Representatives of the Risk Management without Borders Project (GRSF) of Peru and Ecuador participated in the third mission to exchange experiences in disaster risk management and account management in European territories.

Peru-Ecuador, 06 December 2021. In the framework of the binational project Risk Management without Borders (GRSF), funded by the European Union through the Euroclima Plus programme, a delegation of authorities, officials and technicians from the Regional Government of Piura and the Provincial Prefecture of Loja, participated in the third technical mission to exchange experiences in disaster risk management, in the territories of the project's partner local governments in Europe, in the countries of France and Italy, from 21 November to 3 December.

The objective of this mission was to learn about and strengthen best practices in territories affected by floods, institutional governance and to learn about the infrastructures implemented in the face of disaster risks, as well as to improve warning and disaster prevention management systems in the framework of river basins, and to raise awareness and inform the population in vulnerable communities about risks.

The path of cooperation

France. The delegation was received by authorities and officials of the Department of L'Aude in Carcassonne, who were informed of the progress of the PGRSF in the territories of Piura (Peru) and Loja (Ecuador). A discussion was held with Héléne Sandragné, president of the departmental council, and André Viola. They were then welcomed by the Mayor of the town of Trébes and continued with a tour of flood zones on the Aude river, which was explained by the head of SMMAR, the "mixed syndicate of aquatic areas and rivers of L’Aude ".

Italy. In Viterbo, the delegation visited the operational headquarters of the Lazio Region Civil Protection Department, where they learned about mechanisms to alert the population to flood threats, technological infrastructure for climate monitoring and an information processing centre that allows the department to model and predict possible scenarios in the event of rainfall.

They also visited the fire emergency response centre, where they learned about coordination mechanisms in the territory, working groups, equipment, computer systems used to monitor the presence of fires, and the distribution of water supply sources for helicopters in emergency situations. They visited the HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) operational base of the Regional Health Emergency Agency ARES, a private initiative that provides a public medical emergency assistance service in partnership with the French government.

Experiences in risk management

During the field visits, the head of the Guliermo Marconi di Orte hydroelectric power plant, Ernesto Saporiti, shared the experience of flood warning measures implemented in the context of the operation and management of the dam, whose waters flow into the hydroelectric power plant that produces a large part of the electricity for the Lazio Region. They visited the municipality of Caprarola, where they learned about the work carried out by the "local civil protection unit".

In Meurthe et Moselle - France, a discussion was held at the headquarters of the Rhine-Meuse Water Agency (AERM - Rozérieulles) to learn about the Integrated Water Resources Management process and the management model implemented at national and international levels, as well as the management model for the transboundary basin.

Tours were also conducted on the Chiers river in the Longuyon area; EPTB infrastructure in the Barbonville area; and the Grémillon river in order to observe the flood protection infrastructures in place to regulate flood flows, which have been implemented, taking into account landscape conservation and environmental conservation measures.

At the end of the mission, Nicolas Cimbaro, Director of International Relations of the Department of L'Aude, congratulated and acknowledged the work of the PGRSF in the territories of Peru and Ecuador, highlighting the opportunity for the delegation of Piura and Loja, to learn about and take away the experiences to strengthen the capacities of local governments. "In Peru and Ecuador they are working on Prevention Plans / Risk Reduction Agendas, here we are working with the provinces and departments on Communal Safeguard Plans", said the French official.

About the Risk Management without Borders Project

The project "Risk Management without Borders" is co-executed by the Regional Government of Piura in Peru, through the regional management of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, and the Provincial Prefecture of Loja in Ecuador. It is financed by the European Union through the Euroclima+ programme and implemented by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and the French Development Agency (AFD) in partnership with the Meurthe et Moselle department of France, The observatory of changes in Latin America (Local), Department L'Aude France, and the Province of Viterbo.

About EUROCLIMA+

EUROCLIMA+ is a programme funded by the European Union and co-financed by the German federal government through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), as well as by the governments of France and Spain. It aims to reduce the impact of climate change and its effects in 18 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean by promoting climate change mitigation and adaptation, resilience and investment.

The Programme is implemented under the synergistic work of seven agencies: the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the French Development Agency (AFD), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Expertise France (EF), the International and Ibero-America Foundation for Administration and Public Policy (FIIAPP), the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) GmbH, and the UN Environment Programme.

Contacts

For more information about EUROCLIMA+, contact Alexandra Cortés: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.g 

For more information about Disaster Risk Management and Reduction: droughts and floods, write to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.