Oxfam GB: Improvement of the living conditions through WATSAN solutions, of indigenous and afro communities in Bajo Atrato, Choco, with a focus on the promotion of women’s empowerment.

Projet terminé

The five decades running armed conflict in Colombia continues to cause humanitarian needs with consequences in terms of access to basic rights in the remote geographic zones where SDC is present, namely access to safe water and sanitation, need of protection of the communities related to threats linked to natural calamities and/or to the conflict (i.e. internal displacements, recruitments of minors, etc). Rural communities in Choco, particularly indigenous and afros, are among the most affected, whose condition is made worse because of a general absence of state authorities (poor capacity and will), which result in a general poor access to basic services such water, sanitation and health. This situation led the Constitutional court to call Colombian institutions to take urgent action to address the persistence (since 2008) of an unconstitutional state of affairs in the department of Choco.

Pays/région Thème Période Budget
Colombie
Eau
Aide humanitaire & RRC
Santé
Eau potable et Services d'assainissement de base (WASH) (til 2016)
Reconstruction et réhabilitation (till 2016)
Maladies infectieuses
18.08.2015 - 31.03.2018
CHF  295’000
Contexte

The department of Chocó, is a multiethnic territory made of 30 municipalities and a population of approx. 500’000. The humanitarian crisis endured by ancestral communities (indigenous and afro Colombian) is mainly structural, due to political and economic interests which have existed in the territory, added by the presence of illegal armed actors which generate a wide range of protection issues and challenges to their survival and which have sunk communities into marginality and discrimination. This situation combined with challenging physical access (only by river) and difficult weather conditions affect water resources, crops, fishing and hunting and represents serious impediments towards the access to basic needs, and real threats to health and survival in the territory.  Indigenous and afro communities in Choco continue to face absent authorities as far as these challenges are concerned, and the humanitarian response is too little in front of their needs for protection and basic services. Gender patterns (inequalities, distribution of tasks) prevailing particularly within indigenous communities expose women and girls to increased risks. The incoming local and regional elections, albeit creating risks of discontinuity, also represents an opportunity for advocacy and generation of commitment in the WATSAN sector with the new mandatories.

Objectifs

Improve the living conditions and resilience of 15 indigenous and 10 afro communities, with a focus on recognizing inequities and the promotion of women’s empowerment, through water and sanitation solutions addressing the scarce water supply, precarious sanitation and hygiene, and also identifying and preparing before natural and man-generated risks.

Groupes cibles

Directly:

For outcome 1: 100% of the 15 indigenous communities (615 households, 2.690 p).

For outcome 2: 15 indigenous and 10 afro communities (615 + 511 households, 4’752 p).

For outcome 3: new representatives of the municipality of Riosucio,  of Regional institutions [Aguas del Choco, oficials of ICBF (Child welfare Institute) and SENA (National System of Apprenticeship) in Quibdo, of technicians of the Health Secretariats in Riosucio (Secretaria de Salud), of members of the Health Platform in Riosucio, communities and their traditional authorities in the Municipality of Riosucio.

Indirectly: the entire municipality of Riosucio (about 12’000 residents).

Effets à moyen terme
  1. Contribution to the improvement of Health conditions in 15 indigenous communities of Bajo Atrato through a better access to safe water, with a focus on visualizing and sensitizing on gender roles.

  2. Strengthened capacity of 10 afro and 15 indigenous communities (women and men) for the water management within their household, a healthy habitat and surroundings,  and for the management of risks identified in/around the community (from a gender perspective).

  3. The public institutions have increased their response capacity and responsibility related to the attention to communities in front of different risks, especially those communities participating to the project, including a gender perspective and awareness of the public for the use of safe water.

Résultats

Principaux résultats attendus:  

For outcome 1 (5 outputs): In 15 indigenous communities: improved 3 community water systems, 2 water storage facilities, blocks of latrines in 8 community child schools, distribution of 125 individual tanks for family, water quality analysis performed in each community.

For outcome 2 (4 outputs): Baseline in 10 new indigenous communities on capacity for the management of installations, on hygiene topics, risk management and gender issues; establishment/strengthening of 25 water committees, strengthening of 25 communities in gender equity, transformative women leadership, in community protection, mapping and risk analysis.  

For outcome 3 (3 outputs): Design and implementation of an awareness campaign on water and hygienic habits with a gender-ethnic sensitive information paquage, involving the different public institutions; Development and implementation of a strategy for the replacement of the individual water filters within the communities, involving political and traditional authorities; Implemented a strategy for the follow up by the local and regional government institutions to feasibility study recommendation regarding a communal water supply (shared among 10 communities) feasibility study.


Principaux résultats antérieurs:  

  • 100% of the population targeted in 10 afro and 5 indigenous communities, corresponding to (4140) people (33% beyond  target), got permanent access to water for domestic use through 26 shallow wells constructed or rehabilitated, 10 blocks of latrines and 500 tanks of 500 lts for storage of rain water.

  • Water committees (with at least one woman member) were established and function in each 15 communities with the commitment of monitoring the utilization and maintenance of the wells and latrines

  • 55 awareness workshops on hygienic habits and water consumption were carried out in the 15 communities, using theatrical methods.

  • Risk analysis and mapping was performed in the 15 communities to help communities address risks and remain in their territory.

  • Emergency assistance was delivered to 92 indigenous families affected by a wave of diarrheas, through the handover to them of water filters, as well as fuel and food handed over to the health brigades commissioned by the municipal Health Secretariat to support them in their duty.

  • A feasibility study was carried out by Aguas del Choco for the definition and construction of a water supply system shared by 10 communities, which represents an instrument for the advocacy by the community based organization

Insight: the transformation of cultural gender patterns of relation between men and women is a longer term process. However the project managed to recognize a few situations of inequities, a first step before promoting equity actions. Awareness sessions on hygienic habits need to be continued, particularly in indigenous communities emphasizing on waste Management and environmental care.  


Direction/office fédéral responsable DDC
Crédit Aide humanitaire
Partenaire de projet Partenaire contractuel
ONG internationale ou étrangère
  • OXFAM GB


Autres partenaires

Oxfam is an experienced and recognized international NGO, present in Colombia since 1982, supporting initiatives for the protection of rights of women and men, with presence since 1997 in Choco. Partner of SDC since 2011 on similar water and sanitation initiatives.

Coordination avec d'autres projets et acteurs

Local institutions: Municipality of Riosucio and Health Secretariat, Colombian Red Cross (Riosucio), Clerical organization of Riosucio (Pastoral Social), community school teachers. Regional authorities (Quibdo).

Regional institutions: ICBF, Aguas del Choco, SENA.

Central Institutions: Vice Ministry of Water.

Budget Phase en cours Budget de la Suisse CHF    295’000 Budget suisse déjà attribué CHF    257’405
Phases du projet

Phase 2 18.08.2015 - 31.03.2018   (Completed)

Phase 1 15.10.2013 - 07.05.2015   (Completed)