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LEARNING TO LEAD:Building Resilience to Disaster andClimate Change Impacts on Women and Children Project - An Experience from Banganga River Basin, Kapilvastu, Nepal
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1 | P a g e
LEARNING TO LEAD
Building Resilience to Disaster and Climate Change Impacts on Women and
Children Project
Experience from Banganga River Basin, Kapilvastu, Nepal
2 | P a g e
Report prepared by
Dhruba Raj Gautam, Ph.D.
Executive Director
National Disaster Risk-reduction Centre Nepal (NDRC Nepal)
Sangam Chowk, Baneshwor, Kathmandu
Tel/Fax: +977-01-4115619, 98510-95808
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
URL: www.ndrc.org.np
Special contributors Shyam Sundar Jnavaly
Sunil Sun Shakya
Ram Prasad Bhattarai
Special acknowledgement (NDRC Kapilvastu Team) Krishna Sharma, Project Coordinator
Raju Shah, Project Accountant
Shiva Poudel, Social Mobilizer
Sharada Pariyar, Social Mobilizer
The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed herein are those of the NDRC
Nepal and do not necessarily reflect the views of Canadian Cooperation Office Nepal.
Canadian Cooperation Office Nepal does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this report. For more
information, please contact the NDRC Nepal in the above address.
3 | P a g e
List of acronyms CCA Climate change adaptation
CBDP Community based disaster preparedness
DDC District Development committee
DMC Disaster management committee
DRM Disaster risk management
DRR Disaster risk reduction
HFA Hyogo Framework of Action
IRDC Indreni Rural Development Centre
KAP Knowledge, attitudes, and practices
NDRC Nepal National Disaster Risk Reduction Centre Nepal
NSDRM National Strategy for Disaster Risk Management
NSET National Society for Earthquake Technologies
PVA Participatory vulnerability analysis
VDC Village development committee
4 | P a g e
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the support of the Canadian Cooperation Office Nepal, which both helped produce this publication and funded the 'Building Resilience to Disaster and Climate Change Impacts on Women and Children Project in Banganga River Basin of Kapilvastu, Nepal. We are grateful to the communities of Dhaneshpur, Bagaha tole, Khuteni and Kushma of Kapilvastu District and four schools viz. Jana Jyoti Higher Secondary School of Motipur, Bal Secondary School of Banganga, Shree Higher Secondary School of Kopuwa, and Shree Secondary School of Niglihawa for their patience in providing us with a wealth of information and for being so cooperative during the implementation of the project. We benefited greatly from disaster management committees, community members and stakeholders, teachers and students, village development committees and district stakeholders in increasing our understanding on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. We would further like to extend our sincere gratitude to all who helped make this project a success by contributing their time, feedback and suggestions. We would also like to acknowledge the SAGUN, for their professional support during implementation of the project. We are indeed grateful that Canadian Cooperation Office Nepal entrusted us to implement this innovative project. Thank you all! Dhruba Raj Gautam, Ph.D. Executive Director NDRC Nepal Kathmandu
5 | P a g e
Table of contents List of acronyms .................................................................................................................. 3
Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. 4
1. The context ............................................................................................................... 6
2. Project's key results.................................................................................................. 7
2.1 Achievement of project's key results ................................................................... 7
2.2 Unintended results ............................................................................................... 27
2.3 Deviation in plan and its rationale ...................................................................... 27
3. Gender equality and social inclusion .................................................................... 27
4. Sustainability ........................................................................................................... 29
5. Partnership .............................................................................................................. 29
6. Recommendations .................................................................................................. 30
7. Major learning ......................................................................................................... 30
8. Security update ....................................................................................................... 31
6 | P a g e
LEARNING TO LEAD
Building Resilience to Disaster and Climate Change Impacts on Women and Children
Project
Experience from Banganga River Basin, Kapilvastu, Nepal
1. The context
Right across the world, natural disasters and climate change are concerns which alarm
governments and threaten populations. These phenomena pose a dire threat to the
sustainability of local and regional ecologies and have a devastating impact on the existing
socio-economic patterns of
human existence. Recurrent
natural disasters already have a
large hand in undermining the
ability of communities, regions,
nations, and the global
community itself to meet basic
development goals and their
intensity, and possibly frequency,
are likely to be exacerbated by
climate change. In light of these
threats, disaster risk reduction
(DRR) efforts are central to
meeting local and global
development objectives and to
promoting adaptation to climate
change.
Areas within the Banganga River
Basin experience floods on an
annual basis; in fact, for many
reasons, the impacts of such
floods have grown in severity and
regularity in recent years. Climate
change, however, is the most oft-cited reason for the growing vulnerability of the plains.
Although disaster and climate change are bound
to affect all Nepalis in one way or another, not
everyone is equally vulnerable to its
consequences. Poverty, caste, origin, education,
age, and gender are among the factors that may
decrease people‟s resilience to disaster and
climate change. To build the resilience of the
most vulnerable, who include women, children,
the disabled, Dalits, indigenous ethnics groups,
and migrants, DRR and climate change adaptation
Table 1: Socio-economic profile of the project area
Banganga River
Basin
28 VDCs of Arghakhanchi, Kapilvastu and
Palpa districts
Project VDCs Motipur, Banganga, Kopuwa and Niglihawa
Total
population
67,927 people in 10,956 households
Major target
groups
4500 people in 800 households in the Tharu,
Madhesi and hill migrant communities
Major
livelihood
Agriculture (70.6%), seasonal labour (15.3%),
services (7.3%), business (6.6%)
Land tenure 73% cultivate their own land, 18% families
cultivate their own land and sharecrop, and
8% rent land
Months of food
sufficiency
23% year-round, 52% 6-9 months, 25%
families 2-4 months Source: CBS (2001) and NDRC (2009)
Table 2: Ethnic composition of project communities
Community VDC Total
HHs
% of Caste
BC D J O
Dhaneshpur Motipur 85 65 15 14 6
Khuteni Kopuwa 43 70 18 9 3
Jeetpur Banganga 26 5 4 87 4
Kushma Niglihawa 350 76 15 7 2 Source: PVA Report 2011; BC-Brahmin Chhetri, D-Dalit, J-Janajati, O-Others
7 | P a g e
(CCA) initiatives must be included in development plans and programmes.
A study carried out in Banganga River Basin by National Disaster Risk Reduction Centre
(NDRC Nepal) in 2007-8 with grant support from ActionAid Nepal demonstrated that this
basin is highly impacted by climatic variability and frequent disasters and that the impacts of
these two phenomena on people's livelihoods and the environment have grown increasingly
substantial. To address the DRR and CCA issues the basin faces, a six-month project called
Building Resilience to Disaster and Climate Change Impact on Women and Children
[38/10/N/419 (2011-12)] was launched in July 2011 with grant support from Canadian
Cooperation Office Nepal. Its objective was to build the resilience of women and children,
helping them to understand the adverse impact of climate change and protecting them from
future disasters. The project‟s key interventions were based on the research findings of the
2007-08 NDRC Nepal study and the major learning of the river basin and DIPECHO
projects which Oxfam GB Nepal had conducted during the fiscal year 2005-07 in
neighbouring communities adjacent. The Building Resilience Project contributed toward
achieving the five key priorities of the Hyogo Framework of Action1 (HFA) and the five
flagship areas of the National Strategy for Disaster Risk Management (NSDRM)2. This
report summarises the key results of and learning from this project and suggests the path
ahead.
