In 2014, our team was challenged to develop a plan for Chã de Caldeiras on Fogo Island, which comprises the small localities of Bangaeira and Portela. Besides the isolation of this settlement, situated inside a volcano, our team had to address issues involving around 100 families facing serious problems in the relationship between the two localities.
This territory was marked by a severe lack of infrastructure: a complete absence of potable water, energy, sanitation, and waste management. The population faced significant educational challenges due to isolation, leading to a lack of skills at various levels.
Additionally, land ownership was uncertain, leading to the occupation of public land and the expansion of an informal urban pattern. Thus, it was necessary to plan everything from scratch, considering the social issues and conflicts between the two localities. The public participation model we created, supported by social mapping, strengthened the options we considered during the planning process. These sessions facilitated cooperation between the two localities, which was one of the main social outcomes of the project. Together, we were able to assess land ownership and design a more suitable solution for everyone.
This initiative, involving all stakeholders (communities, technical team, and local authorities), resulted in a success story that is now a reference in Cape Verde.