1. January 2010, Kathmandu
Surakshit Samudaya II
Building Disaster Resilient Communities, Nepal
First Review Meeting Report
9-10 December 2009
ActionAid Nepal DIPECHO Project Publication
PROJECT AT A GLANCE The Context
Project Area: ActionAid has received funding As a continuous process of
Banke from European Commission Review and Reflection, the
Sunsari Humanitarian Aid department First Review Meeting for
Udayapur to implement the 15 months ActionAid and its partners
DIPECHO project towards under DIPECHO project was
Partner NGOs: contributing to strengthening held during 9-10 December
BEE Group the Disaster Risk Reduction 2009 in Wildlife Resort,
UPCA Nepal
initiatives in Nepal. Bardiya.
NP Nepal
Co-Action Nepal
The project is co-financed by The project review meeting is
Beneficiaries: Australian Government through one of the key activities of the
13,854 people AusAid and implemented by DIPECHO project towards
ActionAid in Nepal in reviewing the partners
Budget: partnership with local NGOs. progress, solving problems,
Euro 377,095 The project titled Surakshit drawing key lessons, building
Samudaya II: Building disaster- team spirit and revisit the
Start Date: resilient communities, Nepal planning with enhanced
01 July 2009 aims to increase disaster commitments. The first review
resilience of the target meeting included ActionAid
Duration: communities. and its partners.
15 months
For more details, contact:
ActionAid Nepal Objectives, Expected outcome and Methods
Ph: 01-4436477
Fax: 01-4419718 Objective of the meeting the progress presentation. Facilitators
Learning from the field
The overall objective of the The workshop was facilitated
application will be shared and
The First Review Meet meeting was to enhance team by P. V. Krishnan (PM), Shyam
documented. The meeting will
(FRM) of AAN DIPECHO building and team spirit. The Sunder Jnavaly (DPM), Ashok
finalize revised targets for the
V Project was intended specific objectives were: Raj Pokharel (PO), Shaurabh
next review period. Also, it will
to take stock of project (a) To critically review Sharma (FAO), Yash Prasad
increase participants capability
progress of the project- Subba (PO), Dillu Raj Ghimire
performance for first to find the solution of
comparing achievements (PO) & Preety Sharma (DO).
five months, i.e., July to operational challenges, and
with targets
Nov 2009 will be highly motivated to
(b) To draw key lessons Key outputs of the FRM
mobilize community for
learned from the project
-: TIPS :- achievement of project result .  Project progress reviewed
implementation
Daily Plan of Action (c) To find out key problems and a brief project update
Meeting Methodology
for Team members in project implementation based on first five months
and find solutions to such The review meeting applied performance was produced
 Prepare daily  Project work plan was ad-
problems, and various methodologies
personal objectives justed and modified to re-
(d) To make corrections in including lecture, anticipatory
 Plan accordingly work plan for remainder group discussion, reflecting in flect plans for remainder of
 Remember 80:20 project period total silence, presentation, and project and specific plans 3
rules interactive planning sessions. It months
 Prioritize the works Expected outcome
was participatory facilitation  Field reflections were col-
 Review Participants will have the and discussion and provided lected from field workers
 Write reflection note concrete learning and sharing scope for personal as well as and will be documented
at least once a week experience which would enrich project reflections.  Improved team skills

2. Surakshit Samudaya II: Building Disaster Resilient Communities, Nepal
Participants
Individual reflection
REFLECT circles form the
core foundation for the
community led
initiatives on DRR.
REFLECT helps us to do From UPCA Nepal: Mr. Yash Prasad Subba, Mr. Shivahari Khatiwada, Ms. Manmaya Niraula, Mr. Dev Narayan
mass sensitization, Sharma, Ms. Khadaga Kumari Magar, Ms. Parbati Limbu, Mr. Khyam Bahadur Dahal, Mr. Alam Miya, Ms.
engage in people led Kamali Chaudhary, Ms. Rita Kumari Chaudhary, Mr. Bidhyananda Mehata, Ms. Anita Gupta, Ms. Mina Urawa.
advocacy and create From BEE Group: Mr. Dillu Ram Ghimire, Mr. Ram Niwas Yadv, Mr. Makbool Mukeri, Ms. Preety Sharma, Ms.
Hasina Bano Mukeri, Ms. Raj Kumari Harijan, Ms. Shanti Devi Mourya, Mr. MB Rana. From Co-Action: Mr.
enabling environment
Dolraj Neupane, Mr. Bishnu Hari Wagle. From Nav Prabhat Nepal: Mr. Durga Nanda Chaudhary, Ms. Nirmala
to realize rights
Budhathoki, Mr. Santosh Singh, Ms. Krishna Raut, Ms. Sarita Chaudhary. From AAN: Mr. P.V. Krishnan, Mr.