The specific objectives of the project are follows.
Empower local communities, including women and children, to develop community-
based DRR plans and programmes
Reduce disaster risks by demonstrating the retrofitting of school buildings and bio-
engineering works
Build the capacity of women and children to employ climate-adaptive agricultural
practices
Strengthen the ability of existing groups and disaster management committees (DMCs)
to support livelihoods and reduce financial risks during disaster
Link grassroots organisations with each other so they can carry out advocacy initiatives
for polices that are sensitive to CCA and particularly support women and children
2. Project's key results
2.1 Achievement of project's key results
Result 1: Increase the capacity of at least 120 local communities, including children
and women, to develop DRR plans which address upcoming disasters
a. Enhanced awareness about disaster risk management (DRM) through
capacity-building
1 The five priority actions of the HFA are to (i) ensure that DRR is a national and local priority with a strong institutional basis for
implementation, (ii) identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning, (iii) use knowledge, innovation, and education to
build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels, (iv) reduce underlying risk factors, and (v) strengthen disaster preparedness for effective
response. 2 The five flagships area are (i) school and hospital safety, (ii) emergency preparedness and response capacity; (iii) flood management in the
Koshi River Basin; (iv) integrated community-based disaster risk reduction and management; (v) policy and institutional support for
disaster risk management.
8 | P a g e
Knowledge about DRM has increased after the project conducted training sessions in
topics community-
based disaster
preparedness, DRR
and CCA, for more
than 240 members of
DMCs as well as
financial institutions,
including cooperatives,
savings and credit
groups, financial
institutions, and banks
(see figure). These
trainings were seen as
instrumental in
changing beliefs about
internal resource
mobilisation. Locals are now less likely to wait for external assistance to reduce disaster
risk; their knowledge, attitudes and practices have changed. For instance, those who
believed that God was responsible for floods now understand that floods are the outcome
of natural and man-made phenomenon. People still celebrate Dorbandi, Hereri and
Lawangi worships3 to please village and river gods, but they also understand that flood risks
can be reduced using local resources and community knowledge-based preventive
activities.
Such trainings helped children and women take an active role in addressing their
vulnerabilities. In addition, children became more willing to speaking up about issues that
affect their wellbeing and adults started to see children not merely as victims of disasters
but as active players in preventing, preparing for, mitigating and responding to disasters. Consultation for banning
riverbed materials
We are successful in banning riverbed materials
"In the last 40 years, we have seen many floods, from
moderate to large; in front of our eyes, thousands of bigha
(1 bigha equals 0.67 ha) of land have been swept away
and hundreds of families displaced. In the past, we were
only witnesses because we had neither the information and
knowledge nor the techniques we needed to respond to
disasters. However, things are changing now. We are united
through the DMC and have participated in several life skills
trainings. We have succeeded in banning the extraction of
riverbed materials, promoting zero grazing and planting
fast-growing trees along riverbanks. We hope that we will
reduce the impacts of floods with these initiatives." from
3 These are traditional ceremonies held to protect villagers from natural calamities, diseases and ghosts.
Ethnic composition in the capacity building initiatives
9 | P a g e
focus group discussion (FGD) with DMC members at
Khuteni, Kapilvastu District, Nepal
Children who are aware, involved and empowered can serve as effective agents of change
and are excellent communicators about DRM-related issues within their communities.
b. Translated acquired skills into practice
Thanks to the project's innovative approach, DRR-based extracurricular activities, drills,
and simulations filled the
gaps in people‟s DRR
knowledge; translated
skills and knowledge into
practice at the individual,
family and community
levels; and boosted the
self-confidence and
resilience of the
participating communities.
Project beneficiaries now
know that it is not
earthquakes but man-
made structures that kill
people, and over 8000
school students and local
people participated in community- and school- level drills to learn how to stay safe from
earthquakes (see figure). Other earthquake safety measures, including equipping
classrooms with two outward-opening doors and separate desks and chairs, and
designating a safe exit and assembly area were also instituted.
Drills and simulation exercises are
instrumental
"We learned many things from the drills and simulation
exercises. We duck under a desk, hold it tight until the
quake stops and leave the classroom and school
building safely. We have identified safe areas to
assemble in after the quake stops. Not only we
students but also our guardian used the earthquake
preparedness tips that we had learned a month ago
during the September 2011 quake." from FGD with
students, aged 11-16, at Shree Bal Secondary
School, Banganga, Kapilvastu District, Nepal
Orientation before drill exercise
While it is true that children are very vulnerable to disasters, they can also effectively
spread information about DRR to their parents, and, through their parents, to the
community. Disaster awareness and education increase the knowledge of students and
parents about their immediate environment and, as a result, reduce the risk a community
faces. DRR-based extracurricular activities like art, debate, and quiz competitions boosted
the understanding of more than 2500 students and teachers about DRR and climate change
as the project facilitated DRR awareness sessions before such competitions were held.
Ethnic composition of students participated in EQ drills
10 | P a g e
Teachers and school-based DMC members helped to mobilise other students, organising
peer education sessions, developing and implementing evacuation plans, and organising
simulations. As students are keen to share whatever they learn with their peers and their
seniors, investing in building
the capacity of students had
good returns. As the
knowledge and skills of
students increased, parents
automatically benefited as they,
too, learned and put into
practice new knowledge and
skills.
Orientations and campaigns in
schools help fill gaps in
knowledge about DRR. A two-
hour session on disasters and
their types, causes (primary
and secondary) and effects, and
possible ways of managing them at the local level was
organised in four schools. The
session was designed after evaluating the existing curriculum on disaster with
schoolteachers and identifying the gaps. The focus agreed upon was the disaster
management cycle. Since the sessions used techniques such as art, essays, speeches, games,
charts, and pictures, children enjoyed themselves and learned a lot.
A series of orientations enabled students to identify areas of high, medium and low risk and
to designate evacuation routes and safe shelters. Simulations taught them how to react to a
tremor, how to exit the classroom after the shaking subsides, and where to gather
afterwards. Some school held drills and simulation on the last Friday of every month as a
sort of extracurricular activity. The school-level awareness campaigns and safety drills and
the integration of DRR into life skills education programmes have clearly taught students,
school officials, and communities how to reduce risks. For example, people said that both
students and parents reacted to the earthquake of September 2011 calmly, without
panicking, in marked contrast to the panic and terror which followed the August 1988
quake. The reason for their composure was that just a month earlier students had learned
and practiced the „duck, cover and hold‟ technique. Other precautions students have
begun to take care that they no longer leave the classroom during a heavy thunderstorm
and that they do not cross torrential rivers without careful consideration.
Percentage of students participated in
extracurricular activities by school
11 | P a g e
c. Formulated disaster preparedness and contingency plans
After the students and teachers had been sensitised, each school drafted a contingency
plan focusing on the major hazards in the area, including earthquakes. Schools have started
to implement those plans, renovating and improving toilets, organising sanitation campaigns
around the school to reduce the risk of snake bites, levelling school grounds to reduce the
likelihood of accidents, and fencing school grounds to reduce the incursions of domestic
and wild animals. All contingency plans are closely aligned with the school improvement
plans developed with the support of the district education office, teachers are fully familiar
with DRR issue and both they and school management committees have started to listen
to students ideas and respond to their pleas. For instance, they have separated desks and
benches, fixed doors so they swing outwards, and installed railings to prevent falls.
