of the FOCAPRE project, at the following sites:

RISK MANAGEMENT VIDEO CAMPAIGN : The video documents the process of the Risk Management Campaign, and shows how children and adults learned about risk management topics. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOSYE5cMJf4&feature=youtu.be

PROJECT PHOTOGRAPHIC SUMMARY : The photo archive reflects a sampling of the actions that took place through the capacity-building , policy advocacy and inter-institutional coordination program of the project, and activities related to the early warning system, infrastructure upgrades and the risk management campaign. http://www.care.org.ec/webcare/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Resena_fotografica_Proyecto_FOCAPRE/index.html#/0

RISK MANAGEMENT STORIES : The stories highlight the creativity of children and adolescents in constructing a world without risks, which cares for people and respects nature. http://www.care.org.ec/webcare/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/cuentos/index.html#/0

8. INTERACTION WITH OTHER PROJECTS

At the school level, it is easy to see the interaction between the FOCAPRE project and the FOCAPRIN project financed by ECHO under the framework of DIPECHO VII, due to the fact that through the actions of FOCAPRE the conditions of schools were improved in which FOCAPRIN implemented Institutional Risk Management Plans.

During the winter season, response activities were coordinated with the MIES and other organizations such as Plan and ADRA, aiming to proactively and effectively join together with the Response Plan in the face of the emergency declared by the National Government.

Under these conditions an evaluation was carried out on the functioning of shelters and several aspects were identified in which we could complement the Government’s actions including: training in ESFERA Standards and the use of the Manual, Sexual and Reproductive Health and psycho-emotional attention.

In conjunction with the MIES, PLAN and ADRA, three area workshops were held on the aforementioned topics in the cities of Guayaquil, Manta and Machala.

The need to update the MIES’s Shelter Management in Emergencies Manual was established as a future task.

The project also worked in coordination with community and educational actions of the DIPECHO VII projects sponsored by the European Union and within the guidelines of the National Risk Management Secretariat.

SECTOR 2 SHELTER AND SETTLEMENTS (S&S)

Cumulative number of beneficiaries targeted to date: 1,650

Cumulative number of beneficiaries reached to date: 1,650

Total numbers of beneficiaries targeted and reached to date: 1,650

SUBSECTOR 2.1: SHELTER HAZARD MITIGATION

9. INITIAL STEPS:

9.1 Local Coordination:

Each municipality designated a technician (focal point) to work on the efforts to identify small infrastructure works. In Cumanda, the focal point was Fredy Bejerano (Director of Public Works), in La Troncal, engineer Marcelo Fafara (Director of Public Works), in El Triunfo, engineer Milton Veloz (also Public Works Director), and in Bucay, engineer Salinas (Director of Public Works).

During this period, visits were made to the communities and peri-urban neighborhoods of the La Troncal, El Triunfo, Antonio Elizalde (Bucay), Pallatanga and Cumanda cantons, with the participation of officials from the municipality, MIES, Ecuadorian Red Cross, mayor’s offices and the National Risk Management Secretariat, in order to select areas of intervention for the housing upgrade and small infrastructure works component.

9.2 Prioritization Criteria:

For the process of prioritizing homes, schools and small infrastructure works, an initial diagnosis and assessment tool was designed, with an emphasis on the following aspects: 1. Reinforcing the main structure of the house or school; 2. Rehabilitating the roof support structure; 3. Improving roofing structures; 4. Improving and refurbishing the plumbing and sanitary facilities; 5. Upgrading electricity installations; and 6. Construction and/or cleaning of drains and canals for rain water.

Objective: Ensure that homes and schools in the targeted area are able to withstand natural and man-made disasters through the rehabilitation of vulnerable shelters and structures

The work done at schools has been primarily focused on reducing the following types of risks: sanitary risks due to the poor condition of bathrooms and improper wastewater management; improving rainwater management; improving access and quality of potable water services; improving electrical installations, and others.

