The presentation made at the 3rd World Congress on Disaster Management (Visakhapatnam, India) focuses on Pragya (www.pragya.org) Initiatives in Community Preparedness & Risk Governance along with Disaster Mitigation Measures. It discusses Pragya model on institutionalised risk governance with participatory hazard & vulnerability mapping and continual monitoring, ecosystem based solution for disaster risk reduction, and decentralised disaster response with a joint people-state approach involving a culture of collaboration and co-decision, for early warning, evacuation and relief. The model is being piloted in the Indian Himalayas.

1. MULTI-STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATION TO BUILD RESILIENCE IN LAST MILE COMMUNITIES
DISASTER RISK GOVERNANCE

2. LAST MILE COMMUNITIES
VULNERABILITY PROFILE
Low population densities; high concentration of
indigenous communities with diverse cultures; low
visibility
Over 97% households depend on agricultural and allied
activities for livelihood; suffer from low incomes and
leakage of revenues
Low technology infusion; climate volatility leading to
crippling losses; limited all weather roads & poor
telephone/ radio connectivity
Remoteness, difficult terrain; Limited understanding of
local specificities; Inadequate measurement and
monitoring sites for real time data
High out-migration; Migration is a highly gendered
process; In some areas up to 40% of the men are absent
HKH region is home to >40% of the world’s poor; 136.5
million people face frequent natural hazards; volatile geo-
political climate
FLOOD DAMAGE – UTTARKASHI, UTTARAKHAND

3. Need: Livelihoods Rehabilitation for
families with loss of livelihood assets and
earning members
Concerns:
Continuing distress and deepening
poverty and destitution of flood-
affected population
Large-scale outmigration of youth
from the region resulting in
adverse social changes
Severe impacts on women,
children, aged- hunger, ill-health,
insecurity
Trafficking and other adverse
effects on women and girls
Need: Community Preparedness & Risk
Governance along with Disaster
Mitigation Measures
Concerns:
Hurdles in response rooted
in lack of preparedness
and DRR systems
Poor implementation of
DRR strategies & norms,
and lack of local capacity
led to high destruction and
delayed outreach to the
most remote communities
Vulnerable zones with
frequent disasters and
high toll
LAST MILE COMMUNITIES
CRITICAL DRR NEEDS

4. WAY AHEAD
RISK GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK
Ecosystem
Services
Climate
Services
Financial
Services
Basic needs &
well being
Sustainable
livelihoods
Stability and
security
Improved social
capital; Enhanced
adaptive capacity
Diversity Connectivity
Decentralization
& Flexibility
Community
Engagement
Learning &
Innovation
CHARACTERISTICS
RESILENCE ASSETS
RESILIENCE OUTCOMES

5. Responders
Coordination
DM Services
Delivery Processes
Resources & Materials
Responsiveness
Outreach
Adequacy
First hand experiences
In-depth research
TOP 20 IN RISK
AWARD, 2015
SENDAI, 2015
SHOWCASED at
WHS INNOVATION
MARKETPLACE
GENEVA, 2015
ISTANBUL, 2016
MODEL FOR PARTICIPATIVE
RISK GOVERNANCE

6. • Institutionalised risk governance with participatory hazard & vulnerability mapping and continual monitoring
• Adequate preparedness work and ecosystem based solution for disaster risk reduction
• Decentralised disaster response with a joint people-state approach involving a culture of collaboration and co-
decision, for early warning, evacuation and relief
WAY AHEAD
RISK GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK
Targeted measures
for preparedness &
mitigation
Community and state planning for
mitigation actions, incorporating
ecosystem-based Disaster Risk
reduction methods
Adopting green infrastructure for
development; Construction of
protective structures, slope stabilisation
etc, for risk mitigation
Community
anchored actions
Participatory mapping of vulnerable
and safe spaces and evacuation routes
Citizen science program and people-
state liaison to monitor disaster-
relevant data (weather, geological) for
early warning
Targeted measures
for disaster
response
A Multi-Agency response coordination
& information system
Grassroots Disaster Response Teams
with local youth for emergency
response to disasters
Communication channels with last-mile
Points of Presence to enable rapid
response
RESILENCE BUILDERS

7. DMS HIMALAYA - INFO TOOLS
RISK GOVERNANCE
Pre-disaster information
Post-disaster information
• Hazards Calendar
• Resource Directory
• Village Level Disaster Plans
• Hazard Specific Tools