Meteorological station helped to understand how
temperature, wind and rain pattern are changing
"In Shree Secondary School, Kushma, Niglihawa village
development committee (VDC), student pressured the
school management committee to trim the tall trees in the
school compound and have requested that the compound
be fenced to prevent cattle from wandering in. Student-led
sanitation campaigns were initiated around the school
after a participatory vulnerability analysis (PVA) exercise
was conducted. The meteorological station established at
the school had helped them to understand how
temperature, wind and rain pattern are changing." from
FGD with DMC members at Shree Secondary School,
Kushma, Kapilvastu District, Nepal
Metrological equipments for
student
Community-based disaster preparedness (CBDP) plans were prepared after analysing the
qualitative data generated during PVA exercises. The DMCs have formulated and enforced
rules and regulations governing DRR activities. Rules include restrictions on grazing near
protected Banganga riverbanks, safeguarding newly planted areas, and allocating roles and
responsibilities among the DMC members Each DMC has prepared a CBDP Plan which
incorporates a variety of activities like orientations, evacuation, rescue and relief work,
community nursery management, riverbank protection, construction of evacuation routes,
allocation of roles and responsibilities for river monitoring during monsoon. This was the
first time such Plans had been prepared and locals are very enthusiastic about implementing
them by mobilising local resources. The response of local governments and VDC-level
stakeholders to the plans shared with them is very positive. Besides yielding plans, PVA
exercises promoted a deeper understanding of different forms of vulnerabilities and their
root causes and were instrumental in capacitating DMC in mitigating hazards and risks by
addressing those root causes. They also hope to get additional support from the VDC and
district levels stakeholders. CBDP Plans will eventually be incorporated into VDC
12 | P a g e
development plans. This step has opened the way to mobilising VDC-level resources in the
execution of CBDP Plans. Once CBDP Plans are linked with VDC plans, they will
automatically be linked to the plans of Kapilvastu District and DRR will be mainstreamed in
district policies, planning and implementation.
The project introduced PVA exercises in each community to identify physical, attitudinal,
and social risks and vulnerabilities. It also facilitated the assessment of natural and human-
made hazards in line with communities‟ perceptions of the associated risks. Local people
have identified and ranked flooding as the main hazard in their area. The factors that
increase their vulnerability include ignorance, social disunity, the location of settlements on
low land near Banganga riverbanks and the lack of preparedness. These PVA exercises are
beneficial in that they increase awareness and preparedness and change the attitudes and
behaviours of locals with respect to risks and how they cope with them. Following these
exercises, project communities are well aware of which areas are vulnerable to flooding
and inundation and were able to develop risk maps based on the level of risk identified.
PVA exercises helped identifying risks and
reducing vulnerability
"The PVA process opened the eyes of disaster-
vulnerable communities to the root causes of their
condition. It motivated people to think in terms of
reducing their vulnerabilities and to make appropriate
plans to do so. The PVA process was instrumental in
identifying low-, moderate- and high-risk areas and
hazard profiles and to prioritise these risks so they
could be addressed by severity." from FGD with
DMC members at Dhaneshpur, Kapilvastu District,
Nepal
Communities are in the PVA process
CBDP Plans were used as advocacy tools to convince VDC- and district development
committee (DDC)-level stakeholders to provide resources and, for this reason, are
instrumental in addressing upcoming disasters in a meaningful way. VDCs and political
parties have been familiarised with the DRR and climate change context and have started
to address these issues in their plans and programmes. In communities that have been
living with disasters for a long period of time, local people now have a clear understanding
of the preparedness measures they can implement to protect themselves. To translate
CBDP Plans into practice, Indreni Rural Development Centre (IRDC)/DanChurch Aid
supported the development of community-based early warning systems in coordination
with this project by coordinating upstream and downstream DMCs through the exchange
of telephone.
13 | P a g e
To facilitate the dissemination of early warning messages, communication channels and
contact telephone
numbers were
disseminated to
communities through
fliers. Because of these
simple mechanisms, locals
were able to evacuate the
elderly, pregnant and
lactating mothers, children
and livestock before flood
levels approached the
level of risk. Although
their response and
evacuation times differed
according to the distance
to safe shelter and
community size, all four
communities were able to
evacuate all their
members safely. Buddha
Awaz FM radio has been
very effective in
disseminating early
warning information
including emergency news
and weather-related
bulletins.
VDC Secretaries have
started to incorporate
disaster and climate
change issues into the
planning process.
Managers of financial
institutions are more
aware about disaster and
climate and have extended loans for the cultivation of climate-smart crops, and a
delegation of local-level stakeholders persuaded the DDC to ban the extraction of soil,
boulders and stones from the riverbed. Some farmer-managed irrigation systems that had
become defunct because of the lowering of the riverbed have been restored, riverbanks
conserved and crops like turmeric and sugarcane planted on them, and the bridge over the
Mahendra Highway safeguarded. All of these activities have indirectly contributed to the
supplying of clean water to the Jagadishpur wetlands, an important habitat for birds and
aquatic animals.
IEC materials are the key to raising awareness. The project distributed DRR and CCA
knowledge based posters, two fliers, and charts as IEC materials. The project‟s approach to
Box 1: Key areas that CBDP plans address
Motipur-5, Dhaneshpur
Construct bio-engineering spur and carry out river training
Increase DRR and CCA awareness
Implement community plantation along the riverbank
Carry out internal collections of resources, including 'a-fistful-
of-rice‟ campaigns
Cultivate suitable cash crops along the riverbank
Design awareness-raising campaigns against different hazards,
including fires, snake bites, pests/insects, and epidemics
Banganga-7, Jeetpur Bagaha Tole
Plant grass, broom grass, lemon grass, bojo (Acorus clamus),
bamboo, and hay along the riverbank
Plant banana trees as an agro-forestry initiative
Dig wells for the micro irrigation needed to promote agro-
forestry initiatives
Collect and store grain storage through ‟a-fistful-of-rice‟
campaigns
Initiative large-scale turmeric and ginger plantation
Promote especial hay for basket-making, a popular craft among
Tharus
Niglihawa-2, Kushma
Carry out river training work
Establish community plantations on community-managed land
Test water quality for contaminants like arsenic
Increase awareness about DRR and climate change
Take steps to minimise the impacts of pests and insects and
epidemics
Kopuwa-7, Khuteni, Loharibagiya
Increase awareness about flood hazards
Construct gabion wire and stone check dams
Demarcate the river to reclaim land for cultivation
Carry out community plantation work to safeguard the area
from floods and further erosion
14 | P a g e
information dissemination is innovative and interesting. Social Mobilizers disseminated the
message of each IEC item using door-to-door campaigns based on the adult learning
approach. The Social Mobilizers provided enough room for locals to express their
understanding of and feelings about key themes and messages and to fill in any gaps if
necessary. This flexible, interactive approach increased people‟s understanding of the main
message of each IEC item. Social Mobilizers met once a month to report on their
achievements and share their experience. They concluded that their efforts had helped to
build knowledge about hazards and disasters and their relationship as well to urge people
to take the needed action at the local level. Most people confirmed this assessment: they
had no trouble deciphering the messages, appreciated the incorporation of local culture,
and felt encouraged and enabled to take action to reduce risks and build resilience.
