ACCORD Incorporated 2013 Annual Report

2013 ANNUAL REPORT

www.accord.org.ph

Table of Contents

1 Message from the

Executive Director

4 Fundraising and

Networking 6 Human Resources

2 About ACCORD

5 Communications

7 Plans for Next Year

3 Our Work

8 How You Can Help

i ACCORD 2013 Annual Report

Written and edited by: Marieta Alcid, Isabelle Baguisi, Celso Dulce, Darwin Masacupan, Laudemer Mejia, and John Carlos Quijano

Design: Darwin Masacupan

Photo credits: ACCORD photo collection, Celso Dulce, Bro. Ciriaco Santiago, Raimond Duijsens / NLRC

We would also like to thank all who have contributed to this Annual Report.

Click on the images to go

directly to sections

Acronyms

AADC Agri-Aqua Development Coalition

ACCORD

Inc Assistance and Cooperation for Community Resilience and Development

ACCORD

Project

Strengthening Assets and Capacities of Communities and Local Govern-

ments for Resilience to Disasters Project

ACF Action Against Hunger

BLGD Bureau of Local Government Development

BOT Board of Trustees

CBDRR Community-based Disaster Risk Reduction

CARE Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere

CCA Climate Change Adaptation

CDKN Climate and Development Knowledge Network

CNDR Corporate Network for Disaster Response

CNL CARE Nederland

CorDis RDS Cordillera Disaster Response and Development Services

CRA Community Risk Assessment

CSO Civil Society Organization

CSR Corporate Social Responsibility

CSSR Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer

CSU Caraga State University

CSWCD College of Social Welfare and Development

DepEd Department of Education

DFID The United Kingdom Department for International Development

DGIS The Netherlands Directorate-General for International Cooperation

DILG Department of the Interior and Local Government

DIPECHO Disaster Preparedness Program of ECHO

DOST Department of Science and Technology

DNCA Damages, Needs, and Capacities Assessment

DRR Disaster Risk Reduction

DRRMC Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council

DRRMO Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office

DSWD Department of Social Welfare and Development

ECHO European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection depart-

ment

EMR Ecosystems Management and Restoration

ER Emergency Response

EWS Early Warning System

FY Financial Year

ICBDRR Inclusive Community-Based DRR

IEC Information, Education, and Communication

IHG Intercontinental Hotel Group

IIRR International Institute of Rural Reconstruction

INGO International NGO

LCE Local Chief Executive

LGA Local Government Academy

LGU Local Government Unit

LRSP Long-range Strategic Plan

MFA The Royal Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs

MMDA Metropolitan Manila Development Authority

NCR National Capital Region

NFI Non-food items

NGO Non-governmental Organization

NLRC The Netherlands Red Cross

OCD Office of Civil Defense

PAGASA Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Admin-

istration

PCM Project Cycle Management

PCNC Philippine Council for NGO Certification

PfR Partners for Resilience

PO People’s Organizations

PPMEL Participatory Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

PRC Philippine Red Cross

RBA Rights-Based Approach

RCCC Red Cross Climate Centre

RMP-NMR Rural Missionaries of the Philippines - Northern Mindanao Sub-Region

RRF Rapid Response Facility

SALT Sloping Agricultural Land Technology

SC-E Save the Children-Spain

SHO Samenwerkende Hulporganisaties

SIP School Improvement Plan

SSCBDA South-South Citizenry Based Academy

SSM Small-scale Mitigation

SUBU Scale Up Build Up

WASH Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

UN United Nations

UNDP United Nations Development Program

UNISDR United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR)

UNOSSC United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation

UPD University of the Philippines Diliman

ACCORD 2013 Annual Report ii

I am proud to say that Assistance and Cooperation

for Community Resilience and Development Inc. (ACCORD) has continued gaining momentum while

meeting new challenges in 2013. The organization

has begun to expand its humanitarian response while

also extending the coverage of its disaster risk

reduction (DRR) activities. ACCORD has also created

new partnerships and reached new donors from

countries across the globe. With these gains for the

year, the organization is definitely on track towards

our goal of helping to build resilient communities.

Since adopting the disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation (CCA),

and ecosystem management and restoration (EMR) integrated framework in 2012,

our partner municipalities such as Talacogon and Calabanga have gone on to men-

tor their neighbors. They have now grown to see beyond political boundaries,

adopting a river basin approach which links all their DRR projects together.

Humanitarian response took on a new dimension with the nature of the Bohol

Earthquake response and with the immensity of need created by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). The situation required us to design a diverse and appropriate response

that would be able to cover the different needs of a great number of people.

An important part in the expansion of the humanitarian response was the

partnerships forged with various groups from abroad. These were instrumental in

getting efforts off the ground and to delivering where the services were needed

most. To our partners, we are deeply grateful for the help you have extended to

us. Thank you!

All in all, 2013 was a year for ACCORD to grow and I thank everyone who was part

of the learning process. Thank you to our donors, our partners, the staff, the Board of Trustees. Thank you for helping to build resilient communities.

To the communities, thank you for allowing us into your lives. We are grateful for

your acceptance and for the learning experiences we have gained from you. We

hope that our partnership will continue to give something to the community even

years down the line.

ACCORD has been able to draw lessons from people and from its experiences, share knowledge with others, adapt to new challenges, and bring groups together in service of those who are most need. 2013 has set ACCORD on track to do more in order to serve others better.

MARIETA LUPIG-ALCID

Our Vision

We envision a safe and secure environment where every child, woman and man will be free from poverty and inequity.

ACCORD is committed to strengthening local capacities for managing poverty reduction and to implementing human development programmes that have lasting results. Working in partnership with poor communities, people’s organizations, local governments and non-government organizations

ACCORD supports:

Strengthening capacities in project cycle management

Demonstrating innovative projects in disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, ecosystem management and restoration, and food security

Developing fundraising strategies and enhancing financial management systems

Promoting learning in action

Our Mission

Message from the Executive Director 1

1 ACCORD 2013 Annual Report

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ACCORD is a nonprofit organization committed to providing quality

humanitarian response and to promoting disaster risk reduction (DRR) that takes into account climate change adaptation (CCA) and ecosystem management and restoration (EMR). With DRR-CCA-EMR as an integrated approach incorporated in our programs, including our humanitarian response program, we aim to help reduce vulnerabilities and to help create resilient communities.

Reducing vulnerabilities and building resilience makes for a safe and secure environment that contributes to communities achieving their right to a dignified life. We envision these communities as being able to resist, absorb, accommodate, and recover from the effects of hazards. We also aim to see communities as able to participate in development decision-making processes and able to work in partnership with other organizations, institutions, and stakeholders.

ACCORD aims to contribute to local development through different capacity-building activities and through forging partnerships with different stakeholders. We believe that empowering people with skills will take them farther and will bear more gains in the long run. We also believe in uniting people across different sectors for collective action to create greater impact across different levels of engagement.

RBA is a conceptual framework for human development based on international standards which recognizes that human rights must be actively protected, upheld, and claimed.

CBDRR is a framework that looks into a community’s existing vulnerabilities that make it susceptible to disasters while recognizing the community’s inherent capacities that can help it recover from disasters and strengthen its resilience.

It aims to get to the root of vulnerabilities and help address these for lasting social change. Holding community members as primary actors for change, it puts a premium on people’s participation, organization, and mobilization of partnerships in building resilient communities.

By encouraging the community members to take charge in recreating their community for the better, we aim to be inclusive in taking into account concerns from different sectors. Our activities are designed to identify and address the needs of women, children, the elderly, PWDs, and IPs.