10. DETAIL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS PERFORMED

10.1 Improving the resistance of housing to adverse events:

Through the FOCAPRE project, assistance was given in improving 85 homes, in order to reduce their vulnerability to adverse events, such as floods and landslides. The actions taken include: improving water and sanitation conditions, managing rainwater, upgrading infrastructure, improving and cleaning roofs, electrical installations, managing domestic gas, and others.

The actions carried out were accompanied by awareness-raising and training processes, which will also help to prevent the risk of fire, short circuits, and problems with household natural gas.

Below is a detail of the sites where homes were upgraded:

Canton Community # of homes improved

PALLATANGA Jalubí 17LA TRONCAL 2 de Octubre 18EL TRIUNFO Pueblo Nuevo 17CUMANDA Buenos Aires 17Bucay San Francisco 16

TOTAL 85 homes

The details of the entire process, with the respective technical reports and photo archives, can be found in Annex 38.

10.2 Reducing vulnerabilities n schools :

The FOCAPRE project, provided support to the improvement of schools, by performing mitigation works, such as: rehabilitating bathrooms and water installations, solid waste management, fixing roofs, reviewing structures, electrical facilities, etc.

These efforts were coordinated and complemented with the design of School Risk Management Plans, the provision of emergency response equipment and building the capacities of students, teachers and parents, all in coordination with the FOCAPRIN project (funded by ECHO).

The projects mentioned above have great potential for replication, since they use simple, low-cost and high-impact technologies.

Below is a detailed list of the schools that were assisted:

Canton Educational InstitutionPALLATANGA 1. José Orozco

2. Luz de AméricaLA TRONCAL 3. Xavier QuintanaEL TRIUNFO 4. Río Guayas

5. Hernán Navas6. Aníbal Zeas7. 12 de Octubre8. 1 de Agosto

CUMANDA 9. Manuel del Pino10. Arnaldo Merino11. 18 de mayo12. General Flores13. Alfredo Lovato14. Rosa Paredes Jumbo15. Jose Nicanor Carrión16. Alfredo Baquerizo Moreno17. Sultana de los Andes.18. Celso Augusto Rodríguez

The details of the entire process, with the respective technical reports and photo archives, can be found in Annex 37.

10.3 Small-scale mitigation works

The FOCAPRE project provided support for the construction of the following mitigation works;

Canton CommunityPALLATANGA 1. Reforestation in Trigoloma

2. Pilchipamba3. Jiménez4. Jalubí 5. Los Santiagos

LA TRONCAL 6. San Martín 7. Barranco Amarillo

EL TRIUNFO 8. Los tres Arbolitos9. Virgen del Cisne10. Santa Rosita

CUMANDA 11. NaranjapataBUCAY 12. San Francisco

The details of the processes, with the respective technical reports and photo archives, can be found in Annex 39.

Annexes 40 and 41 contain the signed certifications related to the delivery and reception of infrastructure works, and the delivery/receipt of equipment.

10.4 Training for reducing vulnerabilities:

Within the framework of the FOCAPRE project, a number of training events were held, in order to strengthen capacities at the local level to reduce vulnerabilities to adverse events caused by flooding and landslides.

As a result of these efforts and trainings, 70% of the residents of 30 communities and 5 canton seats have adopted the practice of cleaning the drain spouts on the roofs of their homes, and cleaning gutters as a way to prevent the risks associated with adverse natural events.

Among the main formal training events, we can highlight two:

Workshop on a risk-based approach to housing construction : included the participation of technical staff from the municipality and other canton institutions. The practical reference point for this event were the mitigation works done on 70 houses which were improved and strengthened with the support of the FOCAPRE project. Annex # 42: Report on the Risk-Based Approach to Housing Construction Workshop.

Workshop on the operation and maintenance of rural potable water systems with a risk-based approach: this event was tailored specifically to those communities which have drinking water systems in the rural areas of the project’s target cantons. The objective of the event was to enhance knowledge to be better able to administer, operate and maintain the systems, taking into consideration risk management and climate change adaptation issues. Annex # 43.