IEC materials at school
FM radio is more powerful than other
tools
"DRR-based awareness has been increased through
the distribution of information education and
communication (IEC) materials like disaster--related
posters, brochures, leaflets, and calendars. Basic
information about the project was also broadcast by
FM Radio Buddha Awaz. In our experience, FM radio
is more powerful than other tools in sensitising
people." from FGD with DMC members at
Kushma, Kapilvastu District, Nepal
d. Created a safety-oriented culture
Communities are better prepared for future disasters. Local-level DRR initiatives led by
DMCs with the active involvement of local people have substantially reduced the level of
risk. Communities have developed and adopted a safety-oriented culture at the household
level. For example, people keep their important documents and assets, including their
citizenship and land ownership certificates and their cash and jewellery placed in a safe
place. Local volunteers are skilled in first aid and light search and rescue skills (which they
acquired during community-based disaster prevention training) and put these skills into
practice regularly to make communities safe.
e. Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices
Two assessments of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the same 240
respondents were carried out—one before the project and one afterwards—in order to
establish both a baseline and endline with which to gauge the changes resulting from the
project‟s interventions. The KAP survey asked questions to measure understanding of
disaster management (knowledge), feelings toward it (attitude), and responses to and
coping behaviours with respect to disasters (practices). It identified existing knowledge,
gaps in that knowledge, cultural beliefs, and behavioural patterns that may facilitate
understanding of and action with respect to disaster reduction initiatives or that, in
contrast, might pose problems for or create barriers to implementing such initiatives.
i. Sample design and selection of households
Respondents were selected using random sampling techniques. The sample size—240
individuals from four VDCs and schools—was determined using a formula devised by Arkin
and Colten (1963) whose confidence and error levels are 95% and p% respectively.
15 | P a g e
)1(
)1(22
2
PPZNd
PPNZn
Where,
n = sample size
N = total number of households in 58 municipalities
Z = level of confidence (95%)
P = estimated proportion of beneficiary population
d = level of error (5%)
Each respondent answered a
structured questionnaire prepared
through discussion and modified after
field testing. Of the total respondents,
54% were female and 46% male. They
were chosen to represent all the
different ethnic groups in the study
area, including Tharus, hill migrants,
Madhesis, and other minorities. As
figure shows, agriculture is the
dominant occupation of the
respondents, with 45% reporting that
they were farmers, 16% daily wage
labourers, and 14% school teachers.
Analysis of the responses demonstrated that project created a supportive environment for
increasing the leadership and confidence of the children and women it reached. People in
general are more familiar with different types of hazards and risks and their underlying
causes and, in particular, awareness among women and children has been significantly
increased.
ii. Knowledge about disasters and hazards
Before the project, just 13% of the total respondents had a basic knowledge about disaster;
that rate had more than quadrupled, to
62%, by the end of the project. During
the baseline survey 23% of respondents
felt that orientation, training, FM radio
and TV, and extracurricular activities
were the main sources of information;
when the endline survey was
administered, that proportion had
tripled, reaching 67%. Students said that
they acquired information largely from
extracurricular activities. Although 72%
of respondents had misidentified hazards
as disasters like floods, landslides,
windstorms, fires, and earthquakes, in the endline survey, the situation was reversed and
82% correctly differentiated between disasters and hazards.
Percentage of respondents by occupation
Growth Attributable to Project Interventions
1323 28
62 6782
0
20
40
60
80
100
Knows about
disasters
Informed by
varius sources
Differentiates
between
disasters and
hazards
Indicator
% o
f R
esp
on
den
ts
Before the project
After the project
16 | P a g e
iii. Causes of disaster
Whereas initially only 15% of respondents said that disaster was the effect of hazards and
that it included loss of life and property, four times that number (62%) were able to see
that connection after the project, pointing to the fact that its capacity-building component
was highly effective and result-
oriented. Just 3% attributed
disaster to divine punishment for
wrongdoing after the project but
over one-fifth (22%) had done so
beforehand. Clearly, the
project's facilitations,
consultations, and interactions
were effective. Asked to identify
major hazards, 16% were able to
name floods, landslides,
earthquakes, windstorms, and
fires initially and 57% afterwards,
but while the proportion who
identified climate change
quintupled, from 8% to 43%, still
less than half are informed. The percentage of respondents that believe that the impacts of
disasters cannot be minimised because they are created by gods or demons declined
substantially from 52%, but 12% are still unconvinced. More awareness-building is required
to overcome such misconceptions and to boost knowledge, especially about climate
change.
iv. Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding floods
Appreciation of the major causes of floods increased dramatically, sometimes as much as
ten-fold, with 78% (versus 34%) naming erratic rainfall, 89% (versus 24%) naming forest
depletion in upstream
areas, 63% (versus 2%)
naming ill-advised farming
techniques in the upper
watershed, 41% (versus
4%) naming slash-and-
burn cultivation, and 65%
(versus 7%) naming the
unscientific extraction of
riverbed materials like
sand, stone, boulders.
Appreciation of the major
consequences of floods
also increased by a factor
of three or more: now
92%, 76%, 52%, and 87%
name riverbank cutting
and the sweeping of agricultural land, displacement of villagers, psycho-social stress, and
loss of lives and livelihoods respectively, whereas just 34%, 18%, 14%, and 23% did so
17 | P a g e
before. The data demonstrates that the project‟s capacity-building initiatives have
increased knowledge about both the causes and the consequences of floods.
Awareness about the possibilities for flood prevention techniques soared from 33% to
87%; just 13% today (versus 67% before the project) think that action can be taken only
after a flood takes lives and property and destroys livelihoods. Fewer are actually involved
in flood prevention by mobilising local resources (65%) but this is still a huge increase over
the 13% who used to act. The proportions who named various flood protection activities
changed dramatically, from favouring capital-intensive large-scale infrastructural
interventions to low-cost, do-it-yourself actions, thereby revealing the marked impact that
project awareness-building exercises had. For example, the proportions who mentioned
the construction of stone machinery spur protection and river training declined from 56%
and 67% to 15% and 11% respectively, while the proportion who mentioned plantation
along riverbanks and bio-engineered bamboo dykes went from 23% and 13% to 78% and
92% respectively. The proportion that mentioned raising the plinth level of houses almost
quadrupled, from 6% to 23%, but is still low. No significant variations between males and
females were detected in any of the flood-related questions.
v. Knowledge, attitude and practice relating to earthquakes
More people were able to correctly identify the causes of earthquakes as the sudden
movement of the earth (23% versus 63%) or the movement of tectonic plates (6% versus
46%) and far fewer gave erroneous answers like the angry movements of the supernatural
snake which balances earth on its head in retaliation for human sins (43% versus 13%);
volcanic eruption (7% versus
28%); and landslides and
increasing population (67%
versus 13%). However,
there is a need for still more
awareness-building in order
to disabuse the 23% who
still cling to misconceptions.
When asked about what
they do when an earthquake
strikes, far more people
reported sensible actions
like taking cover under a
table (83% versus 9% during
the baseline survey) and
moving to a safe place after the shaking has subsided (78% versus 14%) and far fewer
reported less appropriate actions like running for home (67% during the baseline and 12%
now) and praying to god (89% during baseline and 12% now).
vi. Knowledge, attitude and practice related to the outbreak of fire
Knowledge about the causes of fire increased dramatically due to the project‟s orientations
and discussions. While just a third are aware of the impact of poor wiring (34% versus 9%
earlier) and only about half are aware of the impact of careless handling of the inflammable
objects (54% versus 12%) and gas leakage and explosion (47% versus 6%), these rates have
Understanding about disaster preparedness and early
warning system
18 | P a g e
nonetheless increased approximately four-fold or more over the course of the project.
