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SUSTAINABILITY

Actions that build the future

Portugal RETRIEVING HISTORY THROUGH ARCHAEOLOGY

ENVIRONMENT WILDLIFE THRIVES IN THE CANE FIELDS


Commitment to sustainable development “It is up to the companies to include social and environmental components as an integral part of their businesses from the very start. I am talking about a perception of sustainability that prioritizes improving people’s living conditions, particularly the poor, and guaranteeing social justice for the excluded. In this regard, the Entrepreneurs of the present and future have an imperative duty: the process of generating wealth must reflect an ethical and moral social commitment to helping solve the problems that affect our planet and afflict humankind.” Excerpt from Confiar e Servir (Trust and Service), by Emílio Odebrecht, Chairman of the Board of Odebrecht S.A.



E D I T O R I A L

THE MEANING OF CHANGE F

ormal and professional education, health, environmental preservation, the generation of employment and income. By now, these are familiar words and concepts. But what do they really signify? Some people know all too well. A father who was never able to take his child to the doctor whenever he needed to, but now finds that he can, for the very first time. He knows. Young people previously without job or career prospects who would probably have had to leave their families and hometowns behind and take their chances in the big city, but suddenly have an opportunity to become entrepreneurs in their own communities. They know, too. These are examples of what you will find in this issue of Odebrecht Informa, which is entirely focused on Sustainability. In the reports that you are about to read, there is an unmistakable tone of optimism. It’s a feeling that

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comes from the certainty you get from reading that, yes, it is possible to make the street, neighborhood, even the city where you live a better place. Because there is no stronger power for change (and never will be) than hard work committed to the common good; the work of each individual as a link in the great chain of humanity. We are many. We are together. We want to make a difference. These expressions are also very familiar. And we know what they mean. They signify the struggle for a world that is worthier of being the setting for the great human adventure, and the conviction that this struggle can succeed. Odebrecht Informa wishes you, our readers, a New Year full of accomplishments and joy in 2014. We hope that by the time the next New Year comes around, you will once again feel certain – as you do now – that, yes, you have helped change the world. ]


Ď€ Children participating in the Via School Program, carried out with the support of the Rota dos Coqueiros concessionaire in Pernambuco, Brazil

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H I G H L I G H T S

COVER A resident of the Dominican village of

portugal

Los MartĂ­nez in one of the community greenhouses maintained with the help of Odebrecht. Photo by Lia Lubambo/Lusco.

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Sustainability

The work of preserving cultural heritage in the region where the Baixo Sabor Dam is under construction

Initiatives like the projects benefiting small farmers in the Southern Bahia Lowlands of Brazil (photo) are transforming hopes and dreams into prospects and achievements.

MOZAMBIQUE

09 Creating jobs and income for small farmers is the highlight in the vicinity of projects underway in that country

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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC The village of Los MartĂ­nez gives an example of commitment as residents join forces for the benefit of their community

Braskem Through ongoing, high-impact programs, the company is bolstering its image as a benchmark for contributing to sustainable development


FOLKS

INTERVIEW

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Odebrecht members like Bruno Dourado (photo) talk about their lives on the job and after work

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Sergio Leão and the challenge of strengthening alignment among Odebrecht’s Businesses when it comes to Sustainability

ODEBRECHT FOUNDATION In the Southern Bahia Lowlands, family famers rewrite their own life stories based on the experience of mobilizing and forming cooperatives

ARGUMENT CONCESSIONAIRES Hit the Net, Via School and the Rede Recicla Rio: iconic programs developed by Odebrecht TransPort’s teams

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REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENTS Parque da Cidade: in São Paulo, a venture symbolizes the commitment to planned urban development

Gabriel Azevedo writes about the relationship between the Group’s companies and the world’s most essential resource

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c o v e r

S u s t a i n a b i l i t y

ACHIEVEMENTS THAT HAVE COME TO STAY FIND OUT ABOUT INITIATIVES CONCEIVED AND EXECUTED TO TRANSFORM HOPES AND DREAMS INTO PRODUCTIVE, SUSTAINABLE REALITIES

π A family of fish farmers in the Southern Bahia Lowlands: bolstering relationships and grooming the producers of tomorrow

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AndrĂŠs Manner

S u s t a i n a b i l i t y

Ď€ Acreditar Program activity in Venezuela: professional education as a tool for achieving full citizenship

There are farmers in the regions of Tete and Nacala, Mozambique, and the Southern Bahia Lowlands of Brazil who are experiencing a time of great hope. More than that, great prospects. And their optimism is solidly based on the highly tangible results of their own labor. There are children in Lima and Recife who may not fully understand it yet, but they are now a little (or much) closer to a future of awareness and productivity, and becoming fulfilled, accomplished adults. There are women who are doing jobs and filling positions that until recently even they thought of as men’s work. These are the characters you will find in this major special feature on Sustainability. Characters? No. People. People who are prepared to change themselves and their communities and, therefore, somehow, the world. Folks who, in most of the cases reported here, were just waiting for an opportunity, support, incentive, to show what they can achieve. Their stories are inspiring, moving, and serve as examples. For all of us. You can see for yourself, starting on the opposite page. Good reading.

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Leilo Albano

π Filipa Bandeira: personal growth that benefits her entire family

CHANGE COMES FROM WITHIN Written by Lilian Bilinski

Her hands are dried by the sun and calloused from years of hard work in the fields. Her hair, carefully braided and wrapped in a colorful headtie, makes it clear that she takes an interest in her appearance. But her open and spontaneous smile reflects something else: change that comes from within. Filipa Bandeira is part of the group of 100 farmers groomed by the agricultural social project for income generation and employment that Odebrecht Infraestrutura (Infrastructure) is running in

Mozambique. “I am proud to be able to share payment of the household bills with my husband,” says the farmer. Thanks to the training she has received, Filipa has learned to do the accounts and sell the products of their harvests. Filipa belongs to an Agricultural Association based in M’Páduè, a rural community in the north of the country, near the Moatize Expansion Project (Portuguese initials, PME). There, about 90 farmers cultivate their machambas – as small family farms are called. The education of the first

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Guilherme Afonso

S u s t a i n a b i l i t y

π Adriano Mazulo and Miraldo Vacheque: the power of partnership

group of farmers started out with a surefire recipe for success: the Acreditar (Believe) Ongoing Professional Education Program. They are all taking the basic module, which covers the subjects of health, environment, quality, safety and occupational psychology. “Previously, we would go to the machamba with nothing but a hoe under our arms,” says Filipa, who now wears boots, a hat, gloves and mask to avoid contact with fertilizers and other chemicals. “One of the challenges was to adapt

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the Acreditar program to the oral method, because most of the students cannot read or write,” explains educator Pryscilla Gomide, a member of the PME’s Corporate Social Responsibility team. “We value the exchange of experiences and, to give an example, we have brought the leaders of the association in to participate.” After graduating from Acreditar, the farmers take a course in Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship offered by the National Institute of Employment and Vocational Education, an


agency of the Ministry of Labor in Mozambique and an Odebrecht partner. Albertino Fungulane, one of the founders of the M’Páduè Farmers’ Association, observes that they have received support from other organizations in the past: “They have given us all kinds of equipment, which we never used because we didn’t know how to operate it. Odebrecht has brought us knowledge. That is what’s most important.” Changing habits The farmers are changing their habits. Previously, they only planted crops between April and September. They believed that it couldn’t be done during the dry and rainy seasons. Moreover, they focused exclusively on planting white corn, which is used to make chima – a maize flour dish that is a staple in their community. “Today, farmers are learning to produce all year round, and have added over eight types of vegetables to the crops they plant,” says Flávio João, a member of the PME’s Corporate Social Responsibility team. He not only lives in M'Páduè but is helping out the agricultural project as an interpreter, because he speaks Portuguese and the local language. Production was low at first and failed to meet the local demand, which meant that various agricultural products had to be brought in from neighboring towns and provinces. That kept prices high and beyond the reach of most of the local residents. Water costs were high because the traditional irrigation method of flooding the land did not reach all the plants. Innovation brought the “drip” irrigation system, which has reduced water expenses by about 80%. Total production increased from 190,000 kilos in 2012 to 350,000 kilos a year later. Altogether, 95% of monthly production has already been sold on the local market. With the money she has earned from selling her crops, Filipa has purchased a cell phone and opened her first bank account. Albertino is already making plans for the future: “I want to become a businessman so I can employ more people like me.” Entrepreneuring the future Nearly 1,000 kilometers from M’Páduè, traveling along the north coast of Mozambique, we find the rural community of Nacucha in the Nacala district. There, Adriano Mazula, the Corporate Social Responsibility coordinator on the Nacala International Airport project, is demonstrating that young people can have a multiplier

effect on sustainability. In addition to taking on the role of Chairman of the General Assembly of the Youth Council, he devotes every morning to the youths who are benefitting from Odebrecht Infraestrutura’s agricultural project in Mozambique, begun in May 2013. Nacala came on the map of the largest investments in the country because the town’s fertile soil and abundant water supply give it major logistical and agricultural potential. The growing number of workers and businesses that are arriving in those parts every day is driving up the demand for local products at the same pace. Looking for a solution that would include local knowledge and production potential, Odebrecht found the Polytechnic Institute of Nacucha, which offers courses in farming, laboratory research and livestock husbandry for local youth. Even so, many of its graduates could not find work. “We selected a group of eleven young people and encouraged them to form an agricultural association to guarantee their productive participation in the community,” explains Mazula. After taking part in several sessions on Associations and Cooperatives conducted by the project’s Corporate Social Responsibility team, the young people have created the Nacala Sustainable Development Association (ADSN). As a valuable supplement to their education, they have completed the basic module of the Acreditar Program. The ADSN’s two-hectare farm is on the grounds of the Nacucha Polytechnic Institute, giving more than 600 students a chance to see the new planting methods first hand and eventually join the farmers’ association. Miraldo Vacheque, 23, is the leader of the ADSN and considers their work to be a step forward. “Culturally, we were used to having a ‘boss.’ The association teaches us to work together for everyone’s benefit.” The association’s main client, the Nacala International Airport project, has purchased more than 8,000 kilos of vegetables for the jobsite’s cafeteria, which corresponds to 60% of total production during the pilot phase alone. The competitive advantage is already clear: the ADSN produces vegetables that used to be hard to find, because they were not part of the community’s diet. Bit by bit, the association has made a name for itself. “We’ve received visits from provincial officials and the directors of several companies, both Mozambican and foreign, who want to meet us and discuss business,” says Miraldo. ]

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S u s t a i n a b i l i t y

π Fágner Ribeiro da Silva: comfort and quality of life in the Amazon rainforest

A JOBSITE WITH THE LOOK (AND SPIRIT) OF A TOWN Written by Ricardo Sangiovanni | Photo by Rogério Reis

When he accepted the invitation to leave the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte and go to work on the construction of the Santo Antônio hydroelectric plant on the Madeira River in Rondônia, welder Fágner Ribeiro da Silva, 26, prepared himself for a challenge. But he never dreamed what he would find in the heart of the Amazon rain forest:

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infrastructure, services and amenities he was not accustomed to seeing on such a remote jobsite. “This looks more like a town. A person has everything they need.” The Santo Antônio jobsite is truly impressive. At the moment, about 13,000 people are working on the project – a number that has peaked at 18,000


more than once – spread across an 844-hectare area that includes offices, accommodations, an industrial kitchen, water treatment and waste systems, basic hospital care and recreation and sports equipment. All built and managed by the Santo Antônio Civil Consortium (formed by Odebrecht Infraestrutura and Andrade Gutierrez) in pursuit of a goal: building one of the largest power generating facilities in Brazil within the highest standards of sustainability, while causing the least possible impact on the environment. The project was born with that mindset from the time the jobsite’s location was selected – the choice favored occupying previously cleared areas as much as possible, reducing the need for deforestation by 30% - to setting up the structure of the jobsite itself. Wood obtained through deforestation was reused in most of the buildings, according to the officer Responsible for Environment, Tarciso Camilo Souza. The goal, he says, is that when the plant is delivered – which is due to happen by the end of 2016 - and the jobsite is demobilized, the deforested area will be entirely restored and returned to the green landscape. And since the idea is for that to happen as soon as possible, most of the planned reforestation is going on alongside the construction work: so far, just over 50% of the deforested area has already been recovered and reintegrated into the green landscape by planting 190,000 native seedlings such as ipe, jatoba, brazilwood and acai, among other native species. The fertilizer used to help the seedlings grow is also produced at the jobsite through composting. Leftover wood from the project is ground into sawdust and mixed with organic waste. When dry, that mixture becomes an effective natural fertilizer. The jobsite produces 1,400 tonnes of recycled waste per month. Altogether, more than 643 tonnes of waste - 90% of the total the jobsite generates has been reused. The remaining 10% (non-recyclables) is incinerated right at the jobsite in a modern 100A LUFTECH RGL incinerator. Common waste is deposited in a sealed landfill cell and periodically covered with layers of soil, in accordance with operational procedures. However, recycling 90% of the waste produced would not be possible without the cooperation of everyone at the jobsite when it comes to sorting everything that is discarded in the course of their work. “Before I was hired, I took a one-week course on environmental conservation. Here, everybody knows that each kind material has its own bin,” says Fágner. In addition to the course – which is

provided to prospective hires by the Acreditar professional education program - members of the work fronts attend daily 45-minute lectures on recycling and environmental conservation, workplace safety, health and hygiene, among other topics. Healthy environment, body and mind Fágner is one of 1,040 company members currently living in the worker accommodations at the jobsite, which can house up to 2,000 people. There are four “residential complexes,” each with eight 16-room blocks, plus an entertainment area where members can play pool or ping pong, watch TV, see a movie, or work out in the gym. Most of the physical structure of the accommodations was built with wood reclaimed from areas cleared to set up the jobsite. “It’s amazing. For the first time in my life, I have air conditioning in my bedroom,” says Fágner, with a twinkle in his eye. These facilities were designed on the basis of a policy that aims to ensure quality of life at the jobsite. To care for the physical health of members building the hydroelectric dam, the site is equipped with two ambulances, two clinics and a mini hospital with 15 beds. There is also a team of about 25 professionals, including doctors, nurses and nursing technicians trained to provide the health care company members require, including occupational medicine and health maintenance, and emergency care when necessary. “We can easily provide basic health care without needing to transfer patients to hospitals in Porto Velho,” says Dr. Otavio Rocha Filho, the head of the medical team. Fágner attests to the quality of the health service: thanks to physiotherapy sessions at the jobsite, he has regained the movement of fingers that had atrophied after he was in a motorcycle accident in his hometown. “I’ve also started going to the dentist more often. I didn’t use to go that much before because I couldn’t afford it,” says the welder, who has been to the dentist five times so far, and is having a tooth restored at Dr. Talessa Baptista’s office. She has conducted a survey of some of her patients, who have undergone a total of 27,000 treatments. It found that 89% are satisfied with her work and 92% had never worked at a company that offers dental care at the jobsite. Maintaining the health of the company members working on the hydro also depends on good nutrition. This is down to the artistry of nutritionist Silvia Amaral, the leader of a team of about 200 people who work in the jobsite’s huge kitchen. They have served over 30 million meals in the last five

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S u s t a i n a b i l i t y

Ď€ Tarciso Camilo Souza and Edmilson Pratte, a member of his team, at the brazilwood nursery: the cleared area will be entirely reforested

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π Roque Mascarenhas de Oliveira and Edmilson Vieira Guedes (with guitar) performing at the Cultural Center: arts and entertainment at the jobsite

years. “We don’t fry the food we serve to members on this project. Fried foods increase obesity rates and hence the risk of cardiovascular diseases and other health problems. They also pose the risk of accidents such as burns, slips and falls due to oiliness in the soil, and the generation of waste - in this case, cooking oil,” she explains. At the jobsite’s four cafeterias, the most popular day of the week is Friday. The main dish on the menu is Brazil’s popular feijoada (a spicy bean stew cooked with several meat ingredients). After lunch on Fridays, the jobsite’s talent – the singers and poets working on the project - put on a show for their co-workers at the Cultural Center, a tent and stage set up next to the main cafeteria. Taking care of company members’ mental health is also essential. Psychologist Anderson Marcelo is one of the members of the jobsite’s Leisure and

Quality of Life team. They organize musical events like the highly popular annual music festival, which selects the best talents and gives the winners a chance to record a CD in a studio in Porto Velho. The team also holds sporting events such as cross-country races, bike rides and soccer championships. When it comes to sports, Fágner has only managed to come in second place in the indoor soccer championship. But he really stands out as a poet: he is known as the jobsite’s “cordelista” (a reference to cordel folk poetry typical of the Brazilian hinterland). He earned that title after winning a contest on the theme of Workplace Safety with a cordel poem on the importance of using protective gloves: “I apologize to you all / I’m about to finish now / I’ll just leave a message / for everybody here / I ask you to be aware / and remember, healthy hands / always come in first place.” ]

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I N T E R V I E W

IMPACTS OF PROGRESS SERGIO LEテグ, RESPONSIBLE FOR SUSTAINABILITY AT ODEBRECHT S.A. Written by Thereza Martins | Photos by Paulo Fridman

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Sergio Leão’s interest in everything related to sustainability dates back to his university days. At a time when an environmental focus was already at the forefront, he understood that this would be a topic on companies’ and nations’ agendas. A civil engineering graduate with a specialization in Sanitary Engineering from the Federal University at Minas Gerais (UFMG), Sergio Leão earned a Master’s and PhD in Sanitary and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, in the United States. Back in Brazil in 1982, he was became a professor at UFMG and helped consolidate the graduate courses in his fields of specialization. He was also the Chairman of the State Foundation for the Environment in Belo Horizonte. He joined Odebrecht in 1992 and has been the officer Responsible for Sustainability at Odebrecht S.A. since May 2013, having focused on the Engineering & Construction area for 20 years. In this interview, Sergio Leão discusses his current mission and Odebrecht’s contribution to sustainable development.

