In response to the growing impacts of the climate crisis in the Amazon, Caritas Brazil and Save the Children launched the project “Safe and Resilient Amazonian Communities: Integrated Cross-Border Management for the Resilience and Protection of Communities and Indigenous Peoples” from October 16 to 18, 2026. The initiative, funded by the European Union, seeks to strengthen the capacities of communities and institutions in Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia to anticipate and respond in a coordinated manner to emergency situations caused by floods, droughts, and other phenomena associated with climate change.
The project is expected to benefit 3,004 people, prioritizing children, adolescents, women, and Indigenous peoples, through strategies for prevention, preparedness, and community protection.
A Commitment to Coordination in the Amazonian Tri-Border Region
The initiative is being implemented in the MAP corridor, comprising the departments of Madre de Dios (Peru), Acre (Brazil), and Pando (Bolivia)—a region facing recurring humanitarian emergencies linked to the effects of the climate crisis.
In Brazil, activities will take place in the communities of the Cabeceira do Rio Acre Indigenous Territory, in Assis Brasil, as well as in indigenous communities in urban areas of Brasiléia and Epitaciolândia.
One of the main objectives is to strengthen community-based risk management within the territories themselves, recognizing the knowledge, organizational capacities, and participation of Indigenous peoples. To this end, an intercultural approach will be implemented, incorporating a gender perspective and focused on protecting the most vulnerable populations.
Key actions include developing community and school emergency preparedness plans, conducting drills, strengthening community early-warning systems, and coordinating these systems with Civil Defense and other public institutions. Additionally, opportunities for dialogue between communities and the governments of the three countries will be promoted.
Indigenous Peoples: Key Players in Building Resilience
The project’s launch served as a space for gathering, listening, and exchanging knowledge among indigenous communities, social organizations, public institutions, and representatives of the Church.
Over the course of three days, discussions, panel sessions, workshops, and cultural presentations took place. The opening day featured cultural expressions by the Huni Kuin and Jaminawa indigenous peoples, symbolizing the richness and diversity of the communities inhabiting this Amazonian territory.
The event was attended by authorities and representatives from ten communities in the Cabeceira do Rio Acre Indigenous Territory: São Lourenço, Maria Monteza, Apuí, Ananaia, Três Cachoeiras, Vida Nova, Boa Floresta, Nova União, Liberdade, and Nova Esperança. Representatives from urban indigenous communities in Brasiléia also participated, including 28 de Maio, Leonardo Barbosa, and Samaúma.
The Manchineri and Jaminawa peoples were represented by Chief Adelson Manchineri, Dorinês Jaminawa, and Chief Marilza, a representative of the Jaminawa people in the urban context of Brasiléia.
The participation of these indigenous authorities and leaders reaffirms the importance of developing responses to the climate crisis from within the territories themselves, recognizing their inhabitants as key actors in the processes of prevention, protection, and the preservation of life.
Church, Organizations, and Institutions Serving the Territories
The launch also brought together representatives from various institutions committed to supporting and defending Amazonian communities.
Participants included Francicleia Correia Marinho, from the Secretariat for Women of the Municipality of Assis Brasil; Jônatas Pereira de Albuquerque, Secretary of Environment and Sustainability and municipal coordinator of Civil Defense; Father Carmo Henrique Mocellin, SJ, of the Diocese of Rio Branco; and Father Urbano Mueller, of the Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI) Northwest.
Also present were the Franciscan Catechist Sisters, the Itinerant Team—which facilitated the initial dialogues in the communities—and representatives from the Economics program at the Federal University of Acre (UFAC).
This collaboration highlights the importance of joint efforts among civil society organizations, public institutions, the Church, and indigenous peoples to address the region’s socio-environmental challenges.
During the presentation, Aurinete Brasil, the project’s local coordinator in Acre, emphasized that the initiative aims to strengthen territorial capacities through training and the provision of equipment, so that communities and public agencies can act not only in response to emergencies but also to prevent and mitigate their impacts.
She also noted the importance of promoting advocacy efforts with federal, state, and municipal authorities to strengthen existing public policies and initiatives related to risk management.
Preparing to Protect Life in the Amazon
Following the launch, the project will continue its work directly within indigenous communities and in coordination with local authorities. One of the main challenges will be ensuring that alerts generated from the territories can be promptly relayed to institutional civil protection mechanisms, facilitating faster and more effective responses.
This initiative represents a significant step toward building Amazonian communities that are better prepared and more resilient in the face of the climate crisis. It also highlights the need to strengthen cooperation among Amazonian countries and to recognize the fundamental role of indigenous peoples in protecting their territories.
From the perspective of a Church with an Amazonian face, these processes underscore the importance of walking alongside communities, listening to their voices, and supporting initiatives that defend life, human dignity, and the care of our Common Home.