Overview of the task accomplishec:

·         Implementation of DIPECHO and DRRS projects: Contribution to develop concept, design methodology and work module, advice the project manager on the implementation module and priorities, suggested to keep the activities changed according to needs and provided technical assistant as per the need for project implementation, monitoring and evaluation. 

·         Completion of SCP and AustCare funded emergency response activities for flood response: Develop the Flash news, situation update, proposal concept and design, budget analysis and proposal, orientation and induction to implement the response activities, monitoring and supervision, progress review, update and project completion documentation as well as final report submission.

·         Safety Net Campaign: Rights based Emergency and Disaster Management initiative have been initiated in collaboration with DIMANN member NGOs and Partners. Under this, Awareness, Organization and Advocacy are the key intervention areas followed by capacity building and resource mobilization for Risk reduction efforts. This also addresses the issues of vulnerability and hazards of the poor, excluded and vulnerable groups. The "Safety-Net Campaign" is currently ongoing in: Rupandehi, Chitwan, Makwanpur, Rautahat, Mahottari, Kanchanpur, Dhanusha and Udayapur districts. "Safety-Net Campaign" (SNC) is also running in collaboration with DiMaN members in Nawalparasi, Kathmandu and Lalitpur, Bara, Parsa, Sindhuli, Saptari and Sunsari Districts without DP activists.

·         Mass Concentisation on Disaster Management: Disaster Knowledge and awareness to the general public has been created through Paryawaran Chetana magazine, publish and broadcasted in TV and Radio. This has been able to grasp the attention of policy personnel to the academia and the activist on current affairs in the DRR field.

·         Incorporation of Climate Change: Incorporated Disaster Management domain and operationalize Climate Change in AAN through participatory research, documentary and policy discourses; AAN is one of the executive member of Climate Change Network Nepal (CCNN) and an advisory member of Climate Change Policy formulation for Adaptation and Investment section. The CC issues have been widely applied in DRRS project and the partners have been taking it forward.

·         Improving Governance and Policy through Promotion of HFA: AAN have been pushing the Government and other key actor to implement the HFA. HFA in Education sector widely adapted with AAN support. A National Plat form on HFA has been established. AAN Partner Lumanti has been assigned to make an investigation on behalf of Voice from Front Line from “Huairou Commission”, AAN is one of the Advisor for monitoring HFA Voice from Front Line. A hand book on HFA in Nepali has also been developed to disseminate the HFA Priority.

·         Promotion and institutionalization of Networks: DPNet and DIMANN for Disaster Management capacity building; AIN Task Group on Disaster Management and Climate Change Task Force: AAN is being one of the founders of the Networks is in advisory capacity and capable to influence the policy.

Nepal Human Security Update – January-June 2009

Country Situation:

Nepal witnessed a rapid change in this period. The government under the Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ fails after the withdrawal of support by CPN UML and Madhesh Forum followed by other small parties. The sacking of the army chief was the main reason behind the failure, as the President re-instead the cabinet decision and retained the army chief. A new government in the leadership of Madhav Kumar Napal, of CPN UML with the support from the Nepali Congress and other smaller parties is formed. The CPN Maoist are in the opposition and demonstrating against the president decision as it is unlawful to the constitution. The Maoist agitations including demonstration and strikes made the Nepali politics in turmoil. Though the new government is in place, the country is still facing demonstrations and agitations that is demand of civil supremacy by Maoist. Security, particularly in Terai is worsening. There are several armed and criminal groups emerged in Terai involved in agitation. The Government is not able to show their effectiveness in maintaining Law and Order outside capital. This make the Human Security Situation in Nepal a challenge.

The delay in the monsoon has raised the serious concern among the farmers and general populations in Nepal. Due to the lack of the rainfall the crops grown in the rain fed lands are drying up, if the current drought prolongs there will be severe food security implications in the already food shortages communities. During the week, plains of Nepal continued to remain drier and warmer. According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, compare to last year this June is very warmer the maximum temperature this year on June 23 was 42.2 degree Celsius. The normal life has affected by the increased heat in the Terai, valleys and the foot hills, the schools in different places are closed for a week. In the hills and Terai the drinking water sources are drying up and people are compelled to drink the contaminated water, the outbreak of the epidemic particularly diarrhea, cholera and Jaundice are inevitable in the poor communities in Terai plains of Nepal.

Emergency & Disaster Management:

During this period, AAN Emergency and Disaster Management works under Human security team has successfully wrapped up the emergency response and DRR DP works at various levels. The Emergency Bike Training to AAN Staff and Partners developed the confidence to work on emergency. The EARARM has been updated to use in case of emergency.

