METHOD FOR REDUCING VULNERABILITY IN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS – "PROJECT SHIELDING" IN HONDURAS

The SNIPH developed the "General Methodological Guide for the Formulation and Evaluation of Public Investment Programs and Projects". According to this guide the determination of whether a project should undergo the Project Shielding Method is based on the use of the Histogram Evaluation tool for Site and Built Environment Assessment. This tool includes two blocks of analysis: the first block assesses the "Geomorphology and Watershed" Component and the "Socio-Natural Threats" Component, while the second block evaluates vulnerability through the “Physical Vulnerability of the Infrastructure" and "Social and Institutional Vulnerability" components. Based on this information, the Histogram tool calculates the Average Risk Balance, if the calculated value is less than 2.511 , it implies that the formulator should apply the Project Shielding Method. Otherwise, only the documentation of the risk analysis for the specific area that is required, which will be integrated into the project documentation.

The "Project Shielding Method “for reducing vulnerability in infrastructure projects was developed in 2012, with the support and coordination of COPECO, COSUDE, UNDP2 and SEFIN. The objective of this method is to enhance the formulation and evaluation of projects by conducting an analysis of existing disaster risks in the area where the investment project will be developed. The application of this methodology involves conducting fieldwork with the project's beneficiary community, selecting two focus groups, one consisting of women and the other of men, to incorporate both perspectives in the analysis of disaster risks and their impact on the project. The methodology also aims to determine the Risk Reduction Measures (RRM) and assess their economic viability.