Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN) is implementing the project in collaboration with Human Rights, Social Awareness and Development Centre Nepal (HUSADEC Nepal), a member of the Start Fund Nepal Network.
The project focuses on strengthening readiness, anticipatory action, and early response mechanisms to flood hazards in vulnerable communities of Jhapa district, Eastern Nepal. It aims to enhance the capacity of local governments and at-risk populations to act proactively, reduce disaster risks, and respond effectively when flood events occur.
Project Objectives:
The overall objective of the project is to improve the readiness capacity of local governments and vulnerable communities for effective anticipatory action (AA) and early response to flood hazards.
Project activities
The project will primarily focus on readiness activities both at Local Governments (LGs) and its specific wards and communities. Necessary coordination will be done with NDRRMA.
- Coordination with Local Emergency Operation Centres (LEOCs): Meetings with all four Local Emergency Operation Centres (LEOCs) in Shivasatakshi Municipality, Kankai Municipality, Jhapa Rural Municipality, and Gauriganj Rural Municipality to strengthen preparedness, AA, and early response mechanisms.
- Engagement with CDMCs and Validation of At-Risk Communities: Consultations with Community Disaster Management Committees (CDMCs) to validate and prioritize the most vulnerable and at-risk communities to ensure targeted and inclusive preparedness interventions.
- Updating Monsoon Preparedness and Response Plans (MPRP): provide technical support to LEOCs to update the Monsoon Preparedness and Response Plans (MPRPs) of all four LGs, aligning them with anticipatory action triggers and early flood response strategies.
- Development of Contingency Plans: Develop contingency plans for each LG, including clear communication protocols, stakeholder roles and responsibilities, and trigger-based actions (e.g., gauge level thresholds) for timely response.
- Assessment of Search and Rescue (SAR) Capacity: Conduct a stocktaking of existing SAR equipment in coordination with LGs to identify gaps, which will be addressed through project support.
- Stocktaking and Pre-positioning of Non-Food Items (NFIs): Carry an assessment of available NFIs across all LGs. Essential NFIs will be pre-positioned to support approximately 500 households during anticipatory action and early response phases.
- Coordination for Early Warning Systems: Strengthen collaboration with the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) and the local gauge station at Mainachuli to support the development of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials and ensure timely dissemination of early warning messages. Seasonal outlooks from DHM will be shared with LGs and at-risk communities.
- Risk Communication and Community Awareness: Develop and disseminate tailored forecast-based risk communication materials (including IEC tools and early warning messages) in local languages to enhance community awareness and preparedness.
- Identification and Strengthening of Safe Locations: Identify safe locations for high-risk communities, including evacuation shelters. Minor repair and maintenance of selected safe shelters will be undertaken to ensure usability during emergencies.
- Search and Rescue (SAR) Training: Provide three-day light Search and Rescue training to 60 local volunteers across the four LGs to strengthen community-level emergency response capacity.
- Capacity Building on Anticipatory Action: Conduct orientation sessions for LG representatives and volunteers on anticipatory action, emphasizing its role in reducing disaster impacts and safeguarding lives and livelihoods.
- Coordination with District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC): Coordinate with the DDMC, particularly for mobilizing security personnel during emergency search and rescue operations.
- Strengthening Flood-Sensitive Infrastructure: Strengthen (minimum of four sites) critical infrastructure vulnerable to flooding, such as embankments, drainage systems, safe shelters, and bio-engineering structures based on MPRPs and consultations with CDMCs and LEOCs.
- Market Assessment and Vendor Engagement: Conduct local market assessments to evaluate the availability of food and non-food items. Select vendors and establish Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to ensure timely supply during anticipatory action and early response.
- Protection from Sexual Harassment, Exploitation, and Abuse (PSHEA): Provide PSHEA orientation to 100 individuals from flood-affected communities to promote safe and inclusive humanitarian response to recognizing the heightened risks of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in disaster contexts,