Shyam Jnavaly, Mr. AshokRaj Pokharel, Mr. Shaurabh Sharma, Mr. Surendra Bam
Meeting procedure and outcome
The meeting objectives, agendas and Impact of project among people critical assessment of the management
structure were prepared in the advance The review meeting also tried to assess processes at various levels.
for efficient implementation of the the changes the project has been making
meeting. Hence, the meeting followed a Improving self
to people’s lives. The first five months of The outcome of a project depends on the
structured agenda. The sessions were the project emphasized on community
divided logically so as to draw ability of the team members, both as an
mobilization and capacity building at individual and as a team member.
achievement in both qualitative and community level. In this session, all the
quantitative terms. Facilitated session to improve team
field team members were asked to write members capacity and skills were discussed.
Project Performance Review one story of change they have witnessed, Tips were given on setting personal
The first day drew AAN and its partners with detailed evidence on the impact the objectives and milestones and how to
to present and discuss achievement of project has made on the lives of people. achieve those effectively.
activities against the projected plans A total of 22 stories were generated.
developed during project orientation Forward Planning
Project Management Based on discussions and deliberations, the
workshop. Individual presentations
were made including financial plans and The key session on the second day was to team also prepared the work plan for
utilization. Each presentation was review overall management of the remainder of the project period. Specific
followed by discussions, seeking project, including strengths and plans for next three months were made,
clarifications on the achievements, weaknesses that needs to be looked into. aiming to complete all key activities of the
methods and outcome. All the participants were engaged in project before onset of monsoon.

3. Surakshit Samudaya II: Building Disaster Resilient Communities, Nepal
Project Highlights
Functioning of DMC and REFLECT Centers
The project has formed altogether 19 Disaster Management Committees along with 9 DMCs formed under
DIPECHO IV project. There are 197 members in these DMCs. Likewise, there are 32 Reflect center among
which 15 were old. The average number of participants in the Reflect sessions are around 700 in these
centers. The ratio of female to male is higher in both cases
i.e. DMC and Reflect centers which is due to project COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
approach of bringing the people ahead who are deprived in Male Female Total
decision making process.
Reflect Circles 217 479 696
Each REFLECT centers has its local identity. They meet at
DMCs 88 109 197
least once in a week. While women are regular participants,
project motivates and encourages men also to participate in the REFLECT circles. The circles talk about local
issues, identifies vulnerabilities and discusses ways and means to reduce risks. PVA maps and information
form the basis for community understanding of disasters. REFLECT facilitators are provided information
regularly, to update themselves on the disaster education. The facilitators are treated as local resources,
who are responsible not only to conduct REFLECT sessions, but also act as catalysts for social change.
Organizing Capacity Building Trainings
Capacity building of the local communities for building disaster resilient Training course Events Total Male Female
communities is major component of the project. So far as the project has
REFLECT ToT 1 22 9 13
been able to train 428 DMC people, local staffs, volunteers, government
authorities and NGO leaders. PVA Training 1 24 10 14
The staffs were provided with the knowledge and skills on conducting CBDRR: DMC 4 137 74 63
reflect sessions, and Participatory Vulnerability Analysis. DMC members CBDRR: Students 1 40 17 23
were equipped with knowledge on community based disaster risk
reduction. Likewise, NGO leaders, Government authorities and political HFA to GO/NGO 2 105 87 18
parties representatives were sensitized on HFA/DRR issues, so that they Total 9 428 197 131
will be able to mainstream the DRR components in development activities.
PVA field application KAP completed
The project completed the first level of Participatory As a means to understand the current knowledge, attitudes
Vulnerability Analysis in all the project locations. Tools like and practices in the project area, the project conducted the
social map, resource map, vulnerability map, venn diagram, baseline KAP study through a selective sampling process
time line, transect walk and focus group discussions were comprising over 12% of the target direct beneficiaries. The
conducted with the community, generating highly useful local data collected was analyzed with support of experts in similar
information to inform local decision making. AAN DIPECHO studies. The baseline KAP finding will also form the basis of
project is integrating PVA with REFLECT process to create a evaluation of the outcome and impact of the project at a later
powerful local tool to inform, animate and engage community stage. The entire exercise was completed over 6 weeks time
to seek their rights as disaster vulnerable people. The project is and has been a huge learning experience for the team
using PVA as the key analytical and information tool for people. members both in AAN and its partners.
Disaster Preparedness Campaign is ongoing
In 2008, A Reflect center was formed in Ithari municipality ward no. 7 under DIPECHO IV project. The area was prone to
flood inundation, windstorm and other local hazards. Mitigation measure like drainage was made during the project in
collaboration with municipality office. More importantly awareness raising activities were organized through Reflect
sessions. Reflect participants became aware that unless & until there houses are built flood & other local hazard proof; it
was difficult to build safer communities. They influenced peoples in the community to build new or renovate old house with
raised plinth level. Now there are more than 10 houses with such structures. Reflect centers are continuously campaigning
on it. It may be one of the best example on impact of DIPECHO Project.
Shared by: Kamali Chaudhary, Reflect Facilitator
December 10, 2009