Sustainable Juruti Fund
In May 2009 the Brazilian Biodiversity Fund (FUNBIO) launched the Sustainable Juruti Fund (FUNJUS), which is structured for funding projects that bring about improvements in the environmental conditions and quality of life of the population of Juruti, a municipality in western Pará, where Alcoa has a bauxite mine.
Launched provisionally, the Fund is independently administered and has received an initial injection of funds from Alcoa. The Company will earmark R$ 2 million for the project, of which R$ 500,000 will be used in the experimental phase that is planned to last for two years.
FUNBIO is responsible for the technical and administrative coordination of the Fund. The Fund’s Board has also been set up, which is an independent collegiate body, comprising representatives from local organizations and fund donors, which will be responsible for the governance and selection of projects.
PUBLIC CALL NOTICE
in the pilot phase FUNJUS launched a public call notice to local civil organizations that have their headquarters in Pará and whose actions focus on Juruti to submit projects for the Fund to support. To encourage the effective participation of the Juruti society the call notice has a special line of funding for the projects of community organizations that have not been formally established but that are nevertheless acknowledged for the work they do, Public institutions may be partners of such organizations, but not bidders. The selection process includes technical support for preparing the proposal and in the end the selected institutions receive skills-training for undertaking their projects. Initiatives are being supported with investments of between R$ 10, 000 and R$ 50,000, which may be used over a period of up to 18 months. The experience of the pilot phase of the Fund will serve to better adjust the funding mechanism to local conditions in Juruti.
SUSTAINABILITY TRIPOD
The Fund forms part of the Sustainable Juruti Project and aims to address three aspects of the sustainability tripod, with a view to bringing about regional development: respect for the environment, social responsibility and economic success. Identified as being one of the aspirations of the Juruti community itself, implementation of this model is a voluntary initiative on the part of Alcoa, which adds to all its other on-going actions that result from the legal requirements for setting up the Juruti Mine (Environmental Control Plans and Collective Compensation Matrices in Settlements) and its other voluntary initiatives in benefit of the local community (Positive Agenda).
The Project has been working successfully. In addition to the system of Sustainability Indicators, which were developed with the support of the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) and the Sustainable Juruti Fund, the Project also relies on support from the Sustainable Juruti Council, a public arena for dialogue between the various stakeholders involved with local development.
The indicators should constitute the bases for supporting the decisions taken by the Board which, in turn, passes on guidance regarding investment priorities and financial support to the Fund. Each component of the Project has the active participation of representatives from civil organizations, local public authorities and companies.
Alcoa and FUNBIO select 21 projects for 2010
In January 2010 FUNBIO (Brazilian Biodiversity Fund) announced the results of the selection process for the projects that will be supported this year by the Sustainable Juruti Fund (FUNJUS). Twenty one projects, prepared by civil society organizations, were selected by the FUNJUS Board. Alcoa has set aside R$ 480,000 for the work and the Alcoa Foundation is donating a further R$ 50,000 to get it started.
Of the 67 consultation letters received in the first stage of the selection process 41 were transformed into effective projects that were presented to the Fund, of which 21 were selected. The rules for using this fund and the tools that will be employed for monitoring activities have already been passed on to those chosen.
Check out the final list of projects selected by the 1st Call Notice of the Sustainable Juruti Fund:
Projects from organizations that were formally established less than a year ago
Name of the project and the organization
1. Cheiro Verde Project (Association of Rural Family Producers of the Santa Terezinha and Lago Preto communities)
2. Consolidation and strengthening of associations in the uplands region (Association of Rural Family Producers of the Santa Terezinha and Lago Preto communities)
3. Project for supporting poultry-breeders in the São José do Curumucuri community (Association of Rural Producers of São José)
4. Project for building/repairing the structure of the cassava flour house and making it fit for use (Association of Family Producers of the Três Vistas, Capiranga, Pompom, Paud'arco and Jauari communities)
5. Project for supporting the producers of organic vegetables from the Araçá-Preto community (Association of Producers from the Araçá Preto community)
6. Tambaqui [freshwater fish] rearing in net tanks (Association of Six United Rural Family Producers)
7. Project for keeping native bees, from the São Brás community (Association of Producers of the São Braz community)
8. Project for generating income for rural family production by rearing laying hens, by the São Pedro community (Association of Small Rural Producers of São Pedro)
9. Amarrando Sonhos [Dream-catching] Project (São Benedito community)
10. 100% Adelinos - Tambaqui rearing in net tanks (United Groups Rural Family Producers Association)
11. Consolidation and strengthening of associations in the Juruti Velho lake region (United Groups Rural Family Producers Association)
12. 100% CURUPIRA - Tambaqui rearing in net tanks (Association of Rural Family Producers of the Nova Galiléia and Nova Esperança communities)
13. Setting up family vegetable-gardens in the communities of the Santo Hilário region (Association of Rural Family Producers of the Santo Hilário region)
Projects from organizations constituted more than a year ago
Name of the Project and the organization
1. Lago Grande and Curuai fishing agreement (Fishermen and Fisherwomen of the Lower Amazon Movement)
2. Puxirum dos Curumins [Mobilizing young boys to action] – 1st meeting of the Little Turtle Club (Brazilian Association for the Conservation of Turtles)
3. Juruti Fish Project (Association of Rural Producers and Settled Fishermen in the Settlement Project in Balaio)
4. Miracle fishing – Rearing tambaqui in net tanks (Association of Rural Producers and Settled Fishermen in the Valha-me-Deus Agricultural and Hunting and Gathering Settlement Project)
5. 5S Program – Juruti – (Juruti Commercial and Business Association)
6. From the street to culture (Community Association of Residents of the Santa Rita district)
7. Building and feeding with quality Project (Good Samaritan Promotional and Charitable Association)
8. Tucumã Project (Association of Craftspeople of Juruti)
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