DRR POLICY ADVOCACY IN NEPAL
DIPECHO Partners in Nepal
SHARING OUTLINE
Rationales Rationales ApproachesApproaches
Key OutcomesKey Outcomes
Key AchievementsKey Achievements
ChallengesChallenges
Key LearningKey Learning
RATIONALERATIONALE
“Building a culture of prevention is not easy. While the costs of prevention have to be paid in the present, its
benefits lie in a distant future.”
-Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, 1999
• Minimize the multi-hazard risks of disasters • Enactment of National Strategy on DRM (NSDRM)
Nepal, adoption of HFA priorities• Formulation of Pro-people (vulnerable and
disadvantaged) DRR policies, current Act is focused on Relief response only
• Promoting Inclusive DRR policy and practices, specially on issues on Women rights, Disability Rights
• Mass education and awareness on realization of DRR mainstreaming in Development
RATIONALE OF ADVOCACY INITIATIVES IN DRR WORKS - 1 RATIONALE OF ADVOCACY INITIATIVES IN DRR WORKS - 1
• Enhancing systematic Early Warning Mechanism for Disaster Risk Reduction
Strengthening DRR Governance:– Ensuring development work do not perpetuate disaster– Ensuring disasters do not wash out the development– Protecting rights of the disaster victims, affected and
vulnerable people
RATIONALE OF ADVOCACY INITIATIVES IN DRR WORKS - 2 RATIONALE OF ADVOCACY INITIATIVES IN DRR WORKS - 2
APPROACHESAPPROACHES
• Individual as well as joint initiatives by different DIPECHO partners based on their expertise
• Inclusive DRR to ensure human rights, and accountability • Promote PLA (people led advocacy) at local, regional and
national level on DRR• Strengthening networks of disaster affected people• Engaging with media on peoples’ causes and needs • Engaging with government, DRR focal ministries,
departments and individuals• Using REFLECT and Women Empowerment Center (WEC)
module as community awareness and mobilizations tools for grassroots advocacy
• Research, study documentation (e.g. DRR Cost Benefit Analysis, HFA Stocktaking ) for policy influencing.
APPROACHESAPPROACHES
AchievementsAchievements
Over 1500 people took charge of advocacy during ISDR day (People’s Caravan and DRR Conclave) at national level
Nine points people’s declaration on inclusive DRR was handed over to President of Nepal
Government of Nepal’s commitment to bring new DM Act on priority
Key Activities: National symposium, Rally on DRR sensitization, exhibition, street drama, youth & media sensitization, Media coverage / TV Show Involvement: NNDMC, DIPECHO partners, UN Agencies, DPNet, DIMAN and National Platform on DRR, Disability partners
Key Achievements – 1 People Led AdvocacyKey Achievements – 1 People Led Advocacy
National strategy on Early Warning System drafted and Early Warning System User Group National Workshop held
Key Action Areas: MOU, committee formation, drafting, sharing, submission to
the cabinetInvolvement: PA, MC, DHM, MOE, other
DIPECHO partners
Key Achievements – 2 Early Warning SystemKey Achievements – 2 Early Warning System
The comprehensive and inclusive DRR toolkit was made; widely distributed to Constituent Assembly (CA) members, Regional Government Authorities, Chief District Officers
Key action areas: DRR tool kit design, MOU, Tool kit launchingInvolvement : 16 organizations including DIPECHO, UNDP, AIN,
NGOs
Key Achievements – 3 Tool KitKey Achievements – 3 Tool Kit
National Network of Community Based Disaster Management Committee (NNDMC) constitution, and strategy prepared, Networks expanded up to District and VDC level
Key Action Areas: Rounds of Workshop/District level consultation meeting
Involvement: NNDMC, OXFAM, AIN and other DIPECHO partners
Key Achievements – 4 NetworkingKey Achievements – 4 Networking
Informed Constituent Assembly members of Nepal (150) on DRR ready to support in ratifying new DM Act. Over 400 CA members directly approached by the project
Key Action Areas: Survey, DRR Orientation, Self commitment, CA Member visits
Involvement: AA, Oxfam
Key Achievements – 5 Mobilizing LawmakersKey Achievements – 5 Mobilizing Lawmakers
Prepared Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of Regional Disaster Relief Committees, and enhanced commitment on DRR in all 5 regions of Nepal through orientations
Key action areas: 5 Regional workshop on DP/DRR; Involvement: RDRC, AA, UNOCHA,CARE, DRC, MOHA,
NPC and MOLD
Key Achievements – 6 Strengthening SOPKey Achievements – 6 Strengthening SOP
Village Development Committee (VDC) Secretaries are oriented in DRR planning process: committed to form village level DMC, create DM fund and village level DM plan
Key Action Areas: DRR Planning Training 2 days 3 events in 3 districts
Involvement: AA, MOLD, MOHA
Key Achievements – 7 DRR in Local GovernmentKey Achievements – 7 DRR in Local Government
Engaging with and pressurizing local government for optimization of local resource mobilization on mitigation activities and emergency fund.