People‟s knowledge about other causes is much higher, though the rate of increase is only
about double. More particularly, 92% (versus 45%), said that they knew that throwing
away lighted cigarettes causes fires, 88% (versus 34%) mentioned forest fires, and 78%
(versus 34%) cited burning straw .
vii. Knowledge, attitude and practice related to disaster preparedness
During the baseline survey, only 12% of respondents said that they had even heard of
disaster preparedness and added that they were not confident enough to say exactly what
it is. In marked contrast, the proportion of respondents expressing awareness of disaster
preparedness in the endline survey had soared to 78%. After the project‟s interventions,
people were much more able to define what disaster preparedness entailed. About 83%
(versus 15%) said that it involved arranging food, medicine, and clothing before a disaster
and 72% (versus 12%) that it is being ready to face a disaster. Far fewer cited the
arrangement of safe shelters and saving money (just 48% and 41% respectively), but these
rates had about quadrupled (up from 13% baseline and 12% respectively). Seven times
more people said that communities themselves should themselves be responsible for
disaster preparedness and early warning systems to reduce the impacts of disasters, but
still only two-thirds gave this response (64% versus 9%).
Result 2: To demonstrate a disaster-resistant approach to construction and
development, one school building was retrofitted and two bio-engineering works
were carried out
a. Identified risky areas within schools
A comprehensive education system consists of structural, functional and pedagogical
components, each of
which has a vital role to
play in DRR and climate
change. While the
structural component can
protect student from
harm during earthquakes,
unfortunately, most of
Nepal‟s old schools are
dilapidated and new
schools are not built
using earthquake-
resistant designs. In
order to explore the
level of risk at each of
the project-selected
schools, a one-day
assessment of non-
structural and structural
features was carried out
and, after identifying risky
areas, mitigation
Box 2: The school-retrofitting process
All schools in four VDC were listed and visited.
Schools were short-listed based on indicators, including age of
buildings, structural feasibility, and willingness of school
management committee for retrofitting.
In a second visit detailed structural and non-structural
assessments were carried out.
Based on these indicators, Shree Secondary School in
Niglihawa-2, Kushma, was selected for retrofitting.
Using a template and formats available from the National
Society for Earthquake Technologies (NSET), the needs of
Shree Secondary School were evaluated.
Shree Secondary School formally requested the Kapilvastu
district education office and DDC for technical and financial
support.
NDRC Nepal requested NSET to provide a detailed design and
estimates for the retrofitting.
A retrofitting committee was formed, roles and responsibilities
defined, and local construction materials provided.
The retrofitting was carried out according to the design and
estimate and the new building formally handed over to the
school management committee.
19 | P a g e
measures to reduce the risks prescribed through school retrofitting technology (see Box 2
for school retrofitting process).
b. Trained local masons in retrofitting technology
With the intention of enabling local people to carry out school retrofitting work, the
project made a list of masons and organised on-the-job training under the supervision of
qualified masons and resource persons from NDRC Nepal.
Process of school retrofitting in chorological order
1 2 3
4 5 6
To increase safety and to demonstrate earthquake-resistant construction techniques, two
rooms in one block of Shree Secondary School (870 sq. ft.) were retrofitted in a first-of-
its-kind effort in Kapilvastu. Though this particular initiative will currently secure more than
900 students who attend this school, thousands of students in schools across Kapilvastu
will benefit from replicating the learning it generated. Many organisations have already
visited the school to learn about the retrofitting technology and the use of
environmentally-appropriate construction materials. The contribution of the NSET in
making design and estimating building costs was commendable.
Consultation for school retrofitting
School retrofitting work is highly popular
"For us, the school retrofitting work is a matter of pride.
Not only did we at Shree Secondary School learn about
retrofitting but also many students and teachers from
nearby schools visited our school to see and learn. We
are very happy that the project selected our school. The
district education office is interested in replicating the
school retrofitting initiative in other schools." from FGD
with students aged 9-16 at Shree Secondary School,
Kushma, Kapilvastu District, Nepal
20 | P a g e
c. Introduced low-cost bio-engineering technologies
Before the project was launched, sediment deposition and riverbank erosion turned
thousands of hectares of cultivated land into desert, rendered hundreds of families landless,
and forced many to migrate to
other villages. To mitigate this
devastating problem, the
project constructed two bio-
engineering spurs, each 35 feet
long and 15 feet wide, at
Motipur-5, Dhaneshpur VDC,
drawing upon indigenous
knowledge. The spurs used a
low-cost technology which
drew upon the traditional skill
of weaving bhakari/tati (bamboo
large basket) and comprised
bamboo, jute sacks, sand,
boulders and the plantation of
fast-growing fodder and grass.
To reinforce bio-engineering
efforts and save productive
land along riverbanks, 2600
plants have been planted (see
Box 3 for the process of
bioengineering spur).
The project promotes the adoption of local resource and skill-based technologies and
practices as part of DRR efforts. The priority of the project has been to introduce low-
cost, easily-maintained and replicable mitigation techniques which are accepted by the
communities. The river mitigation work has prevented the loss of cultivable lands, housing
and local infrastructures. Because of bio-engineering activities, local communities are more
confident about saving productive farmland and ensuring their own safety. Initially, local
people were sceptical about the use of bamboo to protect riversides
With project support, district forest officers and local police officers jointly initiated
plantation work around the spur constructed, planting more than 2600 seeding provided
by the district forest office. Inspired by success stories from the Ratuwa River Basin in
Jhapa District, DMCs set rules for riverbank protection, including a zero grazing policy. To
combat soil erosion, the project planted fast-growing species which have the capacity to
hold soil, including bamboo, gulmohar (Delonix regia), jamuna (Syzygium jambolanum), broom
grass (Thysanchaena maxima) and camphor. However, because the plants are still small,
erosion has not been eliminated. The fact that Kapilvastu District‟s forest and soil
conservation offices have offered their support in scaling-up bio-engineering technologies is
encouraging.
Box 3: Process of Bio-engineering Bamboo Spur
Four-meter-long bamboo pieces are driven up to
three meters into the bottom of the river bed in two
rows parallel to the bank to form round boxes two
meter in all dimensions.
Bags filled with sand collected from the unprotected
side of the river are packed into the boxes, creating
„toe protection‟ at the bottom of the slope.
The vertical banks behind the toe protection are cut
and levelled to create slopes of less than 30 degrees.
Sand bags are placed on the slopes up to the mean
river level and jute bags are laid above the mean river
level.
Plants with long roots, like muj (used for basket-
making), kans (grass), amriso (broom-grass), bakaino,
masala (eucalyptus), epil epil (used for fodder), khair,
and sisau are planted around the jute and sand bags in
order to stabilize the slopes and form a green belt.
Grass grown on the land adjacent to the slopes.
Fences are used to restrict movement and the grazing
of domestic animals within the green belt.
21 | P a g e
Process of bio bioengineering spur (bamboo) in chronological order
1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9
Together, the spurs will conserve about 610 hectares of cultivated land of 213 families.
Bamboo spur technology has already replicated in three places by three different
organisations: in Sauraha VDC by IRDC, in Tilaurkot VDC by SAGUN, and in Saljhandi
VDC of Rupandehi by FEALPEC.
