The United States Government has initiated the Indigenous Governance against Risks and Threats (GIRA) program to assist indigenous communities in Ecuador. The program aims to enhance their capacity for risk prevention and management concerning natural disasters, as well as social and economic risks.
USAID, in collaboration with the Ecuadorian NGO Fundación Raíz, the Federation of Chachi Centers of Esmeraldas (FECCHE), and the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon (CONFENIAE), will implement this initiative. GIRA is set to benefit 56 Chachi communities represented by FECCHE, comprising approximately 23,000 people residing in Esmeraldas. Additionally, it will aid around 50,000 individuals living in Orellana and Sucumbíos from four member organizations of CONFENIAE. These communities were involved in developing the initiative to ensure their specific needs were addressed.
The launch event took place in Puyo this month. Attendees included Alder Bartlett, Director of the USAID Program Office; Manuel Pallares, President of Fundación Raíz; Marlon Vargas, President of CONFENIAE; Lola Piyahuaje, Vice President of CONFENIAE; Santiago Delacruz, President of FECCHE; along with other authorities and community members.
As part of the GIRA project framework, Chachi communities have started a survey to systematically map territories affected by recent floods in Esmeraldas. This effort aims to identify areas requiring more preventive measures against future floods. The collected data will be shared with the National Risk Management System as an example of GIRA's objectives.