On August 24, 2022, the award of the contract for “Assistance for conflict mediation within the framework of the project LIFE EBRO RESILIENCE to the company Altekio S. Coop. Mad.
In the document that governs said tender, it is explained that one of the objectives of the Flood Risk Management Plan (hereinafter, PGRI) of the Ebro hydrographic demarcation, is to increase the perception of flood risk and self-protection strategies in the population, social and economic agents.
In this sense, it is noted that the damages that - due to the magnitude of the floods and the affected area - are frequent and important are recorded in the area of the PGRI of the Ebro, the middle course of the Ebro River itself and the lower reaches of its tributaries. That is why special emphasis is placed on the need for coordination and commitment between the Administrations with powers in the matter, not being able to lose sight of the fact that transversal factors intervene in the risk of flooding, in addition to the fact that three Autonomous Communities are affected. in this issue.
The above conditions are those that lead the Ministry for the Ecological Transition, the Ebro Hydrographic Confederation, the Foral Community of Navarra and the Autonomous Communities of La Rioja and Aragón to develop a collaboration framework known as the EBRO RESILIENCE STRATEGY.
Among the lines of action of this project and in line with what is established in the Ebro PGRI, are: increasing resilience to floods, promoting the empowerment of municipal authorities and the population in flood risk management and decision making during floods. Something to which the European Union contributes by providing funds from the LIFE 2020 Program.
In this context, this is where the conflict mediation, whose need is based on the following terms:
“One of the risks identified in the implementation of the LIFE EBRO RESILENCE P1 project and in flood risk management in general, is that conflicts may occur between parties with opposing positions regarding the way floods are treated. To manage these conflicts, the conflicts detected will be sent to the mediation and conflict management space created for this purpose within the framework of the project. The space created is key to ensuring constant feedback from citizens' opinions in the implementation of the project, so that acceptance and knowledge of the project measures are taken into account from the first moment and public acceptance of the project measures is ensured. inhabitants of the localities involved.”
The purpose of the proposed contract is, thus, to create an open forum for the mediation of conflicts with the purpose of:
- Increase social acceptance and awareness of flood risk management.
- Encourage participation in decision making.
- Implement public consultation mechanisms for interested parties and the general public.
- Promote the creation of a space for debate that makes it possible to highlight meeting points between parties with conflicting interests.
To this end, the work to be developed will cover the following:
- Design of the open forum space for conflict mediation in the field of the Ebro Resilience Strategy.
- Constitution of the stable group of participants, including the writing of a report on the creation of the group.
- Preparation of the open forum days, including the organization of the meetings.
- Implementation of the open forum sessions, with the holding of at least 12 sessions. They are planned as face-to-face spaces that can be carried out virtually if necessary.
- Writing the report of the open forum sessions, with the preparation of a document for each session held.
In this sense, it is good news for mediators that from the public sphere there is a firm commitment to this method of conflict management and in areas as diverse as the one proposed in this post.
Hopefully the only thing that floods these areas is mediation.
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