ππWhat are your main activities as the officer Responsible for the Sustainability Program at Odebrecht S.A.? I work on two fronts: I coordinate interaction between the Businesses’ Sustainability teams within the Group with a view to maintaining synergy, establishing business direction in relation to our policy, exchanging experiences and expanding knowledge. Externally, my role is to support the Businesses and represent and position the Group in relations with national and international institutions, commercial associations, clients, financing bodies, NGOs and communities. We formed the Sustainability Committee in 2012, which is made up of teams from the Businesses. We hold monthly meetings to discuss subjects such as following up on Action Programs (PAs) and the Businesses’ shared sustainability agendas. We also discuss knowledge, learning and our results. ππWhat are the possibilities for synergy between the Sustainability teams, considering the Group’s wide range of Businesses? The Odebrecht Businesses have specific programs and procedures based on our Sustainability Policy, including areas such as workplace safety, occupational health, the environment and activities in the communities where we are present. We have a set of follow-up indicators within the Group to cover this diverse range of programs and the continuing challenge of learning and improvement between Businesses. A good example is the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventories. We have a commitment to reduce the intensity of these emissions as a principle, by using more efficient operations and processes, for example. However, each Business has had different experiences. While Braskem has been carrying out its inventory for seven years, Engineering & Construction

is on its third inventory and Odebrecht Agroindustrial and Odebrecht Realizações Imobiliárias (Real Estate Developments) recently completed their first. Interaction between the teams on this subject has made it easier to understand where we can be more efficient and where there are complementary characteristics between different Businesses.

“OUR EXPERIENCES ARE A REFLECTION OF THE BUSINESSES’ EVOLVING PROFILE AND WHERE WE OPERATE”

ππCould you assess Odebrecht’s operations within the five spheres of sustainable development (economic, social, environmental, political and cultural)? Our experiences are a reflection of developments in the Businesses’ profiles and the regions where we operate. For example, the Businesses in Africa are a source of learning in the social arena. The environmental aspect is predominant in the United States. There is a balance between those two dimensions in Latin American countries, with the cultural, environmental and social components being strong in the Amazon region. The overall outcome is positive and rich, as we are a Group with practical knowledge and results in all of the areas in which we operate.

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S u s t a i n a b i l i t y

ππCould you give an example of Odebrecht’s participation at external forums for sharing experiences? There are several. Engineering & Construction members take part in a group called the Climate Forum in São Paulo, which is connected to the Ethos Institute. We have developed a manual to prepare GHG emission inventories specifically for construction projects carried out under our leadership, along with other construction companies. We have already adopted the recommendations in the manual, which is now a reference for the sector in Brazil. At the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20, held in 2012, Brazilian companies led positioning in favor of establishing indicators and goals. The participation of Braskem, Odebrecht Ambiental (Environment) and the Odebrecht Foundation was a highlight in this context.

“THE ASSESSMENT IS POSITIVE WHEN WE SEE PEOPLE’S MATURITY AND KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPING AT OUR PROJECTS”

ππYou were the officer Responsible for Sustainability at Engineering & Construction for 20 years. What is your assessment of that experience? What we have achieved is the result of the teams’ contributions and dedication to our contracts. The assessment is positive when we see people’s maturity and knowledge developing at our projects. We have consolidated environmental monitoring programs at the construction sites. We pioneered the creation and enhancement of a set of social and environmental performance indicators. We have established sustainability directives. The GHG inventory was also challenging, as it included all the projects underway in different countries from the start, but we have to evolve and improve. We need to extend preparation to deal with matters such as biodiversity and our projects’ interactions with their local communities. We need renewed concentration on the subject of workplace safety. There has been a significant reduction in the frequency of accidents each year but it is still not enough to guarantee that we have achieved consolidated excellence at all of our construction sites. We face the challenge of

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changing the levels of these results and eliminating accidents, particularly the serious ones. We need to improve the relationship between quality of life, health and productivity. In short, we have made progress but we need to do more, in line with our Policy and commitments to our Vision for 2020. ]

π Fishway at the Santo Antônio Dam on the Madeira River in Rondônia, Brazil: measures taken today with a view to future safety

Sustainability Policy Odebrecht’s Sustainability Policy determines that the Businesses’ results should be obtained in a synergistic form in five spheres: • Economic: producing results for clients, shareholders, suppliers and communities. • Social: creating work opportunities for members, suppliers, and service providers and indirectly for the communities where the Group operates. • ENVIRONMENTAL: rational use of natural resources, using clean technologies and renewable resources and efficient control of GHG emissions. • PoliticAl: helping governments and representatives of civil society formulate public policies and other initiatives that aim to promote the sustainable development of countries and regions. • Cultural: helping disseminate artistic expressions and preserve the heritage and history that distinguishes nations and communities.


10 years

The Odebrecht Historical Research – Clarival do Prado Valladares Prize in 2013 launched

This book was published the year the Prize marked its 10th anniversary. During that time, the competition has received approximately 1,500 entries from throughout Brazil submitted by scholars with undergraduate and advanced degrees. By sponsoring the work of people whose research focuses on significant and original subjects related to Brazilian history, the Odebrecht Group enriches Brazil’s cultural heritage and helps preserve it for future generations.


S u s t a i n a b i l i t y

EMOTIONAL HERITAGE Written by Luciana Lanna

The construction of the Baixo Sabor Dam is the largest water project now underway in Portugal and represents a major transformation in the northeastern part of the country. A long-neglected desert region with very little rainfall, Trás-os-Montes has suffered a sharp drop in population, especially since the 1960s, due to the widespread abandonment of farming throughout Portugal and mass emigration, as well as its remote location and harsh terrain. The young people who emigrated in search of a better life have never returned, not even to visit the relatives they left behind. Nature is largely untouched in that part of the country, and the same is true for its archaeological treasures, which are now beginning to be discovered and preserved. One example is the Coa River Valley Archaeological Park (the Coa is a tributary of the Douro River). It contains the largest outdoor complex of rock art sites dating from the Paleolithic period, and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Most of the archaeological sites in the Coa Valley were only discovered in the 1990s. When Odebrecht Infraestrutura (Infrastructure) – Africa, United Arab Emirates and Portugal arrived in the Sabor River Valley (the Sabor is another tributary of the Douro, near the Coa) to build the Baixo Sabor Dam, archaeological preservation was a high priority from the start. “We did a great deal of research to support the Environmental Impact Report for the project and highlight the importance of protecting cultural and natural heritage. Everything is heritage,” says Augusta Fernandes, the Coordinator of the Consolidated Quality, Environment and Safety Management System for the Baixo Sabor project. Early studies indicated the presence of some 240 heritage sites. But the more they investigated the territory, the more the archaeologists discovered. So far, they have identified and surveyed a total of 2,386 sites and excavated 120. After removing 25,000 sq.m of earth by hand, they are cataloguing 520,000 artifacts. The finds unearthed and catalogued to date include about 400 engraved plaques dating from the Iron Age (1000 to 0 BC). “That was an extremely creative period. The rock graphics of the time focus on depicting people, who appear along with

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animals, riding a horse, for example, or armed in hunting scenes, along with wild boars, deer and dogs,” explains Paulo Dordio, the Coordinator of the Baixo Sabor project’s Heritage Protection Plan. Dordio observes that, based on the materials found, it is possible to investigate the way of life of the people in that region and the changes it has experienced over time. The research is being conducted at the construction site, except for more specific studies that require laboratory analysis or radiometric dating. In those cases, the work is done in partnership with the research units of Portuguese and foreign universities. A shed on the Baixo Sabor jobsite also houses 1,500 prehistoric plaques with engravings that explore all three dimensions of the rock surfaces, producing naturalistic images, often of animals (characteristics of Ancient Prehistory) and geometric, linear and abstract motifs (on artifacts dating from Recent Prehistory). “Prehistory was the period when humankind began engaging in artistic activity,” says Dordio. The artifacts being catalogued also include Roman coins, belts, buckles, pins, spearheads and other objects. Most were found in one of the most important Baixo Sabor archaeological sites Cilhades, in the parish of Felgar. It has been identified as the location of an Iron Age settlement with a fortified high point that functioned as a grain storage area. But there are also dwellings built in more recent times, such as the Middle Ages. Portugal’s Architectural and Archaeological Heritage Management Institute intends to develop a strategic plan for retrieving and showcasing these finds. The idea is to get the neighboring towns involved, creating a large network of sites that could become a center of attraction for visitors interested in their archaeological treasures. Relocating churches In addition to preserving archaeological artifacts, a team from the Baixo Sabor project’s Heritage Protection Plan is working on relocating historic buildings in the 3,000-hectare area that will be submerged once the dam is built and the reservoir is flooded. There are only two, but they are true gems of eighteenth-century art and architecture:


Ď€ Restoring a piece of religious art: surprises

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S u s t a i n a b i l i t y

π The village of Adeganha in Trás-os-Montes: valuing intangible heritage is an integral part of the activities carried out in the region where the Baixo Sabor Dam is being built

one is São Lourenço’s Chapel in Felgar, Torre do Moncorvo, and the other is the Shrine of Santo Antão da Barca in Alfândega da Fé county. “The [chapel] was quite simple. But Santo Antão was full of huge surprises,” says Susana Lainho, the restorer responsible for relocating the churches. At first glance, moving Santo Antão da Barca’s Church did not seem to present a major challenge: its walls were plain and bare. But underneath the white paint in the chancel, the restorers’ trowels found some characteristics of nineteenth-century floral designs. Further investigation led to the thrill of realizing that it was not the original painting: underneath that lay a gorgeous panel from the previous century. Opened in 1743, historians tell us that the construction of Santo Antão da Barca’s Church was

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financed by a powerful Portuguese family that commissioned a renowned artist of the time to create the panel, entirely painted in oils. The church also contains other original paintings made with fine gold – brought all the way from Brazil. Santo Antão (St. Anthony) was the protector of people who crossed the Sabor River by boat. The boat no longer exists, but his devotees are growing steadily. In September, the Feast of St. Anthony brings together about 4,000 faithful after a 10-km procession to Alfândega da Fé. “At first they were hesitant when we talked about moving the church to higher ground. Then they realized that we are serious about our work, and are taking great care with heritage preservation while retrieving part of history. Now, they all say they are satisfied,” says Susana. ]


A R G U M E N T

A WEALTH OF GOOD PRACTICES gabr i el

INNOVATION AND GOOD ENGINEERING CAN BOOST THE SUSTAINABLE USE OF OUR CHIEF NATURAL RESOURCE: WATER Odebrecht Group companies have a strong and extremely diverse relationship with water. We are service and solution providers of water supply and sanitation through Odebrecht Ambiental (Environmental). Odebrecht Agroindustrial is a major water user at its sugarcane plantations and mills, where it has already achieved efficiency that is 40% higher than the average for the sector in Brazil. Braskem is a major consumer, with growing efficiency levels, exceedingly low losses and ever increasing recycling rates. We also invest in hydroelectric power plants, which use water to produce clean and renewable energy. As a contracting company, we are among the world leaders in the construction of water infrastructure projects, such as irrigation channels, water supply networks, dams and treatment stations. We have made progress in processes that reduce consumption, preventing waste in engineering and construction. Our closed cycle systems at mechanical repair shops, concrete mixer washing areas and treatment stations reduce

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pressure on local watersheds and prevent watercourse contamination. We have examples of innovation in organic water treatment at the Santo Antônio Dam project, and in environmental flows and endemic fish life in Peru. It is important to highlight the reduced losses and greater efficiency which translate into tangible results, as well as important benefits to the company’s image and influence. It is natural that Odebrecht is admired for all of this and has a strong presence in institutions such as the Brazilian Association of Water Resources and the World Water Council. Our clients, communities, banks, financial institutions and important NGOs view us as a source of good practices and leadership when dealing with blue agenda issues. This greatly increases our responsibility and challenges us to make even further progress. However, despite these good practices, we still have a great deal to do. The biggest challenges we face include ensuring greater consistency in the performance of the dozens of construction projects underway in countries and sectors with distinct characteristics and cultures. This requires the consolidation of a culture which values sustainability as an instrument for constructing “win-win” solutions, in which innovation and good engineering can reduce costs and contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of our most precious natural resource. ]

Gabriel Azevedo is the officer Responsible for Sustainability at Odebrecht Infraestrutura (Infrastructure) - Brazil

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SUSTAINABLE ARENAS Written by Boécio Vidal Lannes | Photos by Cícero Rodrigues (RJ) and Arthur Ikishima (BA)

Supporters who watch soccer matches at Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, the Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador or the Itaipava Arena Pernambuco may not realize it, but they are entering stadiums that bring together some of the most sustainable facilities and solutions in the world. Operated with the participation of Odebrecht Properties, these three arenas (plus the Corinthians stadium, which is under construction) form part of the Green Cup project, whose aim is to construct eco-friendly spaces for the FIFA World Cup, which will be held in Brazil in 2014. Thanks to this initiative, the country will be

the first to receive the event with 12 stadiums hosting sustainable matches. This concept will not just be limited to the arenas. Cities, governments and companies are investing in various sustainable solutions to welcome the legion of tourists who will visit Brazil this year. Brasília, in the Federal District, is testing a 100% electric bus; Porto Alegre already has an “aeromobile,” a suspended, wind-powered train; highways are using recycled tires to resurface the roads in São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro State has signed an agreement with the hotel network in the state

π Maracanã: new roof collects rainwater for use in restrooms and pitch watering system

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capital, launching a plan to increase the production and consumption of organic products there. In the temple of soccer, Maracanã, the company’s teams followed the precepts of high energy and environmental performance at every stage of its reconstruction. Now that it is ready to be open to the public, it is seeking to attain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by mid2014 based on the precepts of the Green Building Council Brazil (GBC Brazil), an NGO that promotes this type of construction. Constructed by Odebrecht and managed by the Maracanã Concessionaire, formed by Odebrecht Properties, IMX and AEG, the stadium is equipped with devices that generate energy and save water. For example, the stormwater collection system helps keep the grass green and fresh using rainwater stored in a tank next to the pitch. The stormwater collected by the new

roof is also used in the public restrooms, where smart faucets turn off automatically. The ecological flushing system is programmed to operate every 15 minutes when the ball is in play and every five minutes during the intervals. The aim is to reduce water consumption by 30%, a target that is required for LEED certification. Conserving energy everywhere except the pitch and stands Maracanã also boasts a modern lighting system with LED light bulbs in 23,500 low-maintenance lamps which have a long working life. Smart stairways and elevators and economic air-conditioning equipment complete the list. Still being tested is a room with monitors that allows the operators to control the stadium’s floodlights and turn the lights and air-conditioning for the boxes and other areas in the arena on and off.

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S u s t a i n a b i l i t y

π Solar power panels that convert sunlight into electricity: generating 400 kilowatts-peak, equivalent to 25% of Maracanã’s energy requirements

“LEED certification requires a significant investment,” explains architect Bernard Malafaia, 31, the officer Responsible for this project. A fouryear member of Odebrecht, he is a graduate of the Federal University at Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) who holds a Master’s from Columbia University in the United States, where he learned about the certification process. The National Development Bank (BNDES), which financed part of the project, also requires LEED certification. Another step forward is the use of solar energy, the result of a partnership between Light S.A., Rio’s state power company, Electricité de France (EDF) and Rio de Janeiro State. The photovoltaic panels installed on the stadium roof transform sunlight into electrical energy and generate 400 kilowatts-peak, equivalent to consumption in 200 households. The system is also capable of supplying up to 25% of the energy necessary to operate Maracanã. The officer Responsible for the Sustainability area at the Rio de Janeiro stadium, Julia Monteiro Martins, 33, faces various challenges. A three-year member of Odebrecht, this Production Engineer explains that on match days 210 professionals from SunPlus, the company responsible for cleaning the stadium, collect up to 35 tonnes of waste (cans, PET bottles and plastic cups). These materials are donated to waste-recycling cooperatives. According to Julia, some measures are important to preserve the environment, including the use of biodegradable toilet paper and wallpaper.

