DRR POLICY ADVOCACY IN NEPAL

DIPECHO Partners in Nepal

SHARING OUTLINE

Rationales Rationales ApproachesApproaches

Key OutcomesKey Outcomes

Key AchievementsKey Achievements

ChallengesChallenges

Key LearningKey Learning

RATIONALERATIONALE

“Building a culture of prevention is not easy. While the costs of prevention have to be paid in the present, its

benefits lie in a distant future.”

-Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, 1999

• Minimize the multi-hazard risks of disasters • Enactment of National Strategy on DRM (NSDRM)

Nepal, adoption of HFA priorities• Formulation of Pro-people (vulnerable and

disadvantaged) DRR policies, current Act is focused on Relief response only

• Promoting Inclusive DRR policy and practices, specially on issues on Women rights, Disability Rights

• Mass education and awareness on realization of DRR mainstreaming in Development

RATIONALE OF ADVOCACY INITIATIVES IN DRR WORKS - 1 RATIONALE OF ADVOCACY INITIATIVES IN DRR WORKS - 1

• Enhancing systematic Early Warning Mechanism for Disaster Risk Reduction

Strengthening DRR Governance:– Ensuring development work do not perpetuate disaster– Ensuring disasters do not wash out the development– Protecting rights of the disaster victims, affected and

vulnerable people

RATIONALE OF ADVOCACY INITIATIVES IN DRR WORKS - 2 RATIONALE OF ADVOCACY INITIATIVES IN DRR WORKS - 2

APPROACHESAPPROACHES

• Individual as well as joint initiatives by different DIPECHO partners based on their expertise

• Inclusive DRR to ensure human rights, and accountability • Promote PLA (people led advocacy) at local, regional and

national level on DRR• Strengthening networks of disaster affected people• Engaging with media on peoples’ causes and needs • Engaging with government, DRR focal ministries,

departments and individuals• Using REFLECT and Women Empowerment Center (WEC)

module as community awareness and mobilizations tools for grassroots advocacy

• Research, study documentation (e.g. DRR Cost Benefit Analysis, HFA Stocktaking ) for policy influencing.

APPROACHESAPPROACHES

AchievementsAchievements

Over 1500 people took charge of advocacy during ISDR day (People’s Caravan and DRR Conclave) at national level

Nine points people’s declaration on inclusive DRR was handed over to President of Nepal

Government of Nepal’s commitment to bring new DM Act on priority

Key Activities: National symposium, Rally on DRR sensitization, exhibition, street drama, youth & media sensitization, Media coverage / TV Show Involvement: NNDMC, DIPECHO partners, UN Agencies, DPNet, DIMAN and National Platform on DRR, Disability partners

Key Achievements – 1 People Led AdvocacyKey Achievements – 1 People Led Advocacy

National strategy on Early Warning System drafted and Early Warning System User Group National Workshop held

Key Action Areas: MOU, committee formation, drafting, sharing, submission to

the cabinetInvolvement: PA, MC, DHM, MOE, other

DIPECHO partners

Key Achievements – 2 Early Warning SystemKey Achievements – 2 Early Warning System

The comprehensive and inclusive DRR toolkit was made; widely distributed to Constituent Assembly (CA) members, Regional Government Authorities, Chief District Officers

Key action areas: DRR tool kit design, MOU, Tool kit launchingInvolvement : 16 organizations including DIPECHO, UNDP, AIN,

NGOs

Key Achievements – 3 Tool KitKey Achievements – 3 Tool Kit

National Network of Community Based Disaster Management Committee (NNDMC) constitution, and strategy prepared, Networks expanded up to District and VDC level

Key Action Areas: Rounds of Workshop/District level consultation meeting

Involvement: NNDMC, OXFAM, AIN and other DIPECHO partners

Key Achievements – 4 NetworkingKey Achievements – 4 Networking

Informed Constituent Assembly members of Nepal (150) on DRR ready to support in ratifying new DM Act. Over 400 CA members directly approached by the project

Key Action Areas: Survey, DRR Orientation, Self commitment, CA Member visits

Involvement: AA, Oxfam

Key Achievements – 5 Mobilizing LawmakersKey Achievements – 5 Mobilizing Lawmakers

