The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) assessed the situation in Myanmar after Cyclone Komen caused widespread flooding in 2015. They found that farmers lacked ways to safely evacuate their livestock during floods. IFAW's solution was to design and build tall soil platforms with tops for animals, which sparked hope in farmers. IFAW then formed a local disaster risk reduction committee and rescue team, and involved the whole community in building more platforms and preparing for the 2017 flood, resulting in no animal losses. The project was so successful that the government adopted the platform solution and community preparation approach.

1. A PLATFORM FOR CATTLE SPARKS HOPE FOR
FARMERS IN DISASTER PRONE REGION

2. The challenge
_

3. The challenge
_
The challenge
In 2015 Myanmar experienced the
cyclone Komen leading to a flood of
the century. IFAW sent a disaster
response team to assess the
situation.

4. Local
assessment
_

5. The challenge
_
Assessment
Our assessment revealed that the farmers faced
challenges with bringing their animals to a dry and
safe location during the flood. With no where to
go the livestock stands in high water for days or
weeks, exhausting the animals and leaving them
vulnerable for diseases and death.

6. The solution
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7. The challenge
_
Our plan
Our team decided to do a pilot
project were we in collaboration
with local builders designed a tall
evacuation platform, made of soil,
with a platform on top.

8. The platform
sparked hope
In farmers
_

9. The challenge
_
Hope was born
Our simple solution made of local
materials, sparked hope in the
farmers living in the area.

10. IFAW´s disaster response unit has seen
a structural change from 80%
responses to 80% preparedness over
the last years. Preparedness
empowers local communities; by
finding creative solutions to
unavoidable annual hazards, they are
able to control their own destiny and
overcome a sense of helplessness.

11. International Fund for Animal Welfare /
Disaster Risk Reduction, Myanmar
We formed a
committee.
The ADRRMC
/ Ingapu
_ 17

12. The challenge
_
The ADRRMC / Ingapu
To make a sustainable solution we created a local
team committed to the project.
• Disaster risk reduction team, made up of respected
village leaders - representing all layers of the society.
• A rescue team with younger members working
directly with the animals during floods - all being
animal owners.

13. Community
participation
_

14. The challenge
_
Community participation
Our goal was to involve all stakeholders in the
society, creating maximum impact of the project.
Building the platform involved every part of the
society. From less advantaged farmers owning not
more then 1 – 2 cows with the most need of the
platform, to village leaders and LBVD representing
the authorities

15. Collaboration
between
villagers and
the government
_

16. The challenge
_
Stakeholder´s collaboration
The villagers are used to being given aid and not taking part in the
decision making process. By involving them and listening to their needs,
they felt connected to the project and were given a sense of
responsibility. They were also given a chance to work directly with the
government.
Creating a coalition between the locals and the government was not
easy since Burmese people holds a long history of scepticism against
the ruling elite. Thus, trust needed to be built. The strength of this
project has been to show the villagers a commitment over a long period
of time on behalf of both IFAW and the government.

18. The challenge
_
Rescue team
June 2017 IFAW held a preparedness
training in risk reduction for the local
rescue team, based on the American
hierarchy Incident Command
System.

19. The whole
community
was prepared
for the 2017
flood
_

20. The challenge
_
Well documented results
In 2017 a prepared community the
farmers suffered no loss of animals,
few diseases and where able to go
straight back to work after the flood.

21. Embracing the
project
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22. The challenge
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Embraced by the government
The project has been so successful that the
government implemented the solution in
their disaster risk reduction planning -
building six new platforms based on the
same design.
The villagers attitudes have changed from
hesitation to full involvement.

23. The real
winners
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24. The challenge
_
The real winners
The silent beneficiaries are of course the animals- the
faithful cows who no longer face the threat of dying
from the exhaustion of standing in high water or
infected wounds. Animals who can survive simply
because their owners were given the opportunity to
prepare with a target in mind, instead of
overwhelmed responding after the disaster occurred.