El Salvador: learning more about the impact of projects supported by Basque municipalities
A delegation comprised of Basque municipal representatives and technical staff from Euskal Fondoa visited El Salvador from December 1st to 9th to learn firsthand about the impact of projects supported by Basque local governments, meet with partner institutions, and strengthen cooperation in the areas of water and sanitation, gender equality, and local economic development.
The visit provided an opportunity to compare the progress of initiatives in different parts of the country, particularly in the departments of Morazán, La Unión, Usulután, Sonsonate, and Cuscatlán, where projects related to the human right to water, women’s empowerment, youth employment, and sustainable land management are underway.
Among the projects visited were:
Water and sanitation in Northern Morazán
The water supply systems in El Volcancillo and Cantón Soledad were reviewed. These systems have improved access to drinking water for more than 1,400 people through new infrastructure and community strengthening.
More information on the project: El Volcancillo Phase II / Soledad Canton Phase I.
AKUAL Program (Basque Country–Central America)
The delegation was able to learn about the program’s progress in San Alejo, San Jorge, and Ciudad El Triunfo, which aims to guarantee the right to water and sanitation, strengthen technical capacities, and promote cooperation between Central American and Basque institutions.
More information on the project: Phase II AKUAL.
Opportunities for women and young entrepreneurs in the Los Izalcos Microregion
Progress was presented on the 2024–2030 Tourism Development Plan, which promotes tourist routes and entrepreneurship with a special focus on women and young people in Sonsonate.
More information about this project.
Employability training in Northern Cuscatlán
The visit to the Suchitoto Vocational Technical Training Center provided an opportunity to learn about the training programs related to employment, self-employment, and the economic empowerment of young women.
More information about this project.
Territorial strategies for equality
In municipalities of San Salvador, Cuscatlán, Sonsonate, and Usulután, actions aimed at preventing violence, promoting shared responsibility for caregiving, and strengthening spaces for women’s participation were evaluated.
More information about this project.
Specialised training for the El Salvador Fire Department
This project, supported by AECID through an agreement between the Confederation of Cooperation Funds and Euskal Fondoa, contributes to improving the technical capacity of the fire department in matters of chemical risk and fires.
More information about this project.
Institutional meetings
The agenda included meetings with SICA, ANDA El Salvador, AyA Costa Rica, the Spanish Embassy and AECID, the El Salvador Fire Department, as well as with municipalities, municipal teams, and women’s organisations in Suchitoto and Aguilares.
These meetings provided an opportunity to review needs, share results, and strengthen coordination between Central American institutions and the Basque municipalities that cooperate through Euskal Fondoa.
Recognition of Euskal Fondoa
During the visit, at the event “The Path Traveled in Water and Sanitation” held at the Casa de Centroamérica, headquarters of SICA, the Central American Integration System, Euskal Fondoa received special recognition for its track record of collaboration with the AKUAL program and FOCARD-APS.
The award was presented to Natividad López de Munain, president of Euskal Fondoa, and Juan Manuel Balerdi, the organization’s director.
The gesture recognises the commitment of Basque municipalities to improving access to water and sanitation in the SICA region.
Municipal cooperation with a territorial impact
The institutional visit of Euskal Fondoa reaffirms the commitment of its member Basque local institutions to a model of municipal cooperation based on joint work, shared responsibility, and institutional strengthening. This approach continues to generate improvements in access to water, local development, equality, and opportunities for the communities with which they collaborate.