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“The LEED certification process begins with the engineering design and continues throughout the construction and operation stages,” explains Paulo Rossi, the Engineering Manager at the Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova, which is administered by a concessionaire formed by Odebrecht and OAS. He hopes to obtain LEED certification by February 2014. Recycling imploded material At the Salvador stadium, which had to be imploded and rebuilt, savings began at the construction site. All of the concrete resulting from the implosion (approximately 80,000 tonnes) was reused on the construction site itself, for paving and entrances, as well as on other projects underway in the city. A project to recycle paper, PVC pipes and cooking oil was also implemented during the construction phase. Discarded uniforms were also used as raw materials to make eco-friendly bags, aprons and clothes at Projeto Axé, a local NGO that works with at-risk children. The example of Maracanã and the roof at the Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova (which was imported from Germany), allows rainwater collection for reuse in the restrooms and to water the grass on the pitch. Aged 47, with two and a half years at the Group, Paulo Rossi stresses that the annual collection of 37,000 cu.m of stormwater will represent a saving of 72% during the rainy season and 24% the rest of the year. “The Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL) requires technological investments. The


20,000 light bulbs and 372 floodlights on the pitch are all energy efficient,” observes the engineer. The arena will be equipped with photovoltaic panels with the capacity to produce enough energy to supply 3,000 homes in 2014. The solar plant, which will cost BRL 5.5 million, will reduce energy consumption at the arena by 10%. Integration with biomes and the community Seating up to 46,000 people, the Itaipava Arena Pernambuco was also designed and built with sustainable solutions and innovative technologies. Located in São Lourenço da Mata, 19 km from Recife, Pernambuco, the arena was constructed through a Public-Private Partnership between the State of Pernambuco and Odebrecht Properties, which will operate the arena for the next 30 years. The project envisages using solar power, stormwater and natural ventilation, and includes its own waste treatment station. Operating since June 2013, the stadium’s solar energy plant will generate 1 MW of installed capacity, equivalent to the average consumption of up to 6,000 Brazilians. This is how the arena aims to achieve LEED certification. The officer Responsible for Sustainability at the Itaipava Arena Pernambuco, Izabelle Arcanjo, explains the process: “We have concentrated on creating new programs and targets since the beginning of the project, throughout its construction and now, during the operating phase. This makes it possible to arrive at unique solutions to consolidate a model

for a modern, efficient and environmentally sustainable arena that is integrated with the surrounding biomes and communities.” The new arena is the starting point for developing a new district, provisionally called Cidade da Copa (literally Cup City), which is starting out with the mission of encouraging development in the West Zone of the Recife metropolitan region. People will be able to live, work, study and have fun in the same place in this new neighborhood. Saving water and power The Corinthians Arena, the venue for the opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, scheduled for June 12, is being built by Odebrecht Infraestrutura. Every stage of its construction has followed strict standards of quality and respect for the environment in order to save water and power. Located in Itaquera, a neighborhood in the West Zone of the city of São Paulo, the project had to be adapted to the terrain, which, in addition to being narrow, is extremely uneven, with a 40-meter drop. There are very few flights of stairs. The entire lower sector of the stands can be accessed without using stairs, making the stadium a model of accessibility The project envisages reuse of stormwater and electricity self-generation. The arena’s design makes the most of the natural ventilation. A good example of its sustainability is the 15 elevators. On the way down they store energy that is used to power the elevators when they go back up. ]

π Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova: using stormwater and recycling materials from the implosion of the original stadium gives the new sports arena a sustainable edge

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i d eas

Written by Emanuella Sombra

THE IMAGE RISK MATRIX During his time as the officer Responsible for Communication at Odebrecht, Márcio Polidoro realized that corporate image risk was not taken into consideration during the careful risk analyses which are carried out at the Group’s different businesses before making an investment, embarking on a business venture or starting work on a service contract. “This is justified to a certain extent because, strictly speaking, image risk always results from another risk, but we needed to do something,” explains Márcio. That is how the idea of creating an Image Risk Matrix arose, with the aim of identifying potential crisis triggers in advance – in an attempt to predict something which is seemingly unforeseeable – and acting on them. Two references were used to arrive at the Matrix: the risk management model, which Odebrecht had already adopted, and the Media Exposure Quality Index (IQUEM), through which the Group monitors the Odebrecht brand’s exposure in the print and digital media.

The Group’s companies have used the Matrix for the last three years. A mathematical weighted system, with questions on 150 risk factors subdivided into eight areas, including the political, environmental and social spheres, is applied to each new project. Finally, a score is produced which will say if the project is low, medium or high image risk – and that, in turn, is transformed into an indicator to plan future communication measures, including investments and allocation of resources, when necessary. “The Matrix is just a tool, it is not the solution. It gives entrepreneurs pertinent information which helps them to formulate their communication program for the groups involved: members, communities located near our Businesses, clients and client-users, government officials and media outlets,” Márcio observes. The factor that sets this method apart is its capacity to provide a diagnosis which serves to avoid or mitigate a negative incident and determine the best communication strategy to be adopted for each situation. ]

π The Image Risk Matrix gives Odebrecht companies the tools they need to avoid negative incidents and develop their communication strategies

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USE IT CONSCIENTIOUSLY Written by Alice Galeffi | Photos by André Valetim

π Pedra Branca Massif: workers prepare the rock for blasting

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“Enjoy available environmental resources conscientiously so that future generations can also use and enjoy them.” That is the definition of sustainability for Renata de Oliveira, the officer Responsible for Environment on the TransOlímpica project, which is building an expressway in the city of Rio de Janeiro that will link two of the 2016 Olympics’ competition venues: the Deodoro Sports Complex and the Athletes' Village at the Riocentro complex. The TransOlímpica will be 23 km long and will have a BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) bus-only corridor. The expressway will run through the Barra da Tijuca, Recreio dos Bandeirantes, Camorim, Curicica, Taquara, Jardim Sulacap, Magalhães Bastos, Vila Militar and Deodoro districts, making it an alternative to the Linha Amarela (Yellow Line) for people who live in the Baixada Fluminense district and areas close to Brasil Avenue. The TransOlímpica will link up with two other BRTs: the TransCarioca in Taquara, and the TransOeste in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, while also connecting with Supervia trains in Deodoro. Expectations are that 400,000 people will benefit from the TransOlímpica daily, since it will reduce travel time from Barra to Deodoro from nearly two hours to 40 minutes.

(which includes selective collection), monitoring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, responsible consumption and recycling of natural resources, especially water, and use of alternative energy sources, such as solar power generated from photovoltaic panels, some of which have already been installed. Transrio Production Manager Geraldo Caracini Filho points out that this work must include everyone who takes part in this project: “It isn’t enough for the joint venture to take sustainable measures. Suppliers must also qualify for environmental permits.” On November 8, 2013, 1,000 days before the start of the Olympic Games, the first detonation of the Pedra Branca Massif took place. A study of the imploded rock will be done to see how it can be reused. By recycling this material (400,000 cu.m of rock), the joint venture will not need to extract the same amount of stone from a quarry or dispose of it in landfills. It will also reduce carbon emissions from transporting this material, equivalent to approximately 23,000 trucks with a capacity of 15 cu.m each. The water used in rock drilling to place the dynamite that will be used in tunnel blasting will be processed in a treatment system so that up to 80% can be recycled.

Sustainable measures The work of Renata de Oliveira and her team is crucial to this project. They face major challenges in ensuring sustainability on the stretch they are working on - the 13km section that connects the Bandeirantes Highway in Curicica to Brasil Avenue in Deodoro, which is the responsibility of Transrio, a joint venture of OAS (leader), Odebrecht, Andrade Gutierrez and Camargo Corrêa. For example, they will need to drill through the Pedra Branca Massif in the West Zone of the city and clear 26 hectares of land, which will require sustainable measures and programs. “When it comes to sustainability measures on a project of this size, the first step is to conduct a survey of the possible environmental and social impacts caused during its implementation and measures that should be taken to minimize negative impacts and enhance the positive through measures and controls carried out throughout the entire period of activity. That is why it is essential to implement environmental management,” explains Renata. This kind of management, according to Renata, includes training company members, holding awareness campaigns, managing waste

Wildlife crossings The TransOlímpica will run through an area of dense vegetation, which could create a problem for the local wildlife that previously moved freely from one side to another seeking food and shelter. The solution found by the Transrio joint venture is the creation of wildlife crossings, alternative routes complementary to the expressway that will provide safe passage for the animals in areas where they already lived so they do not run the risk of being killed or caught. The joint venture’s team still doesn’t know if the crossing will be built as an underpass or an overpass, but the basic concept of wildlife crossings is already established: the expressway must interfere as little as possible in the daily life of the local fauna, which includes sloths, agoutis, armadillos, capybaras, monkeys, birds, alligators and other animals. Francisco Lima, the joint venture’s Administrative and Financial officer, reports that team awareness is already strong: “We have a sign up at the jobsite that says: ‘A capybara crossing is no joke!’” Another sustainable measure, due to the clearing required for the project, is rescuing native

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CORRIDOR IN WEST ZONE TRANSOLIMPICA WILL RUN THROUGH SEVERAL DISTRICTS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE LINHA AMARELA Deodoro Sports Complex Magalhães Bastos

Bangu

Maciço da Pedra Branca

Guadalupe

Irajá

Tr a n s O l í m p i c a E x p r e s s w a y

23 km

International Aiport

Penha

in total length

Deodoro

SuperVia

(13 km under the responsibility of the Transrio joint venture - CCT) Bonsucesso

Vila Militar Madureira Jardim Sulacap

São Cristóvão Méier

Taquara

Vila Isabel

Maracanã

400,OOO people will benefit daily

TransCarioca Jacarepaguá

Curicica

RIO DE JANEIRO

30 hectares

Camorim

Athletes' Village Recreio dos Bandeirantes

Barra da Tijuca

Ipanema Leblon

TransOeste Stretch of the TransOlímpica Expressway built by CCT

plant species and endangered regional flora. The plants are sent to Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio’s Botanical Gardens, which receive the majority of the orchids found, and Pedra Branca Park itself, where there is an area for research and botanical cultivation. When the expressway project is finished, the work of vegetation compensation will begin: many species will be returned to their habitats and replanted. Twenty-six hectares of vegetation will be cleared, being offset by the planting of 30 hectares. The permit to build the TransOlímpica project also calls for a BRL 10-million investment in

will be replanted

400,OOO m³ of rock recycled

Wildlife passages

Alternative routes built so wild animals can access fragments of vegetation

a conservation unit and the joint venture’s participation in support programs for the Pedra Branca Institute. “These measures are essential to ensuring sustainable development, meeting current needs while minimizing the environmental impacts and consequently the impact on the quality of life of future generations,” says Renata de Oliveira. She concurs with American economist Jeffrey D. Sachs, the Director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University, New York, who urges: “We need to defend the interests of those whom we’ve never met and never will.” ]

π Blasting of the Pedra Branca Massif began on November 8: among those present at the event were the Governor of Rio, Sérgio Cabral (second from left), the Mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes (third), the Chairman of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, Carlos Arthur Nuzman (fourth) and other officials

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S A VV Y

BUILDING EXPERIENCE THROUGH DIVERSITY FIRST THERE WAS ARCHITECTURE. THEN CAME COMPUTER PROGRAMMING, AND NOW SUSTAINABILITY HAS COME INTO HIS LIFE Written by Alice Galeffi | Photo by Ricardo Artner

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Felipe Cruz was born in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais but lives in Salvador, Bahia. He discovered the value of work at a young age. His parents created a home environment that fostered their children’s education. An architecture graduate, he started his career working on the construction of the most advanced building in Salvador in the second half of the 1960s: the Polytechnic Foundation building on Sete de Setembro Avenue. But Felipe sensed that architecture was not his true calling and went to work as a computer programmer at IBM in 1968, several years before the first PC was launched in 1981. He started at the Odebrecht Group as a systems analyst in October 1976 and soon became fascinated with project planning and daily activities on the jobsites. He always says, “That is where Odebrecht’s philosophy is materialized.”

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An interesting feature of Felipe’s career at the organization is the large number of businesses, roles and cultures with which he has been involved. He took part in the Group’s first project outside Brazil, the Charcani V hydroelectric plant in Peru, which began in 1979. He has also worked in Angola and the UK. He started in the Information Technology (IT) area at Odebrecht, became the officer Responsible for Planning and Development at Tenenge (a company that merged with the Group in 1986), became interested in the theme of Sustainable Development, and now, based on that track record, he is the officer Responsible for Sustainability at Odebrecht Infraestrutura (Infrastructure) – Africa, United Arab Emirates and Portugal. In his interview for the Savvy series (www. odebrecht online.com.br) he talks about his career so far and the most important things he has learned at work and in life. ]

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THE JOY THAT COMES WITH HOPE Written by Luiz Carlos Ramos | Photo by Kamene Traça

Odebrecht is currently running 32 social outreach programs in the communities near its projects in Angola. These initiatives are aimed primarily at generating employment and income, while supporting health and education. In this report, Odebrecht Informa presents three examples with a focus on Corporate Social Responsibility to help our readers understand the scope of the work being done in that country, based on the principles of sustainability. “In our projects, we not only meet our contractual obligations but strive to help the people living within the sphere of influence of each of the projects to develop their potential, achieve their goals and grow,” says Odebrecht’s Corporate Social Responsibility and Environment Director in Angola, Paulo Campos. Reducing infant mortality Jorge Preto, a Brazilian from the northern state of Pará, has a degree in biology and has been with Odebrecht Infraestrutura (Infrastructure) in Angola since 2001. Currently the officer Responsible for Health Programs, Jorge observes: “In the fight against malaria and HIV/AIDS, we’ve developed the Safe Delivery program to provide support for groups of traditional midwives living near Odebrecht’s construction sites. The aim is to reduce maternal and infant mortality. Angola has one of the highest rates in Africa. We contribute biosafety practices and encourage the midwives to join cooperatives.” The Odebrecht team identifies groups of midwives, gives lectures and teaches the Safe Childbirth module, a 20-hour course on delivering babies and preventing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). About 3,000 midwives have taken this course in seven provinces. Nurse technician Adriano Cussama Augusto, 45, an Angolan from Huambo, is a former soldier and has worked at Odebrecht. With Jorge Preto’s help, Adriano has used the lessons he learned at the company to set up a medical center for expectant mothers in the Ana Paula district of Viana, a town in the

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π Children at play in one of the Safe Villages Program playgrounds: introduced in 2013, the initiative is


metropolitan region of Luanda. “I love the work of healing and helping patients,” says Cussama. Safe villages and schools Launched in 2013, the Safe Villages Program covers 27 communes in the vicinity of the Catata-Lóvua Project, a 101-km highway that Odebrecht is building in Lunda Norte province. Virgínia Machado da Silva is responsible for the program. She explains: “Our educators convey lessons about health, childrearing and environmental education. We seek to provide sustainability to programs carried out in the vicinity of the construction site.” The basic goal is ensuring the safety of the approximately 6,000 children living in communes along the route, who run the risk of being hit by vehicles. The project has set up children’s playgrounds and a physical education teacher goes to the villages every day to organize educational games. He wears a long-horned sable antelope mask, symbolizing Angola’s national animal. Everyone has a good time, and learns in the process. Fences have been put up near the road construction sites. The Traveling School, Xicola Ya Kututululuca, is part of the program. Created to bolster primary and vocational education among adults, it focuses on the context of the highway (teaching auto mechanics, tire repair and engine lubrication). Once the highway is completed, mini-auto repair shops will be left behind for the villagers who participated in the initiative as a contribution to income generation. “We will keep the program going, even after the road is built,” says Virgínia. The soba (community leader) of the Shamissuia community, Samissuiai Kaluena is 101 years old and the father of 28. He observes: “The playground has brought relief to the children.” In Bumbatempo, soba Txilaguia Mualucano, 57, who has three wives and 25 children, sees progress. Speaking in the Chokwe language, he says: “With Odebrecht here, our children are getting an education. They used to walk in the tall grass.” Farmer Elisa Veronica, the soba of Nanjinga, has seven children. Clearly satisfied with the project, she adds: “They are doing good work, because the children have a playground and keep away from the road when they play.”

underway in 27 communes near the Catata-Lóvua Project

Community development in Hanha do Norte Odebrecht has built various projects in the region of Benguela and Lobito. It is currently installing the supporting infrastructure for the future Lobito refinery, which is owned by Sonaref, a subsidiary of Sonangol, Angola’s state oil company. Nearby, in

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Edu Simões

S u s t a i n a b i l i t y

π Community Development Program activity in Hanha do Norte: encouraging collective effort

Hanha do Norte, a community with 4,100 inhabitants, 20 km from Lobito, Henrique Pequenino, 25, married with two daughters, has a voice in the Community Development Program that Odebrecht launched in August 2013 to groom young people to become entrepreneurs. The Cubal River supplies the commune with water through an irrigation channel built in the 1960s, during the colonial era. To help increase the available options, Poti Malaquias, Odebrecht’s social outreach coordinator, has used entrepreneurial education based on the solidarity economy to encourage young people to understand the difficulties their community is facing and find solutions. Program participants decided to clean the channel, which supplies water to the entire community, the treatment plant and subsistence farms. Henrique and the young people joined forces with the mobilized community to clear the channel, and the water came gushing out. The Hanha community was thrilled with the young people’s proactive approach: their crops are now safe, including bananas, sweet potato, beans, maize, cassava and tomatoes, and the farmed area has expanded significantly. The first class, with 52 young people, has already graduated from the program. Courses on forming associations and adult literacy, with 310 students, are still going on. (About 80% of the students cannot read or write.)