2.1 Our Framework

Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR)

Rights-Based Approach (RBA) ACCORD staff conducting needs

assessment in Panay island after Haiyan

About ACCORD 2

ACCORD 2013 Annual Report 2

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In order to see our plans bear fruit we have created four pathways to follow. These

are:

Sustainable Livelihood

This path ensures that communities are able to engage in livelihood that are

diversified and viable. It also ensures that communities are trained and taught

better ways of managing and growing their livelihood.

Empowerment and Participation

This path gives community members the ability to actively run and take part in

DRR plans, activities, and decision-making.

Mainstreaming DRR-CCA-EMR

This path takes our DRR-CCA-EMR technical know-how and brings them to

government agencies so that they can be incorporated in development plans

and budgets

Linking, Networking, and Partnership

This path leads to bringing together different institutions, organizations, and

government agencies for knowledge-exchange and for new projects.

2.3 Our Long-range Strategic Plan

2

Participants at this hygiene promotion

training preparing their materials


Humanitarian Response

1. Aklan - Malinao

2. Iloilo – Sara, Estancia, San Dionisio

3. Bohol - Tubigon, Clarin, Inabanga

4. Leyte - Ormoc City, La Paz, Tabon-tabon, Pastrana, Sta. Fe, Dagami

5. Compostela Valley - Monkayo, Motevista

6. Davao Oriental – Baganga, Cateel, Boston

Disaster Risk Reduction Projects

1. Mt. Province - Tadian, Bauko

2. Benguet - Itogon, Bokod

3. Isabela - Jones, Benito Soliven

4. Metro Manila - Malabon City

5. Camarines Sur - Calabanga, Bombon, Magarao, Canaman

6. Agusan del Sur - Talacogon, San Luis, La Paz

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ACCORD goes where we can help the most. We go where we can create the most impact

for the benefit of our partner communities.

We take into account the extent of damages in an area, an area’s access to aid, and its

geographic accessibility (particularly its inaccessibility) to determine where we should

implement humanitarian response and early recovery projects. We make sure we have

the necessary data by conducting a Rapid Needs Assessment (RNA) and then a Damages,

Needs, and Capacities Assessment (DNCA) to determine further actions. For disaster risk

reduction (DRR) projects, we take into account a community’s vulnerability and its exposure to hazards as factors in pinpointing project areas. DRR areas are also usually

areas that have had a humanitarian response project.

Wherever we work, we commit to forging partnerships and to enabling a community to

help itself. We make sure that there is coordination with local governments and/or other

established organizations like the church and people’s organizations. Our partnerships

and coordination covers logistics, manpower, technical support, scheduling, and

distribution of materials.

2.4 Areas where we work


Map credits: d-maps.com

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Project Fund Source

Partners Period Covered Budget (in EUR) Number of

Beneficiaries

Scale up, build up: Strengthening local alliances and advocacy and empowering champions on disaster risk reduction (SUBU)

DIPECHO CNL, AADC, CORDIS

1 June 2012 to 30 November 2013

426,501.94 10,448

Partners for Resilience: Climate-proof Disaster Risk Reduction (PfR)

MFA / DGIS CNL, AADC, CNDR, CORDIS

1 January 2011 to 31 December 2015

877,266.00 55,200

TOTAL 1,303,767.94 65,648

The organization continued implementing 2 DRR projects for 2013. ACCORD

serves as the consortium lead for PfR within the Resilience Alliance, providing

technical assistance to its partners while also engaging in direct implementation

in Malabon City. For the SUBU project, ACCORD is co-lead in the implementation

of DRR mainstreaming activities in education and local governance.

3.1 Disaster Risk Reduction

3 Our Work

ACCORD's work can generally be divided into two basic themes: Disaster Risk

Reduction and Humanitarian Response and Recovery.

DRR aims to increase capacities and enhance the resilience of communities and

local governments. The approach is community-based and rights-based. CCA and

EMR are also integrated into DRR. Humanitarian response aims to meet urgent

and unmet needs as well as recovery needs, in the areas of food, shelter, water,

sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and livelihoods. It must be remembered though

that the two are closely linked. DRR is mainstreamed in humanitarian response

and recovery. Where resources allow, emergency response is followed by explicit

DRR programming.

The Philippines has experienced an increase in the frequency and magnitude of

extreme natural events and disasters over the years due to climate change. This

trend has had a negative effect on its people, their livelihoods, and overall

national development.

Disaster risk reduction has always been an integral part of ACCORD's work. Over

the years, the projects it has developed and implemented have aimed to spread a

culture of resilience. When people's capacities are strengthened and their

vulnerabilities to hazards reduced, then their risk of being severely affected by

future disasters will be lesser. We want the most vulnerable communities to

become empowered, self-reliant, prepared for and to easily bounce back from any

disaster.

For FY2013, the DRR team focused on scaling up their efforts in the

following areas:

A. Building community resilience

B. Strengthening civil society capacities in DRR

C. Advocating for mainstreaming DRR-CCA-EMR in local and national levels

Objectives

Overview of Projects

School drill in Malabon City


When a community is aware of the potential hazards it faces, and also takes

effective action based on their collective capacities, then the risks of disasters

happening decreases.

ACCORD supported barangays, municipalities, and schools in conducting

community risk assessments (CRA) to establish the level of risk they face. This is

then followed by the organization's standard ladderized training activities, where basic concepts on DRR, disaster preparedness, and project cycle management are

discussed. Participants of such activities do not only include elected officials, but

also other barangay and municipal staff, teachers, and especially community

members or non-leaders.

With their knowledge and capacities strengthened, these individuals now

participate in the forming and/or updating contingency and risk reduction plans

based on the output of risk assessments. These include key provisions on early

warning systems (EWS), evacuation systems, and action plans. They also become

key members of their Disaster Risk Reduction and Management councils

(DRRMC), which have the primary responsibility to prepare for and respond to

disasters.

Supporting these efforts are public awareness activities which ensure that the

whole community has a common understanding of the risks and the actions they

need to take. The foremost example are drills, which assess everyone's

preparedness and can be a source of lessons to improve contingency plans.

There is also a focus on community-led resilient livelihoods which also doubles as small-scale mitigation (SSM) projects that reduce existing vulnerabilities. In addition to sustaining ecosystem balance, they provide alternative sources of income that can better cope with and recover from the effects of hazards.

3.1.1 Strengthening Community Resilience

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Youth in Barangay Potrero

preparing their hazard history

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Camarines Sur is one of the Philippine provinces most susceptible to the occurrence of typhoons owing to its location facing the Pacific Ocean. So the people of Barangay Punta Tarawal, an island barangay in Calabanga municipality, were understandably worried as Typhoon Haiyan inched closer. Faced with record-strong winds and rains, the whole barangay did not want to risk a catastrophe happening.

Days before the typhoon made landfall, the BDRRMC reviewed and activated their contingency plan. They were well aware that, as a low-lying barangay near the San Miguel Bay and Bicol River, Punta Tarawal could experience flooding and storm surges. Continuous heavy rains have actually isolated them from the rest of Calabanga during previous typhoons.

When the signal was given by the warning committee on November 7, the people boarded boats that brought them to the mainland. They orderly filed into evacuation centers where they brought food and other necessary supplies that could last them for a few days.

As Typhoon Haiyan left, they were all glad - there were no casualties among them. A small barangay yes, but a big accomplishment that demonstrated the value of a culture of preparedness.


Barangay Potrero, the largest in Malabon by population, has been one of the most affected by the worst floods in the city. In 2009 during Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy), water reached the second floor of some houses. Three years later, this scenario was repeated due to heavy monsoon rains that lasted for several days.

