Action by Churches Together (ACT)
Appeal - Dominican Republic
Rehabilitation & Disaster Mitigation - LADR-11
Appeal Target: US$  79,035
Balance Requested from ACT Network:  US$ 6,780
Geneva, 11 June 2001


In August 1999 the ACT Appeal LACA91 was issued for the Post-Georges
Rehabilitation and Disaster Mitigation activities in the Dominican
Republic and Antigua/Barbuda.  The LWF/DWS/PROCARIBE Dominican Republic
program was the requesting member with SSID and MOSCTHA as implementing
partners in this appeal with a target of US$436,862.

The poor performance of MOSCTHA in the disaster response activities
confided to them by LWF/DWS/PROCARIBE led to a disengagement between the
two organisations in November 99. Simultaneously, an evaluation of the
LWF/DWS/PROCARIBE activities in the Dominican Republic, made during 1999,
led to a revision and restructuring of its activities in the country. This
restructuring was put in place during the first semester of 2000. These
situations, added to the poor funding for the appeal, prevented
implementation of the proposed activities by LWF/DWS/PROCARIBE within the
LACA91 appeal.

To alleviate the needs that still remain following Hurricane Georges in
the Dominican Republic, especially those related to long term
rehabilitation, LWF/DWS/PROCARIBE is proposing to transfer the unspent
funds received for the LACA91 appeal (US$72, 255) to the present project
which intends to assist the affected population with the following
activities:

   Housing
   Ditches and canals
   Environmental recovery
   Agricultural recovery
   Disaster preparation training

Project Completion Date: 31 December 2001.


Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance
Requested

                                        US$
Total Appeal Target(s)               79,035
Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd.           72,255
Balance Requested from ACT Network    6,780



Ms. Genevieve Jacques		Thor-Arne Prois		Rev. Rudolf Hinz
Director			ACT Coordinator		Director
WCC/Cluster on Relations				LWF/World Service



REQUESTING ACT MEMBER INFORMATION

Lutheran World Federation-Department for World Service-Haiti

Lutheran World Federation-Department of World Service/Sub-Office,
Dominican Republic


IMPLEMENTING PARTNER INFORMATION

PROCARIBE was initially established as the program of LWF/DWS in the
Dominican Republic in 1985. The program was registered as a local NGO in
1993 as the implementing entity of LWF's program, but continued as a joint
entity at administrative and management level with LWF until March 2000
when the two institutions became independent organizations. PROCARIBE
continues to be the implementing partner of LWF/DWS in the Dominican
Republic and is continuing the work with integrated rural development in
38 bateyes.

LWF/DWS, PROCARIBE and SSID formed a temporary ACT-Co-ordination Committee
for the Dominican Republic in order to co-ordinate appeals and
implementation of the emergency response after hurricane George hit the
country in September 1998.

SSID is the common diaconical branch of 13 evangelical and protestant
churches in the Dominican Republic of which two are members of World
Council of Churches. SSID has worked with integrated development projects
for over 30 years in the bateyes and in other poor local communities in
the countryside of the Dominican Republic, and has also assisted in any
emergency response over the years to these communities.

The original application for continued rehabilitation after hurricane
George in the Dominican Republic was formulated by PROCARIBE, SSID and
MOSCTHA together with LWF/DWS. In this application, PROCARIBE is the
implementing partner, while LWF/DWS will have the responsibility of
monitoring the work. This is in full understanding with SSID, due to the
fact that the external funds received for the appeal only covered around
17 per cent of the project budget.  However, the implementation will be
co-ordinated in all communities where both SSID and PROCARIBE are present.

After the application for Post-George rehabilitation was presented to ACT,
LWF/DWS terminated its co-operation with MOSCTHA. This was, among other
factors, based on an assessment of this organization's construction of
shelters and community buildings in the batey-communities with funds other
than from LWF/DWS.  The quality of the work was found to be unacceptable.
These buildings were also rejected by the beneficiaries as they were
life-threatening hazards to the users. Other factors for not implementing
were late arrival of funds and an institutional restructuring of
LWF/Procaribe and change of ownership of sugarcane plantations from
Government to private ownership.



DESCRIPTION Of The EMERGENCY SITUATION

Background

Hurricane George hit the Dominican Republic on 22 September 1998 mostly
affecting the following provinces:

La Romana (with a population of 166,500 persons), Altagracia (115,068),
San Pedro de Marcoris (212,368), El Seibo (96,770), Monte Plata (167,148),
Montenor (149,318), San Juan de la Manguana (252,637), Azua (200,000),
Atomayor (80,074), Santo Domingo (3,500,000), Barahona, Idependencia,
Bahoruco, Pedernales and San Cristobal.