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Local leader Joaquim Jolomba, 51, predicts: “Thanks to social and vocational education, these young people will be able to work on construction projects and get jobs at the future refinery.” Luiza Palanca, 24, the mother of four, is taking literacy classes. Now she always goes to the square to trade the potatoes she grows for fish. “My children are eating better,” she says. This project is part of the barter market established in the community, which gives people access to different products. Currently, the community is marshaling its members to build a mill, another important achievement for income generation. In addition to educational activities, a health program is playing an important role in the community. Four nurses at the health center in Hanha do Norte have been trained to take blood and skin scraping samples and treat patients with symptoms of malaria. “This project does not just provide lab tests. It gives an accurate and detailed diagnosis of malaria cases in the community, which enables us to provide effective treatment,” says Occupational Physician Marcelo Martins. Proud and silent, sobas Domingos Kaluvala, Chipunda Unambo and Kangombe Mbongo have approved the social programs underway in Hanha do Norte. “The farmers produce more now,” says Kaluvala. ]


RECOGNITION FOR IDEAS Written by Ana Cecília Americano

Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic, the United States and Venezuela, according to Sergio Leão, the officer Responsible for Sustainability at the Odebrecht Group and one of the competition’s creators. “The original aim was to encourage students to think about how engineering could contribute to sustainability,” says Sérgio. It is a huge success in Panama. So much so that in 2013 the competition received entries from all of the higher education centers where the subjects covered by the prize are taught, including the most remote provinces in the country. The team from the Technological University of Panama – the students Alex Sánchez and Anny Salazar – was the winner in 2013, with a proposal for generating biogas from organic solid waste that makes use of the byproduct of that process to produce fertilizer. However, the competition’s appeal goes far beyond a financial reward for the winners, which can Odebrecht Archives

Twitter in Panama registered a first on October 27. That night, the Odebrecht Sustainable Development Award took second place in the number of tweets on that social network, entering the list of so-called trending topics. It took pop singer Justin Bieber, who was visiting Panama at the same time, to generate more tweets than the award. After all, approximately 900,000 people were watching as the awards were presented to the three winning projects, selected from among the 10 finalists. The ceremony was shown live that Sunday on the open channel TV station Telemetro. For the last three years, the initiative in Panama has paid tribute to students, their supervisors and universities in the Engineering, Architecture and Agronomy areas for developing innovative sustainability projects. The Odebrecht Sustainable Development Award has become a craze in some countries. Launched in Brazil in 2008, it has established an international presence in Angola,

π Scene from the award ceremony in Panama City: mass participation from institutions of higher learning

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S u s t a i n a b i l i t y

be as much as USD 30,000 for the winning entry, depending on the country. For example, there are no other local university competitions of this kind in Panama, making the award a national benchmark. Arturo Graell, the Odebrecht officer Responsible for Institutional Relations and Sustainability in Panama, believes that the award could be a tool for changing paradigms. “Economic growth needs to be linked to sustainable development,” argues Arturo. The award around the world Paying tribute to innovative students takes on a wide range of roles in different parts of the world. “We want to be a company that is recognized within academia through this award,” explains Luis Batista Filho, the Odebrecht officer Responsible for Planning, People and Organization in Colombia, who is working on the inaugural edition of the local award. Responsible for visiting college campuses around the country to prepare for the competition’s debut, Luis Batista has traveled to 27 universities. The result: on the first day, it received entries from 65 students with 29 projects, involving 17 universities nationwide. His colleague in Ecuador, Honório Luiz de Caldas Brito, the officer Responsible for Sustainability and Quality, coordinated the efforts that led to the introduction of the competition in that country this year. He adds: “It is a major opportunity to identify brilliant minds, while also encouraging our youth to think about engineering, with a focus on sustainability.” Honório Brito has visited 28 universities in Ecuador. The result of his efforts was entries from 165 groups of young people, with 53 projects vying for the award. “It was a record number of entries for the first edition of the competition in a country,” he observes. The award ceremony was held on November 28, attended by officials and college students. The former Vice President of Ecuador, Lenin Moreno, was the presenter of a “talk show” on the topic of “Sustainability – The Only Option.” José Santos, the CEO of Odebrecht Ecuador, presented the award to the group of young winners. The winning entry was “Sustainable Preparation of Cereal Bars Made of Surplus Farm Waste from Bananas, Rice, Corn, Cocoa and Soya from Communities in Guayas Province.” The event was covered by several TV stations, newspapers and social networks. Diego Pugliesso, the officer Responsible for Planning, People and Organization in Argentina, agrees that Odebrecht’s recognition of local talent is hugely important. “Young people have started

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π The event in Quito: 165 groups of college students submitted entries for the award, which was

to see the award as a way of finding attractive professional opportunities, as it also allows the winners to take part in the local selection program for Young Partners,” he emphasizes. In 2013, the second year the competition has been held in Argentina, 37 groups of students submitted entries for the award, making up a total of 92 promising young people. Marcus Felipe de Aragão Fernandes, the officer Responsible for People and Organization at Odebrecht in Angola, explains that the awards strengthen Odebrecht’s image as an organization with an unrivaled entrepreneurial culture that is committed to the country’s development. His opinion is backed by Amândio Teixeira Pinto, a professor at the United Methodist University of Angola (UMA) and the Higher Polytechnic Institute of Tundavala, the supervisor of the winning students for both editions of the competition. “It is an incentive for young people to take an interest in science and focuses on a current theme, which is sustainability,” he explains. Even in the United States, where corporate awards are a long-standing tradition, Professor Andrés Tremante, from Florida International University (FIU), emphasizes its local impact. “Although sustainability has been the target of similar government


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launched nationally in Ecuador in 2013

and university initiatives, this is the first time that a multinational organization has offered incentives to undergraduates in the country to develop sustainable engineering.” Innovative and economical solutions The young people who take part in the competition confirm that it has a strong impact on their lives, as it is a real opportunity for students to put their knowledge into practice, according to Argentinians Maximiliano Muchiutti, 22, and María Paula Godoy, 21. Chemical engineering students at the National Technological University at Chaco Province, they were both winners of the Argentinian event this year. They have developed an economical solution for the decontamination of arsenic, which is frequently found in the rural areas of their country. Humberto da Silva Santos, 22, the winner of the 2012 competition in Brazil, is from the University of Pernambuco. He emphasizes that Odebrecht’s recognition of his plan to make use of biomass waste from construction projects to produce solid and gaseous fuels was key to his being recommended for the Federal Government’s Science without Borders Program. “Analysis of candidates for that scholarship takes into account any awards they have received,”

he observes. The student won a scholarship to the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, in the United States. Another scholarship, this time from the Brazilian Government’s University for All Program (Prouni), went to Gabriel Estevam Domingos. He says that he was in his last semester of Environmental Engineering at the Monte Serrat University Center (Unimonte) in Santos, São Paulo. Being a finalist in 2012 has made it easier to realize his dream of becoming a “sustainability entrepreneur.” Having obtained a part of the money he needs, he can cover the costs of the process of obtaining a patent for a technology he has developed: eco-friendly paint made from processing sludge found at water treatment stations. José Claudio Daltro, the officer Responsible for Administration, Finance and Planning at Odebrecht Infraestrutura (Infrastructure) in Venezuela, is focused on the next steps in the program. He wants to make the award a byword at all of the universities in that country in two years, and attaining a minimum of 100 entries per year. “What’s more,” he emphasizes, “we need to follow up on these young people’s career paths, encouraging them to patent their inventions.” ]

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THE POWER OF WELL-BEING Written by Guilherme Bourroul | Photos by Ricardo Teles

There are nine towns within the sphere of influence of Odebrecht Agroindustrial’s operations. Through its units, the company operates in those communities with a commitment to addressing local needs and bolstering development by improving people’s quality of life. In addition to bringing about the economic and social transformations that result from the creation of jobs and other sources of income, the company carries out projects that deliver real improvements to the communities in which it is present. Through the Social Energy Program for Local Sustainability, Odebrecht Agroindustrial consolidates projects and investments aimed at boosting sustainable development and well-being in the regions where it operates. Since 2009, when the program was introduced, more than 50,000 people have been directly assisted through projects in the areas of education, culture, productive activities, health, safety and environmental preservation. In all, the program has carried out 45 projects in nine towns, of which 28 have been completed and 17 are ongoing. The company has invested a total of BRL 12 million in the program to date. Participatory management The feature that sets the Social Energy Program apart is its participatory management model, put into practice through representatives of local government, civil society and Odebrecht Agroindustrial. The participatory process starts with Thematic Committees, which select the main projects on the basis of each town’s priorities. After this phase, the projects are evaluated by the Community Board - the highest authority in the program’s management. Made up of government, business and community leaders, it deliberates and determines the resources that should be invested in those projects. The program is based on the UN’s Eight Millennium Development Goals, the Odebrecht Group’s Sustainability Policy, and Agenda 21, a document that resulted from ECO 92 through which the

π Dr. Rony Kley at the Alto Taquari ICU: life-saving technology

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π Prioritizing people: Odebrecht Agroindustrial makes continuous investments in company members’ skills and well-being in all the towns where it is present

signatory countries undertook a commitment to finding solutions to environmental issues. The projects’ guidelines must include a self-supporting and participatory model and the use of monitoring indicators. Results achieved At the company’s Taquari Hub, which includes the Alto Taquari unit in the state of Mato Grosso, and the Costa Rica unit in the neighboring state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Odebrecht’s work has helped improve those two towns’ public infrastructure and services, especially in the area of health care, for which the company has already allocated more than BRL 1.5 million in both towns. Late last year, it donated over BRL 230,000 worth of high-tech equipment to set up two neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) beds and two beds for adult patients at the hospital in Alto Taquari. According to the hospital’s director, Dr. Rony Kley Ribeiro da Silva, the beds have literally been a lifesaver. “In more serious cases, we couldn’t treat patients here, so we had to transfer premature babies in an incubator at suitable temperatures, with the right amount of oxygen. We used to have to improvise all the time. To keep them warm, the medical team had to wrap the newborns in aluminum foil,” he explains. Another project in the health sector was the construction of the headquarters of the Pestalozzi

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Association, a nonprofit charity that helps people with disabilities. The official opening ceremony took place in early December. The Town of Alto Taquari donated the building and Odebrecht paid for the complete renovation of the building and purchase of all the materials required, from furnishings to playground equipment. Of the 40 people with disabilities in that city, about 60% are children between the ages of 2 and 12. Physiotherapist Carlos Eduardo de Paulo, the Chairman of the Pestalozzi Association in that town, explains that the charity will have a multidisciplinary team to provide personal care to those patients. It will include two teachers, a physical education teacher, a physiotherapist, a dietician, a speech pathologist, a psychologist and two assistants. Professional education Over 2,000 people from the communities where the company operates have received professional certification through the Social Energy Program. Investment in education is a top priority in all the municipalities. In 2010, the company donated a building to the local National Industrial Education Service (SENAI) in the town of Mineiros, Goiás, which is close to two of the company’s units (Morro Vermelho and Água Emendada), and covered the cost of renovating the facility.


SOCIAL ENERGY PROGRAM

PRESENCE IN THE COMMUNITY ODEBRECHT AGROINDUSTRIAL’S OPERATIONS COVER NINE TOWNS IN FOUR STATES

MT

Morro Vermelho

Alto Taquari

MS

9 towns

Araguaia Hub

Alto Taquari

Costa Rica

Nova Alvorada do Sul Rio Brilhante Teodoro Sampaio Eldorado

Santa Luzia

Santa Luzia Hub

DF

Perolândia Mineiros GO Costa Rica Caçu

Alcídia

Since

Number of projects:

2010

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BRL 12 million

MG

invested

Rio Claro

Taquari Hub

Eldorado Hub

Over 50,000 people benefited

Água Emendada

Goiás Hub

Productive activities

Mirante do Paranapanema

SP Conquista do Pontal

São Paulo Hub

Offices HQ

Campinas

RJ

Education

Community Board

Culture

São Paulo

PR

“This town has tremendous potential for development. Our job is to strengthen the industrial sector by providing an opportunity for vocational education to people who look to us to achieve a better quality of life and professional growth,” says Robert Bonuti, the Director of Mineiros’s joint SESI/SENAI industrial education unit. Odebrecht Agroindustrial offers a permanent syllabus of short, medium and long-term courses for its members and the community. “This improves people’s lives in numerous ways. The students are already seeing job opportunities emerge,” adds Bonuti. Another example was the recent teacher training program for the faculties of the state and municipal schools in the town of Mirante do Paranapanema, São Paulo. About 80 teachers completed a graduate program in Institutional Educational Psychology, which lasted 18 months and provided them with a specialization in aiding the development of children and young people with attention deficits and learning disabilities. “We understand that investing in projects like this one helps improve the teachers’ interaction with their students, the students’ families and the institution where they work. That contributes to local development, since the community closest to our operations will have the tools required for personal and professional growth,” says Carla Pires, the officer Responsible for Sustainability at Odebrecht Agroindustrial.

Health, Safety and Environmental Preservation

The next challenge in the field of education is to address the shortage of openings in local daycare centers. This is being discussed with local governments and will be dealt with next year, either through the expansion and renovation of existing facilities or the construction of new schools. Fostering local culture Another important work front for the Social Energy Program is developing infrastructure projects related to culture and encouraging cultural activities. The Sustainability Culture Center is under construction in Nova Alvorada do Sul, Mato Grosso do Sul. The facility includes an exhibition area, an auditorium, a memorial, rooms for literature, visual arts, dance, theater and music, a library and an experimental kitchen. Similar architectural projects are planned for the towns of Cachoeira Alta and Caçu, in Goiás, and Mirante do Paranapanema and Teodoro Sampaio, in São Paulo State. The Social Energy Program also includes environmental preservation projects, such as the development of Integrated Solid Waste Management Plans for all the municipalities, and strengthening family farming through the introduction of allotments (community gardens) and organic farming projects involving local producers who are organized in settlements and cooperatives in the towns of Mineiros, Nova Alvorada do Sul, Cachoeira Alta and Mirante do Paranapanema. ]

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HARMONY WITH NATURE Written by Guilherme Bourroul

animals were adapting to the new landscape and find alternative ways to mitigate any risks to the environment. Two years on, the results are very encouraging.” Organized in partnership with the Onça Pintada (Jaguar) Institute (IOP), the study includes monitoring eight species (jaguars, pumas, maned wolves, tapirs, peccaries, giant anteaters, giant armadillos and emus) that are considered bioindicators – in other words, animals whose presence, abundance and living conditions are biological indicators of the status of the environment. According to Leandro Silveira, the President of the IOP, the data shows that the wildlife is well adapted to the sugarcane and bioenergy supply chain. “The results so far have exceeded expectations, because we believed that the wildlife would take longer to adapt to the cane fields. Most species in the savanna region live in open habitats. It was surprising to finding that they also move about in the cane fields,” he explains.

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In 2011, Odebrecht Agroindustrial’s Social Energy for Local Sustainability Program began monitoring biodiversity near the Araguaia River, within the sphere of operations of the company’s Alto Taquari and Morro Vermelho units, respectively located in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Goiás. There were concerns in the region regarding the impact of the arrival of sugarcane farming on the wildlife in the vicinity of Emu National Park (PNE) – a Conservation Unit that has been declared a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. This is because the animals endemic to the area are accustomed to coexisting with crops with lower plant heights and shorter harvesting cycles, such as corn, soybeans and cotton. Carla Pires, the officer Responsible for Sustainability at Odebrecht Agroindustrial, explains that the decision to conduct the survey was based on the premise of charting the real impacts of the company’s operations. “We decided to monitor wildlife to see how the

π One of the natural corridors for animals: the presence of jaguars is a clear indication of balance among the wildlife in the cane fields

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π Charting wildlife: (counterclockwise from top left) fitting an emu with a GPS tracker; setting a camera trap; analyzing data on trails used by animals

Jaguar cubs The team is especially enthusiastic about one finding in particular: there are jaguar cubs in the cane fields. “They would not be there if the environment had deteriorated or posed a threat to their species,” says Carla Pires. Moreover, the presence of jaguars, which are at the top of the food chain, indicates that the wildlife in the cane fields is in balance. “Jaguars are one of the most demanding species when it comes to the size and quality of the area. An environment that can sustain a jaguar offers the quality and quantity of an outstanding habitat. The jaguar can be considered a ‘green seal’ of environmental quality,” says Leandro Silveira.

Another significant finding is that all the 32 species of medium-sized and large mammals on the PNE’s official list are present on the surrounding farms. “This proves that those properties are providing enough food and shelter for all the animal groups,” explains Leandro. The monitoring is being done with the use of 250 camera traps installed in Emu Park and the farms that supply sugarcane to Odebrecht Agroindustrial. Some animals are also being fitted with GPS collars. This step will make it possible to discover how different species use sugarcane when seeking food and shelter, as well as identifying potential natural corridors through the fields that they frequently use. “The results of this stage will allow us to maximize the adaptation of landscape management activities in the vicinity of the PNE for the benefit of the wildlife,” emphasizes Leandro. Carla Pires also underscores that Odebrecht Agroindustrial’s sustainable crop management program is based on respect for and conservation of natural resources and cycles. It prioritizes the conservation of Permanent Preservation Areas (APPs) and Legal Reserves (LRs), which are essential to the maintenance of ecosystems and biodiversity, including water, soil and climate regulating factors. ]

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THE EXAMPLE OF LOS MARTÍNEZ Written by Eduardo Souza Lima | Photos by Lia Lubambo/Luzco

There are power outages nearly every day in Santo Domingo. Over 80% of the electricity consumed in the Dominican Republic is produced by thermal plants fueled with imported gas or diesel. The daily blackouts are a fact of life for everyone except buildings and shopping centers equipped with their own generators, and communities that take independent action, like Los Martínez, a small farming town nestled in a valley in the province of San José de Ocoa. “My salvation is that my house has a generator because the lights go out every day. That doesn’t happen here because the community came together to

install a small hydroelectric dam on a nearby stream. They’ve also set up an irrigation system and are reforesting areas devastated by charcoal production,” says Odebrecht Project Director Flávio Campos. “And those are just some examples of what Los Martínez has been doing around here. I was looking for a community like this, where there is a basis of sustainability, and we know our contribution won’t be lost when the construction project is done.” Los Martínez is located on the Piedra BlancaCruce de Ocoa Highway, which Odebrecht is rebuilding for the Dominican Government. The

π One of the six community greenhouses in Los Martínez: the community is the largest controlled-environment vegetable producer in Latin America

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π Nurki Rivera: entrepreneurship brings progress

83-km route connects the provinces of Monseñor Nouel (in the north) and Peravia (in the south), running through San José de Ocoa, and benefits about 400,000 people. The company has been working on four social programs focused on sustainability in that community: the expansion of a beekeeping project and controlled-environment agriculture (greenhouses), the modernization of the community´s computer center and the installation of a waste sorting system. Struggle for land The history of Los Martínez dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. It all started when the first farmers settled on the slopes of the country’s central mountain range. As the years went by, they moved down into the valley in search of more fertile land. That marked the beginning of the first conflicts, which intensified in the 1960s. “It was a struggle that went on for 12 years. It got so bad that 300 hundred soldiers were sent to the region,” says community leader Jorge David Ortíz.

