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31. The San Isidro Foundation implements a Zonal Planning System to define areas of need for community programs
Cerro Matoso, our nickel operation in the north of Colombia, South America, carries out its community development initiatives through a Zonal Planning System implemented by the San Isidro Foundation.
The San Isidro Foundation was created by Cerro Matoso and the Catholic Diocese of Montelíbano in 1981 as an independent non-profit organisation to promote a sustainable local economy and improve the quality of life of the people in the region of Alto San Jorge in the Cordoba department, where our integrated nickel mine and smelter are located.
With the participation of leaders from the 240 communities in the region (suburbs, rural districts and townships), a social baseline system was developed to identify the real-life conditions of the people. In 1999, the Foundation, together with the mayors of Montelíbano, Puerto Libertador and La Apartada, created the Zonal Planning System as a tool to classify priority needs and help determine community projects appropriate to each municipality.
Furthermore, a social category system was developed, which has been approved and accepted by the municipal governments to assist in their community development planning processes.
To promote economic development, the Foundation provides local companies and communities with technical support and financial assistance in education, training and technology transfer, with emphasis on supporting entrepreneurs to generate jobs and market their products, both of which are critical issues for small businesses.
Some of the specific areas targeted by the Foundation's social action program include training of effective leaders, promotion of community-based organisations, strengthening of municipal management, and encouragement of community participation.
As part of the long-term goal of promoting diversification in the region, hundreds of small industries also benefit from business consulting; guidance; and, in some cases, small credit allowances to support their growth and continued success.
To meet the community's varied needs, assistance programs are managed by specialised units in urban and rural entrepreneurial development. Through these units, training is provided to new entrepreneurs in the urban manufacturing, commercial and service sectors, as well as to rural producers so they can expand and diversify their production.
While increasing production yield in the region is an imperative, cultivating new markets is no less important, in order to sustain each undertaking. The current focus is on broadening domestic and international markets for products from the region's developing primary and secondary industries. Initiatives include exhibitions such as ‘Expocórdoba’ and ‘Expocaucasia’, which are sponsored by the Foundation.
For business and community development initiatives to be successful, educated leaders are needed. Through the Foundation, special training programs for teachers are in place. In the areas of environment and health, the leaders are trained to help them promote health and develop infrastructure plans within their communities. Other initiatives include technical training workshops and youth programs.
The Foundation also plays a significant role in strengthening the functions of public administration so that sound planning and infrastructure programs are in place to support entrepreneurial growth activities. Management workshops have been established in the fields of regional development, civic legislation, urban planning and voluntary programs.
As a direct consequence of these initiatives, the benefits continue to increase, including potable water and sewage projects, new roads and paving, and programs to refurbish schools and universities.
The San Isidro Foundation has also provided crucial support for the establishment of Community Action Boards and Territorial Ordering Councils in order to maintain the spirit of progress in the region.
