Engaging the community- volunteerism and DM in Nepal

Umesh Prasad Dhakal Executive DirectorNepal Red Cross

Society

Global Perspectives

• The global Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteer workforce numbers 13.1 million: greater than the population of Greece, and equivalent to the population of Tokyo.

• Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers contributed USD 6 billion dollars worth of services worldwide in 2010.

• The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is calling on governments around the world to continue to increase the protection of volunteers by identifying gaps or barriers in laws and policies related to issues such as liability, insurance, and health and safety.

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Mission of Nepal Red Cross

Relieve human suffering and to reduce vulnerability through community participation and mobilistion of an increased number of volunteers, by expanding and strengthening the organisational structure of the Society and building links with governmental and non-governmental organisations.

Capacity of Nepal Red Cross

• More than 6,000 organisational units (chapters / sub-chapters, JRC/Y Circles) across the country.

• More than 1 million members.

• Nearly 90,000 trained volunteers in several disciplines.

• Community reach across the whole country

• Diversified programmes which integrate volunteer management.

Volunteers in disaster management

Human Resources (both volunteers and professionals)

FACT: 3 Simulator: 115

ERU: 1 RCAT: 2,625

RDRT: 39 MFR: 12

NDRT: 147 CSSR: 4

DDRT: 1,667 (53 districts) PHiE: 29

LSAR: Around 2, 000 WASH: 1,642

First Aid Volunteer: 14,016 Dead Body Management: 13

First Aid Trainers: 651 Tracing personnel: 255

Advance First Aider: 182 PSP/ Counseling: 29/53

Regional core group/FA: 41 Emergency shelter trainer:22

Volunteer Management• Volunteer Management Policy(2002).

• Volunteer Management Handbook (2006).

• Volunteer management as an organisational development programme.

• Systems and structures for managing and mobilising volunteers:

– On line database

– Training, refresher training

– Recruitment and rotation system

– Frequent mobilisation for emergencies and simulations

Linkages between volunteers and comminities

Community Based Approach to DRR and DM

Community

A community is a group of households, families or individuals living in a certain geographical area; working together for a common purpose; however, are diverse in terms of culture, gender, age and with differentiated interests.

Why focus on communities?

• Communities are ones who suffer most from these disasters every year:

– Nepal: Country with diverse topography.

– Multitudes of hazards existing in the communities.

– 10,000 families are affected annually by disaster, 2 lives per day - the highest rate in South Asia.

– Communities are first to be affected and first to respond.

Communities in DRR

• Communities are an effective and cost efficient, frontline force for prevention and mitigation efforts, saving lives, protecting livelihoods, enabling sustainable development.

• The investment in DRR and mitigation yields benefits at the ratio 1:18.6 (Cost Benefit analysis report of CBDRR, 2010.)

Characteristics of a disaster resilient community

Site selection Community organization/ Rapport building

Risk Assessment/ Community Situation analysis (CSA)

Community Disaster risk management planning

Institutional setting/ CDRMO formation

Community led DRM action

Review, evaluation and handing over

Reaching the communtities

Community Organization

process

Engaging communities

Community Organisation

for DRR

Community Based DRR Project Cycle

Lessons Learnt• Community based programmes:

– help to build solidarity among community people and strengthens community resilience.

– help to increase community volunteers and expanding organisation.

– ensure optimum utilization of local resources for risk reduction and capacity building.

• Sustainability measures need to be considered right from the planning phase.

• Community/volunteer involvement is the key for success.

Recommendations

1. Make the most out of community knowledge and resources:

– Encourage the use of indigenous knowledge and practices through the engagement of communities.

– Calculate and acknowledge the economic and social value of volunteers.

Recommendations

2. Ensure good volunteer management systems:

– Establish a systematic, institutionalised approach to volunteer management based on a volunteer management cycle

– Integrate volunteer management into all programmes / projects

– System of rewards and recognition

Recommendations

3. Create an enabling environment for volunteers through:

– Improving the protection, recognition and promotion of volunteers.

– Providing insurance for volunteers working in emergencies

– Calculate and acknowledge the economic and social value of volunteers.

Thank you