Both sexes were involved in the battle from the beginning. Women acted as lookouts and smuggled supplies to the men who were hiding in the bush. On April 29, 1979, La Vencedora (The Winner), a farmers’ association for men, was founded in that community. Soon afterwards, its female counterpart, La Nueva Esperanza (New Hope) was born. On August 31 of that year, the region was devastated by Hurricane David, but not even that could daunt those brave Dominicans. “It might bear my name, but I was here first!” jokes Ortiz, who was just 9 years old at the time. In the early 1980s, the community finally obtained legal ownership of the land during the process of agrarian reform. Today, 50 families live in Los Martínez. In addition to the small hydroelectric plant, the community has a school, a clinic and a fish farm, all maintained by local residents. “We started a fund where each farmer contributes 5% of their production. We also charge for electricity so there is enough money to maintain these projects and develop others,” explains association member Orlando Guerrero. “We’ve also

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π Piedra Branca-Cruce de Ocoa Highway: this 83-km route runs through three provinces and benefits about 400,000 people

formed joint voluntary brigades to fight forest fires, clean up the river where the turbine operates, and do other jobs, such as our program of building new houses,” adds his neighbor Carlos Martinez. “We are currently working on an ecotourism project in the mountains,” Guerrero concludes. Thanks to the waste sorting system introduced by Odebrecht, the organic waste Los Martínez generates is used to feed a worm farm, which produces the humus that fertilizes plants grown in the community’s six greenhouses. The company has built one of the greenhouses and renovated another. Odebrecht has also financed the purchase of 37 hives for La Nueva Esperanza’s beekeeping project, and is providing technical assistance to help the association sell the honey it produces. “I had never even been inside an apiary before, and now I own a small beekeeping business. The first harvest took place on February 14. It was a very special day!” says Nurki Rivera, the association’s Finance Secretary. Local partners Gabriela Ortiz is just 11 years old, but she is in charge of the community’s IT center, for which Odebrecht has acquired computers with Wi-Fi routers and printers. In addition to keeping it running smoothly,

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she uses the computers to study, play games and connect with the world. “I use the internet to communicate with relatives who are far away and look up information on Mexico, a country I dream of visiting one day.” In Los Martínez, Odebrecht has partnered up with the Association for the Development of San José de Ocoa (ADESJO), which provides technical assistance for the beekeeping and greenhouse farming programs. “We are always looking to team up with a local organization so that projects won’t peter out once our work is done and the company has moved on. Not that that was necessary here, because this is a unique community,” explains Claudio Castro, the officer Responsible for Communication and Community Relations. And ADESJO is putting Los Martínez in touch with the world in other ways. “We have taken part in conferences in Central America and are spreading the word about their experience. Los Martínez is now the largest controlled-environment vegetable producer in the entire region, based on the community production system, and this model is being replicated in more than 50 communities, not just in the Dominican Republic but in other countries,” says the association’s Natural Resources Supervisor, Carlos Bonilla. ]


Entrepreneurial Technology is published.

The books written by Norberto Odebrecht can now be read in your computer, tablet or smartphone. Sobreviver, Crescer e Perpetuar, in Portuguese. To purchase and download the publication, visit: www.fundacaoodebrecht.org.br/Programas/Editorial/ Enjoy your reading! Odebrecht informa

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CERTIFIED RESPONSIBILITY Written by Eliana Simonetti | Photo by Rogério Reis

π The Santo Antônio Dam and three other Odebrecht projects have been certified under the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism: 6 million tonnes of carbon credits

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The United Nations has certified that four of Odebrecht’s infrastructure projects have been implemented under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): the Corredor do Senandes Wind Park in Rio Grande do Sul and the Santo Antônio Dam in Rondônia, Brazil; the Chaggla Dam in Peru, and the Palomino Dam, a project carried out for EGEHID, the Dominican Republic’s state-owned hydroelectric power company. As a result, once these projects are up and running, they will generate 6 million tonnes of carbon credits annually. What does that mean? To begin to understand this news, it is important to know that the 163 projects that Odebrecht’s Engineering & Construction companies carried out in 17 countries in 2012 were responsible for generating 2.7 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year. In other words, the reduction resulting from the four projects certified by the UN is equivalent to twice the amount of greenhouse gases generated by the Group’s total Engineering & Construction operations in 2012. This case is part of a much broader context: the efforts to contain global warming, which reached a major landmark in December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan. The Kyoto Protocol, which was adopted that year, envisaged that industrialized nations would reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by an average of 5% between 2008 and 2012, based on emissions recorded during 1990. However, this agreement only came into force in 2005, when Russia came on board. One hundred and eighty-seven countries were committed to the Kyoto Protocol by 2009. Developing countries and the companies that operate there were free to do what they could to reduce GHG emissions without limiting economic growth. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) was created to encourage them to do so. Therefore, businesses that carry out sustainable projects can apply for certified credits issued by the CDM Council, which can be traded in the international market – especially in Europe. Buyers are companies or countries which have not been able to reach their agreed goals. There are clear and strict rules for approving projects under the CDM. They must be based on renewable and alternative energy sources, efficiency, energy savings and reforestation, among others. Methods which have been verified and validated by designated institutions must be utilized, approved and registered by the CDM

Executive Council and the specific authority designated by the country’s government. Odebrecht has followed this path to obtain certification for all four hydropower plants. Carbon credit businesses have been extremely competitive. However, as a result of the international financial crisis, industrialized countries stopped increasing their GHG emissions reduction goals in 2012, reducing the demand for carbon credits. Furthermore, the uncertainties associated with the renewal of the protocol at the end of 2012 produced a rush of companies and countries that wanted to validate their projects before the end of that year, thereby increasing credit availability. The protocol has been renewed until 2020, but transactions in the global market have not yet returned to previous levels and prices are still low. Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) can still benefit the Group in various ways: fulfilling increasingly stringent regulatory restrictions in several countries and making new developments viable, for example. “The CERs’ tangible value varies according to the laws of the international marketplace, but they have an unquestionable and growing intangible value. Having carbon credits is like having a seal of environmental responsibility,” says Alexandre Baltar, the Social and Environmental Manager at Odebrecht Infraestrutura (Infrastructure). ]

Transparency and consistency In addition to the efforts made on CDM projects, Odebrecht has produced a guide on how the heavy construction industry can account for emission inventories, in partnership with the Climate Forum and the Ethos Institute. Aligned with the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV), the guide was published in August and is used as a parameter so that other sectors may also produce their own manuals. “We have shown our concern for transparency and consistent information through this voluntary initiative,” explains Alexandre Baltar.

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YES, THERE’S CHEMISTRY! Written by Emanuella Sombra

come from a renewable source, but its supply chain captures two tonnes of CO2 per tonne of plastic produced, and it can be mixed with other types of plastic during recycling. “Furthermore, Braskem has developed a Code of Conduct for Ethanol Suppliers. That document establishes the environmental requirements for a producer of ethanol to become a Braskem supplier,” adds Elias, who foresees that one day there will be a desk covered with two or three times the present amount of green plastic bottles and packaging. “Green polyethylene also has what we call niche positioning: Our clients are companies that value sustainability,” he observes. The numbers that make Braskem a world leader in that segment are already in its favor. After three years of operations, the company’s Green PE unit in Triunfo, Rio Grande do Sul, has put Braskem at the top of the

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Rice packaging shares space with juice bottles and sunscreen containers on the desk of Alexandre Elias, the officer Responsible for Renewable Chemicals Businesses at Braskem. On another desk in the company’s central offices in São Paulo, there are dozens of items with labels in English, French and Japanese, along with well-known Brazilian brands. They all have one thing in common: the fact that the products are packaged in green polyethylene made from sugarcane ethanol. “If we compare it with the properties of oil-based plastic, there’s no difference at all. And, being similar to other kinds of plastic, it does not require special equipment,” says Elias, whose challenge is getting more clients interested in this product. His strongest weapon in that battle is a byword in the world today: sustainability. Not only does green polyethylene

π Braskem’s Green Polyethylene Unit in Triunfo: symbolizing a commitment

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ranking of manufacturers of polyethylene derived from sugarcane. It produces 200,000 tonnes per year - 25% of world production of biopolymers. A company with values These are the indicators for a brand that makes sustainable development its business premise. As if more proof were needed, Braskem has been listed for the second consecutive year in the Dow Jones Sustainability Emerging Markets Index, a New York Stock Exchange index for emerging countries that recognizes the private sector’s commitment to contributing to best practices in corporate governance and social and environmental responsibility. A total of 81 organizations are listed, 17 of which are Brazilian. In 2013, Braskem received a score of 76 (compared with 70 the previous year) on a scale of 0 to 100. “This is an important recognition of the soundness of our management principles and best practices in sustainability. Moreover, the index reflects our progress from one year to the next, and how we can improve on that,” says Jorge Soto, the officer Responsible for Sustainable Development at Braskem. In his opinion, the index is an excellent guide for investors who are aware of the positive long-term impacts of a sustainable business approach. The Odebrecht Group company is also listed on the Corporate Sustainability Index (ISE) and the Carbon Efficient Index (ICO2), both conferred by the BM&F Bovespa on the São Paulo Stock Exchange. The ICO2 index evaluates a sensitive point in relations between productivity and environmental impacts: the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere. Between 2008 and 2012, Braskem has reduced its GHG emissions by 13%. Today it is considered the best Brazilian company in carbon management due to its excellent performance and transparency, according to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), an NGO that tracks the performance of publicly traded companies worldwide. One of the most respected indicators in the capital market, the CDP encourages companies to disclose information about their environmental impacts. In the analysis of André Leal, Braskem’s officer Responsible for Corporate Social Responsibility, this kind of recognition creates an even more positive outlook for debate on this topic outside of Braskem – with interlocutors ranging from its partners to civil society. From the company to the world As one example, Leal cites the Braskem Maxio Line®, whose EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) products meet the needs of clients in the footwear market, including

tennis shoe manufacturers. Launched in 2012, this line consists of new plastic resins that provide greater efficiency in the curing process for shoe soles. Its benefits include reduced energy consumption, since curing takes place at lower temperatures. It also eliminates manufacturing stages and reduces the amount of raw material used. “But we are not just interested in production processes. Above all, we understand the importance of bringing this debate to society,” says Leal. He believes that dialogue tends to be even more productive when the segment of the population that is the target of the debate is addressed in an entertaining and educational way. One example of this is the EcoFashion Community, an event that focuses on responsible consumption through fashion. Held by Braskem in the communities surrounding the ABC Petrochemical Complex in São Paulo, it holds annual fashion shows featuring clothes made from recycled materials, ranging from packaging to coffee filters. “The idea is to raise the awareness of students from local schools, who come to realize the usefulness of these products in the post-consumption cycle.” Other initiatives are working in the same direction. With the support of the Forest Factory Institute, which plants seedlings of Atlantic Forest species along the Coconut Coast Ecological Corridor and the Forest Ring on the coast of Bahia, the company has also created an environment for raising local students’ awareness through visits to plant nurseries. In 2012, this initiative produced more than 170,000 seedlings, and thanks to the success of this project it has been replicated in other parts of Brazil. In June, it opened a plant nursery in the Paulínia Botanical Garden in São Paulo State, which has produced about 10,000 saplings. In September, it opened another nursery in the Caixa D’Água Municipal Park Environmental Reserve in Rio de Janeiro State to help prevent soil erosion and landslides. Along the same lines, a partnership with the Akatu and Faça sua Parte (Do Your Bit) institutes is drawing the attention of children and young people from all over Brazil to the need for conscious consumption and eco-efficiency in supply chains. “The interesting thing is that these topics are directly linked to our processes and our choice of products. These are issues that affect our daily lives,” argues Leal. Intelligent choices These cross-cutting topics and activities generate synergistic dialogue between company members who are dedicated to environmental initiatives and Braskem’s technological research teams. “By

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Alberto Guimarães

S u s t a i n a b i l i t y

encouraging this dialogue with the public, we are also helping make consumers increasingly aware of their choices and the impact those choices have on the environment,” says Luiz Gustavo Ortega. He is the officer Responsible for Sustainability in the Supply Chain of Braskem Clients. Since 2012, he has coordinated a strategic area for the company: studying sustainable solutions through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), a method that takes into account all stages of the life of a product, from the extraction of raw materials, through manufacturing and consumption, to disposal. This broader outlook makes it possible to undertake a realistic analysis of the products’ impacts and develop more sustainable policies and practices. “We map the entire production process for a supply chain and identify opportunities for improvement, either minimizing an impact or maximizing a positive result,” says Ortega. For example, LCA studies of green plastic have led more clients to take an interest in the product and want to learn more about it. It was also through this tool that Braskem conducted an unprecedented analysis of flour packaging and concluded that polypropylene raffia sacks are more advantageous than conventional packaging. That is because, while polypropylene packaging uses about a liter of water in its life cycle, the conventional kind consumes eight liters. And although the first emits more CO2 during its production process, the second releases more carbon gas overall, taking into account its entire life cycle, from the extraction of natural resources to its decomposition. “This analysis allows us to understand that the excellence of one part of the process does not extend to the process as a whole.” Braskem has spearheaded the creation of the LCA Business Network, a forum that encourages the private sector to discuss the concept and apply it to the business environment. This concern is not limited to Braskem’s corporate policy. It is also reflected in its daily practices.

π Alexandre Elias: social and environmental requirements

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Indicators in practice Proactive management of Braskem’s eco-indicators is getting steadily positive results. Over the course of 10 years – from 2002 to 2012 – the company has managed to reduce energy consumption by 11%, wastewater generation by 39%, and solid waste disposal by 69%. These numbers are the result of a long-term commitment to concrete investments. The Aquapolo and Água Viva (Living Water) projects are good examples. Aquapolo, which began operations more than a year ago, is the result of a partnership


Odebrecht Archives

π Braskem Idesa project underway in Mexico: preserving plant life and reusing wastewater

between Sabesp (the São Paulo State water and sewer company), Odebrecht Ambiental (Environment) and Braskem. It provides recycled water for industrial use at the Capuava Petrochemical Complex in Mauá, São Paulo, and has allowed Braskem to reduce its demand for potable water by the equivalent of the consumption of a city of 300,000. “It supplies good quality water obtained from treated sewage, which prevents the need to obtain water from the river,” explains Corporate Environmental Specialist Mauro Machado Júnior. The Água Viva Project was launched in late 2012 at the Camaçari Industrial Complex in the state of Bahia. Developed in partnership with Cetrel, a company created to mitigate the complex’s environmental impacts, it reduces the company’s demand for water resources by 4 billion liters per year (saving as much as 7 billion liters during years with heavier rainfall) by recycling stormwater and treated wastewater. “Our businesses are born with an environmental awareness, ranging from the selection of the technology adopted to site selection,” says Roberto Bischoff, Vice President of Braskem in Latin America. He is responsible for leading a petrochemical complex that will produce polyethylene, currently being built by Odebrecht Engenharia Industrial (Industrial

Engineering) in the Mexican state of Veracruz through a joint venture between Braskem and Idesa. Expected to begin operations by June 2015, the Braskem Idesa complex includes an ethylene cracker that uses ethane from natural gas, which will be connected to the complex’s three polyethylene plants. The project has been sustainable from the start for several reasons. Thirty of the 200 hectares on which the complex is being built have been set aside for the maintenance of local plant life. Meanwhile, more than 80,000 native trees have been planted in other areas to preserve endangered species. From the social standpoint, 85% of the 3,000 workers who are building the complex are local hires. And when the complex is up and running, 65% of the wastewater from the cooling systems will be recycled. “The ethylene technology also has fewer environmental impacts because the breakdown of the molecules of that raw material involves less energy intake than naphtha. That means less energy consumption and fewer carbon emissions,” predicts Bischoff, showing that there is still plenty to explore in this diverse issue, which is vital to current and future generations. “It’s a plan that will improve Braskem’s eco-indicators even further, and as a result we will be increasing our contribution to sustainable development.” ]

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Polypropylene and Polyethylene resins supplied by Braskem

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Anuncio traduzido por Odebrecht

With Braskem and its partners, the world becomes much more interesting. For more than ten years, Braskem has invested in technology to offer products that improve people's quality of life. Over the years, working in partnership with our clients, we've developed thousands of projects that, thanks to our raw materials, have become a reality. That's how Braskem is present in your daily life. That's how Braskem is a part of your future.

