| ICF contracted the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur (UABCS) to identify the
community-based needs in Baja California Sur in the areas of education, health, community
development, economic development, environment, and art and culture, using a two-pronged
approach. First, the team looked at community-based needs in the six areas mentioned above.
Second, UABCS analyzed the capabilities of the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that
work in each of the six areas; UABCS also assessed their capacity in that issue and identified
additional institutional needs. Four methodological lines of action were established to obtain the
most comprehensive and up-to-date information: |
|
Personal interviews
UABCS carried out surveys and interviews to local and regional experts in each field. The object of these interviews was to collect these experts’ contributions on the needs of the communities, along with broader challenges and solutions. The consulted experts were: public officials from the three levels of government; professionals linked to the nonprofits; opinion leaders, and the legal representatives of the “ejido” managing boards. These interviews were carried out during personal meetings, site visits, and follow-up phone conferences.
Literature Review
UABCS consulted reference material related to the regional analysis and targeted issue areas. Publications included books, articles, and official documents. Document research included expert publications, development programs both at the state and municipal levels, reports presented by government agencies, and any published analyses by international organizations. UABCS also considered the press releases broadcast in the local radio newscasts, as well as the news items published in the state periodicals. Finally, UABCS included any material published on works in progress and the achievements of civil organizations, and miscellaneous laws and regulations. The full bibliography can be referenced at the end of this publication.
|
Community-led participatory meetings
UABCS organized six meetings with institutional experts from civil organizations, citizens from the host regions and municipalities, and persons interested in the subjects approached in the analysis. The hosts and dates of the meetings were:
| La Paz |
May 15th, 2004 |
| (exclusively for the members of the state NGOs) |
| Cabo San Lucas |
May 29th, 2004 |
| La Paz |
June 1st, 2004 |
| Loreto |
June 10th, 2004 |
| Guerrero Negro |
June 12th, 2004 |
| Santa Rosalía |
June 14th, 2004 |
Rural Site Visits
Following the community-led meetings in June, the UABCS team discovered that there was very little information about the rural areas of Baja California Sur, especially the ejidos. Therefore, an additional 26 site visits were added to ensure that this analysis encompassed the full economic, social, and environmental landscape in the state. Twenty-four ejido leaders and two female UAIM (organized women’s groups in the ejido) were interviewed during October 2004 about the basic needs of their community. Each person interviewed was asked the same questions to ensure consistency. This information is incorporated throughout the document, but a more detailed analysis of the 26 ejidos can be found on ICF’s website (http://www.icfdn.org).
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