Background and objectives
Bayamo has a population of 142,000 inhabitants. Its economy is based on food processing and construction industries, social services (health and education), and administrative services. The Bayamo Local Agenda Project was launched at the end of 2001 to address the following priority issues:
- Deficient system of collection and recycling of solid waste
- Degradation of the river that limit its uses
- Insufficient urban transport service
- Insufficient public spaces in some of the neighbourhoods
Activities
In 2002, the Bayamo Urban Environmental Profile (Diagnostico Urbano Ambiental de Bayamo) was prepared in consultation with more than 100 actors. It was produced as a very well illustrated document with photos and maps, written in an accessible language. This document is very innovative compared with traditional diagnosis. For the first time development-environment interactions were analysed. The presentation of the urban environment institutional framework allowed identifying institutional strengths and weaknesses that the project will address. The profile was produced in 500 copies and was very widely disseminated in Bayamo as well as at national and international levels. This profile serves as the common information base for all project partners.
The first months of 2003 were dedicated to the preparation of the Bayamo City Consultation. The consultation was held from 8 to 11 April 2003. More than 200 actors representing all the sectors and interest groups of the city attended the consultation. They discussed the four priority issues of deficient system of collection and recycling of solid waste, degradation of the river, insufficient urban transport service, and insufficient public spaces in some of the neighbourhoods. They also agreed on the institutional mechanisms for the project. The consultation culminated with the signature by all participants of the Urban Pact committing the actors to their joint contribution to the sustainable urban development of Bayamo.
After the Consultation a new project office was constructed to enable the project team to join the municipal planning team to institutionalize new procedures and tools into municipal systems. The plan was that the project team would eventually be integrated in the municipal planning team bringing with them acquired know-how and equipment.
Thematic working groups were formed around the four priority issues identified. Each working group brings together every week an average of 12 key actors relating to the issue addressed. From their analysis, it was possible to identify priority actions to be undertaken, initially as demonstration projects.
The working groups started at the end of 2003 to formulate the following demonstration projects aimed at raising awareness by implementation of concrete activities. They also serve as unique learning processes in joint project formulation and implementation.
- Extending the routes of horse-carts public transport (calèches/coches)
- Rehabilitating solid waste collection trucks
- Testing manual solid waste land field
- Rehabilitating a laboratory for monitoring the quality of the water of the river Bayamo
- Bayamo , Cuba expends non-motorised transport [July 2004]
- Improving urban mobility in the city based on non-motorised transport. New horse-cart and bicy-taxi stations and routes were inaugurated in July 2004 providing access to public transport to all citizens.
Project Contact
Sr. Pedro Rosell
Coordinador Proyecto Agenda 21 Local Bayamo
Calle Pedro Batista, 212
Bayamo, Cuba
Tel: (+53) 23 42 74 40
Fax: (+53) 23 42 74 40
E-mail: agenda21.bayamo@enet.cu