Strong winds and heavy rain caused great damages both for agricultural and
other production with agriculture and forestry losses to a total value of
USD 1 700 millions.

80 per cent of the wooden houses in the affected areas were either damaged
or swept away due to floods and mudslides where the hurricane passed.
Around 312,000 persons were affected by the hurricane, and around 200,000
were living in provisional shelters or with family and friends for several
months after the hurricane. According to official figures 278 people were
reported dead, but the local NGOs estimated the figures to be around
2,500.

The ACT-DR Co-ordination Committee presented in 1998/1999 an application
with an appeal target of USD 274,188 for LWF-WS/PROCARIBE and USD 330,120
for SSID; a total of USD 604,308.

LWF-WS/PROCARIBE gave emergency support in 31 bateyes, (2,300 families)
mainly consisting of distribution of medicine, food, chlor for
disinfecting drinking water, clothes, mattresses, mosquito nets and
blankets. The rehabilitation phase was focussed on distribution of
building materials for repair and reconstruction of houses, local centres,
distribution of agricultural inputs for restarting local agricultural
production, construction/provision of water and sanitary systems. The
wells were polluted by the flooding, and the existing latrines partially
or totally destroyed.



Current Situation

The project has not been implemented yet, due to the fact that LWF had to
make new arrangements with partners and make sure that the work could be
done according to specifications and plans submitted. An institutional
restructuring took place as the relationship between LWF and PROCARIBE was
evaluated and newly defined.  In addition, severe political and economic
changes in the Dominican Republic took place (privatisation of the sugar
cane industry) that led to a revision of the approach and a new analysis
of the needs of the population. Several needs that were identified at the
time of launching the appeal, have been met by other institutions, while
others needs have not been met at all, especially those related to long
term rehabilitation in the LWF/Procaribe project areas.

Daily life of the population in the areas where LWF/Procaribe had intended
to implement the rehabilitation work , is back to normal.  Several NGOs
have engaged in rehabilitation work in the batey-communities, especially
in the provision of water and sanitary systems (latrines). Yet many
victims are still living in their damaged dwellings, lacking the means to
make repairs as they live from hand-to-mouth barely subsisting from day to
day.

The need to implement some of the components as described in the LACA 91
appeal are still very valid.

Repair of housing
Construction of ditches and channels to lead water away from the living
  areas
Improved environment through tree-planting
Agricultural production
Workshops in disaster mitigation


The population in the bateyes normally live under precarious conditions
with hurricane Georges severely exacerbating the situation.  Health
conditions are characterised by malnutrition and illnesses and the
situation for many today is hunger with no access to food and any sort of
income.  The housing structures are precarious, as no repairs have been
possible in some areas.
 
As the Dominican Republic is a hurricane prone area (the hurricane season
is from June to December), there is a great need for emergency
preparedness and mitigation. The authorities have not been contributing to
the security of the population in the batey-communities who are living in
areas on the sugar plantations previously owned by the state sugar company
Consejo Estatal de Azucar which has now been privatised.  Neither the
state nor the private owners provide any kind of support to these
communities, thus they can be described as excluded from society.
 

In order to protect human lives in the bateyes and to mitigate the effects
of hurricanes and flooding, there is a need for the following:

Repair of existing houses - (the original plan was to repair 463 houses)

Capacity building in emergency preparedness for local community promoters
in the bateyes

Building of ditches and channels to prevent flooding in the living areas
in the communities


   
The family based agricultural and livestock production has not recuperated
after the hurricane and alleviation of hunger and malnourishment due to
lack of access to food and income, will be improved through:

Inputs to agricultural production (corn, beans, sweet potatoes, yucca,
  rice)
Inputs to livestock production (cows and pigs)



During the hurricane, many trees (fruit and others) were destroyed and
environmental protection as well as access to additional food will be
improved through:
Distribution of tree seedlings to the communities.



Locations for Proposed Response

PROCARIBE is working in 38 batey-communities in the regions the National
District (close to the capital) and Monte Plata. The communities are
located in the sugar mill areas of Haina, Ozama and Boca Chica. The 38
communities have organised and trained local development committees, to
co-ordinate all project initiatives in the communities. In addition, 12
full time local social promoters will accompany /follow up the current
situation and work in each community.  PROCARIBE has provided capacity
building for all the committees in participatory community work, and gives
continuous technical assistance . As part of its working approach,
PROCARIBE co-ordinates with other NGOs present in the same communities, to
avoid duplication of efforts .