Emergency response to 2008 Floods:

Emergency relief operation to Flood Victims of Koshi and western region has been completed this period. The Sunsari and Saptari district was affected due to East Koshi embankment breach on August 18th 2008 now become normalcy. Approximately 42,800 Nepalese (7,572 households) were affected by the Koshi floods in Sunsari District on 18 August 2008, in addition to an estimated 11,000 Indian nationals (2,328 households), according to the Government of Nepal (GoN). The majority of Koshi flood-affected displaced households have returned to their area of pre-flood origin. However, they returned to the flood affected land which is intensely sanded areas with limited shelter, access to basic facilities including drinking water, sanitation facilities, adequate shelter or livelihood support. The government approved a total of NPR 1608.2975 million to compensate flood damaged buildings, land and crops, as well as funds for two Kattha of land for the landless households and compensation for deaths that occurred in camps. The government has also released a budget of Rs. 1.82 billion for the Comprehensive Land Compensation Package. It is anticipated that the distribution will start around the second week of August.

ActionAid is working with Partner NGOs Abhiyan Nepal and UPCA Nepal on advocacy and policy works for the Relief management, Compensation design, Building strategy for Recovery and Rehabilitation as well as keeping awareness on Disaster Preparedness and risk reduction activities for host and survivors’ community in the area collaborating with the local Government, NGO and Victims Struggle Committees emerged aftermath of disaster. A Koshi Campaign has also been initiated to on the above issue to aware the community, policy makers and media. REFLECT centers (Koshi Pathshala) have been established to link the Koshi issue with livelihood of the people and to raise the Human Security agenda with both the government Nepal and India.

DRR, DIPECHO and AustCare Projects:

The DIPECHO IV project successfully completed in February 2009 and final report submitted to the ECHO. Construction of Earthquake resistant school building and emergency shelters are the capital works in the project where as Awareness, Capacity building, Advocacy and Policy change works and DRR HFA sensitization to the Constituent Assembly / Parliament Member were the cornerstone of the DIPECHO IV.

In this period, AAN have also submitted the DIPECHO V plan to ECHO and likely to start from July 2009. The DIPECHO V plan is focused on more policy and advocacy works on HFA and DRR at National Level along with Community Based DRR initiatives in the three district of Nepal, namely Sunsari, Udayapur and Banke. The DRRS Project have been able to influence the Curriculum of the Schools and able to impart the DRR education skill to the National Education Center trainers and resource persons pool to produce the master trainer for DRR education in the Schools.

The Ministry of Education and Department of Education has taken the “School Safety” recommendation of the DRRS project to incorporate in its School Improvement Plan (SIP). Similarly the school safety has been adopted to the (MOST) developed for Education For All campaign. The PVA approach have been appreciated by the stakeholders, DRR partner Lumanti has been asked by the Ministry of education to conduct PVA in the government schools in the Kathmandu valley to develop the emergency contingency plan as well as to incorporate the SIP.

AAN have also completed the AustCare and SCP funded emergency support this period. From these support the emergency relief and LSR Kit was delivered to the affected Communities and DMCs following an Emergency Preparedness Planning (EPP) Training to build the capacity of respective DMCs, partner NGOs and concerned stakeholders for emergency response and handling of LSR Kits.

Policy Advocacy Works:

ActionAid is also engaged on policy and advocacy front through the partners and networks like main streaming DRR in Development through DIPECHO project and Disaster Management in School curriculum in collaboration with DOE-CDC through DRRS project as well as promoting Community Based Adaptation to Climate Change through CCNN and MOEST. A safety net campaign has been continued as a process to mobilize grass roots community to ask protection and security support from the local government in the all project and DA/DI areas. A national network of disaster affected community (NNDAC) has also been instituted and the national convention has been organized. The NNDAC will be the people agency to advocate for the implementation of HFA and addressing the legal needs on DRR, a draft bill of Disaster Management Act, Policy and Strategy has already developed and submitted to the government for the approval from the Parliament and endorsements for the execution.

ActionAid Nepal promoted the “National Platform” on DRR/HFA in Nepal and AAN is one of the founder / executive member of the committee. AAN have also been able to promote “culture of safety”, a pre monsoon disaster preparedness plan have been developed at national level and 40 district level pre monsoon disaster preparedness and contingency plan has been initiated in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) the DNDRC and other stakeholders. AAN have also leaded the preparedness plan in its DA/DI project area over 10 districts.

At the international and regional policy front, AAN and its partners were involved in preparing VFL country report under “Views from the Frontline Project” of “Network for Disaster Reduction” (GNDR) and Global Network of Civil Society Organizations for Disaster Reduction, NSET one of DRR partner of AAN was entrusted to lead as the regional CSO part and DRR partner LUMANTI was assigned by the “Huairou Commission”. In this period, AAN have also been involved on the Fragile State Research in Nepal an AAI IECT initiative with CARE International.

Under the week long program AAN Partner of Safety Net Campaign, DRRSP and DIPECHO have also commemorated the75th year of Great Nepal Bihar Earthquake and 11^th ESD at different District includes Banke, Rupandehi, Chitwan, Kathmandu-Lalitpur, Makwanpur, Sarlahi, Udayapur and Sunsari. The partner NGOs have also raised voice and make a signature campaign for the need to enact the new bill for Disaster Management Act, Policy and the Disaster risk Management Strategy and National Action Plan that is developed adopting the HFA and already submitted to the Ministry of Home.