There are various factors that contribute to flooding in communities like Potrero, one of which is their location near the Tullahan River. Flowing through the barangay and 4 other cities, the river is heavily clogged and silted. Limited rains upstream can ensure flooding in Potrero even if it's sunny there. There are various water levels, rain gauges, dikes, and pumping stations along the Tullahan to warn and protect against flooding. But in general, the five cities do not necessarily link together to address the problem.

In this context, PAGASA stepped in. As the national meteorological agency, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) was in a position to lead stakeholders in harmonizing existing EWS efforts across the whole river basin.

Working with the PfR consortium, PAGASA convened MDRRMOs from the five cities as well as other agencies like the MMDA & the La Mesa Dam Authority. PAGASA traced the flow of floodwaters from upstream and exiting at Manila Bay, as well as outlined the work to be done for an integrated EWS across the whole river basin. The gathered stakeholders shared experiences in flood risk management & agreed to continue efforts in ensuring a functional EWS by next year.

It may still be early, but it seems that our work will succeed because of PAGASA's support and constant guidance.

ACCORD recognizes that it is just one among the various organizations working on DRR. To become more effective in fulfilling its mandate, the organization focused on developing the required internal competencies for itself and its partners. It also made efforts to mobilize additional support for its work.

Important progress was made this year in developing internal capacity for the organization and its consortium NGO partners. Joint trainings were conducted on topics such as advocating for DRR-CCA-EMR mainstreaming, and community-based integrated watershed management. The staff involved were able to gain knowledge and skills that would be helpful in implementing further activities. Regular coordination, planning, and assessment activities were also instrumental in exchanging best practices and lessons between the partners.

Even as our DRR training manuals were updated last year, a continuing process of internal review was also done to include learnings that the staff have had during the conduct of actual trainings. This ensures that the manuals remain relevant in sustaining capacity building efforts at all levels.

Partnerships were also established with meteorological and scientific institutes and government agencies that paved the way for regular sharing of information on early warning system, disaster situations, and weather updates. Data they provided on disaster trends, climate projections, and ecosystems helped our communities develop contingency and risk reduction plans as well as appropriate SSM and livelihood activities.

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3.1.2 Empowering Civil Society

PFR Consortium during their Midterm

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Consultation with PAGASA and GMA-7’s Mang Tani for the Tullahan EWS


To ensure sustainability of its work, ACCORD advocates for mainstreaming DRR-CCA-EMR, particularly in governance and education. It aims to reduce the risk of disasters affecting previous and future development gains. By systematically integrating DRR into institutional practice, there are better chances of concerns being addressed and budgeted for despite changes in leadership and priorities.

There was an increased focus on working with municipalities this year. In addition to the trainings mentioned earlier, municipal officials and staff were familiarized with their responsibilities based on DRR-CCA laws. They were also guided in integrating risk assessments in situational analyses and development plans. Allocation of resources for DRR activities was also guaranteed by their inclusion in workplans and budgets.

At the same time, policy and advocacy work was also done at regional, provincial, and national levels. Such efforts with the DILG and OCD have not only facilitated actions at the local level, but also contributed to the replication of DRR activities in other areas not covered by the organization. In particular, ACCORD has developed with the DILG-BLGD a simplified guide on mainstreaming inclusive CBDRR in the project cycle management and development sectors. This has been rolled out in its project areas, as well as submitted to the LGA for consolidation in a compendium to be used by other LGUs.

Public awareness activities were also pursued to help mainstream DRR in development plans. Existing programs such as the DSWD's 10-day Family Development Seminars were used to disseminate key messages & best practices. Events like barangay assemblies and fiestas were also maximized. National conferences in Camarines Sur and Agusan del Sur also served as venues for sharing experiences and learnings between stakeholders that they can apply in their respective localities.

There was also significant progress in the education sector. After undergoing capacity building tailor-fit for their particular setting, schools were supported in developing and/or updating DRR-integrated School Improvement Plans (SIPs). Budgets and workplans were also used to mobilize resources for implementing DRR activities.

Similar to the governance side, there were national-level efforts to complement local ones. ACCORD worked with the Department of Education (DepEd) in drafting a new SIP manual, which simplified the process of drafting SIPs and ensured the inclusion of key DRR-CCA messages.

The organization also facilitated the formulation and drafting of the internal strategic plan for DepEd's Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO). The plan outlines the offices' long-term goals and strategies in implementing DRR activities as well as advocating for DRR mainstreaming across the whole department.

In February 2006, a landslide in Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte buried alive a

thousand people, their livelihoods, and their whole village. Seven years later,

Saint Bernard is now a model of resilience. The UNISDR awarded the municipality

a Citation of Merit during the 2013 UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk

Reduction ceremonies held last 22 May 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland.

The awards jury noted that “despite modest means, a great dedication to capacity

building, protection and preparedness is observed. This is an example of how

response to an external input could generate successful consequences."

St. Bernard Municipality’s local chief executive, Rico Rentuza, attributes the

success of DRR initiatives in the municipality to its partnership with various

organizations. They also credit the support from CARE Nederland, ACCORD, and

the DIPECHO program, saying that, "they supported us for 3 cycles until we were

able to integrate DRR in our long-term planning process." The DILG also

contributed to their efforts in mainstreaming DRR in local planning processes.

Rentuza also emphasized that it takes a continuing collective undertaking for

high-risk communities like St. Bernard to build their capacities to be more resilient

and safe. Saying that the award is just the 'icing on the cake,' he is happy that

"with the help of others, we have transformed ourselves into a more resilient and

safer community.”

Under the theme “Acting As One”, the biennial UN Sasakawa Award for DRR recognizes excellence in reducing disaster risk for a safer, more sustainable world.

Saint Bernard recognized in Geneva, Switzerland during the UN

Sasakawa Awards

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3.1.3 Enabling Institutions


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- The scale of damage caused by Typhoon Yolanda compelled ACCORD to focus its

resources on the emergency response. DRR staff were assigned to Leyte to help

out. Consequently, catch-up plans were developed which included streamlining

activities and hiring additional staff.

- Elections and leadership changes contribute to delays in implementation of

projects. The organization continues to allocate time and effort in getting these

officials up to speed on projects as well as developing influential local DRR

champions at the community and school levels.

- There still remains a need to conduct capacity building for the organization and

its partners' staff, especially in the areas of mainstreaming and advocacy. In

addition to those done this year, various trainings have already been lined up for

next year to address this.

- There has been limited work on documentation and dissemination of best

practices (e.g. human interest stories). The organization recognizes this and hired

dedicated staff for communications and knowledge management.

- A key challenge was identifying small-scale mitigation activities that incorporate elements of ecosystem management and climate change adaptation, and provide livelihood options to communities at the same time.

Councilor Melchor Macabalitao has

championed the cause of DRR in Malabon City

Working with the Most Vulnerable

Vulnerable groups are those who have been denied or have limited access to power and resources due to existing economic & political structures and processes in society. They lack the capacities to remove themselves from involuntary exposure to unsafe conditions. They are the poor farmers and fishermen, the urban poor, and indigenous peoples. Women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities can also be further marginalized if their specific needs are not recognized, and their rights not acknowledged.

ACCORD works primarily with such groups. As they are most likely to bear the brunt of disasters, they are also much more likely to be invested in DRR efforts that safeguard their families and livelihoods. We believe that when they are organized, even the most vulnerable groups have capacities that can be harnessed to strengthen their own resilience.