OVERALL PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS

At the close of the FOCAPRE project, we believe that the results proposed initially have been achieved, and in some cases surpassed, for example:

Initially, the goal was to reach 2,070 people with the objective of “Building the preparedness and response capacities of populations and institutions in areas prone to adverse events”, however the project reached 6,386 people. The main factors behind this achievement were the coordination with local institutions, coordination with the FOCAPRIN Program of ECHO, and the growing interest among the people in the issue of risk management.

The local counterpart contributions exceeded projected levels, and therefore the project was able to improve 85 houses, 10 more than originally planned. Furthermore, better and broader outcomes and impacts were achieved in terms of reducing vulnerabilities in schools and small-scale mitigation works.

The coordination with the FOCAPRIN project made it possible to achieve a holistic improvement of schools – in addition to training staf, the school brigades were equipped, institutional plans were designed and vulnerabilities reduced in terms of infrastructure, electrical installations, the use of domestic gas, rainwater managmenet, access to potable water, etc.

One of the most visible and important impacts of the projects is having strengthened local organization, with the participation of government institutions, civil society, NGOs, and others. In addition, coordination between cantons was consolidated, as there is a general recognition that risks and vulnerability cross over geographic boundaries.

The project promoted the participation of women, children, people with disabilities, and generated an environment of inclusion in all of its activities.

The potential for replication of FOCAPRE’s efforts is recognized locally, and in fact, even before the end of the implementation period, many neighboring communities, schools and cantons were replicating the activities, methodologies and processes of the project.

Having generated a local dynamic in which: constructive dialogue, coordination between stakeholders, planning and respect are the best tools for managing risks and responding to emergencies, is another important accomplishment of FOCAPRE.

The actions and methodologies promoted by the project are models of intervention which caught the attention of authorities and decision-makers in cooperation and government institutions. Among the visitors to project activities was the Ambassador of the United States of America to Ecuador.

The project team took advantage of the coordination with the FOCAPRIN-ECHO project to coordinate an external evaluation of both projects, the results of which are in Annex 45.

MONITORING TRACKING TABLE

Indicator Target Cumulative % of target met

Comments

Sector Name Natural and Technological RisksSubsector Name

Number of people trained in disaster preparedness, mitigation and Management

2070 6386 100%

Number of Community Risk Management Committees organized and trained in disaster preparedness and response

30 30 100% 30 Community Risk Management Committees organized and trained in disaster preparedness and response.

Number of Municipal Risk Management Committees organized and trained in disaster preparedness and response

5 5 100% 5 Municipal Risk Management Committees organized and trained in disaster preparedness and response.

Number of people that become part of organized and trained Brigades in the Community Risk Management Committees and Municipal Risk Management Committees

1300 1586 100% The number of people trained has surpassed the planned target; however we are reporting a level of completion of 100%.

Number of teachers trained in topics related to disaster risk reduction

70 342 100% The number of people trained has surpassed the planned target; however we are reporting a level of completion of 100%.

Number of school students made aware of and participating in risk reduction activities.

700 1180 100% The number of people trained has surpassed the planned target; however we are reporting a level of completion of 100%.

Number of Community Risk Management Committees that have basic equipment needed for disaster prevention and response

30 30 100% 100% of Community Risk Management Committees that have basic equipment needed for disaster prevention and response

Number of Municipal Risk Management Committees that have the basic equipment needed for disaster prevention and response

5 5 100% 100% of Municipal Risk Management Committees that have the basic equipment needed for disaster prevention and response

Number and percent of beneficiaries retaining disaster preparedness, mitigation, and management knowledge two months after training

1759 0 NA This process will be done in late 2013, with support from the focal points in each municipality.

Number of hazard risk reduction plans, policies or curriculum developed

65 65 100% During this period we developed school plans, community plans and cantonal plans.

