ASDEPROMIPO in El Salvador

Interview with Mrs. Ana del Sagrario Hernández at  ASDEPROMIPO in El Salvador.

What is the vision and mission of your organization?

The vision of ASDEPROMIPO is to be an organization that promotes, preserves and develops the natural resources of the Micro-basin, assuring the environmental well being of the actual and future generations.

The mission is to impel the active participation of the different local actors and the community searching the management, execution of projects towards the appropriate management of water and the protection of the environment in the basin of La Poza.

Why did you decide to become a GWP Partner?

We decided to become partners of GWP because:

• It’s an organization that fosters the Integrated Water Resources Management.

• Due to the affinity, management and impact on the IWRM theme.

• The organization promotes the management of water, taking into account their principles that are important in the management and use of water resources.

• After a year of being part of the processes under the IWRM focus impelled by GWP El Salvador, we had the opportunity to become active partners, convince of their importance. It was relevant to us that as a small local organization we were taken into account. Today we feel very fortunate and proud of the achievements and advances, thanks to an effort very well articulated and followed-up.

What have you found to be the benefits of being a GWP Partner?

To be partners of GWP – as a global network – has been for us a step forward for our experience. Also as partners, we had the opportunity to participate in different trainings and events related to IWRM, as General Assemblies at the regional level, Forums, the Water Fair, among others.

GWP also helped us to present and promote the Micro basin La Poza through the elaboration of a ToolBox case study, which is in English and Spanish in the official web site of the ToolBox and also, in Spanish, in the GWP Central America’s site.

We also received instruction and learned new knowledge, helping us in the leadership of ASDEPROMIPO, to influence in the promotion of IWRM.

We also value more the participation of women that play a key role in the supply of water for the family, as it is established in one of GWP principles. In our process supported significantly by GWP, women’s empowerment, capacities and strength, has been increased, as leaders in the local organization and participating in the execution and administration of different activities and projects.

To be partners of GWP also means an open window with opportunities for the local organization compromised, that values and works voluntarily in the protection of the environment, in the conservation and integrated management of water.

We appreciate all the support that GWP Central America and GWP El Salvador has given us, this has helped us to be motivated in order to achieve our goals.

What is one challenge facing the management of water resources in your region?

In El Salvador there isn’t a General Water Law. In our country we also don’t have institutionalized the Environmental Service Payment and their is a lack of a permanent environmental educational program.

Also there is not support or attention from some key actors to the iniciatives of local organizations, and a big problem in the follow-up given by the rural communitie’s systems of drink water, due to the frequent change of the board members.

Another big issue is the lack of politicla will.

Are there any special projects or initiatives that you would like more widely known?

Payment for Environmental Services

The construction of works to preserve the soil and to infiltrate the rain water

The Protection of La Poza