Captions:

Left - Children in their makeshift house were also affected by Typhoon Bopha

Center - Lighter moments during a monitoring visit to Bopha-affected areas

Right - Participants draw a risk map of their community

3.1.4 Challenges


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Project Fund Source

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ECHO CNL, AADC 7 December 2012 to 6 March 2013

313,908.45 15,000 Emergency assistance to the affected vulnerable population by the typhoon Pablo (Bopha) , Philippines

TORM CNL February 2013 1,500.00 500

Coordinated and integrated recovery support to the population affected by typhoon Bopha, Philippines

ECHO CNL 7 March to 6 December 2013

501,968.00 11,400

Emergency Assistance and Early Recovery Support to Earthquake-affected Communities in Bohol Province, Philippines

ECHO CNL 15 October 2013 to 14 August 2013

275,000.54 25,000

Emergency Response to Southern Leyte, Leyte and Eastern Samar Provinces, affected by typhoon Haiyan (RRF)

DFID CNL 11 November 2013 to 3 February 2014

656,233.57 25,000

TOTAL 1,748,610.56 76,940

Humanitarian response has long been part and parcel of ACCORD's work. Disasters worsen living conditions and exacerbate already inequitable access to resources by the most vulnerable. ACCORD therefore sees humanitarian response as essential to its mandate - to ensure that the rights of affected communities will be upheld in such an extraordinary situation when they are most likely to be neglected.

Responding to emergencies has also been identified as a way to build spaces for community-based DRR.

Despite the tight deadlines and the need to adjust to donors and consortium partner requirements, ACCORD has remained steadfast in ensuring participatory processes that are sometimes deemed too slow for the emergency phase. It builds on the remaining capacities of the affected communities to reduce their vulnerabilities to and become better prepared for disasters.

A. To fill gaps and meet urgent emergency and recovery needs of disaster-

affected vulnerable communities

B. To enhance the incorporation of DRR in emergency response

C. To mobilize resources that would support emergency response operations

The organization implemented and continued implementing 4 projects for 2013. Responding to typhoons brought ACCORD first to Northern Mindanao, then to Central and Eastern Visayas. In all these projects, it served as CNL’s main implementing partner and represented it during consortium coordination meetings.

3.2 Humanitarian Response

Objectives

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Overview of Projects


Super typhoon Haiyan was one of the worst disasters on record, with more than

6,000 deaths recorded and even more injured or reported missing. Millions were

also displaced from their homes. While grieving over the loss of their loved ones, the survivors of Haiyan could not help but worry about their immediate future.

They wondered how they could survive on their remaining meager resources.

ACCORD, working with CARE, was one of the first to provide emergency food

packs to affected communities in Leyte. The distributed food packs provided

people with access to diversified food options for at least fifteen (15) days. Items

included rice, canned goods, dried fish, monggo beans, and condiments. They

were selected based on lessons from previous humanitarian response projects.

Communities were satisfied with the quantity and quality of the assistance. They

appreciated the selection of familiar food items that were also highly nutritious.

They also appreciated the fact that they did not have to walk far as distributions

were done as close to their houses as possible. The list of food pack contents was

also posted in public so that that people can check if they received a complete

pack.

The assistance provided by ACCORD not only met the immediate needs of affected households, but also contributed towards reducing their vulnerability. In the words of a woman from La Paz municipality, "Because we saved money on food, we could now buy the materials with which to repair our house." They were also able to save time and strength that could have been spent on finding food. Revitalized, they are now ready to face the challenge of rebuilding and recovering.

2013 was a challenging year for the Philippines. The country was still recovering

from Typhoon Bopha late in 2012, when two major disasters occurred: the Bohol

earthquake in October, then Super Typhoon Haiyan in November. What was

common to these disasters was the deeply rooted vulnerabilities of the people in

the affected areas that resulted in immense loss of lives and properties.

ACCORD conducted damages, needs and capacities assessment (DNCA) to

determine the impact of hazards and the gap between needs and available

resources. Beneficiaries are also identified during DNCAs, prioritizing those who were most affected and most in need of assistance to recover. All these

information serve as the basis for designing further humanitarian actions - what

groups should be prioritized and what kind of assistance will be provided.

The participation of beneficiaries, community leaders, and other stakeholders is

also ensured in all phases of the response - from design to implementation to

evaluation. General assemblies are conducted to explain beneficiary selection

criteria, what they will be receiving, and why assistance is being delivered to them.

Our interventions are comprehensive. Emergency food assistance is followed by water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), shelter and livelihood recovery support. This ensures not only continuity in programming but also greater impact for the most vulnerable population. SPHERE minimum standards guided our work to ensure quality programming.

3

Volunteers cross the still-raging river to deliver aid to

Bopha survivors

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Top: Distributions in Leyte after Haiyan were well-organized

Bottom: The contents of food packs were listed down and posted in public

3.2.1 Meeting Needs


Disasters are recurring so frequently that preparing for them, including preparing

for better humanitarian response, is needed. In addition to contingency planning,

mainstreaming DRR-CCA-EMR in emergency response helps reduce the

vulnerability of affected communities to any future disaster.

DRR trainings are incorporated in the design of projects, with their key output

being DRR action plans for the whole community. Activities linked to distribution

of recovery inputs are often DRR activities, such as debris cleaning, solid waste

management, and clearing of drainage canals. Key messages on preparedness are also disseminated through meetings and information, education, and

communication (IEC) materials.

There are also sector-specific measures. In shelter recovery, the organization

adopted Build Back Safer standards, which it helped develop and standardize in

cluster meetings. Techniques such as roofing and bracing are taught to

communities to make their houses stronger. In WASH, simple measures such as

burying pipes and planting madre de cacao in slopes around the facilities for

erosion control are practiced. Diversified and resilient livelihood practices such as

relay cropping and Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) models were also

introduced to farming communities.

More importantly, participatory approaches are used in various activities like organizing distributions and shelter groups that help each other in repairs. This not only strengthens communities' ownership of projects but, more importantly, sustains gains made. It is hoped that they would be able to make use of skills learned in future development initiatives that they themselves would spearhead.

In late 2012, a region in the southern Philippines rarely visited by tropical cyclones

was devastated by Typhoon Bopha (Pablo). Direct damage to agriculture was

estimated at EUR482 million.

The people of Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley provinces heavily rely on

their coconut, oil palm, rubber and falcatta trees. These were all destroyed by

Bopha, resulting in a long-term loss of livelihoods since these trees take around

three years before becoming productive again.

Cresencio and Clarita Canono of Montevista municipality in Compostela Valley spend most of their time “growing old together" in their contour farm. The couple

were introduced to relay cropping combined with contour farming as a strategy in

livelihood recovery. Relay cropping is a form of multiple cropping that allows

farmers to grow different crops of different maturation periods. Mono-cropping

(e.g. all coconut trees in one hectare of land) was extensive in the Bopha-affected

areas and worsened the effects of the disaster.

One of the benefits of relay cropping is that it allows for diet diversification of the

household. It also includes growing disaster-resilient crops such as sweet

potatoes and cassava. Relay cropping and contour farming are also effective

erosion control measures and are environmentally sustainable.

The elderly couple are very proud of the farm they established on their own, even insisting that an ECHO monitoring mission visit it. The Canonos are demonstrating to other community members that with correct motivation, making livelihoods more resilient is possible.

3

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The Canono couple with representatives from ECHO during a monitoring visit

3.2.2 Incorporating DRR


Although primarily working with the vulnerable communities themselves, ACCORD

has collaborations with other groups. Bringing their various capabilities and

resources, our partners help increase the quality and reach of ACCORD's response.

The organization continues to participate in consortium and cluster groupings at both local and national levels. By coordinating with clusters, ACCORD was able to

know where it stands in the overall response vis-a-vis the government and other

NGOs. On the other hand, working in consortia allowed us and our partners to

provide complementary interventions across more areas, thereby extending our

response capacity.

