Strengthening the Ability of the Communities of Copper Bank, Chunox and Sarteneja to Prepare for and Respond to the Negative Impacts of Natural Hazards.
The Belize Red Cross Society, one of 186 members of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies with a history going back to 1863, has as its mission to improve the situation of the most vulnerable, without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious belief, class, gender or political opinion. We have long experience in activities related to disaster preparedness and response, including a current collaboration with the Norwegian Red Cross, funded by DIPECHO, to strengthen the capacity of communities in the South of Belize to prepare for and respond to the negative impacts of natural hazards.
The proposed project aims to take components of our work in the south to the villages of Sarteneja, Copper Bank and Chunox in the district of Corozal. The perception of people in these villages is that changes that have happened over the last decades, including increasingly poor harvest and catch of fish, are due to climate change. The impact of Hurricane Dean fully demonstrated that they are vulnerable to extreme weather events, a vulnerability that is exasperated by climate change. Consequently, our goal for the project is to
Reduce disaster risk and improve communities? ability to prepare for and respond to the negative impacts of natural hazards.
Through the project we expect to strengthen the Belize Red Cross volunteers who will be able to facilitate capacity building in the communities, as well as responding in times of disaster. Disaster response teams will be established in the three villages, making sure that there are trained people present who can contribute to better prepared communities with a stronger response capacity. Moreover, awareness campaigns will be conducive to people being more sensitized and with a greater understanding of their vulnerabilities. Finally, adaptation to Climate Change, including identification and installation of alternative safe water sources and a communication system, will improve the village?s ability to cope with the negative effects of natural hazards, and give them a means of communication to ensure that they are able to communicate damages that have been suffered and the resulting needs.
Our approach fits well in with the Country Programme Strategy of the GEF Small Grants Programme, in particular focussing on Community Empowerment. Moreover, also in line with this strategy, our interventions will ?support community initiatives for adaptation to climate change? and ?engage community groups in developing and demonstrating tools for assessing and monitoring vulnerabilities and risks to climate change events?.
The proposed project aims to take components of our work in the south to the villages of Sarteneja, Copper Bank and Chunox in the district of Corozal. The perception of people in these villages is that changes that have happened over the last decades, including increasingly poor harvest and catch of fish, are due to climate change. The impact of Hurricane Dean fully demonstrated that they are vulnerable to extreme weather events, a vulnerability that is exasperated by climate change. Consequently, our goal for the project is to
Reduce disaster risk and improve communities? ability to prepare for and respond to the negative impacts of natural hazards.
Through the project we expect to strengthen the Belize Red Cross volunteers who will be able to facilitate capacity building in the communities, as well as responding in times of disaster. Disaster response teams will be established in the three villages, making sure that there are trained people present who can contribute to better prepared communities with a stronger response capacity. Moreover, awareness campaigns will be conducive to people being more sensitized and with a greater understanding of their vulnerabilities. Finally, adaptation to Climate Change, including identification and installation of alternative safe water sources and a communication system, will improve the village?s ability to cope with the negative effects of natural hazards, and give them a means of communication to ensure that they are able to communicate damages that have been suffered and the resulting needs.
Our approach fits well in with the Country Programme Strategy of the GEF Small Grants Programme, in particular focussing on Community Empowerment. Moreover, also in line with this strategy, our interventions will ?support community initiatives for adaptation to climate change? and ?engage community groups in developing and demonstrating tools for assessing and monitoring vulnerabilities and risks to climate change events?.
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Project Snapshot
Grantee:
Belize Red Cross Society
Country:
Belize
Area Of Work:
Community Based Adaptation
Grant Amount:
US$ 50,000.00
Co-Financing Cash:
US$ 14,375.00
Co-Financing in-Kind:
US$ 39,861.00
Project Number:
BZE/SGP/OP4/CORE/07/02
Status:
Satisfactorily Completed
Project Characteristics and Results
Project sustainability
The cooperative will maintain close ties with the MAFC, BOPA, as well as with other Cooperatives in five neighborhood villages and the TSDF Foundation located in Belmopan. The MAFC is promoting organic production and GVL Cooperative is a pioneer in this sector. The GVL Cooperative members are looking forward to continued cooperation and support from all these partners.
Some factors identified by the GVL Cooperative coordination team that can help contribute to the sustainability of its work include the following:
1. O
rganic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved.
2.
Farmers are cognizant of their limited knowledge and experience in organic agriculture, and are prepare to receive additional training and practical experience.
3.
According to the experiences of the farmers, organic farming is more demanding than the conventional way. Although most of the farmers had good results there is a risk of discouragement in the long term because of lack of information and training. All the farmers would highly benefit from consultancy of an expert in organic agriculture over some more planting seasons.
4.
Some of the farmers started to rethink their own life style and eating habits and have started to eat their own produce rather than only selling it at the market. Those farmers are also interested to learn more about Polyculture or Permaculture with crop rotation, multi-cropping, and inter-cropping integrating the diversity of natural ecosystems, water and energy use to build a sustainable future.
5.
One workshop on the principles and methods of Permaculture has already taken place. Two of the farmers will attend a Permaculture Training in San Pedro Columbia in March 2010, and are planning to provide training for the farmers afterwards. Financial Support therefore would be highly appreciated.
6.
Also, the cooperative has plans to expand cooperative membership to other interested farmers in the area. Upon application, there is a six month provisional membership timeframe during which a potential member can work within the cooperative before full membership is received. Several other farmers have already applied for membership.
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SGP Country office contact
Mr. Leonel Requena
Phone:
(501) 822-2462
Email:
Esther Calles
Email:
Address
2nd Floor, David L. McKoy Business Center, Bliss Parade, P.O. Box 53
Belmopan, Central America
Belmopan, Central America
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