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C O M M U N I T Y

π Maybeth Batista (left) and Patrícia de Araújo: more income and self-esteem through arts and crafts

CHANGING THROUGH ART Written by Arthur Bernardes do Amaral | Photos by Fernando Soto

“I’ve learned that a lot of the things that we throw away are useful for other people,” says Delmira Samaniego. She lives in the El Chorrillo district in Panama City, and has taken part in educational decorative art projects organized by Odebrecht Infraestrutura (Odebrecht Infrastructure) in Panama at the Coastal Beltway III project. Along with her neighbors, Delmira has learned how to transform everyday objects such as vases, bottles, sewing machines, pans and plates, which she collects in her neighborhood, into works of art. Maybeth de Batista, one of the 20 participants in the first workshop, held in April 2013, confirms: “Training helps us to grow. There are a lot of young people here who don’t have any work. Now our children can say: ‘My Mom is working and learning.’” El Chorrillo is a district located in the central region of the Panamanian capital and owes its name (“stream” in English) to a waterway that rises from the foot of Mount Ancón. It was the old city’s main water source for almost two centuries. Its first residents came from the West

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Indies, drawn by the construction of the Panama Canal. The district currently forms part of an area of the city that is rife with serious social problems, including violence. Rivalry and territorial disputes between criminal gangs make social life difficult for regular citizens. The community outreach programs developed by Odebrecht, including the art workshop, are an important contribution to helping the men and women in that neighborhood retain the hope of improving their quality of life and relations with their neighbors. “We are learning how to coexist and socialize. The art workshop is allowing us to be a little more united here in this community,” says Anette Guerreiro. Patricia “Tita” Araujo, an artist from the Brazilian state of Pernambuco, taught the workshops as part of a tour of Panama, and confirms that sharing her knowledge on artistic techniques is both creatively and spiritually rewarding. “I want them to learn and be able to generate an income, increase their self-esteem, and be determined and persistent


in their work,” says Tita, who has 17 years’ experience in painting ceramics and other materials. “Decoupage allows you to decorate all types of objects and surfaces very quickly, without needing to know how to paint or draw. You just stick cut-out pictures onto them,” explains Tita. She retrieves old objects and items with sentimental value, giving them a new life, with a creative touch. Geovana Canova, a member of Panama City’s Training and Gender Center, organizes the workshops and is now a decorative art facilitator. She observes: “I wasn’t aware of what I could achieve with my own two hands.” Taking the initiative to other districts The decorative art workshop was initially introduced in El Chorrillo, but it has already been replicated in the neighboring district of Calidonia and other neighborhoods further east of the city, such as Juan Díaz and Tocumen. As a result, a total of 180 women have learned new skills. Facilitators from the Panama City government have learned the art techniques and are responsible for taking the project to underprivileged communities in the country. The program has formed an alliance with the Institute of Professional Education and CapacityBuilding for Human Development (INADEH) to

make the initiative possible. The institute has made its facilities available so that participants could learn to work with materials such as wood, metal and glass, among others, and is providing guidance on how to prevent solid waste contamination. Geovana, who lives in the Bethania district, has trained seniors, mothers, young people and children (some of them with disabilities), encouraging them to develop their creativity using a variety of materials: eggshells, sand, coffee, paper, cloth and paint. “Teaching decorative art is wonderful, and even more so when we are working with people with special needs, who learned new skills at Panama City’s Historic Heritage Project’s offices in the Historic Center,” says Geovana. Like other sustainability programs carried out by Odebrecht Infraestrutura – Latin America in Panama, the decorative art course provides an alternative kind of professional education to people who live near the company’s ventures. “We are promoting and strengthening the Group’s commitment to social integration and the sustainable development of the communities in the vicinity of our projects by encouraging good practices like these,” emphasizes Arturo Graell, the officer Responsible for Institutional Relations and Sustainability at the company. ]

π One of the groups that took the decorative art class: 180 women in Panama City have learned a new skill

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S u s t a i n a b i l i t y

π Safe connection: from the Macaé Support Base, Jason Kovarik (in the smaller videoconference window) runs the safety meeting with leaders stationed on the ODN I rig

THE CARD IS YOUR FRIEND Written by Edilson Lima | Photos by Geraldo Pestalozzi

Macaé, in northern Rio de Janeiro state, is the site of Odebrecht Óleo & Gás’s (Oil and Gas) offshore drilling operations support base for the Campos Basin. There, important decisions are made about the safety of offshore operations and the intended results. The people working on Platform ODN I, 120 kilometers from the base, in the Caratinga Field, put the company’s procedures and safety standards in practice. “Before they start working on the rig, our company members undergo thorough training, but their education continues on the rig through their relationship with their leaders, so they can learn about the various situations they could face when working offshore,” says Marco Túlio Barbosa,

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the officer Responsible for Sustainability in drilling operations. Marco Túlio returned to Odebrecht Óleo e Gás in 2013, after working at other companies for 16 years. Previously, he had worked at the former Odebrecht Perfurações Ltda. (OPL) from 1994 to 1997, when he met most of his current leaders. “They say I was out on loan, and now I’ve come home,” he observes with a smile. The main objective set out in Marco Túlio’s Action Plan (PA) is enhancing the company’s Drilling Business Unit’s Management System (SiGOP) and disseminating a consistent culture of accident prevention among all the teams working


on the company’s seven drilling rigs. “The first step we took was to meet with all platform managers and ask them what safety procedures and tools we needed to prioritize,” he explains. The challenge of communication SiGOP is made up of a range of procedures aimed at eliminating and reducing risks, such as Task Planning, Preliminary Risk and Impact Analysis, Hazardous Energy Blockage, Cargo Handling, Work Authorization, and Observation and Mon-itoring of Non-Compliance. This last item, in particular, has caught the teams’ attention because it involves the use of an Observation Card to record deviations and good practices. “We realized that the more we use the Observation Card, the more we reduce the number of accidents and incidents in our operations,” says Jason Kovarik, the Platform Manager for offshore drilling unit ODN I. From January to July 2013, a total of 24 nonlost-time incidents were reported on ODN I that required emergency care. In July, through management team meetings, all team members took on the challenge of increasing communication of all situations experienced in their respective areas. The key was reporting them daily on the Observation Cards, which are available in various sectors of the rig. There have been no reports of accidents since. Jason Kovarik, an American who is married to a Brazilian woman, stresses the importance of using the cards to ensure everyone’s safety: “Our goal is to prevent accidents and incidents that could pose a risk to people, the environment and equipment; increase the number of reports on situations experienced to improve communication, hone the team’s risk awareness skills, and reduce or mitigate to the maximum the current risks in operations.” To disseminate this knowledge among the 125 company members on board the offshore oil rig, who work 24 hours a day in 12 hour shifts, he has the support of other leaders in the unit, such as maintenance engineers, drill supervisors and rig captains. “Every day, we encourage our teams to report situations on the observation cards, both negative and positive. We evaluate them and work together to find solutions. In the case of good work, we praise and reinforce those actions,” says Maintenance Coordinator Gabriel Caraffini. Drill Supervisor Luiz Gonzaga agrees, observing that: “Good communication between the leader and his team members is essential for learning and for everyone’s safety.” For Captain Alexander Ribeiro,

π Observation Card: an essential tool for ensuring safety during offshore operations

the results are already clear: “The results achieved show how much the use of the card has been an important tool in our operations.” Marco Túlio argues that they are still facing a major challenge on a daily basis, but the teams are gradually developing a culture of risk awareness and encouraging company members to take a proactive approach to preventing accidents, because every situation involves a potential risk. “The difference between a safe procedure and an accident can be an oversight that happens in the blink of an eye,” he says. ]

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S u s t a i n a b i l i t y

A MATTER OF SAFETY Written by Luiz Carlos Ramos | Photos by Holanda Cavalcanti

A shortage of treated water suitable for drinking is a calamity that most cities have experienced at some time or other. But even in Brazil, a country traversed by the Amazon, Tocantins, São Francisco, Paraná and other major rivers? That’s right. Despite its vast river basins, Brazil needs alternative ways to supply water to its urban centers. The good news is that the joint efforts of governments and companies to seek solutions to this challenge are getting results. The goal is to achieve water security – the availability of a large quantity of water of acceptable quality for health, livelihoods, ecosystems and production. Odebrecht Ambiental (Environment) invests in and operates water and sewer systems in more than 160 municipalities in partnership with the government. These experiences contribute to the debate on solutions and technologies in various forums, such as the Latin America Conservation Council (LACC), whose board consists of seven Brazilian members and representatives of over 10 countries. Among the Brazilians, representing Odebrecht on the issue of water security, is Emyr Costa, Odebrecht Ambiental’s Engineering Director, who actively participates in these debates. “Our commitment is to contribute to water security through our operations, implementing projects that reduce losses and increase the use of recycled water, and measures to preserve the watersheds and revitalize river basins,” says Emyr. Monica Queiroz, the officer Responsible for Sustainability at Odebrecht Ambiental, observes: “We are committed to the environment and quality of life. Our challenge is to contribute to the theme of water security on the basis of sustainable performance in our businesses, valuing water and recognizing the importance of consolidated management to ensure water availability and quality.” 100% served in Limeira Odebrecht began operations in Limeira in 1995 through the now defunct concessionaire Águas de Limeira. In this city of 280,000 inhabitants located 155 km from São Paulo, piped water reaches 100% of residents and businesses. The contract with the City of Limeira will go on until 2039. Chemical engineer Diógenes Lyra, the company’s Operations Manager

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π From left, Daniel Makino, Diógenes Lyra and Marco César Sinico at the Limeira Water

in that city, explains: “Limeira is in the middle of the basin drained by the Piracicaba, Capivari and Jundiaí rivers. We obtain water from the Jaguari River, but the city has a large number of businesses and industries. Because of that, we need to do even better.” As he walks around the Water Treatment Station with Coordinator Marco César Sinico and Supervisor Daniel Makino, Diógenes observes: “The average water loss of most systems is 40%, mainly due to leaks and breakage. Here, we have reduced that to 16%.” Odebrecht Ambiental produces 900 liters per second in Limeira and is investing in facilities that will meet the growing demand. Diógenes predicts: “One of the solutions for cities is recycling.” Odebrecht Ambiental is already recycling water for industrial use in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, an area that is home to 21 million people. Its


Treatment Station

model Aquapolo Project has already won an award from the National Water Agency (ANA) during its first year of operations. The Director of Aquapolo Ambiental, Marcos Asseburg, emphasizes: “Aquapolo works with the ABC Sewage Treatment Plant. It is a pioneering venture between Foz and Sabesp, São Paulo State’s sanitation company. Once sewage is treated by this system, which was built by Odebrecht Infraestrutura (Infrastructure), the recycled water is pumped through a 17-km pipeline to five manufacturing plants at the ABC Petrochemical Complex, including Braskem.” This water is not intended for drinking and cooking. It is strictly for industrial use. Aquapolo’s production of 1,000 liters per second means that more potable water from reservoirs is available in people’s homes, the equivalent of a city the size of Limeira.

Meanwhile, in northern Brazil, Odebrecht Ambiental’s affiliate Foz Saneatins is working in partnership with local governments and the State of Tocantins, to supply treated water to 100% of the residents of 47 municipalities in Tocantins and five in the neighboring state of Pará. Fabíola Nunes Prelhs, the Leader of the project’s Social Responsibility program, mentions the long periods of drought that scourge the region of Palmas, the state capital of Tocantins, and the solution in the same breath: “We are revitalizing the basin of the Taquaruçu River, where small farmers have signed a five-year contract with the company and receive financial compensation for preserving the soil and combating erosion. As a result, the environment is being preserved and watershed flow is increasing. It’s all about sustainability and looking after a precious natural resource. That way, everybody wins.” ]

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F O L K S

Written by Eliana Simonetti

travel

Eleuberto Martorelli is 47 and joined Odebrecht 23 years ago. A civil engineer specializing in structures, in addition to working on projects in Brazil, he has spent two years in Ecuador and seven in Peru. For the past year he has been the Group’s CEO in Colombia. A fan of Latin American culture, he notes details which are characteristic of the communities he works with. “People exude happiness in Colombia, just like the Brazilians. I feel right at home,” he says. Places to visit? There is a long list: Cartagena in Colombia, the Cotopaxi volcano in Ecuador, Machu Picchu in Peru, and many more. “Each place has its own beauty,” suggests Martorelli, who was born in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco.

Personal Archives

At home in Latin America

π Martorelli in his Sport Recife jersey: wherever you go, your roots go with you

FAMILY Élvio Luiz

All in the right dose

π Ana Carolina (far left) with her family: pleased with the changes

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Ana Carolina Farias is a civil engineer from Recife, Pernambuco, who has worked at Odebrecht for 12 years, having started out as a trainee. She became the first woman to take on the role of Project Director at Odebrecht Infraestrutura (Infrastructure), on the Expressway Highway Complex in Suape in Pernambuco. She is currently working on the construction of the Petropolis Brewery, also in her home state. Fifty percent of the engineering team is made up of women on this project. “I have never felt uncomfortable about being in the minority among my colleagues but I am pleased to see changes that favor a more balanced environment,” she observes. Ana Carolina lives for her job but does not neglect her personal life: all in the right dose. She enjoys the company of her family and friends on trips and in her moments of leisure.


ARTS & CULTURE Kamene Traça

SPORTS

A sailor on land and sea

Lia Lubambo/Lusco

Bruno Dourado says he was born with white and red globules in his blood because he was always meant to support Clube Náutico Capibaribe, one of the most traditional soccer teams in Pernambuco, whose flag is red and white. He will have worked at Odebrecht for 30 years in May 2014. Until recently he headed the construction of the Pernambuco Arena as the Project Director. In addition to soccer, Bruno loves deep-sea fishing. His specialty is called cocear in Pernambuco: fishing from a moving boat with a reel, artificial lures that shine on the water surface, and an 80m line. The struggle with hooked mackerel and pike-characins can last up to 40 minutes. “The thrill of battling with a fish is a sure cure for any kind of stress,” Bruno guarantees.

π Bruno: thrills and relaxation on the high seas

π Nelson: curiosity

A pleasure and part of the job When he started at Odebrecht 14 years ago, Nelson da Costa Alves was a technician specialized in restoring degraded areas. Being hard-working and energetic, he read, studied and took advantage of the opportunities that came his way. “I took two MBAs offered by the Group and grew within the company,” he explains. He set up a structure at the Santo Antonio Dam in Rondônia that has become a benchmark. “We showed that we can pursue economic development without harming the environment by using innovations.” Nelson was invited to work on the Laúca Dam project in Angola in August. He is always reading, both for pleasure and as part of his job. Perusing Environmental Impact Reports that reference scientific studies is an old habit. Now he is studying the Angolan Government’s Plan to Combat Hunger and the country’s Waste Policy. “I’m curious, and since my wife and four children are far away, I have plenty of time to learn about this country, which is new to me,” he says.

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PROSPECTS FROM THE SEA Written by Elea Almeida | Photos by Bruno Moretti

The five-hour trip from Buenos Aires – two by air and three more by road – is more than worth it when the landscape of Camarones comes into view: blue sky, picturesque clouds and a turquoise sea with pebble-covered beaches in a quiet town of less than 2,000 inhabitants. In this bucolic setting, we find the Artisanal Seafood Plant, where local students have been learning to conserve seafood since Odebrecht helped get the plant up and running. Located in the Argentine province of Chubut, in Patagonia, Camarones is the closest town to the Garayalde Compressor Plant, part of the Gas Pipeline Expansion project that Odebrecht Engenharia Industrial (Industrial Engineering) is installing across the country, from north to south. The pipeline is approximately 2,000 km long and

includes 22 compressor plants situated in 15 different provinces. Because the project covers so much territory, the jobsites are only set up for a few months at a time on each section of the pipeline. It is only when the project includes installing a compressor plant that the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility team has enough time to identify the needs of nearby communities and determine how best to help fulfill them. This must be done in a period of approximately 18 months, the length of time the work on each plant generally requires, which makes the task of providing support within the concept of sustainability particularly challenging. With this in mind, Lucas Ignacio Utrera, the leader of the Corporate Social Responsibility and

π Aquaculture and mussel breeding lab at Caleta Horno School no. 721: about 200 young students are learning to farm and market seafood

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π Schoolteacher Agustín Silfeni: “Processing products adds value and makes them more profitable”

Sustainability team for Odebrecht’s operations in Argentina, went to Camarones to seek out opportunities for the company to collaborate with the community. In the course of his research, he came across the aquaculture and mussel breeding lab at Caleta Horno School no. 721, a public school and the only one in that town, where more than 200 young people between the ages of 12 and 19 take technical courses on those subjects. Lab with a processing plant The idea of setting up the Artisanal Seafood Plant was to supplement the subjects taught in the lab, adding value to seafood by processing it before it is sold. “We have the only plant in Argentina that is exempt from taxes on food products because it has an educational purpose. Not only that, but we have the only lab with a processing plant in the Americas,” says Dario Funes, the principal of School no. 721. When Utrera arrived in Camarones in 2012, the only equipment in the plant was a refrigeration system. It lacked the machinery, materials and special clothing required to get it going. Odebrecht perceived the project’s potential and decided to support it, investing USD 50,000 to provide the missing equipment and help get the plant up and running. Utrera estimates that it would have taken about four years for the school to raise the funds to finish the plant on its own. With Odebrecht’s help, they got it done in less than a year.