2013 also saw support from non-traditional donors (e.g. ECHO and CNL) increase, thereby helping ACCORD increase the quantity and quality of the assistance it provides. New modes of partnerships were also explored, especially in the areas of program support like human resources and telecommunications.

Rescue-Telecom is an NGO specializing in emergency telecommunications that

allow people in need, during emergencies, to contact their loved ones.

Their representatives arrived in the Philippines after Haiyan, hoping to provide

Facebook and Twitter access to affected communities for free. They shifted to

providing free calls and SMS after observing that the vulnerable communities

covered by ACCORD did not even have access to internet before Haiyan.

In addition, they generously provided ACCORD with satellite communications

equipment and training on how to use them - for free! These will be helpful during

future emergency response activities in sharing assessment information and en-

suring staff security and safety.

The Rescue-Telecom team was eager to learn about the situation and context they

will be operating in. They were open to suggestions and displayed flexibility in the

assistance they provided. They were also very friendly and respectful of cultural

sensitivities in the communities we visited.

Clearly, this is the start of a new and meaningful relationship, one that would be directed towards serving vulnerable and disaster-prone communities.

3

CARE shelter advisor orienting ACCORD

staff on Build Back Safer techniques

3.2.3 Mobilizing Support

To

the

Re

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Top: Rescue Telecom and ACCORD staff pose for the camera with the donated equipment

Bottom: Rescue Telecom staff assisted in distributing relief goods and IEC materials to

those affected by Haiyan


- The inability to automatically continue longer-term DRR programming in the

same areas limits the impact participatory approaches have on setting the tone for

future community-led development. To address this, the organization is building

up local DRR champions to protect gains.

- There was a short timeframe within which disasters happened this year,

contributing to delays in implementation and a constant need to reformulate

strategy amidst the changing context.

- The scale of damage brought by Typhoon Yolanda posed problems to the organization's capacity to immediately and effectively scale up operations.

Recognizing this, the organization is improving on its "forward planning" so as to

better anticipate such challenges.

- Documentation and information management tasks have not been prioritized

due to limited staffing, especially during the immediate outset of emergencies.

- There is a need for the organization to build up capacity in gender, protection,

needs assessment, proposal development, logistics and procurement so as to

improve its overall efficiency.

- Issues with logistics, procurement, bad weather, and geographic location of the

areas have also contributed to delays in implementation.

- There remains a need to improve partnership and coordination mechanisms not

only in order to ensure smoother relationships, but also to improve the quality of

the overall response.

- The series of disasters, and the magnitude of Haiyan, required ACCORD to respond in scale, rapidly expanding human resources and support infrastructure.

Consistently applied across all our projects is participatory planning, monitoring,

evaluation, and learning (PPMEL). It allows beneficiaries and other stakeholders to

work with us in ensuring programming quality. PPMEL also provides the people

with the means to hold NGOs, donors, and LGUs accountable.

Communities and local authorities are encouraged to collaborate in designing and

planning projects and activities. They also conduct regular monitoring to keep

track of the progress of implementation and to timely address issues in an

inclusive manner.

Midterm and year-end community audits are also conducted, where lessons and

good practices are identified and documented. The community really values such

activities, because their voices, criticisms, and suggestions are heard. Evaluation

results are then shared and disseminated widely so that others may learn from

them. Indeed, all of our previous and current projects have been enriched with

such learnings.

Emphasizing the importance of participation is very important, as it encourages more community members and disadvantaged groups to participate and support activities.

3

A truck carrying relief goods for Bopha

survivors crossing a river and rough

terrain

3.2.4 Challenges

Remaining Accountable


Community audits were held to assess

the effectiveness of the Bopha

humanitarian response

Through the funds that institutions, groups, and individuals generously donate,

we are able to continue our partnerships with high-risk communities to achieve their resilience. ACCORD promises that the resources that have been provided us will be matched with comprehensive and optimum service towards our shared goals. We would like to thank all our donors who made all our support for and partnerships with communities and national, regional, and local government units possible.

ECHO

The European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department or ECHO aims to save and preserve life, prevent and alleviate human suffering and safeguard the integrity and dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises. It funds partner NGOs in order to implement projects or programs of the same interest.

ECHO has long been a partner of ACCORD as a back-donor for different projects through the years. It has supported and is continuing to support many emergency response activities of ACCORD this 2013.

DIPECHO

The European Commission Humanitarian Aid department’s Disaster Preparedness Programme (DIPECHO) is the disaster preparedness program launched by ECHO in 1996. Its aim is to reduce the impact of natural disasters by strengthening local communities and its resources situated in high risk areas.

DIPECHO-funded projects are carried out by partner organizations mainly in the six most disaster-prone regions of the world. In the Philippines, it has funded the Scale-Up Build-Up (SUBU) project which aims to strengthen the implementation of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 by improving information access and institutional capacity-building of DRR stakeholders in high risk communities.

Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is through where the Dutch Government

carries out its development policy. One of MFA’s major activities is to advance the

fields of social and economic development, education, environmental

management and others in developing countries. It communicates with the

governments of other countries, international organization and non-government

organizations (NGOs) in order to form and strengthen international cooperation.

Through the MFS II Co-Financing Program scheduled from 2011-2015, MFA

supports different Dutch organizations forming up to 20 alliances. This includes

the Partners for Resilience program, which is being implemented by five Dutch

NGOs and their partners in nine countries. In the Philippines, for which ACCORD

serves as the over-all project manager that provides technical and managerial

support for the partners of CNL implementing the program.

DFID - RRF

The Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom government is responsible for administering aid oversees using the funds collected from UK taxpayers. The goal of the department is "to promote sustainable development and eliminate world poverty". Its Rapid Response Facility (RRF) provides immediate funding to humanitarian agencies during the first 72 hours of a disaster. This ensures that more lives will be saved and systems have not yet been too greatly damaged for repair.

SHO

The Samenwerkende Hulporganisaties (SHO) or Dutch Cooperating Aid Agencies is a partnership of 11 Dutch organizations that collectively raise funds for aid to the victims of major humanitarian disasters.

Resource Mobilization 4

4.1.1 Institutional Donors

Filipinos smile a lot, sometimes even after disasters

like Bopha

4.1 Fundraising


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_department

CARE

Founded in 1945, CARE or Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere is one of the oldest and largest organizations which focus on fighting poverty and providing humanitarian aid to different developing countries worldwide.

CARE addresses issues that range from disaster preparedness and climate-change to education and health through its advocacy to engage local, national, and international levels for policy change and the fulfilment of the rights of the poor especially women and children.

CARE Nederland

Being part of CARE International since 2001, CARE Nederland (CNL) also took up the task in supporting poverty reduction and disaster risk reduction projects in developing countries. It addresses poverty in the farthest and hardest-hit communities with smart solutions based on the power of people. Through its strategic partnership with ACCORD, it has long carried out its fight for human dignity and poverty reduction here in the Philippines.

Rescue Telecom (France and Belgium)

Rescue-Telecom is an NGO that provides emergency communication equipment and training on the operation and maintenance of such equipment for partner organizations. Such aid allows people in disaster situations to be able to communicate with and join their relatives. It also enables people to contact the authorities and report on their situation when all regular communication lines are down. They believe that the message of life diminishes the anguish felt by the people and make them more effectively participate in their recovery.

The private sector has also played a key part in supporting the causes of the organization in providing relief and building resilience. Through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), they have supported humanitarian response operations and DRR projects. ACCORD has also earned the trust of private groups and individuals working through our shared values and principles.

