dipecho v aan vdc secretary drr orientation workshop report
TRANSCRIPT
PROJECT AT A GLANCE
Project Area: Banke Sunsari
Udayapur
Partner NGOs: BEE Group UPCA Nepal NP Nepal
Co‐Action Nepal
Beneficiaries: 13,854 people
Budget: Euro 441,339
Start Date: 01 July 2009
Duration: 17 months
For more details, contact: ActionAid Nepal Ph: 01‐4436477
DRR Advocacy ‐ Mainstreaming DRR into local development works in Nepal
Surakshit Samudaya II: Building Disaster Resilient Communities, Nepal
Aug 2010, Kathmandu
“Mainstreaming DRR into Local Development” ‐ Orientation workshop for VDC Secretaries
ActionAid Nepal DIPECHO Project Publication
Nepal is one of the acknowledged ‘global hotspots’ for disasters. The increasing frequency and intensity of disasters have been adversely affecting this Himalayan country. Whereas there has been increasing efforts to address disasters through appropriate mechanisms, including adoption of National Strategy for Disaster Risk Management (Oct, 2009), there is also a growing concern that there is a need to further strengthen the DRR framework in Nepal, so as to insure the development investments and arrest erosion of social, economic and environmental assets due to a variety of disasters that pose danger to the lives and livelihood of the people and rights of disaster affected and vulnerable people are protected. One of the key measures identified by DRR stakeholders in the country is to inform the policy makers of the country and solicit their support to develop strong and appropriate DRR and humanitarian legislation. ActionAid has been engaged in policy advocacy by working with the government and constituent assembly through the ongoing DIPECHO project in Nepal. One of the key actions through advocacy work is to inform and sensitize government officers at various levels on grounding disaster risk reduction at local levels, by mainstreaming with development works. This was done by orienting secretaries of village development committees in three project districts of Nepal.
Village Development Committees (VDCs)
Village development committee (VDC) is the lower administrative unit of under the Ministry of local development (MoLD), reporting to the district development officer. There are 3915 VDCs in Nepal. VDC secretaries are civil servants with different responsibilities including administration of VDC budget for basic services and development. They are the focal points for local people and are involved in disaster management and development functions.
Orientation to VDC Secretaries on mainstreaming DRR into development
The National strategy for Disaster Risk Management, Nepal (2009), clearly states the roles and responsibilities of Village Development Committees in dealing with risk reduction. The proposed disaster management act (2007) also clearly indicates the role of village disaster management committees. VDCs are the local level institutions that deals with development at the grassroots. VDC Secretaries have direct and constant access to the people and are best placed to ensure that risk reduction is mainstreamed at the local levels. There are nearly 4,000 VDCs in Nepal and each VDC has a budget of not less than NRs. 3 million per year. This funds are primarily used to provide development assistance at the village level, often planned and implemented through a consultative approach. VDC Secretaries report to the district administration and are under the Ministry of Local Development (MoLD). As per NSDRM, MoLD has mandate to incorporate risk reduction measures into every development plan. MoLD has worked out clear guidelines to mainstream DRR into local development works. In addition, at times of disasters, VDC Secretaries are responsible for assessment as well as relief distribution at local levels. Thus, VDC Secretaries have multiple role and responsibilities both as relief workers and DRR torchbearers.
What is Mainstreaming DRR? Mainstreaming risk reduction is the process to fully incorporate disaster risk reduction into development policy and practice that it becomes fully institutionalized (Tearfund, ‘05).
