Poch developed and implemented the Early Citizen Participation strategy, denominated Open Houses, of the Aysén Hydroelectric Project, in the design phase of the Environmental Impact Study (EIS).
Description of the Project:
The process of Early Citizen Participation is a voluntary activity that precededs the presentation of the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) to the authorities. The results of the process were incorporated to the design of the Aysén Hydroelectric Project (PHA), before the EIS that was presented to the Aysén Environment Regional Commission for consideration, in August 2008.
Poch integral consultancy included not only the design but also the implementation of an approximation and articulation of actions strategy, for the generation of a trust capital with the different interest groups, in the settlement zone of the PHA. All the strategy of relations with the community and the local authority was based on designing adequate communication routes adapted to the local culture, based on a profound diagnosis of the community. A systematic and focused contact with the different groups of interest was developed: local government, community, companies, regional government, environmentalist groups, ethnic minorities, etc.
The main objectives were to identify and to characterize the interest groups (Stakeholders), give formal information to the community, representatives and authorities related to the project; identify topics of regional and local interest related to the project as well as sensible matters for the community; to establish relations of trust with the community; and to incorporate in the PHA design the project concerns and/or improvements to minimize its impacts, using the concept: To Design Mitigating.
The phase of Open Houses was developed between April and November of 2007. Actions in the locations of Cochrane, Caleta Tortel, Villa O'Higgins, Puerto Bertrand, Puerto Tranquilo, Chile Chico and Coyhaique, in the Region of Aysén, were developed.
Our importance:
Poch had the responsibility to design and implement a participative, transparent and systematic process of citizen dialogue, adapted to a high level of conflict and inserted in isolated communities. The process of Open Houses made it possible to establish relations of trust with the local community and to contribute to the project design process and elaboration of the EIS design.
Essential benefit:
Key aspects in the design of the EIA were incorporated, strengthening the communication means between the company and the community at a local, provincial and regional level.