Prepared Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of Regional Disaster Relief Committees, and enhanced commitment on DRR in all 5 regions of Nepal through orientations

Key action areas: 5 Regional workshop on DP/DRR; Involvement: RDRC, AA, UNOCHA,CARE, DRC, MOHA,

NPC and MOLD

Key Achievements – 6 Strengthening SOPKey Achievements – 6 Strengthening SOP

Village Development Committee (VDC) Secretaries are oriented in DRR planning process: committed to form village level DMC, create DM fund and village level DM plan

Key Action Areas: DRR Planning Training 2 days 3 events in 3 districts

Involvement: AA, MOLD, MOHA

Key Achievements – 7 DRR in Local GovernmentKey Achievements – 7 DRR in Local Government

Engaging with and pressurizing local government for optimization of local resource mobilization on mitigation activities and emergency fund.

Key Action Areas: Interaction, social audit, rally, protest, stakeholder visit

Involvement: All DIPECHO partners

Key Achievements – 8 Resource OptimizationKey Achievements – 8 Resource Optimization

DIPECHO Film, Documentary, Feature and Radio program produced and broadcasted at national level contributed to mass Concentisation on DRR

Media coverage on DRR issue increased as a result of newspaper and TV journalists are sensitized in inclusive DRR issues. Positive story on DRR, change and success of DIPECHO covered

Key Achievements – 9 Mass Conscentisation & Media Key Achievements – 9 Mass Conscentisation & Media

Key Actions: MOU, script writing, shoot/record, transmission, Orientation on DRR, Field visit

Involvement:DIPECHO partners, UNDP, MSN,ACORAB

• Supported 1 national and 16 districts DDRC to prepare for inclusive monsoon disaster preparedness plans

Key Actions: Comments on DPP guidelines, presentation to national

stakeholders, Involvement of specialized resource persons Involvement:

DIPECHO partners, UNDP, MOHA, UNOCHA

Key Achievements – 10 Influencing DPP

Key Achievements – 10 Influencing DPP

KEY OUTCOMESKEY OUTCOMES

• NSDRM 2009 approved by Government• National strategy on EWS developed• NNCDMC’s federated constitution and strategy

prepared • A comprehensive DRR Tool Kit prepared-owned

by all DRR stakeholders• Disability InclusiveInclusive DRR promoted; Resource

centers established under the umbrella of DPNet at national level and in 5 districts

KEY OUTCOMES - 1KEY OUTCOMES - 1

• People’s declaration on DRR handed over to President (9 points) for directives.

• Discourse on DRR has been increased in political arena parties, development organization and at communities

• VDC budget allocation on DRR is made mandatory through new directives, allocation is in rise!

• Research Study “Cost Benefit Analysis” justified DRR investment (MC Study shows 1 Euro investment in preparedness saves potential damage worth 5 Euro in Kailali, Nepal)

• Presence, support and contribution of ECHO is visible as strong DRR actor (and recognized by the community and Government)

KEY OUTCOMES - 2KEY OUTCOMES - 2

ChallengesChallenges

• Political uncertainties hinders policy change• Absence of local level elected representatives

hinders translating policy into practice.• Varying mandate or interest of the

organisation • Representation of vulnerable and excluded

groups in pre-monsoon plan meeting• Availability of disaggregated data is difficult

and likely to be not representative of reality

ChallengesChallenges

Key LearningKey Learning

• Joint advocacy efforts proved to be effective and efficient (refer to adaptation of NSDRM, proactive role of government on passing the DRR Act, etc)

• Linkage of community level plan with district level plan is necessary for sustainability

• Working closely with Department of Hydrology & Metrology and district authorities for establishing CBEWS proved to be more efficient in terms of coverage, legitimacy and sustainability

Key Learning - 1Key Learning - 1

• Scaling up and extension of EWS is essential with emphasis of multi-hazard approach

• Achievable and measurable indicators to be developed on advocacy from the planning stage

• REFLECT or WEC approach is effective to empower and mobilize all women to raise their voices and participate in decision making process on DRR

• Institutionalization of networks is essential to lead advocacy efforts

• Media as a partner for DRR promotion• Need to build the advocacy capacity of Disability

stakeholders for their involvement in DRR

Key Learning - 2Key Learning - 2

Thank you!

Ashokraj.pokharel@actionaid.org