Salvaguardas

Safeguards

During the formulation of Fi Wi Riif, the teams from Fondo Acción, Prosealand, and Fundación Providence, with the participation of community members from the islands, identified the potential environmental and social risks and impacts of the project based on the following principles: environmental and social assessment, stakeholder participation, community and staff health and safety, resource efficiency and biodiversity, livelihoods and access restrictions, gender equity and vulnerable groups, cultural heritage, Indigenous peoples, grievance management, and human rights.

The overall risk categorization of the project in terms of social and environmental aspects is moderate. The most substantial risks identified relate to health, safety, and protection of communities and Fi Wi Riif personnel, as well as climate change mitigation and adaptation, including:

• Inadequate application of national and international labor laws
• Lack of efficient occupational health and safety systems for contractors
• Security concerns due to enforcement and surveillance agreements
• Human rights abuses
• Lack of legitimacy of the new marine protected area among the local population
• Exposure to unsafe conditions, such as local or gender-based violence.
• Exposure to unsafe conditions, such as local or gender-based violence
• Human and wildlife fatalities.
• Project outcomes that are sensitive or vulnerable to the potential impacts of climate change.

Safeguards will be implemented throughout the project to address all potential environmental and social risks and impacts.

Instruments

The safeguards are management measures implemented by Fondo Acción, its allies, and all the individuals and organizations executing actions in the Fi Wi Riif initiative to mitigate potential negative impacts and promote potential positive impacts. The safeguards are outlined in eight instruments:

1. PQR Mechanism

The Requests, Complaints, and Claims Mechanism is a free, open, and accessible resource, primarily designed for People Affected by Fi wi Riif but available to all stakeholders and initiative staff. If the submitted complaint is deemed eligible, the resolution process follows nine steps designed to address concerns quickly, effectively, and transparently, ensuring that all parties are heard and appropriate solutions are found.

2. Stakeholder Engagement Plan

The Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) is a dynamic tool designed to ensure an inclusive and timely participation process. It outlines how we will engage different stakeholder groups throughout the design and implementation of Fi Wi Riif, ensuring that their opinions and concerns are heard and considered. This plan will be updated regularly to reflect ongoing engagement activities and any changes in the initiative, demonstrating our commitment to open communication and adaptability.

3. Process Framework

The Process Framework describes the potential impacts that Fi Wi Riif could have in terms of restricted access to natural resources, and defines the scope of the initiative’s social impacts. Its objective is to ensure the participation of potentially affected communities in the design of initiative components, the identification of impacts, the definition of appropriate mitigation measures, and ongoing monitoring of their effectiveness, promoting active and transparent collaboration.

4. Free, Prior and Informed Consent Protocol

The Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) Protocol outlines the processes through which we will ensure that the Raizal people and local communities understand, participate in, and agree to Fi Wi Riif interventions in a respectful and transparent manner. It includes actions to ensure that their needs and priorities related to the project’s goals are integrated into its design and implementation. The protocol also establishes guidelines and mechanisms to ensure efficient access to information on any aspect that may affect the Raizal population and local communities.

5. Chance Find Procedure

The Chance Find Procedure establishes the steps to follow when encountering any unknown cultural heritage during Fi Wi Riif activities. Its purpose is to protect physical cultural resources from potential negative impacts, promote their conservation, and ensure fair distribution of benefits derived from their use. It also raises awareness among the initiative’s team and contractors about the importance of cultural heritage and the possibility of accidental discoveries, fostering responsible and respectful management in all phases of Fi Wi Riif.

6. Gender Action Plan

The Gender Action Plan outlines strategies to integrate a gender perspective throughout all stages of the Fi Wi Riif initiative. It seeks to ensure the equitable participation of women and men in activities and decision-making, while addressing how both access and contribute to resources and opportunities and face specific challenges. It also focuses on safety and the recognition of their contributions in key areas such as artisanal fishing, tourism, and community development.

7. Environmental and Social Code of Practice

Desde el proyecto buscamos prevenir, mitigar y gestionar los posibles riesgos e impactos ambientales y sociales adversos asociados con las actividades de construcción y renovación a pequeña escala y de agricultura. El Código de Prácticas Ambientales y Sociales reúne las buenas prácticas ambientales, sociales, comunitarias y de salud y seguridad ocupacional, y aborda asuntos relacionados con la seguridad del ambiente y humana.

Dada la importancia del transporte marítimo en el archipiélago, hemos definido las siguientes buenas prácticas ambientales para abastecimiento y manipulación de combustibles en embarcaciones.

8. Law Enforcement

This safeguard analyzes the regulatory framework regarding the institutional competencies for Marine Protected Areas in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve and the control of illegal and overfishing. It identifies governance mechanisms and stakeholder roles, analyzes risks, and defines measures to guarantee the health and safety of communities, local organizations, government entities, and the Fi Wi Riif team.

9. Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP)

The Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) consists of a set of environmental and social management commitments aimed at preventing, mitigating, and managing potential risks and negative impacts, as well as strengthening and maximizing the positive impacts resulting from the project's execution. The ESMP serves as an overarching safeguard instrument that integrates other, more specific instruments, enabling systematic and continuous monitoring of identified risks and impacts, as well as the effective implementation of the corresponding management measures. The ESMP ensures that the project is carried out in compliance with current legal regulations in Colombia and international best practices regarding environmental and social matters, guaranteeing responsible and transparent management that is aligned with applicable standards.

El PMAS garantiza que el proyecto se ejecute en cumplimiento de la normativa legal vigente en Colombia y de las buenas prácticas internacionales en materia ambiental y social, asegurando una gestión responsable, transparente y alineada con los estándares aplicables.