DIPECHO BANGLADESH … Making a Difference

WHY DIPECHOIN

BANGLADESH?

TOP 10 NATURAL HAZARDS REPORTED

Source: CRED

DAMAGES INCURRED

Source: UNDP

EXPOSURE TOWARDS DISASTERS

Source: CRED

COMPARATIVE ANALYSISDisaster Category People Killed

SIDR - Bangladesh 4 3,500

NARGIS - Myanmar 3 142,000 +

Disaster Category Wind Speed People Killed

1991 Cyclone- Bangladesh 4 220 km/hr 139, 000Cyclone Andred, 1992, USA 18

What Made the Difference ???

DRR Initiatives !!!

PREPAREDNESS IS THE FIRST RESPONSE MECHANISM AT THE ONSET OF DISASTER

Bangladesh – 12 June 2007, landslide in Chittagong, over 100 dead. Volunteers trained under DIPECHO in 2006-2007 were the first on site to

provide assistance in Search and Rescue and First Aid to victims of disaster.

OBJECTIVES Enhance the capacities of disaster vulnerable communities to

respond to and cope with disasters

Improve grassroots, community based institutions, who are the first respondents to any disasters

Develop replicable models of preparedness

Support national government in development of appropriate policy models in DRR and Response

MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE DIPECHO V PROGRAM

• Larger visibility

• Greater negotiating power

• Cost reduction

• Avoid duplication of efforts

• Avoid reinventing the wheel

KEY IMPACTS

AREAS OF INTERVENTION Community Mobilization

and Awareness

Risk Assessment

Capacity Building

Small Scale Mitigation

Advocacy and Coordination

Cross Cutting Issues

COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION AND AWARENESS

THROUGH TRADITIONAL AND FOLK MEDIA

DRR FAIRS AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS

ARRANGEMENTS WITH EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

IEC MATERIALS: CONTEXT SPECIFIC AND GENERATED WITH COMMUNITY’S PARTICIPATION

LESSONS

LEARNT

• Good demographic data and stakeholder analysis can lead to better mobilization• Mass Sensitization and awareness should start before CRA• Highlighting the economic value of preparedness facilitates mobilization• Flexible methodologies and process to match community's priorities around day-to-

day development issues• Capacitating community groups to access government resources creates motivation

for continuous mobilization• Traditional ways of raising awareness can be more effective than using new

technologies• Use of existing folk media/theatres and other culturally sensitive IEC materials for

community mobilization and awareness• Encourage community level volunteers to participate actively in awareness raising• Schools are excellent platforms to disseminate DP messages: Child to family

Hazard and Risk Mapping

CARRIED OUT WITH A DIVERSE SET OF COMMUNITY

PREPARATION OF THE COMMUNITY CONTINGENCY PLAN AND TRIANGULATION

SHARING OF THE PLAN WITH THE LARGER COMMUNITY

Lessons

Learnt &

Challenges

• Respect to the knowledge of the community• Participation of diverse set of communities• Use of local resources with which the community associates• Contingency plan is a dynamic document which incorporates the

needs and priorities of the community

• Standardization of the tools• Focus on the process rather than the tools• Proper follow up with the community on the action plan• Develop the buy-in of the duty bearers towards community action

plan

COMMUNITY CAPACITY

BUILDING

MEDICAL FIRST RESPONDER

SEARCH AND RESCUE

EARLY WARNING SYSTEM

FIRE FIGHTING

MOCK DRILL

Lessons

Learnt &

Challenges

• Practical and time-bound demonstrations are more effective ways to build capacity than classroom training

• All training should have a clear-cut follow-up plan to ensure that skills are regularly practiced and remembered

• Capacitating UDMCs to access government schemes with the potential to reduce disaster risk motivates them to take responsibility

• Strengthening the existing government programs through capacity building inputs

• Opportunity cost of training• Non availability of trained personnel and standardized manual• Participation of women in the outdoor training

SMALL SCALE MITIGATION

HOMESTEAD RAISING

SHELTERS IN THE FLOOD PRONE AREAS

FIRE FIGHTING ENHANCING COMMUNITY MOBILITY

Lessons

Learnt

• Construction of the flood/cyclone shelter needs to have a very comprehensive approach

• Ensuring community contribution and their participation in the whole process

• For greater acceptability, the infrastructure created has to be sensitive to the needs of the vulnerable community

ADVOCACY AND COORDINATION

• Construction of the flood/cyclone shelter needs to have a very comprehensive approach

• Ensuring community contribution and their participation in the whole process

• For greater acceptability, the infrastructure created has to be sensitive to the needs of the vulnerable community

Lessons

Learnt &

Challenges

•Identification and engagement with key stakeholders with a plan•Linkage between the village level institutions and government departments/programs to leverage resources from the government•Sharing regular project updates with the government strengthens advocacy work•Sensitization of media people enhances advocacy

•Lack of understanding on rights and entitlements in various legal instruments and guidelines (SoD, DM Act)•Limited capacity and power of the local governance structure

CROSS CUTTING ISSUES: TARGETING THE MOST VULNERABLE

Lessons

Learnt &

Challenges

•The most vulnerable and marginalized population have certain strengths that needs to be identified and utilized•Peer support system needs to be developed• Involvement of the children to the program has to be through joyful

learning process•Technical input from specialized agency• Identification and mapping of the most invisible part of the society•Non availability of authentic data•Taboo and socio-cultural beliefs associated with the persons with

disability•Mainstreaming

WHAT WE ALSO DO……?

Lessons

Learnt &

Challenges (Over

Arching)

•DIPECHO is a short duration program and it should be layered with existing programs•Shared Visioning•Engaging with the government ensures the sustainability of the

program•Sharing among DIPECHO partners and key DRR stakeholders avoids the

probability of duplication•More resources for M&E. 5-10% of the budget•Meaningful participation of women and the most vulnerable section of

the society•Retaining the institutional knowledge base

Many ThanksDIPECHO Coordination

Group

Please visit us at: www.dipecho-bd.org