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LEARNING TO LEAD

Building Resilience to Disaster and Climate Change Impacts on Women and

Children Project

Experience from Banganga River Basin, Kapilvastu, Nepal

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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: mail@ndrc.org.np, drrgautam@gmail.com

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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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(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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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