Workshops in disaster mitigation will be held in co-operation with
Asociación Dominicana de Mitigación de Desastres. The nursery
Bioconservación will co-operate in the provision and distribution of tree
seedlings.



GOAL & OBJECTIVES

Goal: To improve the living conditions of the victims of Hurricane Georges
and restore their livelihood

Objectives : 

Housing - Repair of 30 houses
Building of ditches/channels in 10 bateyes
Environment improvement/tree planting in 38 bateyes
Input to agricultural and livestock production
Workshops in disaster mitigation - Workshops for 52 persons from 26 bateyes




TARGETTED BENEFICIARIES

The project will be implemented in 38 bateyes in the sugar mill areas of
Ozama, Boca Chica and Haina targetting the most vulnerable persons still
suffering the effects of Hurricane George.

Houses - repairs to houses of 30 families

Construction of ditches/channels: 10 bateyes with 700 families

Environment improvement/tree-planting: 38 bateyes with a total of 2,660
families

Agricultural and livestock production: 15 bateyes with a total of 1,050
families

Workshops in disaster mitigation: 52 promoters from 26 bateyes will
receive training.

Number of indirect beneficiaries: 1,820 families




The total number of families in the target area (38 bateyes) are around
2,660. The population is relatively young and amongst them many households
headed by women. There is also an increasing number of elderly that live
alone with no support. The gender issue will be an integrated part of the
implementation and the needs of women headed households will be taken
especially into consideration.

Selection criterias:
Repair of houses: 
Households headed by women- or aged persons living in houses in need of
repair but with no means of buying the necessary building materials to
repair them.



Building of ditches/channels:

Communities living in areas especially exposed to severe flooding during
heavy rainfall in the hurricane season. The flooding also represents a
health risk (contamination of drinking water, mosquitos that can cause
dengue fever, etc.)



Environment improvement/tree-planting:

All the 38 bateyes where PROCARIBE is implementing will need both trees
for shadow and for fruit production.



Agricultural and livestock production:

The 15 bateyes where this activity will be implemented were selected on
the following criteria:

Access to land and fodder

Lack of access to alternative sources of income for maintenance of the
families

The existence of a local organisation with previous experience in this
kind of production, but with no means to initiate it

The urgent need of food

Special focus on women's need for livestock production




PROPOSED ASSISTANCE & IMPLEMENTATION

House repairs: Building material will be distributed to the beneficiaries
and technical assistance will be given for the repair. The local
development committee will have a central co-ordinating role in the local
communities.

Building of ditches/channels: Building material will be distributed to the
local development committees, which will co-ordinate the work.  The local
development committee will also receive training in the techniques of
building ditches, and technical assistance will be given during the
building process.

Environment improvement/tree-planting: The development committees will
receive the trees for distribution after having defined kind, numbers and
beneficiaries. Technical assistance will be given regarding soil and care
for the growth of the trees.



Inputs for agricultural and livestock production: 

Agriculture: Support will be given to prepare the soil for planting and
seeds will be distributed. Workshops in agricultural methods and technical
assistance will be given.

Livestock production: the local development committees and the social
promoters will participate in the identification of beneficiaries in each
community and will be responsible for the process of distribution of
animals. Technical assistance will be given regarding care of the animals
and administration of products and offspring.


Workshops in disaster mitigation:

1 workshop for 52 promoters from 26 bateyes will be held, and thereafter
26 workshops in the communities with participation of the population.




ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, MONITORING & REPORTING

Administration

The Program Co-ordinator of LWF/DWS in the Dominican Republic will be
responsible for the monitoring and supervision of the ACT implementing
partners.

The Director of PROCARIBE will be responsible for the implementation of
the project according to the timetable. He will be responsible for the
distribution of tasks within PROCARIBE in the implementation process and
maintain contact and communication with the communities.

PROCARIBE will be responsible for presenting monthly written reports and a
final report to LWF/DWS-DR.  LWF/DWS-Dominican Republic is responsible for
presenting the final report to ACT through the LWF-Caribbean Regional
Office.

