AID grant no. 517-0247-G-00-3090-00 to the Fundacion para el Desarrollo Comunitario, Inc. (FUDECO) to implement the integrated health and natural resources management project

The project will be implemented in 80 communities in Dajabon, San Juan de la Maguana, and Elias Pina Provinces and will benefit an estimated 32,800 people. The health component will increase local capacity to prevent health problems related to water contamination, bad hygiene, and malnutrition. All activities will be implemented through community health teams, which will be formed under the project. Specific objectives are to (1) build 9 potable water systems (aqueducts), and connect 600 homes to these systems, providing the 600 families with ventilated pit latrines and sanitation/hygiene education; (2) train 300 mothers to promote child survival interventions (assisted by their school-age children); (3) improve nutrition by planting 1,400 family gardens. The natural resource management component will help the communities to conserve and restore local micro-ecosystems. Specific objectives are to: (1) reforest 4,290 tareas of river sources, hillsides, neighborhood walkways, and schools (including the planting of 2,200 tareas of fruit trees); (2) train 1,500 small farmers to employ soil-conserving agroforestry techniques on 4,600 tareas; and (3) introduce 1,000 Lorena cookstoves to reduce firewood consumption and avoid health problems related to smoke inhalation and burns. The project will be implemented on a community self-help basis and will introduce sustainability mechanisms such as water user fees, etc.