- Local employment: The initiative promotes certified training for vulnerable communities in order to improve their employability.
ACCIONA and Ferrovial, as the consortium responsible for the construction of the second section of the Chimbote Bypass, have launched a training program for farmers in the project’s area of influence, with the aim of achieving a more efficient use of water resources and helping to improve the living conditions of these communities.
The initiative, which is the result of collaboration between the Social Impact Management area of ACCIONA’s Construction business and Ferrovial’s Sustainability area, focuses on certified training for vulnerable communities in order to promote local employability.
This program was launched after identifying the need to improve the technical knowledge of technified irrigation systems, as the farmers of the Santa Irrigation Users’ Board were identified as the most affected stakeholders in the development of the project. Due to the high unemployment rates in the area and the limited availability of higher education, as well as the climatic vulnerability of the area, the possibility of working together in a positive way to provide solutions was raised.
Through this initiative, farmers will learn about the opportunities offered by the system and improve their productive capacity, increasing crop yields while optimizing water resources.
A total of 21 farmers participated in the first course, including two female community leaders. The course lasted 60 hours over six weeks to ensure that participants could fit the training around their work and daily tasks. It also had a theoretical-practical character, including a visit to the province of Virú, where they are currently using this irrigation technique and where they were able to carry out practices in different agricultural properties.
Following the success of the initiative, the farmers requested a new edition, which is already underway and involves a total of 20 people.
This social initiative is an example of how the Social Impact Management (SIM) methodology directly contributes to the sustainable economic development of the local communities in which it operates.
With this type of initiative, ACCIONA reinforces its commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, contributing directly to SDG 2, target 2.3 (improving agricultural production and food producers’ incomes), SDG 2, target 2.4 (increasing crop resilience to extreme weather events such as droughts) and SDG 6, target 6.4 (promoting the efficient use of water resources).
The Vial Chimbote consortium, formed by ACCIONA and Ferrovial, is building 29.7 kilometers of dual carriageway, as well as three roundabouts, eight overpasses, secondary roads and the replacement of irrigation systems. The project, part of the Road Network 04 (Red Vial 04) concession, will help reduce traffic congestion in the city of Chimbote, in the north of the country, reducing travel times by 30 to 45 minutes.