Spur will divert floods and prevent
encroachment on the river bank
"We never realised that bamboo, jute sacks and soil
can withstand flooding in the Banganga River. In the
beginning, we were not happy with the project’s
proposal to construct a bio-engineering spur, but
after it was built, our previous perceptions were
completely changed. We are confident that this low-
cost bio-engineering structure will divert floods and
prevent further encroachment on the river bank. The
idea of planting various species in and around the
spur is praiseworthy." from FGD with DMC
members at Dhaneshpur, Kapilvastu District,
Nepal
Preparation meeting for spur construction
22 | P a g e
Result 3: Increased agricultural production by 30% by cultivating climate-adaptive
seeds
a. Introduced climate smart cropping pattern
The project invested time and energy in introducing climate-smart cropping practices.
People learned why crops
had failed in recent years
and, after consulting
agriculture technicians and
agro-vets, adopted more
suitable seed varieties and
new practices in order to
increase productivity. In
coordination with the
District Agriculture
Development Office, the
project promoted
agroforestry-based
horticulture and
demonstrated drought-
friendly technology,
including a system of wheat
intensification. With project
support, people started to
cultivate peanuts,
watermelon, and vegetables on the degraded land along the banks of the Banganga River.
Also along the riverbank, they planted fodder and forage species that have excellent soil-
holding capacities and extended the practice of green fencing with Jatropha species plants.
Farmers planted Indian ginseng (aswagandha), snakeroot (sarpagandha), and asparagus
(kurilo) for the first time and increased the area of ginger, turmeric, onion, and garlic under
cultivation. Though the project ran just six months, each of the participating families was
able to generate NRs. 18,000 to NRs. 32,000 by selling farm products, and farm
productivity increased 40-55%. After participating in trainings and seeing various techniques
demonstrated, many began organic farming, applying green manure and bio-pesticides,
planting local seeds, and adopting eco-friendly preservation practices and proper seed
storage techniques. Demonstration plots of mustard and vegetables were planted in
Kushma and Khuteni village respectively to ensure a practical way of disseminating
knowledge about seasonal crop calendars, techniques of land and seed bed preparation,
nursery management, transplantation, weeding and harvesting.
23 | P a g e
b. Established meteorological station for knowledge building on climatic data
A meteorological station the project established in Shree Secondary School in Niglihawa
VDC recorded maximum and minimum temperatures, wind pressure, and rainfall using
project-supplied apparatuses—a thermometer, a barometer, and a rain gauge. The station
targeted students, with the objective of making them aware of changing climatic pattern,
but farmers, too, benefited from increase information.
Farmers at the demo plot
Knowledge about climate-smart crops has
been increased
"We used to be really frustrated by farming because it
was often hard to recover the amount we invested. Crop
failure was an annual affair. Then the project provided
us with knowledge about climate-smart crops and with
good seeds. With this change, we are confident to
achieve the levels of farm productivity we used to see
two decades ago. This year, some farmers dropped the
idea of making their ordinary seasonal migration to India
to work as wage labourers because they have started to
grow multiple crops on their land. The demonstration
plots established in Kushma and Khuteni VDCs gave us
new ideas about how to nurture crops as if they were
babies." from FGD with DMC members at Khuteni,
Kapilvastu District, Nepal
Result 4: Established and empowered eight active and well-coordinated DMCs to
address future disasters in the area
a. Formed inclusive DMCs
The inclusiveness of the eight DMCs
(see figures) formed under the
programme and, indeed, of the
project‟s approach as a whole has
reduced discrimination and increased
harmony among people. This inclusive
approach has also helped formalise
local networks, enabled children to be
better monitored and protected in a
disaster, and made it easier to mobilise
children and their families to respond
24 | P a g e
to disasters. School based DMCs successfully addressed psycho-social distress, including
the trauma, anxiety, and fear induced by disasters.
b. Increased unity and solidarity through inclusive DMCs
Following the formation of inclusive DMCs, people have become more unified in their
efforts to address common
problems. Socially-inclusive
DMCs fostered the culture of
voluntarily providing help during
emergencies; fostered
harmonious relationships among
hill migrants, Tharus, Madhesis,
and Muslims; and empowered
communities and networks to
become more resilient. Because
of the increase in social unity,
DMCs were able to engage in
advocacy and campaigns related
to DRR-related issues and
concerns. However, DMCs have not yet enacted operational guidelines for the use of
emergency funds.
Inspired by the establishment of emergency funds for use in disaster preparedness and risk
reduction initiatives, VDCs are very positive about contributing to the execution of the
ongoing efforts of DMCs. For example, Niglihawa VDC has provided funds to the
Niglihawa DMC‟s ongoing initiatives in carrying out community plantation and green
fencing schemes along the riverbank.
Things are changing now
"The project has successfully initiated many small innovations
to reduce the impacts of floods. Included among them are
attempts to build awareness among local fishermen to adopt
safer practices and to restore the riverbed so that there is
sufficient water in irrigation canals. At the onset of the
monsoon, local fishermen, mostly Tharus, used to catch fish
by blocking one part of the river and diverting its flow in
another direction. However, if in these conditions an elevated
river flow arrived from upstream, flooding would occur where
the water had been diverted. To avoid this problem, local
DMCs, at the project's initiation, encouraged local fishermen
to dismantle their earthen dikes and restore previous
conditions after they had fished. Because of the unscientific
harvesting of riverbed materials like soil, sand, boulders and
stone, riverbed levels decline and had a negative impact on
farmer-managed irrigation systems because water could no
longer reach them. DMCs set rules and regulations banning
the extraction of materials so that there would be sufficient
water in irrigation canals. These two actions are very
impressive and beneficial." from FGD with DMC
members at Khuteni, Kapilvastu District, Nepal
Consultation in progress..
25 | P a g e
c. Established emergency fund
Each DMC at project communities established an emergency fund through small initiatives
like encouraging nominal monthly savings and running a “fistful-of-rice” campaign. They
also raised money by collecting levies from sand and boulders extractors, charging fees to
watch street dramas, and encouraging donations to cultural programmes.
Street drama is an
important way of
communicating key
messages to illiterate
communities. Locals said they found street drama
effective in
communicating useful
information about DRR initiatives. Since dramas were presented in the local language by trained local people, they were lively and their messages accessible. Street drama has not
only increased awareness among audiences but has also provided performers with the
skills they need to implement DRR. They now feel that they are well prepared for floods.
In fact, during a recent flood, performers were able to help evacuate and provide other
assistance to their communities just as they had demonstrated on stage. Spectators also
feel well-informed. They thought the plays were memorable and that their messages were
clear. In particular, they appreciated the fact that dialogues were delivered in local dialects.
DMCs are becoming increasingly
institutionalised
"DMCs are becoming increasingly institutionalised. They
have received the office stationery they need as well as a
tin trunk to keep it safe from pests and moisture. For
formal correspondence with the local and district levels,
they have stamps and letter pads. All DMCs have
installed sign boards to enhance their visibility. They also
have search and rescue materials and a first aid kit.
They were provided with NRs. 10,000 in seed money by
NDRC Nepal and with it have opened a bank account,
into which they regularly deposit some amount to serve
as an emergency fund. Because of local- and district-level
advocacy, we (DMC members of Bagaha Tole) have
built rapport with district line agencies which will serve to
foster new avenues in building reciprocal relationships."
from FGD with DMC members at Bagaha Tole,
Kapilvastu District, Nepal
DMCs are awarded
Video documentaries can sometimes galvanise viewers into reducing disaster risks. Using
their emergency funds, each DMC organized to show documentary films about the
various coping mechanisms people in highrisk situations adopt. Like street drama, videos
successfully generated awareness among illiterate people. Some of the particular risk
reduction activities the videos communicated well and that have been emulated on the
ground include the enforcement of rules like zero grazing and the practice of agro
forestry-based income-generating activities.