Education, work and income Fisheries Inspector Jorge Álvarez supervises practical education at School no. 721. He explains that students go to the lab and the plant daily, taking turns in different roles and places to study. Besides working at the processing plant, they also take classes in the phytoplankton growing room, the algae room, the fish, breeding and larvae room, and the mussel breeding tanks in the lab. The plant has capacity to produce 800 to 1,000 360-ml jars of preserved seafood per day. The school is currently in the process of obtaining permits to sell what it produces. Despite the possibility of raising funds by selling seafood, Álvarez emphasizes that the purpose of the plant is education, which helps create income and employment opportunities for young people. “It has been a wonderful experience and I have learned a lot. Once we get the necessary permits to sell processed food, we can bring in more money,” says student Débora Lopez, 17, who is clearly thrilled at the prospect. According to Utrera, Camarones has not tapped its full potential for aquaculture, and the artisanal factory is a way to change that mindset. “The plant is a major achievement because it adds value to the seafood, which is often undervalued by consumers. Processing and preserving the seafood will add value to our product and make it more profitable. This also sets an example for other producers,” explains Agustín Silfeni, who teaches at the school and was one of the project’s first associates. Construction of the lab began in 2003 without the help of professional architects. Álvarez says that before the plant was built, the project had an educational impact but did not make any significant changes in the production process. The goal now, he says, is to improve living conditions by encouraging small businesses to harness the region’s aquaculture potential. The average family income in Camarones is around USD 800 in an area with a high cost of living due to the harsh winters in Patagonia. Principal Funes explains that the school’s initiative is a first, and falls outside the conventional curriculum, which made Odebrecht’s support essential. “The Gas Pipeline Expansion project is being built far away from urban centers, so the communities barely know we are here. Through this type of initiative, we are generating positive perceptions and leaving behind a direct legacy for the community,” argues the Financial Administrative Manager for the project, Maurício Barbosa Perez. ]

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S u s t a i n a b i l i t y

LESSONS OF LIFE AND OPTIMISM Written by João Paulo Carvalho

arrived in Atibaia, the first thing I did was to look for a senior citizens group that could bring something else into my life. To my surprise, this program appeared in 2012, and I was one of the first students to enroll. It’s never too late to learn new things, and I think there’s still time to learn a little more,” says Mercedes. Hit the Net is one of Odebrecht’s socioeconomic development programs implemented in its Businesses throughout Brazil. Despite being offered since 2004, it was in May 2012, through the Rota das Bandeiras concessionaire, one of Odebrecht TransPort’s affiliates, that the program took on a new and larger dimension. Unlike other projects that implement programs for company members and their families, at Rota das Bandeiras, Hit the Net reaches a good part of communities in the towns and cities along the 297-km Dom Pedro Corridor highway in São Paulo State. Ed Araújo

A 77-year-old retired schoolteacher with 11 children, 24 grandchildren, one great-grandson and the second on the way: based on this brief description, one might imagine a little old lady sitting on the couch surrounded by children, holding her crochet hook and yarn. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. The lady in question is Mercedes dos Santos, a student at Hit the Net (Caia na Rede in Portuguese), the social-digital inclusion program whose classes she attends at the Senior Living Center in Atibaia, São Paulo. Alongside seven other students in the same age group, she is part of one of over 360 classes that have already begun. Learning how to deal with computers is just the tip of the iceberg. The main focus is to understand the new ways and tools for interacting with today’s world. “At my age, I thought that my brain’s computer memory was already full, but three years ago, when I

π Mercedes dos Santos, 77, in one of the Hit the Net program’s classrooms: “It’s never too late to learn new things”

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So far, 33 computer labs have been set up, benefiting more than 1,160 students, with nearly 400 state-of-the-art computers and new furniture donated by the concessionaire through cooperation agreements signed with the governments of 9 of the 17 towns and cities along the highway. According to Mauro Delforno, the Municipal Secretary of Social Action, Employment and Income in Itatiba, São Paulo, the partnership with Rota das Bandeiras is fundamental to the maintenance of social programs in the city, such as Hit the Net. “With this support, we can reach more distant neighborhoods, including the rural areas that it would be difficult for us to reach alone. It is very important to give an opportunity to these young people and adults through access to technology. The modern world demands this kind of knowledge and those who do not possess it become more distant from the opportunities that the jobs market is offering. What we want here is to give knowledge so that people can build their own future.” According to Marcela Rezende, a member of the Social Responsibility team and Coordinator of Hit the Net at Rotas das Bandeiras, the goal in five years’ time is to reach all 17 municipalities that benefit from the highway, qualifying 36,000 students in 150 classrooms with the help of 300 instructors trained by the National Industrial Education Service (SENAI). The projected investment for the period exceeds BRL 3.5 million. “We want the community to take ownership of the project and its continuity after the concessionaire leaves in a few years’ time. The aim is for the knowledge they acquire to translate into improved income and quality of life for the whole population,” argues Marcela. In bytes or on paper, the goal is to educate If at Rota das Bandeiras the route to sustainability is through digital education, at Rota dos Coqueiros in Pernambuco, printed books set the tone at the Via School program, which promotes basic education development through the continuing education of teachers and other members of the municipal school system, focusing on improving reading and writing skills. The project aims to reduce functional illiteracy, and one of its goals is to improve the Basic Education Development Index (IDEB). The initiative arose from the decision to support the surrounding community with a high-impact, long-term project, so as to build a public education policy in the municipalities of Cabo de Santo Agostinho and Jaboatão dos Guararapes, which surround the concessionaire’s area of activity.

Via School is implemented through a partnership with the Chapada Institute of Research and Education (ICEP), an organization established in 1992 in the Chapada Diamantina region of Bahia. Its work method is based on direct action with education policy managers, such as municipal secretaries and technical staff, school principals, educational coordinators and teachers. The aim of the program is to form a network of educator-readers who encourage their students to read and write, with results that can be replicated in other municipalities in the future. The program directly benefits about 300 professionals in the field of education and more than 3,000 students from municipal schools. Renato Mello, the Director for Highways at Odebrecht TransPort and one of the founders of Via School, estimates that the program is all about ongoing teacher training. “We equip the municipal school system to keep Via School going without our participation. We want to get the project started and leave a legacy for the community to perpetuate, replicating the system created by the ICEP in other cities.” On November 4th in Jaboatão dos Guararapes in the Recife metropolitan region, Via School organized a special afternoon for more than 600 students at the José Rodovalho Municipal School. Music, theater, circus activities, popcorn and cotton candy set the tone for an environment where culture hovered in the air. It was on this day that the school, one of 12 pilot institutions chosen to implement the program, replenished its library with a donation of about 680 school books from Rota dos Coqueiros, part of the 7,696 the concessionaire has donated to municipal schools in the towns of Jaboatão and Cabo de Santo Agostinho. Roberta Nunes, the officer Responsible for Sustainability and Strategic Communication at Rota dos Coqueiros, emphasizes: “The results of a program like this can only be measured in the medium to long term, but we already have optimistic initial assessments, which show progress and serve to guide the adjustments that need to be made and enhance what is already being done well.” Elias Lages, the CEO of Rota dos Coqueiros, observes: “This challenge involves long-term goals, which fits in well with Odebrecht’s operations. To paraphrase Paulo Freire, it is through writing that children become free, and it is through reading that they are able to understand the world. If all goes well with the partnerships we are planning, once we have renewed our partnerships with the local

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Élvio Luiz

S u s t a i n a b i l i t y

π Event carried out by the Via School program in Jaboatão dos Guararapes: cultural activities and 680 books donated to students at the José Rodovalho Municipal School

governments, we will bring our culture of people development to the community, which is our most important kind of capital.” On the tracks of sustainability Roads and railroads follow different paths, but they don’t alter Odebrecht TransPort’s route with regard to responsibility for its neighbors. In Rio de Janeiro, recycling is the centerpiece of one of the social programs implemented in communities located along the commuter railway operated by SuperVia. On November 13th at Cascadura Station in the North Zone of the city, the “Rede Recicla Rio” (Rio Recycling Network) was officially launched, bringing together five cooperatives of recycling collectors who received a warehouse, training and all the machinery necessary for storage, selection, packaging and sale of the materials collected. This initiative will benefit approximately 120 trash collectors who until then had monthly average incomes of BRL 600. With the creation of this network, it is expected that each person will earn over BRL 980 per month, with the prospect of making even more through partnerships that are being consolidated with Odebrecht Properties and Odebrecht Realizações Imobiliárias (Real Estate Developments) in their respective assets, such as Maracaná, Porto Maravilha and Ilha Pura,

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ROUTES TO FULL CITIZENSHIP ODEBRECHT TRANSPORT’S INITIATIVES IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, DIGITAL INCLUSION AND RECYCLING ARE HIGHLIGHTS

Rota das Bandeiras – Hit the Net Program MG

SP

RJ

PR

33

computer labs

Over

1,160

students

400

state-of-the-art computers

Rota dos Coqueiros – Via School Program CE

RN PB

Teaching critical Over reading and 3,000 writing skills students

PE BA

SE

AL

7,696

books donated by the concessionaire

SuperVia – Rede Recicla Rio MG

SP

ES

RJ

Investment in facilities, training and machinery

120

collectors

BRL 980

average monthly income (a 61% increase)


to become first-class citizens who produce and transform their communities. We will be living and working side by side for many years and we want to show that this partnership exists and will get even stronger.” Today it would be unlikely to think that some of the cooperative members almost gave up on their work because of the middlemen, but that was the situation faced by Cristiane Duarte, SuperVia’s Environment Coordinator, at the beginning of the project. “It’s an accomplishment to see where we are now, which of course represents a major milestone in the lives of these people. After the difficulties we’ve faced, we have managed to organize the network, and now the goal is to replicate the project in most of the concessionaire’s local communities,” she says. For Odebrecht TransPort Sustainability Coordinator, Jued Andari, the Group’s assets used to focus on one-off projects that lacked a long-term focus on transformation. “Our operations will last 25, 30, 35 years or even more. We develop structured programs that are related to our business, but more than that, they respect, include and transform the reality of our local communities.” Zilda Barreto da Silva summed up this feeling well in her speech at the event on November 13th: “Thank you for the fishhook!” ] Carlos Júnior

where Rede Recicla Rio’s trucks will pick up recyclable materials once a week. This will be possible due to the expansion of storage capacity and consequent direct sales to industries which recycle the collected materials. Those large groups are only interested in batches weighing over 22 tonnes. Before the network was formed, the collectors and their cooperatives worked in isolation, facilitating the middlemen who bought their products at low prices and resold them for more. Zilda Barreto da Silva, a trash collector at the CoopCal cooperative and President of Recicla Rio, says the creation of the network strengthens the cooperatives’ work and brings benefits that they never could have imagined. “Bringing the cooperatives together in a network will leave us a legacy of citizenship. From now on, we will have good working conditions, with safety, security, training and more respect. We’ve stopped being mere trash collectors and now we are business owners,” she says. Carlos José Vieira da Cunha, the President of SuperVia, is categorical: “The core of our operation is not tinkering with machines that run on railway tracks. Our business is working with people. It is for them that we are taking action and doing this work, giving them the opportunity

π Zilda Barreto da Silva: better working conditions, with training, safety, and respect

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THE DISCOVERIES OF LIFE Written by Carlos Pereira | Photo by Andrés Manner

Spending all your time walking along Caribbean beaches sounds like a dream. Delmira Lobaton, 36, used to do that every day, but it was no fun at all. She needed to sell the arepas (a traditional Venezuelan delicacy) that she baked herself, and hopefully, some of the handicrafts she carried along the coast. The northeastern Venezuelan state of Anzoategui, where Delmira lives, is a beautiful place, and there are tourists all year round. But the uncertainties of informal employment made her work a hard task indeed. “I’ve been through really tough times,” she recalls. She believed that better days would come. And they did. The change started when Delmira enrolled in the Acreditar (Believe) Ongoing Professional Education Program, run by the Deep Conversion Plant Project for the Puerto La Cruz Refinery, which is being carried out by Converpro, a joint venture of the state-owned oil company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and Odebrecht Engenharia Industrial (Industrial Engineering). The aim of the refinery expansion project is to increase processing capacity for Venezuelan heavy oil, diversifying PDVSA’s supply chain through technological innovation. The current phase involves preparing the ground for construction: earthmoving, slope treatment and drainage channels. Delmira graduated from Acreditar and got a job as a steel fixer. She says that her three children, whom she used to support by selling her wares on the beach, are proud of their mother’s new profession, which is usually considered a man’s job. She is very happy to be getting a steady wage, which helps the family plan their lives better. And Delmira wants more: “I’m going to go to college and study Engineering,” she promises. Ambitious goal There have been many stories like Delmira’s since Acreditar was introduced in Puerto La Cruz in 2011. During that period, 2,137 people have acquired professional skills in 29 areas – from steel fixers to crane operators. The program has an ambitious goal: graduating 15,000 people by 2015. In 2008, Nilson Choeri was Regional Director of the National Industrial Education Service (SENAI) in Rondônia. That year, the institution was Odebrecht’s

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partner in setting up the Acreditar program in the city of Porto Velho. Today, as a member of Odebrecht, Choeri is the Manager of Acreditar in Puerto La Cruz, where he is coordinating the replication of the program’s educational model. He says that the success achieved in Brazil and the knowledge accumulated through past experiences have made it possible to export the program. Acreditar is grooming skilled professionals in nine countries in Africa, South America and the Caribbean. “The secret is to maintain the same educational structure while being flexible at the same time, staying in tune with the culture, the economy and the local political system,” he explains. In Venezuela, the fundamentals are the same. The program’s basic module – health, safety, environment, quality and workplace psychology – also includes sociopolitical education as a local component. Once they have taken the basic course, the students choose the specialty they want. “People are referred through the Employment Democratization System, an agency of the Venezuelan government,” says Nilson Choeri. Eduardo Zacarias, 31, was an assistant carpenter and had never driven anything but passenger vehicles when he enrolled in Acreditar. At first he thought he didn’t have the necessary skills, but thanks to dedicated teachers and simulators that replicate situations encountered in the workplace, he was able to drive an intimidating hauler in just five months after taking the Earthmoving Equipment Course. Shortly after graduating, Zacarias was offered a job. Wearing the Acreditar t-shirt, which he often does as a symbol of gratitude and pride, he says that life has improved, his family is secure, and he still has some money left over for a “small treat.”“I sold my car and bought a new one. Now I can afford it,” he says. An integral part of the project The expertise Odebrecht has acquired by deploying Acreditar is a valuable asset, says Paulo Sá, the Project Director for Odebrecht Engenharia Industrial (Industrial Engineering) in Venezuela. “Acreditar is joining forces with the Venezuelan Government’s effort to improve social indicators in the country. Since it is an integral part of the construction project, and


π Eduardo Zacarias, a graduate of the Earthmoving Equipment Course: professional growth and better living conditions for his family

not an outcome of it, this program makes our company even more desirable,” observes Paulo Sá. Puerto La Cruz was the first case of a specific contract for Acreditar. “In terms of this program, we were compared to Harvard,” recalls Paulo. “Acreditar adds value to our bids. Concern for human beings is in Odebrecht’s DNA and sets us apart. We are at the forefront of the industry,” says Paulo Sá. To gauge Acreditar’s social impact in Venezuela, a survey is being conducted in the areas that benefit from the program. Carried out along the lines of the United Nations Program for Development (UNDP), which measures the Human Development Index (HDI), the survey will determine what has changed in

the communities, comparing the periods before and after the program’s implementation. Leonardo Liberato, the officer Responsible for People, Business and Finance, underscores Acreditar’s advanced model of sustainability, noting that, while promoting the concept of personal development by means of Education through Work, Acreditar creates a positive ambience throughout the entire community. “A head of household who studies and strives for a better life makes everyone in their family proud. They set an example that challenges their neighbors and motivates their children. That is one of Acreditar’s strengths. It operates invisibly, and that, too, will be measured.” ]

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π One of the road circuits installed by the program’s team: games that prepare children to help make the roads safer

CONVERGING ROUTES Written by João Marcondes | Photos by Fred Chalub

“When we educate a man, we educate an individual. But, when we educate a woman, a mother, we educate an entire family.” That saying is like a mantra. It motivates the Social Responsibility and Sustainability teams during their day-to-day operations at the Rutas de Lima concessionaire, the Odebrecht Latinvest subsidiary that manages three of the main access routes (totaling 115 km) to the Peruvian capital. The Los Eucaliptos settlement in the Puente Piedra district of Lima is located on the edge of one of these roads, the North Pan-American Highway. Gloria María Tovar, 49, lives up the hill. She walks

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down 50 steps every day, carrying the hot takeaway lunches she sells to workers in the region. A single mother, she lives with her three children, son-inlaw and two grandchildren. As well as being a fighter, she is also an influential leader in her community. Until recently, looking out her window, she used to witness traffic accidents on the busy road below. The Rutas de Lima team selected Gloria to take part in a road safety education program, to learn about signs and signaling and best practices in traffic. She has passed on her knowledge to the community and her family, including her daughter Andrea Tovar, 26, who works at Rutas de Lima. “We


can’t always blame cars when there are accidents. Pedestrians must take responsibility too,” she observes. “In the old days, we felt like we didn’t exist, but now we have a voice.” Work with communities Rutas de Lima took over the concession for the South and North Pan-American highways in February 2013 and, once the road works are completed, it will include the Ramiro Prialé Highway. The concessionaire is responsible for maintenance and investment in traffic improvement schemes, such as interchanges, pedestrian walkways, bus stops and auxiliary routes. As soon as it undertook the 30 year concession, the company began working with the communities in more than 23 districts in the Lima metropolitan area. “We chose a project of high social importance that is also closely related to our business, completing a cycle of sustainability,” says Odebrecht Latinvest Investment Director Raul Pereira. The work began with an extensive survey of the communities. All the families living within 200 meters of the Pan-American highways were heard through a detailed questionnaire. Traffic is one of the main problems in the Peruvian capital. It is worth remembering recent

years of the nation’s history to understand the situation. It faced a period of terrorism from 1980 to 1990 that caused poverty and flight from the countryside to the metropolitan region, which now has more than 8.5 million inhabitants. Auto sales have skyrocketed as a result of a firmly established peace process and a commodities boom (the country is rich in minerals), as well as stability and a growth rate that reached 7% in recent years. The result: heavy and chaotic traffic. In light of this situation, the concessionaire team decided to educate the entire social chain: drivers, parents, pedestrians, school children and teachers. A talented puppet theater group was called in, flooding the schools with characters created specifically for the program: Justo Jara the engineer, Mrs. Prudence, Mr. Bridge and the children Light and Pepito Crossroads. Their presentations at public schools draw large crowds. “When I grow up, I want to be an actress too,” says Yaneli Sanchez, 8, who can’t take her eyes off of the playful puppets. She is enjoying the show along with friends of the same age, Ronaldo Mendoza and Luiz Marques, at state school Fe y Alegría (Faith and Joy) in the Ventanilla district. These children have forgotten all about Mickey Mouse, X-Men and Wonder Woman. “During break

RUTAS DE LIMA

CONCESSIONAIRE MANAGES THREE MAIN ACCESS ROUTES TO LIMA, PERU

Number of monthly accidents reduced from 126 to 46

115 km PERU

BRAZIL

of access routes to the

23 districts

in the metropolitan region

North Pan-American Ramiro Prialé Highway South Pan-American

THE CONCESSIONAIRE’S INVESTMENTS INCLUDE

BOLIVIA

Lima

(between March 2013, when the operation began, and November)

Interchanges (level crossings and overpasses)