Key Action Areas: Interaction, social audit, rally, protest, stakeholder visit
Involvement: All DIPECHO partners
Key Achievements – 8 Resource OptimizationKey Achievements – 8 Resource Optimization
DIPECHO Film, Documentary, Feature and Radio program produced and broadcasted at national level contributed to mass Concentisation on DRR
Media coverage on DRR issue increased as a result of newspaper and TV journalists are sensitized in inclusive DRR issues. Positive story on DRR, change and success of DIPECHO covered
Key Achievements – 9 Mass Conscentisation & Media Key Achievements – 9 Mass Conscentisation & Media
Key Actions: MOU, script writing, shoot/record, transmission, Orientation on DRR, Field visit
Involvement:DIPECHO partners, UNDP, MSN,ACORAB
• Supported 1 national and 16 districts DDRC to prepare for inclusive monsoon disaster preparedness plans
Key Actions: Comments on DPP guidelines, presentation to national
stakeholders, Involvement of specialized resource persons Involvement:
DIPECHO partners, UNDP, MOHA, UNOCHA
Key Achievements – 10 Influencing DPP
Key Achievements – 10 Influencing DPP
KEY OUTCOMESKEY OUTCOMES
• NSDRM 2009 approved by Government• National strategy on EWS developed• NNCDMC’s federated constitution and strategy
prepared • A comprehensive DRR Tool Kit prepared-owned
by all DRR stakeholders• Disability InclusiveInclusive DRR promoted; Resource
centers established under the umbrella of DPNet at national level and in 5 districts
KEY OUTCOMES - 1KEY OUTCOMES - 1
• People’s declaration on DRR handed over to President (9 points) for directives.
• Discourse on DRR has been increased in political arena parties, development organization and at communities
• VDC budget allocation on DRR is made mandatory through new directives, allocation is in rise!
• Research Study “Cost Benefit Analysis” justified DRR investment (MC Study shows 1 Euro investment in preparedness saves potential damage worth 5 Euro in Kailali, Nepal)
• Presence, support and contribution of ECHO is visible as strong DRR actor (and recognized by the community and Government)
KEY OUTCOMES - 2KEY OUTCOMES - 2
ChallengesChallenges
• Political uncertainties hinders policy change• Absence of local level elected representatives
hinders translating policy into practice.• Varying mandate or interest of the
organisation • Representation of vulnerable and excluded
groups in pre-monsoon plan meeting• Availability of disaggregated data is difficult
and likely to be not representative of reality
ChallengesChallenges
Key LearningKey Learning
• Joint advocacy efforts proved to be effective and efficient (refer to adaptation of NSDRM, proactive role of government on passing the DRR Act, etc)
• Linkage of community level plan with district level plan is necessary for sustainability
• Working closely with Department of Hydrology & Metrology and district authorities for establishing CBEWS proved to be more efficient in terms of coverage, legitimacy and sustainability
Key Learning - 1Key Learning - 1
• Scaling up and extension of EWS is essential with emphasis of multi-hazard approach
• Achievable and measurable indicators to be developed on advocacy from the planning stage
• REFLECT or WEC approach is effective to empower and mobilize all women to raise their voices and participate in decision making process on DRR
• Institutionalization of networks is essential to lead advocacy efforts
• Media as a partner for DRR promotion• Need to build the advocacy capacity of Disability
stakeholders for their involvement in DRR
Key Learning - 2Key Learning - 2
Thank you!