Overall targets
To improve the health of the population, especially of women and children, by a healthy food production, safe drinking water and an environment free of pesticide residues through awareness rising in the population by advocacy from civil society organizations.
Immediate targets
Objective 1 To develop and promote a strategy that avoids pesticide poisoning from food, the environment and pesticide use in homes. Objective 2 To develop a strategy and advocate for safe handling and a reduction of empty pesticide containers left in the environment. Objective 3 To develop PLAGBOL as a strong professional and sustainable organization recognized at national and international level.
Target groups
Primary target group a. The Neighborhood Councils in the Municipalities (urban and rural) will have trained human resources (30 facilitators) and technical and logistical capacity for awareness rising and advocacy skills to address the problems caused by the misuse of pesticides. b. The Farmers Organization in Pampasgrande and Vallegrande will have trained human resources (30 facilitators) and technical and logistical capacity for awareness rising and advocacy skills to address the problems caused by the misuse of pesticides. c. Farmers and their families in 30 rural communities where 2000 men, women and children will benefit from the acquisition of new knowledge through their trained facilitators able to inform and guide them on techniques aimed at reducing the risk to health and the environment, caused by pesticide residues in food and empty pesticide containers. d. Neighbors and families (2000 men and women) from 4 urban districts will benefit from the acquisition of new knowledge through their trained facilitators able to inform and guide them on preventive measures to ensure safe food and healthy environments at home. e. The Municipalities will through their training centers have trained human resources (30 facilitators) to promote pesticide free food, responsible handling of pesticides at home and an environment free from empty pesticide containers in the Municipalities. Secondary target group a. The Society in General, of the cities of Santa Cruz and La Paz, and the municipalities of Pampagrande and Vallegrande will benefit from the processes of information and communication to be implemented on the health risks and the environment risk caused by pesticide misuse in food production and vector control. b. The Public Institutions like the SENASAG, INSO, National program for growing vegetables and Municipal Governments in Pampagrande and Vallegrande will have the possibility to strengthen their capacity to respond according to their competences through advocacy from the primary target group and Plagbol. c. The Companies that provide spraying services in Public Health and the Pesticide Importers will benefit from having the technical and regulatory framework to guide and formalize their work. National, Regional and International target groups The participation of Plagbol and Diálogos/DASAM on conferences and seminars; through publication of articles, and sharing knowledge on courses and via networks will allow us to reach out to other organizations that are linked to the same subject, and advocate for their active participation in the solution of the targeted pesticide problems including: a. Regional level: The Environmental Defence League (LIDEMA), the Friends of Nature Foundation (FAN), the Defense of Consumer Rights Committee Bolivia (CODEDCO) and the Unit Vector Control of the Ministry of Health. b. International level: Medical and Public Health faculties in Bolivian and Danish Universities, international networks such as ICOH and WHO, projects and NGOs in other countries where Plagbol experiences has been shared so far. Everyone will have free access to all information about the project, as well as the educational-informative materials that have been generated and forwarded through international contacts to other countries and networks. The gender distribution in the target groups is equal except for the farmers organizations where more males are members. The project will in all activities try to secure and equal gender distribution. In the Plagbol staff this is also the case.
Resume
Dialogos and Plagbol have since 2001 collaborated to prevent pesticide poisonings in Bolivia agriculture. The development objective is to improve the health of the population, especially of women and children, by a healthy food production, safe drinking water and an environment free of pesticide residues. Several thousands of farmers and citizens will acquire knowledge and skills to advocate for actions to prevent pesticide poisonings and pollution through training and workshops in urban districts and municipalities of La Paz and Sta. Cruz. Experiences will be shared nationally and internationally through radio, tv and and conferences. A risc is a change in the direction of national policies. However, it is hoped that raising awareness, and understanding of project issues will foster an environment in which the public demand their rights and seek due accountability from government and pesticide providers.