Table 3: Status of emergency fund
DMC VDC Total
fund
Sources of emergency fund
Own NDRC VDC* Others
Dhaneshpur Motipur 32000 12000 10000 NA 10000
Khuteni Kopuwa 21000 9000 10000 NA 2000
Jeetpur Banganga 17000 7000 10000 NA 0
Kushma Niglihawa 16000 6000 10000 NA 0 Source: Project records, 2011, *VDC-Committed after VDC Council meeting in April 2012
26 | P a g e
The establishment of emergency funds has promoted greater social integration, not just
in terms of individual communities being able to cope with their own problems, but also in
that they are committed to providing support to other vulnerable communities. The
communities are so convinced of the benefits of the emergency funds that they have
developed other fundraising techniques, including using cultural events and planning to sell
plants from community nurseries. Neighboring communities have also been inspired to
collect funds to repair and maintain water supply systems and to carry out mitigation work.
Result 5: Government allocates money for and supports disaster response activities
in at least four VDCs
a. Enhanced coordination and linkages
The activities of DMCs are not limited within their communities; they have started to form
and strengthen DMC networks for advocacy, lobbying and campaigning. DMC members
visited VDCs and the Kapilvastu DDC to mobilise external resource and got a green signal
from them. DMCs are increasingly able to mobilise internal resources as well. For example,
they approached community forest users groups and the Kapilvastu district forest and
district soil conservation offices to get the seedlings and technical advice they needed to
bioengineer a spur; Kapilvastu District Agriculture Office to select climate-resilient crops;
the media to disseminate information; and local cooperatives to investing more money in
climate-smart cropping patterns.
Projects results being shared with
district agencies
LDO Kapilvastu is in the process of
delivering closing remarks
CDO of Kapilvastu interested to
learn more after the workshop
The impacts of DMCs are no longer limited within their communities as they have started
to form and strengthen DMC networks and to carry out advocacy, lobbying and
campaigning. The culture of organising people‟s delegations to demand action for the good
causes is increasing. The DMC of Niglihawa, for example, formed a national delegation to
demand that the government address riverbank protection works, and progress in that
area has been very positive. The project collaborated with the Kapilvastu Agro-Forestry
and Environment Committee in Niglihawa VDC to carry out is school retrofitting and
community plantation initiatives.
27 | P a g e
DMC member are busy in
preparing Plan to submit VDC
DMCs have good working relationship with VDC
"One of the most important supports that the project provided
was that it linked us with VDC secretaries. Since it invited all
the VDC secretaries to the closing session of the community-
based disaster preparedness trainings, we have been able to
build rapport with them and to table our plans and programmes
for internal resource mobilisation. In their closing remarks, VDC
secretaries requested that we follow a systematic process
(including application letters, plans and programmes, copies of
meeting minutes, etc.) to claim resources. We think that the
increased harmony among us will foster new avenues for
building relationships." from FGD with DMC members at
Kushma, Kapilvastu District, Nepal
All the results discussed above contribute to flagship areas 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the NSDRM as
well as to priorities 1, 3, 4 and 5 of the HFA.
2.2 Unintended results
Persuaded by the recommendations of the Kapilvastu District Disaster Relief Commitee, a
USAID high-level mission visited the project's sites to gather ideas and exchange learning
regarding community-based DRR and CCA initiatives.
Inspired by the functional coordination and linkages, DMCs are planning to carry out
advocacy and campaigns for making villages free of the burning of cow dung and free of
open defecation. They promoted jatropha cultivation and green fencing along the riverbank
in order to reduce the high rate of soil erosion.
2.3 Actual or potential deviation from the original plans and schedules, the reasons for it, and the action taken or proposed to be taken to correct it
There is one minor deviation from the original plan: when NRs. 19,701 remained unspent
towards the end of project period, that amount was used to purchase search and rescue
materials and first aid kits for school-based DMCs based on the decisions of DMCs.
3. Gender equality and social inclusion
The project adopted a gender equality and social inclusion approach in order to
accommodate the concerns and interests of people from different walks of lives. People
28 | P a g e
from different castes, classes, and genders participated in the decision-making processes
which saw various project activities selected.
As discussed in Section 2.4, inclusive DMCs accommodated the needs of the most
vulnerable populations, especially women and children. As a result, women are now more
vocal and children's ideas are starting to be heard by adults. For the first time, children
asked school management committees to address their rights and demanded a safer school
environment.
The project believes fostering gender and social inclusion is a community empowerment
process that can change the mindset of communities as well as of important stakeholders.
Women, who were once largely neglected in all development endeavors, are now in the
front, well represented in decision-making committees. Their participation, as well as that
of previously marginalized Dalits and Tharus, was a priority in all interventions, from
trainings and meetings to study tours and inter-community visits. IEC materials were also
designed with inclusiveness in mind to increase participation of women, build knowledge
and promote confidence. People with disabilities (PwDs) are among the most vulnerable
groups in society: disaster responses frequently do not meet their needs or rights and
often exclude them altogether. There is much more need to raise awareness among DRR
stakeholders about PwDs, especially given that some were refused assistance for
evacuation and relief during the flood. Ramp has been constructed in Shree Secondary
School to access PwD.
Women are now participated in decision
making process
"Because of the project’s various capacity-building
initiatives, women are more vocal, unlike earlier, when they
did not speak their minds with their male partners. Their
ideas have started to be acknowledged. Male partners
have also been more supportive towards women. Now
men allow women to join community meetings and
interactions. In addition, DMCs mobilised the disabled, the
elderly, and lactating mothers as special needs groups in
any emergency." from FGD with DMC members at
Khuteni, Kapilvastu District, Nepal
Women are at the
Women, Dalits and ethnic minorities were selected to participate in local orientations,
trainings, workshops, PVA exercises and discussion forums. In each event, women‟s
participation ranged from 37% to 61% and the participation of Dalits and janajatis ranges
from 35% to 76%. The rights of all people are duly acknowledged and protected through
appropriate plans and programmes.
Project activities are designed and materials are chosen in such a way that they will not
have negative impacts on local environments. The two sites in which bio-engineering spurs
were created were selected at a joint meeting of DMCs so that they would not affect the
other side of the river. The bio-engineering technology and materials used, including
bamboo, plants, seedlings, saplings, sand, jute, and sand bags, have been used safely without
hampering the local system and environment. Bamboo was collected from different sites
with a view toward minimising any possible negative impacts. The plantation of greenery in
and around the bamboo spurs created positive impacts on the local environment.
Environmental aspects are considered while choosing climate-smart crops and cropping
29 | P a g e
patterns. Farmers have adopted an organic farming system and integrated pest management
to ensure farm productivity. The demonstration plots established also duly considered
environmental aspects. Construction materials for school retrofitting were collected from
safe areas designated by Kushma DMC.
4. Sustainability
The following evidences suggest that the project can be sustained in the long term.
Socially-inclusive DMCs are in place to oversee day-to-day DRR and climate change
adaptation initiatives. Local-level stakeholders are very positive about the plans and
programmes each DMC has developed and have started to provide co-financing. The
Kapilvastu DDC has asked each DMC to come up with innovative plans and
programmes to scale up good practices generated from the project.
