EU - CAN SUPPORT FOR DISASTER PREVENTION IN THE ANDEAN COMMUNITY 
 

The Project to Support Disaster Prevention in the Andean Community - PREDECAN is the result of Financing Agreement No. ASR/B7-3100/99/313 signed in 2003 by the European Commission (EU) and the Andean Community General Secretariat (SGCAN), representing the five member countries: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.

PREDECAN has a financing line amounting to €12,400,000, of which the EU has committed itself to finance a maximum of €9,450,000 and the beneficiary countries, to contribute €2,950,000.  Of this latter sum, €900,000 will be transferred in cash to the SGCAN and the remaining €2,050,000 will consist of national counterpart payments in kind.  According to the Financing Agreement, the execution phase of PREDECAN will last until December 31, 2007.

Objectives

The Project’s general objective is to “Help reduce the vulnerability of people and goods exposed to natural dangers and risks and to promote the sustainable development of the CAN countries.” It is in line with the regional disaster prevention and relief policies reflected in the “Andean Strategy for Disaster Prevention and Relief” and in the “Strategic Plan for 2005 – 2010.”

As a specific objective, the Project proposes to “improve services in the risk management area by strengthening national and institutional policies and coordinating activities in those areas.” 

Lines of Action

1. Strengthening of Andean national and subregional systems and policies

PREDECAN gives the Andean countries support on organization, policy, strategic planning, legal framework and the search for funding relating to the National Disaster Prevention and Relief and/or Defense/Civil Protection Systems.

The Project will assist CAPRADE in moving toward its consolidation as a space for coordinating joint actions and mutual support for Disaster Prevention and Relief.  Technical and juridical assistance is foreseen for its institutional strengthening, the establishment of common policies among the countries, the exchange of experiences and the creation of thematic and institutional networks.

2. Risk information, assessment and monitoring systems

The Project seeks to strengthen in the countries mechanisms for generating, systematically organizing, conserving and disseminating appropriate, timely and systematic information for application to development planning, disaster prevention/relief and, in general, decision-making.   

3. Incorporation of risk management into territorial, sector and development planning

PREDECAN supports the preparation of instruments, methodologies and standards for considering risk a determinant in decision-making on territorial ordering, development planning, promotion of soil use regulation, and the formulation by sector institutions of programs and projects to incorporate the consideration of risk assessment and alleviation in investment plans.  

4. Education and consciousness-raising on risk management

Socialization and education is a basic activity for ensuring that the different social actors and sectors have timely access to the necessary information for participating in the varied risk management decisions and activities.

PREDECAN fosters the formulation of an Integral Strategy on Education, Training and Consciousness-Raising, and the performance of some priority dissemination activities, the preparation of teaching material, and training at the Andean subregional and national levels.  In addition, the Project will also support higher education programs and will expedite curriculum adjustment in the different countries. 

5. Pilot projects to strengthen participation in local risk management

The Project will support NGOs and other forms of citizen organization and participation, as well as institutions, academic organizations and communications media, to get free society to lead and appropriate endogenous risk management processes at the local level by financing pilot projects to promote participation in decision-making and the execution of risk management actions.