“Breaking the cycle of poverty by means of a multi-participative approach: Companies, government, NGOs and poor communities”
1. Application of LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) and Cleaner Production standards to identify and implement practical and measurable solutions in the operation and maintenance of housing construction and in the companies' processes, as well as to identity and calculate the economic benefits to be pursued and the benefits resulting from improving the satisfaction of the clients and employees.
2. Implementation of programs on drinking water, firewood-saving stove, reforestation and energy saving bulbs by the companies. By emphasizing simultaneously the social and environmental benefits to poor communities who are more vulnerable to environmental degradation.
3. Involve NGOs, municipalities and government.
About You
About You
First Name
Roberto
Last Name
Escalante
About Your Organization
Organization Name
El Salvador Green Building Council (Consejo Salvadoreño de Construcción Sustentable)
Organization Website
Organization Phone
(503) 2263-7941
Organization Address
Calle El Carmen, Colonia Escalón #153B, San Salvador, El Salvador
Organization Country
El Salvador, SS
Country where this project is creating social impact
El Salvador
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
How long has your organization been operating?
Less than a year
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Innovation
Entry Form title
“Breaking the cycle of poverty by means of a multi-participative approach: Companies, government, NGOs and poor communities”
Describe your project
1. Application of LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) and Cleaner Production standards to identify and implement practical and measurable solutions in the operation and maintenance of housing construction and in the companies' processes, as well as to identity and calculate the economic benefits to be pursued and the benefits resulting from improving the satisfaction of the clients and employees.
2. Implementation of programs on drinking water, firewood-saving stove, reforestation and energy saving bulbs by the companies. By emphasizing simultaneously the social and environmental benefits to poor communities who are more vulnerable to environmental degradation.
3. Involve NGOs, municipalities and government.
What stage is your project in?
Operating for less than a year
What makes your project unique as it relates to the theme of this competition?
The combination of the economic benefits and reduction of environmental impact of the companies with the economic, social and environmental benefits for the poor communities located in the surroundings of said companies who are more vulnerable to environmental degradation. The first goal is to contribute with the private sector’s sustainability. The second goal proposes a Social-environmental program:
Safe water: The World Bank affirmed that in El Salvador the deficient access to water and sanitation and the lack of hygiene causes more than 2 million episodes of diarrhea annually, and 500 deaths of children under 5 years old, an estimated cost of gastrointestinal diseases of 1% of GDP, equivalent to USD 204 millions (year 2007). The proposal to mitigate this problem is a rainwater harvesting system installed in the roofing of the houses, storage tanks and filter to treat the water.
Indoor Air
Indoor pollution caused by cooking with firewood inside the rural poorly ventilated houses produces more than 2.5 million cases of severe breathing diseases, 500 deaths of women and children under 5 years old. The estimated cost of breathing diseases is 0.85% of the GDP, equivalent to USD 173 million (year 2007). This problem is solved by using firewood-saving stoves.
Erosion
The excessively high rate of erosion estimated in 59 million tons of soil on an annual basis and its annual cost is estimated in 0.80% of GDP. The solution is reforesting.
Share the story of the founder and what inspired the founder to start this project
The "Social-Environmental" program was designed, launched and implemented by Roberto Escalante in his capacity of Vice minister of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of El Salvador. Said initiative was supported by the Ministry of Education and was officially launched by the president of the Republic in 2008.
His position as Vice minister of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of El Salvador, together with his academic degrees with a master in environmental engineering issued by the Texas University A&M, and his experience in the private sector, enabled Roberto to understand the environmental, social and economic problem experienced by El Salvador, as well as several and multiple initiatives implemented by the government, NGOs, private companies in these areas. However, it was a World Bank report what motivated Roberto to develop a support network to unify corporate environmental responsibility efforts, facilitating to private companies the implementation of environmental programs aimed at reducing the environmental degradation, the vulnerability to natural disasters and battling against extreme poverty.
Social Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
Who or what (i.e. youth, women, environment, etc.) benefits from your project, and why is your project critical?
Companies and poor communities who are more vulnerable due to their exposure to the effects of environmental degradation are benefited. It is critical since it produces a positive impact in terms of the companies’ profitability at the same time these companies reduce their environmental impacts. In addition, it is critical because it addresses the problems suffered by the poor population in an amount superior to 3% of GDP, which represents a number that is superior to the average annual economic growth that El Salvador has had in the last 10 years.
Please describe how your project has been successful and how that success is measured.
The project evidenced its success with the acceptance of business sector when it was launched in 2008. There is still necessary to evaluate the performance of the proposal with the private sector which has been included as the implementing agent of the sustainability program proposed to companies.
How many people have been impacted by your project?
1,001 - 10,000
How many people could be impacted by your project in the next three years?
More than 10,000
What barriers might hinder the success of your project and how do you plan to overcome them?
The challenge is to have the support of good "sponsors' like the Minister of education and the President of the Republic in 2008. This 2011 initiative is sponsored by FUNDEMAS, the Business Foundation for Social Action who has a leading role in the implementation of the Corporate Social Responsibility concept and practice. FUNDEMAS has a significant summoning power and credibility in the country.
How will your project evolve over the next three years?
The intention is mainly to attract companies with the advantage of improving their profitability through the implementation of the mentioned initiatives and of improving their image with the Corporate Social Responsibility activities. If there is inertia within the private sector, municipalities and NGOs will react and the communities will be benefited. Over the next three years we anticipate coverage of more than 1.000 state schools and 50 communities.
Sustainability
For each selection, please explain the financial and non-financial support from each
Companies are this initiative’s backbone. Savings generated by the actions implemented in the companies will provide the criteria for the financial sustainability of Corporate Social Responsibility; while these companies improve their image due to the reduction of environmental impact caused by their operations. Foundations also provide financial support and the government; the municipalities in particular, turn into a facilitator for channeling the benefits to the communities.
How do you plan to grow and/or diversify your base of support in the next three years?
FUNDEMAS believes it is important to achieve a consensus building forum. The idea is to maintain this forum on annual basis to promote the continuity of this program and to boost it in the whole country.
Collaboration
Please select your areas of intervention in the home improvement market
Sanitation, Water, Energy conservation, Environment, Urban development, Rural development, Citizen/community participation, Public policy.
Is your innovation addressing barriers in the home improvement/progressive housing market? If so, please describe in detail your mechanisms of intervention
Are you currently collaborating with private companies, or have you partnered with private companies in the past? With which companies?
Please describe in detail the nature of the partnership(s)
Select the unit(s) with which the partnership was formed
