paraguay: boosting capacity to confront socio-environmental conflict
In Paraguay, a lack of environmental regulation allows powerful economic actors to damage and destroy ecosystems. To help fill this gap, Friends of the Earth Paraguay / SOBREVIVENCIA created the “Consultorio Socioambiental” (Socio-Environmental Consultancy) in 1986. It aims to support communities as they struggle to deal with development imposed on their territories. It also provides legal advice for communities subjected to big infrastructure projects such as the Itaipú and Yacyretá dams, and the Hidrovía Paraguay Paraná mega-project, which aimed to build a 3,400 km navigation channel between Puerto Cáceres in Brazil, and Nueva Palmira in Uruguay.
The Consultorio Socioambiental uses three key strategies to address environmental conflicts: communication, information and socio-environmental education. Reflecting these strategies, it has two bodies to carry out its functions: the Centre for Eco-documentation and Public Information, and the Instituto Socio-Ambiental del Sur (Socio-Environmental Institute of the South). They compile vital information; make it accessible to communities; design and implement socio-environmental capacity building strategies; and finally spread the information to the general public, to engage citizens and put pressure on the government.
This project sought to strengthen the Consultorio Socioambiental’s ability to provide the best possible support to affected communities.
what happened: This project built new capacities and skills for the staff of the Consultorio Socioambiental, as well as affected communities, and enhanced both internal and external communication. FoE Paraguay did this by working with local communities to develop an analysis of the root causes of local conflicts, and how these conflicts relate to global issues and policies. They then designed and transferred the necessary tools to deal with these social-environmental conflicts.
To carry this out, the Instituto Socio-Ambiental del Sur and Sustainable School conducted a series of meetings, training courses and workshops. The Centre for Eco-documentation and Public Information gathered the relevant social-environmental information on the needs of affected communities. The Centre was also in charge of communication between the communities, the media, the civil society and finally the government.
Activities included drafting a work plan for the Institute and the Consultorio Socioambiental; holding meetings with leaders of the affected communities; gathering information on the Consultorio Socioambiental’s current work; developing tools to diagnose and design a protocol which deals with the conflicts; capacity-building workshops and training courses for staff and community members; and attending meetings and activities with affected communities’ representatives. Efforts were made to foster and facilitate youth participation throughout the process, to increase the activist base. Finally, an assessment of the process was conducted.
FoE Paraguay also sought enhance its capacity to partner and share strategies with local and regional organizations and networks, nationally and regionally. One key activity in this regard was establishing alliances and cooperation agreements with other organizations and networks.
what we learned: Tackling socio-environmental conflicts in the territories requires constant capacity building for both community members and staff of supporting organizations. The high complexity of issues that communities face, and the ever-increasing number of cases which should be considered by the authorities and the media, demand a variety of innovative and well-developed strategies and tools. Thus capacity building and skill sharing are urgent challenges for all environmental organizations that deeply engaged with social issues and have strong ties to affected communities.
what next: Thanks to this project, FoE Paraguay and the communities with which they work are better placed to monitor, analyse and deal with social-environmental impacts and conflicts. Next steps are: more awareness raising amongst the general public; putting pressure on local and national authorities; and continuing to strengthen the capacity of the organization and affected communities. FoE Paraguay also aims to share its experience, tools and methodologies with other organizations and networks, nationally and regionally.
with thanks to our funders: the sigrid rausing trust