NDRC Nepal coordinates closely with SAGUN and IRDC, local NGOs well connected
with irrigation and forestry federations and networks. Because of these links, there is
ample opportunity to link DMCs directly to these networks in order to scale up their
current initiatives. As SAGUN works on livelihood issues associated with DRR and
climate change adaptation, it can provide DMCs with the technical support they need
to upscale their activities even after the project comes to an end.
DMCs are in the process of being institutionalised. Each DMC has an account in a local
bank where it deposits some amount every month to constitute an emergency fund.
Each has administrative support (a letter pad, stamp, files, and stationery) so that it can
claim its rights in a formal and systematic manner. Meetings have been regularised,
participatory discussions operationalised, and plans made action-oriented. As the
majority of the project‟s activities are low-cost, it is hoped that, in varying degree,
DMCs will be able to continue implementing them.
The project is designed to fulfil people‟s needs and demands. Because most of the
activities are local resource-based, people feel a strong sense of ownership of them and
will likely continue to support the project‟s initiatives even after the project is phased
out.
5. Partnership
The project is not being managed as a stand-alone effort. On the contrary, attempts have
been made to integrate it within an overall partnership programme framework in order to
promote the sustainability of its good initiatives. The project has linked its activities with
various stakeholders to secure local contributions and commitments towards achieving the
expected results. The project has coordinates well with local NGOs like SAGUN and
IRDC for advocacy and campaigning with respect to DRR and climate change adaptation
issues. Through their formal coordination with community forest and irrigation user
groups, DMCs have been able to leverage additional resources for their ongoing plans and
programmes. In particular, the project collaborated with the Kapilvastu Agro-Forestry and
Environment Committee in Niglihawa VDC to carry out the Shree Secondary School
retrofitting and community plantation initiatives. Good partnership and collaboration with
VDCs and the Kapilvastu DDC created and have sustained a positive environment
throughout the life of the project.
30 | P a g e
6. Recommendations
The overall context and key achievements made so far suggest some recommendations for
capitalising on the project's good results and scaling-up its good practices.
The inclusive DMCs formed do, in fact, execute DRR and climate change activities, but
they are still nascent and need more capacity-building and backstopping in order to be
able to address the most contemporary of DRR and CCA issues. There also needs to
be support for the institutionalisation of their emergency funds.
Though the DMCs are linked with local government agencies and other DRR
networks, additional support is still required for the DMCs to establish, promote and
strengthen their relations with other agencies, including corporate sectors. There is a
need to develop an institutionalised mechanism which ensures that DMCs are accepted
as an integral part of permanent district-level networks and feel that they will belong to
those networks after the project phases out.
Communities have collected and deposited emergency funds in banks and agree that
these funds will be used to support the survivors of future disasters. However, there is
a need to develop common understandings and clarity about how these funds will be
channelled, who will get how much, and how expenditures will be replaced. Since no
fund has yet been used, the probable complications regarding their utilisation have not
yet been felt though it is sure that there will indeed be problems. In order to avoid
them, clear guidelines on the use of such funds should be developed and
operationalised.
More emphasis needs to be placed on programmes rather than projects, and DRR and
CCA initiatives should be linked with integrated watershed management plans in
upstream areas, particularly the President of Nepal's Churia Programme.
As this relatively small initiative had a great impact, some funding should be channelled
into piloting the local adaptation plan of action (LAPA) process at the local level. The
project‟s good practices need to be replicated in other VDCs of Banganga River Basin
and its learning disseminated, and follow-up activities must be conducted in the project
communities. DRR and CCA based rights-based advocacy and campaigning should be
designed and executed to make Banganga River Basin a learning centre for DRR and
CCA.
7. Major learning
In the course of its implementation, the project derived the following lessons.
Efforts in social mobilisation and community empowerment are excellent because
NDRC Nepal coordinated with local NGOs like SAGUN and IRDC, which coordinate
well with irrigation and forestry federations. As a result, a strong synergy was created
and the project was able to leverage additional resources.
The project succeeded in empowering communities because it used effective means of
disseminating DRR messages, including street dramas, drills and DRR-based extra-
curricular activities. Plays are especially good at teaching: because of their emotional
appeal, they are very popular and their messages are remembered for long periods.
Grievances were few and apprehension minimal because the project adopted an
appreciative inquiry approach. PVA exercises helped people realise the nature of and
reasons for their vulnerability and sustainable livelihood and small-scale mitigation
initiatives helped build trust.
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The project is designed to suit people‟s needs and demands. Addressing multiple
hazards in an integrated fashion captures the interest of people. Because most activities
use local resources, are low cost, and have no adverse environmental implications,
people feel a strong sense of ownership towards them. By honouring the social norms
and cultural practices of locals, the project has been able to win their trust.
Sharing plans, programmes and mandates with project stakeholders and beneficiaries in
the initial stages of the project heightens trust among project stakeholders. Displaying
key project-related decisions and transactions in public places ensured that locals had
adequate access to programmatic and financial information and by holding social audits
at the end of each project activity programmatic and financial transparency was
maintained. The level of co-funding required can be generated if interactions and
dialogues are started with local-level stakeholders from day one and if transparency is
maintained.
8. Security update
Across the Terai and in Kapilvastu District in particular, the residual effects of Nepal‟s
decade-long armed conflict, which began when the Maoist party rose against the
government in 1996 can be seen. Following the signing of a peace accord in 2006, the
general insecurity and lack of rule of law which pervaded saw the mushrooming of myriad
small criminal and antagonistic politically-affiliated gangs. In Kapilvastu District, it is the
Terai Jantantric Morcha party which has great influence, an influence which has only grown
with the recent arrest of its chair, Mr. Chedi Sah, in August 2011. In addition, Tharuhat
bandhs (closures of all public and private services, including roads and schools, called by
politically active Tharus) regularly disturb locals. Ethnic, regional and religious prejudice is
high and tolerance limited. Kidnapping and demands for ransom by unnamed gangs is
commonplace.
Despite the climate of mistrust between those who were born in the Terai and those who
have migrated from the hills, all political groups wholeheartedly support the project
because it maintains transparency and is accountable. The project's principles of „do-no-
harm' and „political neutrality‟ have also created a positive environment.
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National Disaster Risk Reduction Centre (NDRC Nepal) was established in 2003 and registered in 2007 by a group people who recognised that there was a need for contributing disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) by knowledge management. It is registered with Kathmandu District Administration Office and affiliated with Social Welfare Council Nepal. NDRC Nepal has a pool of experienced human resources with expertise in the fields of good governance, DRR, CCA, the right-based approach, advocacy and campaigning, gender, and equity. It has reached DRR and CCA initiatives in 68 districts of Nepal. NDRC Nepal has been involved in following key actions and interventions with different national and international actors (Government of Nepal, NGO/INGO, UN and Bilateral Agencies in Nepal, and Academic Institution like Institute of Development Studies (IDS), and various institutions in South Asian Countries).
Need Assessment for DRR and Humanitarian Response
DRR Capacity Building Training
Specialized Study and Trainings on WASH, HIV and AIDS, SPHERE
Baseline; Knowledge, Attitude and Practice; Gap and Phasing Out Study
Manual for DRR, Participatory Vulnerability Analysis, CCA, Protection
Monitoring and Evaluation
Documentation of Good Practices and Lesson Learn Studies
Socio-Anthropological Studies and Action
Research on Climate Change and DRR