InterContinental Hotel Group

The InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) is a British multinational company in

charge of a chain of hotels worldwide. It traces its origins to 1777. IHG has been a partner of ACCORD in responding to the needs of communities affected by

Haiyan.

TORM

TORM is a multinational shipping company founded in 1889 based in Copenhagen, Denmark with offices located in Manila, Singapore, Mumbai and Stamford. It owns and operates product tankers and bulk carriers which carry refined oil products like gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Like AXA it has funded operations for ACCORD’s typhoon Haiyan response.

The complete list of donors for typhoon Haiyan is available at the ACCORD

website. Just follow the link below.

http://accord.org.ph/donors-typhoon-haiyan-response

The support of our donors is indeed very valuable for us to achieve our shared causes. In the event that any donor has questions, comments and complaints, you are welcome to inquire at [email protected]. You can also visit our website (www.accord.org.ph) or social network profiles (Facebook, Twitter).

We would like to express our gratitude to all those who supported ACCORD’s operations for 2013. We vow to continue delivering systematic and effective services to match the trust given to us by all donors. We hope that you would continue to support our causes.

4.1.2 International Non-governmental Organizations

4.1.3 Private Sector

4

An elderly woman happy with the food aid she received


http://accord.org.ph/donors-typhoon-haiyan-response

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.accord.org.ph

http://www.facebook.com/accordinc

http://www.twitter.com/ACCORD_Inc

In order to ensure the success of disaster preparedness and mitigation efforts in communities, it is very crucial to work with all stakeholders of a certain issue. When everyone is involved, it is easier to ensure the sustainability or legitimacy of a certain system or practice.

Although NGOs such as ACCORD are very visible in humanitarian response and disaster risk reduction, it is still the government that has the primary duty to take

the lead in these areas. It is the government that is accountable to its people and

is mandated by law to ensure the rights of the people to a life with dignity free of

disasters. It is very evident that the government still has much to do in order to

provide the general public with the appropriate systems and mechanisms for DRR

and humanitarian response. This is where NGOs come in, to support the

government and develop comprehensive and effective strategies that would

minimize the need for humanitarian operations.

DOST-PAGASA

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration

(PAGASA), an agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), has

been a long-time partner of ACCORD in disaster risk reduction activities. With

their technical knowledge and expertise, they have not only supported ACCORD in

understanding concepts like climate change and meteorological hazards, but also

in ensuring that community-based and indigenous early warning systems are

scientifically sound.

DILG

One of the ways to ensure that risks are comprehensively reduced and mitigated is

to integrate DRR, CCA, and EMR in the policies, plans and practice drafted by local

and regional government officials. ACCORD works with municipal and barangay

LGUs in order to advocate for mainstreaming DRR,CCA, and EMR in these policies.

DILG supports by being the coordinating body that links ACCORD with local chief

executives (LCE) in order to establish legitimate working relationships. They also

provide guidance on relevant mainstreaming processes.

DepEd

The Department of Education (DepEd), particularly its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, is a key partner of ACCORD in its DRR program. Together with DepEd, ACCORD engages in trainings and public awareness activities such as drills to prepare schools for disasters. It also works with DepEd in reviewing the School Improvement Plan (SIP) guide in order to integrate concepts of DRR, CCA and EMR in school policies throughout the country, as the school plays a vital role in information dissemination and in community evacuation during disasters.

PfR Consortium

The Partners for Resilience is a partnership between five Dutch NGOs and their

local implementing partners.

Netherlands Red Cross

NLRC is one of the main societies within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement to focus on resilience. It aims to reduce poverty through reducing vulnerability of people and communities, and the protection of their health, livelihoods and socio-economic base.

As the lead agency of PfR, it takes charge of the over-all direction of the project. It taps into its local partner (and also a member of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement) Philippine Red Cross for the project’s local implementation.

CARE Nederland (CNL)

CARE Netherlands is recognized as one of the strongest agencies practicing community-based DRR within CARE International. Its experience in working with communities and with local and national government units is a key factor in ensuring that DRR, CCA, and EMR is integrated with development plans on the local and national scale.

Cordaid

Cordaid is the lead agency within Caritas when it comes to disaster risk reduction.

It has a strong network in the field and long experience regarding resilient

livelihood strategies. Its main focus in PfR is linking, facilitating, and documenting key learning points.

4.2 Networking

4

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4.2.1 Government Agencies

4.2.2 NGOs


Red Cross/ Red Crescent Climate Center (RCCC)

RCCC supports the Red Cross/ Red Crescent Societies and other humanitarian organizations in addressing the impact of climate change and climate-induced extreme weather events. Through capacity building and support for the operational use of climate information, RCCC contributes to more effective and efficient programming.

Wetlands International

Wetlands International is a global organization that believes that the state of wetlands’ health and biodiversity are integral in DRR and CCA, and even social development, poverty alleviation, and biodiversity conservation. They assist the PfR project through their technical knowledge and skills in EMR, and ensuring that activities will be ecosystem-based and would contribute to its rehabilitation.

Philippine Red Cross

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), the local implementing partner of NLRC, is a veteran when it comes to community-based DRR. With its Red Cross 143 volunteers, it is able to mobilize groups and individuals for rescue and humanitarian response.

International Institute of Rural Reconstruction

Cordaid’s local implementing partner, the International Institute of Rural

Reconstruction (IIRR) promotes sustainable community development through

directly working with communities. They believe that for DRR to be sustainable at

the community level, it must be led and managed by the community members

themselves.

Resilience Alliance

The alliance — composed of AADC, ACCORD, CNDR, and CorDis RDS — work

alongside with CNL to ensure that the integrated approach is mainstreamed in

communities, schools, and government units.

Agri-Aqua Development Coalition

The Agri-Aqua Development Coalition (AADC) is a coalition of People’s

Organizations (POs) that has been operating since 1994. The goal of AADC is to

achieve continuous and sustainable rural communities in Mindanao. It supports

fishermen, farmers, indigenous groups, and peasant women to become self-reliant

in order for them to achieve the goals and objectives they desire and be able to

sustain them. AADC believes in the power and resilience of the poor and that they

can make a change for themselves.

Corporate Network for Disaster Response

“Preparedness is our advocacy” is the tagline of the Corporate Network for

Disaster Response (CNDR). CNDR started in 1990 as a network of different

businesses which guides its members in becoming responsible responders. It

directs the resources of corporations into operations that support communities

who have experienced disasters. From engaging in humanitarian response, CNDR

has evolved to also address the need for disaster preparedness. Aside from

working for community preparedness, they assist the business sector in

developing appropriate response programs and raising their awareness regarding

their role in disaster preparedness.

Cordillera Disaster Response and Development Services Inc.

Formerly known as the Montanosa Relief and Rehabilitation Foundation Services, Cordillera Disaster Response and Development Services (CorDis RDS) was born in 1987 after the earthquake that devastated the region. It aims to support the people of Cordillera by working with them in reducing their vulnerabilities while raising their capacities through citizen-based, development-oriented disaster preparedness, response and mitigation. Since its foundation it has moved on from just focusing on disaster response to a more holistic community development service committing itself to the capacity enhancement of communities in sustainable socio-economic and agricultural development, even in the absence of disasters.

4

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INGO Consortium

Working on such a large-scale and extreme disaster situation such as typhoon

Haiyan required INGOs to work together in order to provide a more

comprehensive and a broader scale of service to the rights-holders. In addition to

CNL, the consortium is composed of Action against Hunger (ACF), Save the

Children - Spain and Merlin.