Number of agreements signed with municipal governments and national government institutions for project implementation and follow-up

5 municipal

and 3 national

3 national agreement

5 cantonal90% 5 agreements signed with municipal

governments and 2 national government institutions for project implementation and follow-up

Number of Community Risk Management Plans (urban and rural) developed with response procedures prepared with the participation of various stakeholders

30 30 100% 30 Community Risk Management Plans (urban and rural) developed with response procedures prepared with the participation of various stakeholders

Number of Municipal Risk Management Plans developed, with response procedures prepared with the participation of various stakeholders

5 5 100% 5 Municipal Risk Management Plans developed

Number of schools in rural and urban areas, in high-risk zones, that are implementing School Safety Plans with the participation of students and teachers

15 15 100% 15 schools in rural and urban areas, in high-risk zones, that are implementing School Safety Plans

Number of risk warning poster signs that have been posted

200 200 100% 200 of risk warning poster signs that have been posted

Number of Municipal Emergency Operations Committees (EOC) Situation Rooms established

5 5 100% 5 Municipal Emergency Operations Committees (EOC) Situation Rooms established. Cumanda, Pallatanga, El Triunfo, La Troncal, Bucay.

Number of Operational Manuals prepared in a participatory manner

5 5 100% 5 Operational Manuals prepared in a participatory manner

Number of simulation exercises implemented with the participation of the Community and Municipal Risk Management Committees, government institutions, response institutions, the civil society, the public and the media

5 14 100% 14 simulation exercises implemented with the participation of the Community and Municipal Risk Management Committees, government institutions, response institutions, the civil society, the public and the media

Number of homes located in high-risk zones that have been rehabilitated so that they are better able to withstand the effects of natural disasters

75 75 100% 75 homes have been rehabilitated

Number of schools located in high-risk zones that have been rehabilitated so that they are better able to withstand the effects of natural disasters

15 15 100% 15 schools located in high-risk zones that have been rehabilitated so that they are better able to withstand the effects of natural disasters

Number of mitigation initiatives implemented in the target areas

15 15 100% The mitigation infrastructure works were completed in the 5 cantons.

Number of settlements adopting hazard mitigation measures

30 30 100% After having done the trainings on: water system operation and maintenance with a risk management approach, and housing construction with a risk management approach, a significant number of residents have improved their knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding how to reduce

vulnerabilities.

The zones which are most vulnerable to the effects of natural disasters have the necessary signage in place in order to improve risk management

To de determined

100% 100% 100% of communities have the necessary signage in place in order to improve risk management

Number and percent of people retaining shelter hazard mitigation knowledge two months after training

70% NA NA This process will be done in late 2013, with support from the focal points in each municipality.

Percentage of homes from 30 communities and 5 Cantons have incorporated practices for cleaning roof gutters and downspouts, as a prevention measure against risks posed by natural disasters

70% 100% 100% After having done the trainings on: water system operation and maintenance with a risk management approach, and housing construction with a risk management approach, a significant number of residents have improved their knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding how to reduce vulnerabilities.

MAIN ACTIVITIES FOR REMAINDER OF PROJECT

On July 31, 2013, the FOCAPRE project officially came to an end; nevertheless CARE maintains its ties of dialogue and coordination with the different municipal representatives, which is making is possible to follow up with the project efforts and learn about the results being achieved locally.

Each of the 5 municipal governments has committed to keep monitoring the impacts generated by the Project, with an emphasis on the strengthened capacities, and to continue to strengthen them through the municipal units.

PICTURES

Annex #44 includes a gallery of selected photos.

