Vivamos Mejor’s project to reduce the negative impacts of natural disasters in the Municipality of Solalá, Guatemala
In January 2009, Swiss Re agreed to sponsor a second Vivamos Mejor project in Disaster Preparedness and Prevention in Guatemala, with the aim of reducing the negative impact of natural disasters, mainly through capacity building for risk prevention, ie. exchange of knowledge, ideas and experiences in risk management.
© Vivamos Mejor
Project set-up and objectives
Considering the tremendous need identified and with the intention of achieving greater impact, Vivamos Mejor elaborated a complementary project in the Municipality of Solalá, Atitlán, Guatemala
True to the philosophy of helping people to help themselves, this project is supported for one year. During that period the necessary structures are established in cooperation with the local population, the risk committee and the local authorities to enable the project partner to pull out gradually and hand over responsibility to a local team of assistants and support staff after this initial phase.
The project focuses on 15 communities around the river Nahualte in Guatemala and entails setting up a hydrometeorological and geological risk map of the region to both identify and prioritise the most urgent needs with regard to risk prevention.
In addition, the project updates an existing warning system and trains risk committees and subcommittees at community and departmental levels.
Disaster prevention as part of our corporate citizenship programme
Disaster prevention and risk education are part of our corporate citizenship programme. By extending financial funds and risk management expertise to selected partners, the Group strives to develop solutions to environmental and social issues that are relevant to its business and to society as a whole.
Based on our risk management expertise, we endeavour to support the development of practical solutions to humanitarian challenges. Teaching the victims of disasters about how these may be prevented and providing them with risk education is a key target of our humanitarian initiatives.
Disasters have the devastating potential to set back for years the development of entire regions of countries. Every year, thousands of people in Central America fall victim to natural disasters, and the damage resulting from them places very heavy burdens on the economy, particularly in developing countries.
Besides cover for damage after a disaster has occurred, proactive risk mitigation strategies are of increasing importance. Proactive measures, combined with educational initiatives, can significantly reduce the potential devastation caused by a certain disaster.
Swiss Re has entered into long-term partnerships with leading organisations in the field. The partnership with Vivamos Mejor aims to prevent humanitarian crisis as a consequence of natural disasters.