8. Habitation
Youth DRT
Youth DRT
Youth DRT
Youth DRT
Youth DRT
Habitation
Habitation
Habitation
Habitation
PoP
PoP
District DM
Support Unit
Scientific
Institutions
Responder
Network
DMS HIMALAYA - NETWORK
RISK GOVERNANCE
Disaster Management Tools
implemented via a community and
government network

9. • Orientation on early warning & responsiveness
• Training of local youth & grassroots responders
• Multi-stakeholder collaboration for enhanced preparedness
RISK GOVERNANCE – PILOT
PREPAREDNESS & ADAPTATION

10. • Mapping of hazards, safe shelters, evacuation routes
• Grassroots participative planning and awareness events
• Village and district level resource inventories
RISK GOVERNANCE – PILOT
VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT & PLANNING

11. RISK GOVERNANCE – PILOT
COMMUNITY ANCHORED EWS
• Multi-hazards monitoring indices and threshold levels
• Grassroots weather stations & trained youth
• Grassroots evacuation drills

12. • Community Protected Areas
• Youth anchored participatory eco-health index monitoring
• Local level planning and grassroots conservation actions
RISK GOVERNANCE – PILOT
ECOSYSTEMS BASED DRR

13. • Green infrastructure to protect fragile ecosystems
• Protection of natural springs, pasturelands
• Renewables based solutions
RISK GOVERNANCE – PILOT
DEMO TECHNOLOGIES & METHODS

14. RISK GOVERNANCE – PILOT
GRASSROOTS ADAPTATION RESEARCH
• Community anchored planning and research design
• Trial of short duration, stress tolerant, high value varieties
• Trial of improved techniques, seed treatments

15. • Multi-stakeholder workshops for action planning
• National and regional level advocacy events
• Events for engaging with mass-audience
NETWORKING & ADVOCACY FOR
RISK GOVERNANCE

16. THANK YOU
www.pragya.org

17. ABOUT
PRAGYA
RGS ACTION
STATION, 2000
FOR WORK ON
MEDICINAL PLANTS
CONSERVATION &
CULTIVATION
STARS IMPACT
AWARD, 2010
FOR WORK ON
EDUCATION OF
DISADVANTAGED AND
MIGRANT CHILDREN
WHITLEY AWARD,
2000
(WFN & RGS)
FOR WORK ON MEDICINAL
PLANTS CONSERVATION &
CULTIVATION
TOP 20 IN RISK
AWARD, 2015
FOR CITIZEN-BASED
DISASTER-RISK-
REDUCTION IN THE
HIMALAYAS
ALL CHILDREN
READING
AWARD, 2011
FOR DESIGN OF
EDUCATION
INFORMATION SYSTEM
FOR MARGINALIZED
SCHOOLS
ENERGY GLOBE
AWARD,
2005
FOR WORK ON
RENEWABLE ENERGY
TECHNOLOGIES FOR
RURAL ELECTRIFICATION
ICT FOR MOUNTAIN
DEVELOPMENT
AWARD 2016
FOR DIGITAL CROP
ADVISORY PLATFORM FOR
SMALL FARMERS &
EXTENSION WORKERS
Dedicated to working for disadvantaged peoples
since 1995, 20+ years of programming & research
experience.
Outreach to 150,000+ people in Backward
Districts across India. Grassroots connect through
Field Offices & Resource Centres.
Supported by leading donors: EC, DFID, World
Bank-UNDP, UNDEF, IUCN, USAID, UN Women, GoI
Ministries.
Diverse portfolio of programs spanning
Livelihoods; Disaster Management; Education &
Health; Women’s Issues; Environment;
Technologies in Energy, Water, Sanitation.
Internationally lauded for innovative & impactful
programs on Climate adaptation, Conservation,
Education, Renewable energy.
Recognised for pathbreaking research & models
on Climate Change and Disaster Management.
Developed Innovations that have improved
services: Community-based Surveillance of
Maternal & Child Health; Education Information
System for Marginalised Schools; Himalaya-specific
Disaster Management.
Special Consultative Status with UN-ECOSOC
(ECONOMIC & SOCIAL COUNCIL OF THE UN)
Recognized as a ‘SCIENTIFIC & RESEARCH
ORGANIZATION’ (MIN OF S&T, GOVT. OF INDIA)