CSSR

The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer or the Redemptorists as they are more popularly known is a is a Roman Catholic missionary congregation founded by Saint Alphonsus Liguori at Scala, Italy. They arrived in the Philippines on June 30 1906, and are currently holding headquarters at the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Baclaran, Manila bringing with them their mission to put Christ’s teachings into action for the poor.

The Redemptorists have long been active in responding to the people in disaster situations, providing evacuation centers and needed supplies as well as engaging in emergency response activities.

As a continuous knowledge generator, the academe is a vital sector as it serves as

a source of new information and up-to-date technical knowledge. Through its

support, organizations such as ACCORD can ensure that the methods and ideas it

shares and practices have sufficient foundation and are scientifically sound.

CSU

The Caraga State University (CSU) is the only state university established in

Butuan. They have supported small scale mitigation activities in Talacogon,

Agusan del Sur by providing technical advice for the interventions.

UP CSWCD

The University of the Philippines College of Social Work and Community

Development (CSWCD) has the long running tradition of producing exceptional

public servants. It upholds the premiere state university’s motto of honor and

excellence through ensuring that its graduates are not only outstanding in their fields, but also have high appreciation for human rights and social justice.

The college has been a partner of ACCORD since typhoon Yolanda in 2013. Its field

integration program is integrated with the organization’s disaster response and

recovery activities in different field areas. The students provide additional support

for ACCORD’s project processes and implementation, and in return, the students

are provided opportunities for learning from first-hand field experiences.

Working to achieve local, regional and national resilience is made much easier, and

more effective and comprehensive through the partnership of all stakeholders.

4.2.3 Academe

4

Interns from UP CSWCD were a big help during the

initial phase of the Haiyan response


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missionary

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Congregation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphonsus_Liguori

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scala_(SA)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Shrine_of_Our_Mother_of_Perpetual_Help

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Shrine_of_Our_Mother_of_Perpetual_Help

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baclaran,_Parañaque_City

5 Communications

Communications play a key role in the development of young NGOs like

ACCORD - informing stakeholders about its work and generating more support for scaling-up programs. It is a vital component in every project which allows us to influence policy-makers regarding effective DRR strategies, and sharing vital information to support communities in building their resilience. Other stakeholders targeted by our efforts include other NGOs, donors, and the general public.

For FY2013, our key communication objectives were:

A. To effectively promote ACCORD and its programs

B. To recognize the support given by communities and donors

C. To increase awareness of and support for DRR efforts C

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5.1 Objectives

Expanded online presence (website & social media)

Organized and participated in national and regional events

Partnered with CARE for media efforts Intensified community-based public awareness activities

Reprinted hazard and WASH flyers for affected communities

To achieve the stated objectives, ACCORD focused on the following:

Efforts were made to frequently update our website with news articles and human

interest stories, which were then disseminated on our social media accounts. It

must also be mentioned that Haiyan provided us an opportunity to reach more

people. Our Facebook followers increased almost two-fold - from 192 (day before

Haiyan hit) to 317 (one week after). This really helped out in raising public appeal

funding for the response. The use of Twitter for short and timely updates was also

intensified.

Joint activities held this year, such as the SSCBDA and the Regional Forum on

Replicating Effective DRR Practices, provided opportunities for networking and

sharing of experiences in DRR. With help from media coverage, these events also

increased awareness and support of our work from communities and

policymakers.

ACCORD staff provided invaluable support to CARE Nederland's media efforts.

These included participation in Reisadvies Negatief, a Dutch TV program where

host Sander de Kramer visits countries not regularly visited by tourists. Kramer

visited our project areas in Camarines Sur and saw the DRR activities being

conducted. He even participated in an evacuation drill and planted mangrove

seedlings. ACCORD staff also provided interviews to news outlets such as

Volkskrant.nl and CNN during Haiyan.

First published in 2007 and 2009, these flyers were again reprinted for inclusion

with goods distributed after Haiyan. They provided affected communities with

important key messages on what to do before, during, and after disasters.

In addition to the usual community assemblies and trainings, existing local activities were also maximized for public awareness efforts. These included classroom discussions on DRR and the distribution of our training manuals and flyers at fiestas and summits. Film showing and evacuation drills were also conducted to get the interest and encourage participation of ordinary community members.

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5.2 Communications Mix


CDKN Writeshop

Training on Mainstreaming DRR-CCA-EMR in Education

Sector and Local Governance

Due to the nature of work that ACCORD engages in, the staff need to be

knowledgeable in various fields. Working in a young NGO that addresses disaster risks and even humanitarian response requires varying knowledge and skills at different levels. Disaster risk reduction and humanitarian response is heavily related to different fields such as science, sociology, development, politics, and many others. In addition, various stakeholders in our work bring their own unique perspectives and context.

Since we have a small number of staff, disaster situations require that each personnel have a multitude of skills s for tasks to be executed effectively, especially because lives are on the line in DRR and ER.

Due to these factors, there is a need to supplement the knowledge and experiences of the staff with capacity building activities. They need to be provided with the appropriate training to equip them for real-life situations. This is in order for the individual to be able to realize his/her optimum potential as part of a movement to achieve community and, ultimately, national resilience.

We also take part in and organize different learning activities such as forums and conferences so that our staff can be able to exchange knowledge and experiences with other humanitarian workers. The co-learning activities also enable our staff to share what they know and supplement what they already know with lessons from speakers in related fields.

It is not enough to only understand concepts in order to relay them well. Getting

policymakers and other stakeholders interested in our message is also important.

Different target audiences will need to be given different ways of presentation

depending on where they are coming from.

The mainstreaming training equipped the staff with skills to facilitate the introduction and integration of these relatively new concepts into the education

and local governance sectors. Staff were trained how to relate and weave the

concepts of DRR-CCA-EMR into a language and a perspective that educators and

LGUs would be able to understand and appreciate.

The 2013 CDKN Writeshop served as the venue for the PfR staff to effectively

convey the experiences and learnings of the communities they work with, and

translate it into the book Creating new paths to resilience, published by PfR

Philippines and Indonesia.

In large-scale projects such as PfR, there is a need for publications not only to illustrate and share best practices in DRR-CCA-EMR, but also to encourage the involvement of more people in the cause. They should be able to convey key messages which are clear and presented in a manner that sparks the interest of the readers. The writeshop provided strategies on effective messaging and technical writing to equip the writers and contributors to successfully tell their stories.

Activity Participants Date/Venue

Training on Mainstreaming DRR, CCA, and EMR in Education Sector and Local Governance

PfR and SUBU staff

June 27-28, 2013

Fersal Inn, Quezon City

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) Writeshop

PfR staff June 2013

Bali, Indonesia

Regional Forum on Replicating Effective DRR Practices

SUBU staff in Cam Sur, consortium partners, ECHO

October 1-2, 2013

Naga City, Camarines Sur

7th South-South Citizenry Based Academy

SUBU and PfR staff, partners from LGUs, CSOs and government agencies

October 7-10, 2013

Butuan City, Agusan del Norte

Human Resources

6.1 Capacity Building and Learning Activities

ACCORD staff smile for the camera while monitoring

the repair of houses in Bopha-affected areas

6


South-South Citizenry-based Development Sub-academy

The regional forum was designed to create a venue where the European

Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department's (ECHO) partner

organizations in the Philippines and representatives from the most vulnerable

communities can learn from each other's experiences concerning DRR.

It was attended by INGOs, local NGOs, LGUs, and representatives from the

different communities in Camarines Sur, Bicol Region. Through the forum,

different stakeholders sharing the same interests were able to hear other perspectives and strategies on DRR that they can apply to their own areas.

