USAID/El Salvador Hurricane Mitch reconstruction : completion report -- special objective : 'reduced vulnerability of the rural poor to natural disasters in targeted areas['] (SpO 519-007)

The project closed well ahead of schedule at the end of FY 2001, having achieved a number of impressive results in four areas, as noted below. First, USAID helped El Salvador's economy to recover in the Mitch areas most affected. Over 5,500 Mitch-affected farmers received agricultural inputs and TA in soil preparation, along with training in planting, management, harvesting, and marketing strictly via organic methods, planting 2,297 hectares with high-value crops. Second, USAID restored and expanded access to basic community services. A total of 51 small infrastructure projects were carried out, including shelters in schools, dispensaries, bridges, and small rural roads, benefitting 79,250 persons in 182 communities; local communities participated most enthusiastically. In addition, some 500 homes were built, reaching 3,000 persons in 33 communities and using design standards aimed at mitigating the effects of flooding and other natural disasters. Also, 79 schools were repaired or rebuilt and another 4 were re-equipped, helping 212 communities and nearly 19,000 students; beneficiary communities donated construction materials, equipment, and labor. Further, 4,500 replacement desks were delivered to 59 schools and 420 solar panels were installed in 198 community facilities. Sanitary seals and hand pumps were provided for 1,146 wells, providing water services to over 9,500 individuals; 5,342 latrines were built; and 13 potable water systems were put in place serving over 23,000 residents; and community health education was provided. Local water committees were established and community members trained to provide for sustainability. A total of 136 KM of rural roads were repaired, benefitting more than 176,000 people; also, 205 KM of electrical distribution lines benefitting nearly 6,000 families were put in place. Principal partners included: for potable water, CARE, with the local NGO CALMA furnishing related education; for rural roads, the General Directorate of Highways of the Ministry of Public Work (MOP); for electrical distribution lines, the Rural Electrification Unit within the Technical Secretariat for External Financing (SETEFE) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and, for all other activities, the Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF). Third, the Mission, working again with CHF, provided a multi-faceted program in improved environmental management, focusing on the affected Lempa and Grande de San Miguel flood plains. Conservation activities were carried out in 36 micro-watersheds with the total area reached by such activities amounting to 197 hectares. Activities in solid waste management focused on 10 communities and included community-led marches, campaigns, and clean ups, emphasizing at least in part the dengue epidemic. A total of 533 hectares were re- forested, including 297 hectares from trees produced in community tree nurseries. Roughly 3,200 people received training in environmental management. Finally, to help prepare the country for future natural disasters, 3,015 community members (48% of them women) received training in disaster vulnerability, disaster preparedness, and implementation of early warning systems. Emergency committees charged with producing disaster preparedness plans were established in 118 communities, which also received workshops in the areas of first aid, rescue techniques, shelter management, and methodologies for the evaluation of damage and needs. Further, 36 hectares of environmental risk mitigation work was carried out in the Municipality of Berlin; its community was most proactive in its support of the initiative, providing equipment. Twelve municipal emergency plans were reviewed and improved, and 146 disaster preparedness trainers were trained. An important focus of disaster mitigation work was the strengthening of emergency management systems at the departmental, municipal, and community levels through the provision of equipment and training. Finally, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) developed a master flood control plan for the Lempa and Rio Grande de San Miguel watersheds, comprising specific initiatives for 12 municipalities. Other sections of the report discuss Mission efforts to ensure program sustainability, improve host country capability to resist corruption and improve transparency and accountability, along with the coordination of the program at both the donor and U.S. government agency levels. Lessons learned are detailed in the areas of disaster mitigation, community participation, accountability, implementing partners, contracting, and cost-sharing.