Pedestrian walkways

ROAD SAFETY EDUCATION A puppet theater group presents shows at public schools

Expanding auxiliary routes

Bus stops

Nearly

10, 000 children served by this program

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times, it is not unusual for the students to carry on as the theatrical characters, repeating their jokes and their messages,” says academic coordinator Dayton Montufar, clearly pleased with the change. He observes that the parents of these boys and girls are motorists who have never had that educational opportunity. “They teach their parents,” he comments. From generation to generation About 10,000 children have already taken part in this program, which also includes the highly popular road circuits. A traffic course is laid out on the floor of a sports court, complete with obstacles, signposts and signaling. The kids have fun riding around the route on bicycles and in toy cars. On the streets, the puppets talk to pedestrians, who can have their photos taken with them (they are posted on the company’s website) in exchange for signing a commitment to comply with traffic regulations. This project has already reached more than 15,000 people and obtained 5,537 signatures. “These activities have a life of their own, because they are passed on from generation to generation,” says Raul Pereira. “We are reducing the number of

road accidents, which is having a positive impact not only on people’s lives but also on our operations,” he adds. In addition to organizing educational campaigns, the company reaches out to young people in the neighborhoods where the traffic improvement works are being carried out and the toll booths are located. The program is called “Jóvenes en la Ruta” (Youth on the Route). In addition to offering social improvement possibilities, it gives Rutas de Lima a voice within the community, by way of which people are informed and receive explanations about temporary inconveniences caused by the machines, highlighting the future benefits of easing traffic jams and providing greater safety and security. Jack Reynaldo Marquina, 21, is one of 63 young people who have taken part in the program. He has been working in the company’s administrative area for six months. “They asked me to draw a picture of where I will be in five years’ time. I want to be in Rutas de Lima,” says Jack, who acts as a channel of communication with his community, near the Alípio Ponce road works on the South Pan-American Highway. “Do you know the difference I’ve seen here at this company? It listens to what you have to say,” he observes. ]

π Community leader Gloria María Tovar and her daughter Andrea: mobilizing residents to prevent road accidents

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TEO “INSTEAD OF CONTEMPLATING THE WORLD, ENTREPRENEURS MUST CHANGE IT”


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π OR Construction Director Eduardo Frare, with one of Parque da Cidade’s towers in the background: the venture is a benchmark for cooperation with urban planning from the outset

BUILDING AN ICON Written by Pedro Levindo | Photos by Ed Viggiani

The bones of two towers that will be part of the largest real estate complex ever built by Odebrecht Realizações Imobiliárias (Real Estate Developments; OR) in São Paulo are beginning to emerge on the banks of the Pinheiros River. When it is ready in 2020, Parque da Cidade (City Park) will contain a total of 10 towers - five corporate, one commercial, two residential, a hotel and a mall. But size is not the development’s main attraction. It is the fact that Parque da Cidade will be fully sustainable. According to OR Developments Director Saulo Nunes, when negotiations to purchase the 82,000 square meter area began, it soon became clear that any project to be developed there would require innovative solutions, because of its massive size and location in a rapidly growing region. “We decided that, instead of making the hallmark of this development its size or design, it should become an icon of sustainability,” he says. When it comes to urban mobility, Parque da Cidade will include solutions like car sharing incentives, special parking spaces for electric cars, and an

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internal bike path linked to the metropolitan network, as well as bike racks and changing facilities for cyclists. The complex also offers mass transit options – it is served by buses and commuter trains. It is also close to metro stations that are under construction. The internal bike path will run through the linear park, which is the heart and soul of the project. It covers a green area of 22,000 square meters, more than a quarter of the complex’s total area, and will be open to the public. “This is an urban planning project. We wanted to give a gift to the city that is an integral part of it, and which people can enjoy any time they want,” says Saulo. Sustainable in every detail When the development is ready for occupancy, 65,000 people per day will use Parque da Cidade, including the permanent and transient population. Because it is a mixed-use venture, the complex will also help reduce the flow of traffic. The mixed-use concept eliminates the need for cars. People can live, work, shop and be entertained, all in one place.


The linear park will feature kiosks and six restaurants overlooking the water features. Part of the water for the reflecting pools, ponds and artificial lake will come from the greywater treatment plant (using runoff from sinks and air conditioners, for example), in addition to stormwater collection. The plant will also provide the water used to irrigate the grass in the park. “We will install an intelligent automated irrigation system with a computer program that will indicate which areas need to be watered and when. The system will be used primarily at night, when energy tariffs are lower,” explains OR Construction Director Eduardo Frare. “The restrooms will be equipped with sensors in the sinks, waterless urinals and vacuum flushing, which uses one-third of the water of the conventional system,” he adds. He notes that the reflecting pools and the lake are designed to contain water from torrential rains, which will prevent flooding in the development and its surroundings. “Some of the water will be reused in the complex. The remainder will be returned to nature, but with a delay to prevent flooding.” In addition to these water solutions, there are also systems in place to ensure energy savings. Designed by the Aflalo & Gasperini architectural firm, the buildings in the complex are positioned to make the most of natural light. The towers will feature windows that prevent heat transfer between two areas. As a result, on warm days, the windows will keep out the heat, avoiding excessive energy consumption. Highefficiency LED lighting will be used in external areas. Every stage of the development has been designed in an integrated way, starting with the planning phase. “First we analyzed the city’s main problems, such as chronic traffic jams, the high cost of energy and floods, among others. We started out from there to develop plans to mitigate those problems,” says Cameron Thomson, a partner in Arup, the British sustainability consulting firm that worked on the project. Innovation in waste treatment In addition to urban mobility and water and power solutions, a fourth pillar of the project is the treatment of solid waste. The development will produce 9 tonnes of trash per day. Half of that amount will be made up of organic waste and recyclables (the other half is common non-recyclable waste). To collect this amount of waste, OR will deploy the vacuum garbage collection system developed by the Swedish company ENVAC throughout the complex. It will be the first system of its kind installed in a real estate development in Latin America. There will be collection points in the towers and others distributed around the complex. A suction vacuum system will transport waste at

a speed of 70 km/h to a central station, where it will be sorted into three types: common, recyclable and organic. The corporate towers will have common and recyclable waste collection service on all floors, since 65% of the waste they generate can be recycled. An advanced system will be deployed in the complex to measure waste generation and water and power consumption, among others. The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) system will play a key role in keeping track of all the sustainability initiatives adopted. Through totems and big screens installed throughout the complex, as well as an app that can be downloaded on smartphones and tablets, anyone can keep track of the numbers, such as targets for saving resources and their effective use. “All the programs in place have been thought through in terms of sustainability, and will work together, multiplying their impact. The ICT is the system that ties all this together,” says Parque da Cidade Sustainability Manager Selma Rabelo. Saulo adds that educational campaigns will also be organized. “Sustainability is a habit. It wouldn’t do much good to install an ultramodern vacuum garbage collection system if people keep littering and dumping trash in the wrong places,” he argues. Certifications and recognition These efforts have garnered important recognition for the project in the form of environmental certifications. The corporate towers have obtained LEED CS (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - Core and Shell) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, and the residential and office towers will have Aqua (High Environmental Quality) accreditation from the Vanzolini Foundation. The complex will also receive LEED-ND (Neighborhood Development) certification - a first in South America, awarded to projects that have a positive impact on their surroundings. “Our aim is to ensure that Parque da Cidade sets an example for future developments in Brazil,” says Selma. The range of sustainability programs adopted on this development has also led Parque da Cidade to be hailed as one of the 18 projects in the world that are participating in the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group’s Climate Positive Development Program, launched in partnership with the Clinton Foundation. They are ventures that will help solve problems in their regions and positively impact the environment by reducing and eventually eliminating greenhouse gas emissions. All the sustainability measures taken at Parque da Cidade will help the development reduce its emissions to virtually zero by 2035. ] Odebrecht informa

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PRODUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT Written by Gabriela Vasconcellos | Photos by Márcio Lima

It is late afternoon on Martinho da Palma’s property, and the sun is setting behind the peach-palm trees. His slightly sloping land allows him to enjoy the sun’s last rays, announcing the end of the day. Then the 63 year-old farmer goes back to his house, which is just a few yards away from his fields. He is never alone. A resident of the community of Areão, located in Nilo Peçanha county, Bahia, in northeastern Brazil, Martinho works in partnership with his family. “Bringing up my children on the farm makes me extremely proud. I have never had the urge to leave here,” he observes. They work together to tend their clove, cocoa and peach-palm crops. According to Martinho, peach palms, which produce hearts of palm, are allowing him to rewrite his life story.

“I helped to create Coopalm [the Hearts of Palm Producers’ Cooperative in the Southern Bahia Lowlands] nine years ago and became a member. I managed to get by before, but it was very hard. Everything has improved now,” says the farmer. “My income has increased. I can make up to BRL 700 per month from just one hectare of peach palms. I used to live in a shack. I was mortified whenever a visitor came by. But we worked hard and built ourselves a decent home.” He feels that family unity and Coopalm’s support have enabled him to achieve these results. “The cooperative taught us how to work. We have educational assistants in the field, and the techniques they show us make a real difference.”

π Martinho da Palma and family: sharing knowledge ensures productivity and well-being in the countryside

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π Zilma da Conceição and family: social and productive inclusion through cooperativism

Martinho believes in the importance of knowledge. Two of his sons and a granddaughter are graduates of the Igrapiúna Rural Family House (CFR-I), where they learned business administration, cooperativism (forming cooperatives), and farming methods, including how to manage the soil and a variety of crops. His daughter Isabel da Palma, 20, completed a technical agribusiness course in 2013, which is integrated with the high school curriculum. “I’ve always wanted to stay in the countryside and stay close to my family. For me, teaching my parents is a unique opportunity,” she observes. According to Martinho, this is the way forward. “I always listen to her and harvest my crops just like she tells me. I used to cut [the palm stems] too close to the base and she taught me that that killed the plant.” A result of the educational-productive projects which she carried out during her time at CFR-I, Isabel has added a further hectare of peach palms to the family farm. The young woman received the raw materials she required with the help of Tributo ao Futuro (Tribute to the Future), a program that makes it possible for members of the Odebrecht Group and its partners to invest in projects that take professional development opportunities to talented people in the Southern

Bahia Lowlands by allocating part of their federal income tax owed. The profits will be reinvested in planting more crops. Together, Martinho, his wife, children and grandchildren are seek the path to sustainability. “We have worked with farming our whole lives. It is a joy to live in the countryside,” he says. A virtuous cycle From the palm trees on Martinho’s farm to the water in which Antônio dos Santos, 27, farms thousands of tilapias in 73 netted-tanks, may be a dramatic change of scene but the positive feelings are the same. His daily routine starts early. He is already up by 5:00 am to start the fishes’ feeding cycle. “I have everything I need here. I work in harmony with the countryside, and I have the chance to see my son growing up and learning the family business,” says the resident of Igrapiúna, Bahia. A member of the Continental Waters Aquafarmers’ Cooperative (Coopecon) since its inception in 2010, Antônio can already evaluate the results. “My income was BRL 500. I’ve been able to triple that amount since becoming a member of Coopecon,” he reveals. He is also devoting himself to his studies. He decided to sit in on the

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π Antônio dos Santos and family: strengthening bonds and passing on knowledge to the next generations

Aquaculture Qualification Course offered by the Water Family House (CFA) as an observer in June 2013. The year-long course covers topics such as fish farming technologies, cooperativism and associativism. “I didn’t know how to measure the chemical parameters in the water. I’m learning about that, and it is making the difference with my production. Using the theory, I am able to develop the practice in a better way,” he emphasizes. In September 2013, Antônio had another reason to celebrate. The Fish Processing Unit (UBP), which adds value to Coopecon members’ products, was certified by the Ministry of Agriculture, and Supply’s (MAPA) Federal Inspection Service (SIF). MAPA Federal Agricultural inspector

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Josedilson Daltro stresses the importance of this accomplishment. “Processing and selling a product of animal origin is prohibited without SIF certification. It authorizes inter-state sales and exports. For an industry to enter this select group, it needs to comply with various pre-requisites,” he explains. Only 11 factories in this sector have the MAPA seal in Bahia. “By delivering the fish to the UBP, we also make money on the byproducts. In other words, the part that is converted into oil and fish meal. It’s an extra source of income for cooperative members,” explains Antônio. Consolidating development and growth Antônio and Martinho do not know each other, but


they part of the same initiative: the Development and Integrated Growth Program with Sustainability for the Southern Bahia Lowlands Environmental Protection Areas Mosaic (PDCIS), developed by the Odebrecht Foundation in partnership with national and international institutions, both public and private. The two farmers represent the hundreds of family units who benefit from the PDCIS, which seeks to encourage the creation of work and income, high-quality education in the countryside and the construction of a more just and compassionate society through cooperatives and civil society organizations, aligned with preserving natural resources. Coopalm, Coopecon, the CFR-I and the CFA are examples of the institutions that form part of this program. Valdelice de Jesus, 43, is another farmer who is part in this initiative. She observes that you can

already see the change in the community where she was born. “In the old days, nobody wanted to stay here. There was a time when a lot of young people would leave for the state capital, but now they are seeing that life is better here,” says the resident of Gendiba, located in Presidente Tancredo Neves, Bahia. She became a member of the Presidente Tancredo Neves Farmers’ Cooperative (Coopatan) at the urging of her daughter, Daniela Guedes, 19. An agricultural technician, Daniela is a graduate of the Presidente Tancredo Neves Rural Family House, an educational unit which, like Coopatan, is part of the PDCIS. “We used to sell our crops through a middleman and didn’t see any profits,” she recalls. Her mother adds: “We know that selling through the cooperative is the right way to go. This is our family business.” ]

π Valdelice de Jesus (second from left) and family: unity bolsters and consolidates their business

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F I N A L

W O R D

SHARING THE KNOW-HOW THAT COMES FROM THE JOBSITES ARTURO GRAELL, THE ODEBRECHT INFRASTRUCTURE – LATIN AMERICA OFFICER RESPONSIBLE FOR INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS AND SUSTAINABILITY IN PANAMA Arturo Graell has led Odebrecht – Latin America’s Sustainability Program in Panama since September 2013. Arturo, who is also the officer Responsible for Institutional Relations, was one of the Group’s first members in that country. Working on developments such as the Coastal Beltway Project, which is underway in Panama City, he has become one of the main witnesses (and leading characters) to initiatives which are helping create new sustainability paradigms in Panama.

Written by Zoraida Chong / Photo by Tito Herrera

ππWhat is your main challenge with the Sustainability Program?? My biggest challenge is to put sustainable measures permanently into practice in all five aspects which the Group follows, especially the ones that are directly related to my business: social outreach and environment programs, including climate change. This is achieved through constant support for our construction projects. ππBefore becoming the officer Responsible for Sustainability, you were the Administrative and Financial Manager on the Coastal Beltway Project – Phase 3. How could that help your performance in this new program? It helps a lot. Being aware of the day-to-day operations on the jobsite makes me better able to provide more consistent and efficient support. I’ve had the opportunity to lead community outreach programs and directly address the needs and demands of the communities in the

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vicinity of the construction projects I have worked on. That helps me understand and communicate with the people responsible for those programs. ππHow do you think Odebrecht and its entrepreneurial practices are fitting in in Panama? We don’t have a rigid operating formula. We respect the local culture and the characteristics of the communities in the projects’ sphere of influence and we make adjustments. There are even social and cultural differences between the projects we are building in this country, and that is what makes Odebrecht an organization with global operations and local sensitivity. ππWhat is your overall analysis of sustainability and corporate social responsibility in Panama? How can Odebrecht make a contribution to the country in that area? Attention to this subject has been growing very quickly in Panama,

and we have played a leading role in influencing other companies. For example, that is what happened with the Cinta Roja Empresarial (Cinta Roja Corporate) program to combat HIV/AIDS, through which we have been able to influence other companies to adopt policies and programs with the same ends. Another example is our leadership in the Climate Change program, which includes greenhouse gas emission inventories that have been approved by British Standards Institution (BSI) audits in recent years - a first in Panama. ]


The Odebrecht Group is made up of: Businesses Odebrecht Engenharia Industrial Odebrecht Infraestrutura – Brazil Odebrecht Infraestrutura – Africa, Emirates and Portugal Odebrecht Infraestrutura – Latin America Odebrecht Realizações Imobiliárias Odebrecht Ambiental Odebrecht Latinvest Odebrecht Óleo e Gás Odebrecht Properties Odebrecht TransPort Braskem Estaleiro Enseada do Paraguaçu Odebrecht Agroindustrial Odebrecht Defesa e Tecnologia Investments Odebrecht Energias Brasil Africa Fund Latin Fund Support Companies Odebrecht Comercializadora de Energia Odebrecht Corretora de Seguros Odebrecht Previdência Odebrecht Engenharia de Projetos Olex Social Program Odebrecht Foundation

RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMUNICATION AT ODEBRECHT S.A. Márcio Polidoro RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLISHING PROGRAMS AT ODEBRECHT S.A. Karolina Gutiez

EDITORIAL COORDINATION Versal Editores Editor-in-Chief José Enrique Barreiro Executive Editor Cláudio Lovato Filho English Translation H. Sabrina Gledhill Photo Editor Holanda Cavalcanti Art/Graphic Production Rogério Nunes English Edition Coordinator & Electronic Publishing Maria Celia Alves Olivieri Printing 570 copies Pre-Press and Printing Pancrom Editorial offices: Rio de Janeiro +55 21 2239-4023 São Paulo +55 11 3641-4743 e-mail: versal@versal.com.br Also available in Portuguese and Spanish editions


contribution

The Santo Antônio Dam in the state of Rondônia. Energy for Brazil generated by the power of the Madeira River’s waters. This essential project is being built in the Amazon by professionals who find many reasons to call their jobsite a town. Or even home. From the way the food is prepared in the industrial kitchen to the cultural events that entertain and foster unity among co-workers, a carefully planned range of measures is being implemented to ensure that Santo Antônio never lacks the main source of energy that any venture needs to succeed: the motivation, well-being and happiness of the people who make it a reality.


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