Finance 

The ACT-funds will be transferred from the LWF/DWS-Caribbean Regional
Office in Haiti to the LWF/DWS in the Dominican Republic. LWF/DWS in the
Dominican Republic will be responsible for the control and disbursement of
funds to PROCARIBE.  PROCARIBE will do the accounting and present an
external audit to the LWF/DWS-Caribbean Program for the use of the
ACT-funds.


Monitoring 

The Program Co-ordinator for LWF/DWS in the Dominican Republic and
PROCARIBE will have monthly meetings for updates and reporting regarding
the implementation. There will be regular on site visits each 2 months in
the target area.  An internal evaluation will be conducted in co-operation
between LWF/DWS and PROCARIBE when the project has been finished.



IMPLEMENTATION TIMETABLE

6 months (June 2001-December 2001)



COORDINATION

There will be co-ordination with other local NGOs and institutions
specialised in hurricane safe constructions and repairs.


BUDGET

INCOME RECEIVED THROUGH ACT NETWORK:	DOP	US$
The Board of World Mission of the Moravian Church	800,000	50,000
		
Transfer from Appeal LACA91 - subject to donors' approval	
United Church of Canada	15,272	955
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance / PCUSA	340,800	21,300
TOTAL INCOME	1,156,072	72,255
			
ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE

Description	Type of	No. of	Unit	Budget	Budget
	Unit	Units	Cost	DOP	USD
DIRECT ASSISTANCEuc				
Housing
Zinc roofing	Sheet	200	120	24,000	1,500.00
Timber walls and roofing	Unit	400	40	16,000	1,000.00
Nails	Lumpsum			6,400	400.00
Tools	Lumpsum			6,400	400.00
Sand	Bag	169	80	13,520	845.00
Cement	Bag	70	100	7,000	437.50
Building blocks	Piece	5,000	10	50,000	3,125.00
Sub Total				123,320	7,708
					
Construction of 10 Ditches/Canals					
Cement	Bag	200	100	20,000	1,250.00
Sand	Bag	400	80	32,000	2,000.00
Stones	Lumpsum	0	0	12,800	800.00
Pipes	Piece	500	106	52,800	3,300.00
Local labour cost	Month	6	2,667	16,000	1,000.00
Technical assistance	Month	6	2,133	12,800	800.00
Sub Total				146,400	9,150
					
Environmental Inputs (38 locations)				
Purchase of trees and plants	Piece	2,000	46	91,200	5,700.00
Technical assistance	Month	6	2,133	12,800	800.00
Sub Total				104,000	6,500
					
 Description	Type of	No. of	Unit	Budget	Budget
	Unit	Units	Cost	DOP	USD
Agricultural Inputs (15 areas)				
Land preparation	Area	15	4,267	64,000	4,000
Assorted seeds	Area	15	11,734	176,010	11,001
Assorted tools	Area	15	3,947	59,205	3,700
Animals	Number	30	14,507	435,200	27,200
Technical assistance 	Month	6	8,000	48,000	3,000
Sub Total				782,415	48,901
					
Transport 				
Transport of materials & animals to 					
     38 communities	Month	6	5,333	32,000	2,000
					
Disaster Mitigation 				
Workshop for 52 promoters	Workshop	1	8,000	8,000	500
Local workshops	Workshop	26	1,108	28,800	1,800
Sub Total				36,800	2,300
					
PERSONNEL, ADMINISTRATION, OPERATIONS & SUPPORT			
Staff Salaries:				
Coordinator (including allowances)	Month	6	1,000	6,000	375
Finance manager 
(5% of $4000 base salary)	Month	6	3,200	19,200	1,200
Support staff (2 persons)	Month	12	251	6,032	377
Office Operations:				
Office rent	Month	6	1,000	6,000	375
Telephones, e-mail, fax & el	Month	6	400	2,400	150
Sub Total				39,632	2,477
					
TOTAL ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE			1,264,566	79,035
					
BALANCE REQUESTED FROM ACT NETWORK		108,494	6,780
					
Rate of Exchange:  USD 1 = Dominican Pesos 16.00				



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Action by Churches Together (ACT) is a worldwide alliance of churches and
their related agencies, meeting human need through co-ordinated emergency
response.  The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of 
Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.
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   Ecumenical Centre                          Phone: ++41-22-791.60.33
   150, route de Ferney                         Fax: ++41-22-791.65.06
   P.O. Box 2100                             E-Mail: act@wcc-coe.org
   1211 Geneva 2                              Telex: 415 730 OIK CH
   Switzerland                                 http://www.act-intl.org


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