(NOVEMBER, 2012 – JUNE, 2013) FUNDED BY AMERICAN RED CROSS (US$96,850.00)

In October, 2012, a team of 16 American Red Cross personnel visited Belize to test a new assessment tool,the Integrated Participatory Assessment (IPA) tool, in one of the communities currently working with. The Belize Red Cross DRR Team, which included Fred Hunter, Jessie Young and Terence Woodye, accompanied the ARC team in the Ladyville/Lord’s Bank communities, where they were able to successfully test the tool. The ARC was happy with the level of participation from the communities, which made their revision of the tool a success.

This tool is now being piloted in the districts of Orange Walk (Louisianna, Trial Farm, Black Water Creek, Santa Cruz and San Antonio) and Corozal (San Victor, Consejo and Corozal Town) and 1 in the district of Belize (Jane Usher Community, Belize City). The project started with a VCA-like activity, which goes beyond the usual process since it incorporates health, livelihoods, shelters, infrastructure and general lifeline facilities of the communities. The methodology is designed to be a holistic, multi-sector assessment with a focus on participatory, action-oriented learning with the communities to identify key needs and vulnerabilities, as well as existing capacities and resources that may be mobilized to enhance resilience. The first steps include the use of information gathering tools, such as transect walk, community mapping, historical profile, to name a few. This is followed by the analysis and ranking process, which is comprised of data compilation, cost benefit analysis, and formulating and supporting the development of Community Action Plans (CAPs). One of the significant benefits to the communities is their increased knowledge on how to identify and rank potential vulnerabilities and subsequently prepare plans for mitigation of these vulnerabilities, including costing.