Participants, Sunsari, 25‐26 June 10 Group work, Banke, 15‐16 Jul 10
Surakshit Samudaya II: Building Disaster Resilient Communities, Nepal
Methodology The two days workshop was organized with support from district administration. While the resource persons mentioned above were delivering key notes, the workshop was patronized by the chief officers from the respective districts including (Mr. Basanta Upadhya), Chief District Officer of Udayapur, (Mr. Mohan Nath Mankey), Local Development Officer of Udayapur; (Mr.arihar Dahal ), Ass. Chief District Officer of sunsari; (Mr. Basudev Dahal), Chief District Officer of Banke, and (Mr. Bishwa Raj Dotel) Local Development Officer of Banke. After the presentations from resource persons, hands on planning and budgeting exercises were conducted for the VDC Secretaries, helping them to include and incorporate DRR as a critical approach to development planning process. All participants were given scope to discuss, deliberate and raise queries. A post workshop evaluation was also conducted.
Key outcome of the workshops • The VDC secretaries are well informed about the disaster risk reduction. • They develop their skills in mainstreaming DRR into local development plans. • VDC secretaries are well informed about the provision of the NSDRM and the working modalities and local level institution.
• VDC secretaries are well awared about the roles and responsibilities and authority for disaster management at local level.
• VDC secretaries committed for establishing VDMC and allocation disaster management fund in future.
• VDC Secretaries know how to mainstream DRR into local plan and budget
Evaluation of the Program About 63 % of the VDC secretaries mentioned that they get clear ideas on DRR terminologies and concept of DRR. 92 % of the secretaries became clear on the perception and understand the importance of DRR. They strongly felt the need of mainstreaming DRR into development and have committed to revised their annual plan and prioritize for DRR as well. VDC secretaries do not feel that the government’s budget is sufficient for the DRR. About 90 % of the participants found the program was useful for their DRR planning.
ActionAid DIPECHO V project in Nepal organized three workshops for VDC Secretaries of Udayapur, Sunsari and Banke districts in Nepal. Besides VDC Secretaries, participants also included VDC’s technicians, personnel from district development committees of respective districts. A total of 161 participants attended the 2‐days orientation workshops, organized in collaboration with district administration, MoLD, MoHA and local partners. In addition to invited participants, a total of 25 persons were involved as resource persons and organizing team members
Date Venue Participants (Total 161) Male Female Total
22‐23 Jun 10
DDC Hall, Gaighat, Udaypur
50 7
25‐26 Jun 10
Hotel Dreamland, Dharan, Sunsari
57 1 58
15‐16 Jul 10
Hotel Om Tanduri, Nepalgunj Banke 45 1 46
57
Workshop processes and outcome
Orientation to VDC Secretaries on mainstreaming DRR
Workshop Objectives
The main objective to the program is to contribute to implementation of National Strategy on Disaster Risk Management, 2009. The specific objectives of the program are as follows: • To inform the VDC secretaries about
the mainstream the DRR concept into local development planning.
• To inform the VDC secretaries about the VDMC as per NSDRM.
• To strengthen capacities of VDC secretaries in mainstreaming disaster risk reduction in development plans.
Topics covered and discussed
The following topics were covered by the resource persons during the course of the workshop: • Overview of disaster context in
Nepal; Introduction to DRR. • Current policies and legal framework
on disaster management and DRR • Mainstreaming DRR into
development plans of VDCs — MoLD guidelines
• Roles and responsibilities of VDCs as per NSDRM — MoHA guidelines
• DRR Planning at VDC level using MoLD guidelines
• DRR Budgeting at VDC level using MoLD guidelines
Resource persons
From Ministry of Home Affairs • Mr. Rameshwor Dangal, U‐Secretary • Mr. Ram P. Thapaliya, CDO, Sunsari From Ministry of Local Development: • Mr. Eak Narayan Sharma • Mr. Bishwa Raj Dotel, LDO, Banke • Mr. Prem P. Bhattrai, LDO, Sunsari From DDRC, Udayapur • Mr. Bishwajeet Rai, Focal Person From National Centre for Disaster Management • Mr. Jib Raj Pokharel, Chairperson From Nepal Red Cross Society • Mr. Dolakh Dangi, Banke district From ActionAid • P. V. Krishnan • Ashokraj Pokharel • Pratima Shrestha
VDC Secretaries engaged in group exercise on plan and budgeting, Udayapur, 22‐23 June 10