RISK MANAGEMENT VIDEO CAMPAIGN : The video documents the process of the Risk Management Campaign, and shows how children and adults learned about risk management topics. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOSYE5cMJf4&feature=youtu.be

PROJECT PHOTOGRAPHIC SUMMARY : The photo archive reflects a sampling of the actions that took place through the capacity-building , policy advocacy and inter-institutional coordination program of the project, and activities related to the early warning system, infrastructure upgrades and the risk management campaign.

http://www.care.org.ec/webcare/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Resena_fotografica_Proyecto_FOCAPRE/index.html#/0

SUCCESS STORIES

The report of the communications and outreach process is in Annex 36. In addition, a number of communication products were produced, which better illustrate the accomplishments of the FOCAPRE project, and can be found at the following website:

http://www.care.org.ec/webcare/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/cuentos/index.html#/0 RISK MANAGEMENT STORIES : The stories highlight the creativity of children and adolescents in

constructing a world without risks, which cares for people and respects nature. http://www.care.org.ec/webcare/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/cuentos/index.html#/0

COST EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS

The FOCAPRE project is considered to have obtained high levels of cost-effectiveness, since it has been able to reach a direct beneficiary population through its capacity-building efforts of 6,386 people, far superior to the originally projected number of 2,070.

The project has kept to the original budgetary guidelines, with small fluctuations between different areas, however it has achieved very high levels of counterpart contributions, which has made it possible to have a broader outcome and more impact.

The funds of the FOCAPRE project acted as “seed money” and generated interest and participation among the local governments, who allocated their own funds. This helped the project to achieve greater results than originally planned.

ANNEXES:

Annex # 1 Letter of Support from SNGRAnnex # 2 FOCAPRE PowerPoint presentationAnnex # 3 Coordination with Guayas SNGR Annex # 4 Coordination with Cañar SNGR Annex # 5 Coordination with the La Troncal municipal governmentAnnex # 6 Coordination with the El Triunfo municipal governmentAnnex # 7 Planning with El Triunfo EOCAnnex # 8 Community selection in La Troncal cantonAnnex # 9 Community selection in El Triunfo cantonAnnex # 10 Report of community visitsAnnex # 11 Baseline KAP study (Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices in risk

management) in the La Troncal and El Triunfo cantonsAnnex # 12 Baseline KAP study (Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices in risk

management) in the Pallatanga, Cumanda and Bucay cantons.Annex # 13 Bucay Risk Mgmt. SurveysAnnex # 14 El Triunfo Risk Mgmt. Surveys

Annex # 15 Cumanda Risk Mgmt. SurveysAnnex # 16 Pallatanga Risk Mgmt. SurveysAnnex # 17 Workshop report: “Introduction to Risk Management”

Annex # 18 Workshop report: Operating Guidelines with the Risk Mgmt. Committees”

Annex # 19 Creation of the Technical working GroupsAnnex # 20 Workshop report - EDAN group IAnnex # 21 Workshop report - EDAN group IIAnnex # 22 Workshop report – SPHEREAnnex # 23 A Canton Risk Management PlansAnnex # 23 B Creation of the Cumanda Community NetworkAnnex # 24 A Contingency Plans (winter season)Annex # 24 B Assistance to those harmed by the fire on El Corazon hillsideAnnex # 25 Community Plans - El TriunfoAnnex # 26 Community Plans - La TroncalAnnex # 27 Community Plans - CumandáAnnex # 28 Community Plans - PallatangaAnnex # 29 Community Plans - BucayAnnex # 30 Cumulative table of beneficiariesAnnex # 31 Institutional Risk Management PlansAnnex # 32 Donation certificates for equipment at the municipal level Annex # 33 Equipment donation certificates from schoolsAnnex # 34 Report on the installation of signageAnnex # 35 Model drill / simulation reportAnnex # 36 Outreach campaign reportAnnex # 37 Detail of mitigation works at educational institutionsAnnex # 38 Detail of housing improvement work doneAnnex # 39 Detail of small-scale mitigation worksAnnex # 40 Infrastructure works delivery/reception certificatesAnnex # 41 Donation certificationsAnnex # 42 Infrastructure Workshop ReportAnnex # 43 Operation and Maintenance of water and sanitation systems

Workshops report Annex # 44 Selected photographic galleryAnnex # 45 FOCAPRIN external evaluation