ID: 1593
Presenting Author: Victoria Laporte
Session: 652 - EA in Latin America: Bridging Infrastructure and Communities for Sustainable Development
Status: pending
Participatory social mapping in Paraguay’s road project empowered communities and improved ESIA outcomes through inclusive and culturally adapted consultation.
Social mapping is a participatory tool that empowers communities to contribute directly to environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) processes. In Paraguay, this approach was applied during the ESIA for the Road Network Management and Rural Connectivity Modernization Program (PR-L1196), financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Workshops held in rural and Indigenous communities enabled the co-creation of territorial maps that identified natural resources, cultural landmarks, and areas of concern. In the Indigenous community of Cerrito (Mby’a Guaraní), social mapping was central to the Free, Prior and Informed Consultation (FPIC), aligning with IDB’s Environmental and Social Performance Standard 7. The process strengthened local governance, built trust, and ensured that mitigation and compensation measures reflected community priorities. This case study highlights how social mapping enhances transparency, resilience, and shared decision-making in infrastructure planning. Lessons learned include the importance of cultural adaptation, methodological flexibility, and the replicability of this approach across Latin America.
Mg Victoria Laporte is a senior sector specialist at the Environmental and Social Solutions Division, at the Interamerican Development Bank (IADB), focusing on community health and safety, stakeholder