The South-South Citizenry-based Development Sub-academy (SSCBDA) is a

regional conference organized by PfR through the United Nation Development

Program's (UNDP) UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC). It is a regional conference that provides communities, local NGOs, and LGUs with the

opportunity to engage in discussions regarding the challenges and solutions

regarding DRR and development .

The conference is designed to facilitate sharing and exchange of knowledge and

experiences within and outside the region. The community members, LGUs and

NGO staff alike are given new perspectives and strategies to further improve their

implementation of DRR activities. They are also able to broaden their networks

due to the variety of participating bodies.

It is very important to the organization that it is able to provide the staff with the appropriate skills and knowledge needed to effectively perform their responsibilities. We acknowledge the need to develop the current knowledge and skill sets possessed by our staff so that we can provide the optimum level of service that we can manage.

Managing a far-reaching and multi-faceted organization is no easy task. Decision-making and direction-setting cannot be limited to one person alone. It requires the

work of a collective, of people who have adequate knowledge, skills and

experiences in line with the organization’s causes.

ACCORD's Board of Trustees is composed of seasoned experts and veterans in

their respective fields. Each of them brings comprehensive knowledge from a

background of rich experiences to steer the organization further while remaining

true to its core principles.

Jason Villegas

A former member of the Presidential Task Force on Climate

Change and currently a Senior Science Research Specialist in

the Department of Energy, he supports ACCORD through his

expert technical knowledge in scientific concepts regarding

climate change.

Rev. Fr. Victorino Cueto C.Ss.R

Father Cueto is the rector of the Redemptorist Church in

Baclaran, Paranaque City. With multiple degrees in theology and religious studies, he was very actively involved in emer-

gency response and livelihood recovery through the Redemp-

torist Permanent Commission on Social Mission. The Redemp-

torists has worked very closely with grassroots organizations

in both urban and rural settings.

Susan R. Espinueva, Ph.D.

Dr. Espinueva has extensive local and international experience

in meteorology and climate change. She is the PAGASA lead

person for establishing community-based flood early warning

systems throughout the country. She is also the former presi-

dent of the Philippine Meteorological Society.

Atty. Rico Rentuza

Atty. Rentuza is the former Municipal Mayor of Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte. He was elected to the position on a platform

of transparency and accountability in local governance and

disaster management. Under his watch, the municipality won

the national Gawad Kalasag for best practices in disaster risk

management.

Marieta Lupig Alcid

She has extensive local and international experience in community-based disaster risk reduction, including advisory

services to CARE International projects in India and Vietnam.

She was also the project director for various DRR projects be-

fore assuming leadership of ACCORD.

Ma. Ines P. Bagadion

She has been a consultant to the World Bank Resident Mission

in the Philippines since 1998. Her various fields of expertise

include social assessment, social safeguards policy

development, capacity building for participatory PCM,

community-driven development, organization development, experiential learning program design and facilitation, and

gender mainstreaming.

Celso B. Dulce, Jr.

As the DRR advisor of CARE in the Philippines, he is a DRR

consultant whose experience includes advisory services to

CARE Nederland’s DIPECHO-funded projects in the

Philippines, Tajikistan and Nepal. He is also CARE Nederland’s

representative in the Philippines. Working with NGOs for 20

years, he acquired invaluable experience and expertise on

disaster management, food security and nutrition, project cycle management and fundraising.

6

Regional Forum on Replicating Effective DRR Practices

6.2 Board of Trustees


6


ACCORD 2013 Organizational Structure

Thrusts and Priorities for FY2014

Disaster Risk

Reduction

Increase resilience building efforts across riverbasins and watersheds as PfR enters its 4th year

Identify, in partnership with the academe and other CSOs, ecosystem-based and climate-smart

SSMs that double as resilient livelihoods

Improve coordination with non-consortium CSOs and NGOs to determine gaps in coverage

and avoid duplication

Conduct additional capacity building activities for consortium staff

Develop further alliances between LGUs, CSOs, and NGAs

Build on the efforts of the recently ended SUBU project to further mainstream DRR-CCA-EMR

Emergency

Response and

Recovery

Provide shelter and livelihood recovery support to families affected by Typhoon Haiyan and

the Bohol earthquake

Conduct capacity building activities in shelter, livelihood, and DRR

Incorporate learnings from previous projects on mainstreaming DRR in ER

Clarify the terms of existing CSO partnerships to better support the response

Organizational

Management

Review & improve decision-making structures and processes

Update ACCORD’s Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP)

Develop organizational advocacy strategy

Undergo NGO accreditation process with DSWD and PCNC

Administration

and Human

Resources

Review and improve procurement and logistics systems

Conduct job analysis to help clarify staff roles and responsibilities

Develop performance appraisal system

Finance Review and improve existing systems (e.g. disbursement, liquidation, etc)

Implement consistent financial documentation processes

Resource

Mobilization

Diversify funding sources further to boost the organization's financial sustainability

Exert more efforts in donor relations and communication work to raise organizational profile

Communications

Ensure consistent documentation and dissemination of our work through events,

human interest stories, etc

Support requirements for public awareness and visibility

Establish and maintain relations with media professionals

Monitoring and

Evaluation Develop new and improve existing tools to better measure impact of our programs

As an organization committed to excellence, ACCORD aims to provide continuously improving programs and

services. The priorities for FY2014 listed below reflect its desire to have a larger, more lasting, and sustainable impact on the lives of the most vulnerable.

7 Plans for Next Year

Children manage to smile and

make the best of less-than-ideal

conditions


Typhoon Yolanda is the most devastating typhoon-related disaster in recent

history in the Philippines. It was devastating in terms of economic impact, number of casualties, and environmental destruction. It highlights how extreme weather

events due to climate change can affect countries like the Philippines. Meanwhile,

Sendong (2011), Habagat of 2012, Pablo (2012), and Yolanda (2013), show how

disasters are worsening and becoming more frequent. With the country affected

by disasters almost every year, progress in development is stalled and even set

back. The amount of resources destroyed and spent on recovery keeps us in a

cycle of rebuilding and destruction. Worst of all, it is the poor and marginalized

who are at the greatest disadvantage.

But even in disaster situations, we believe that communities retain their right to a life of dignity and that they can rebuild towards resilience. Together, we can work to support communities to get back on their feet. We can work with them in building their capacity towards disaster preparedness. We can build a disaster-resilient Philippines and you can have a part in making it all possible.

How You Can Help

For more information, you can e-mail us at [email protected] or visit our website, Facebook page, or Twitter account.

Be a part of the movement towards resilience!

Participate

Cooperate Donate

Advocate

Be a volunteer! Expertise in fields such as DRR and engineering, as well as skills like layouting and creative multimedia production are always welcome at ACCORD.

Allow us to reach further and serve better. Contact us for donations. No amount is too small to make a difference.

Help us spread the good news of resilience and how it can be achieved. Share our social media content or start a campaign with us!

We would gladly entertain innovative ideas, individuals, and organizations that we can work with in realizing mutual visions and objectives. Become our partner!

ACCORD staff, UP CSWCD interns and volunteers smile for the camera after

a hard day’s work

Captions:

Top left: Volunteers preparing relief goods for distribution to Haiyan survivors

Top right: Mayor Ed Severo of Calabanga, Camarines Sur speaking about how their commitment to DRR changed their community

Bottom left: IHG representatives meeting with ACCORD management to find out how they can help Bohol earthquake survivors

Bottom right: Haiyan survivors calling their relatives abroad through the satellite phone provided by Rescue Telecom


8

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.accord.org.ph

http://www.facebook.com/accordinc

twitter.com/ACCORD_Inc

Assistance and Cooperation for

Community Resilience and Development

Documents

ACCORD Incorporated 2013 Annual Report