The European Commission's Humanitarian Aid department funds disaster preparedness projects around the world. It has supported initiatives in South Asia, including Nepal, to raise awareness, build capacity for disaster response, and develop local leaders in participatory disaster preparedness. The department works with partners to provide relief supplies and support preparedness activities, especially in areas prone to natural disasters. ActionAid Nepal is implementing a DIPECHO-funded project called "Surakshit Samudaya" across five districts to help communities prepare for, respond to, and mitigate disasters through REFLECT groups, training, small-scale infrastructure, and networking.

1. ownership of the project provisions, water supplies, sanitation, emergency repairs
REFLECT to be used as the key participatory process and tool for local planning and implementation and mine-clearing.
Raising awareness and building capacities to complement community mobilization and leadership development to
The Commission also funds disaster preparedness and
effectively respond to disasters
mitigation projects in regions prone to natural
Developing and nurturing a pool of local resource persons in participatory disaster preparedness initiatives at the
catastrophes. Under department of Disaster
community level
Preparedness (DIPECHO), the European Commission’s
Building partner capacity to facilitate disaster risk reduction process based on competence, transparency and
Humanitarian Aid department has been supporting a
accountability
number of disaster preparedness initiatives in South Asia, including Nepal.
Advocating rights of people affected or impacted by disasters or prone to disasters to lead a life with dignity
Collaboration and networking among various stakeholders at local and national level to be strengthened
Contribution to local and national efforts in building a disaster resilient Nepal ActionAid Nepal
ActionAid is an international anti-poverty agency working in over 40 countries, taking sides with poor people to end
European Commission Humanitarian Aid department poverty and injustice together. Founded in the United Kingdom in 1972 and registered as a global entity in The Hague, the
Netherlands in September 2003, the ActionAid International Secretariat is based in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department is under the direct responsibility of Commissioner Louis Michel.
Since 1992, the Commission has funded relief to millions of victims of natural and man-made disasters outside the European ActionAid is committed to improving the quality of life of the poorest and the most excluded people so that they can live
Union. a life of dignity. It has over three hundred thousand supporters across Europe. ActionAid has been working in Nepal since
Aid is channelled impartially to the affected populations, regardless of their race, ethnic group, religion, gender, age, 1982. Its mission here is to empower poor and excluded people to eradicate poverty and injustice.
nationality or political affiliation. In the area of humanitarian aid, the Commission works with 200 operational partners,
including specialised United Nations agencies, the Red Cross/Crescent movement and non-governmental organisations Local Implementing Partners
(NGOs). The European Commission is one of the biggest sources of humanitarian aid in the world. In 2006, it provided 671 Underprivileged Children’s Association; Nava Prabhat Samaj Sevi
million euro for humanitarian programmes. This does not include the aid given separately by the EU’s 25 Member States. Pariwar, Women and Children Development Forum; Friends
Support went to projects in 74 countries. The funds are spent on goods and services such as food, clothing, shelter, medical Service Council Nepal, Prerana,
Districts: Sunsari, Udayapur, Makawanpur, Rupandehi and Sarlahi
Duration: 15 months, starting 1st November 2007
Total Budget: Euro 348,285 (including 15% co-finance)
The project is funded by European Commission through its
Humanitarian Aid department
For more information, visit www.dipechonepal.org or write to
The DIPECHO Project Manager
ActionAid Nepal P. O. Box 6257, Lazimpat, Kathmandu, Nepal Phone: +977-1-4436477, Fax: +977-1-4419718
Email: mail.nepal@actionaid.org URL: www.actionaid.org/nepal

2. Prelude Result 2 : Established functional network of disaster preparedness committees and
stakeholders
Nepal is a Himalayan country rich in natural beauty. But ironically it is also a theatre of disasters. The beauty and the Municipality level and VDC level networks formed
development progress of Nepal have been overshadowed and hindered by recurring disasters. Be it flood, landslide, Active REFLECT/Disaster Management Committees in the project area
earthquake, hailstorm, cold wave, heat wave or civilian conflicts, the people of Nepal have been hounded time and again
Linkages with government departments
by elements of nature as well as human misdemeanors, mostly affecting the poorest and differentially vulnerable sections
Linkages with schools, fire control unit, youth organizations
within the society.
Disaster Information Centres established in districts
Disaster vulnerability is one of the contributing factors in aggravating and perpetuating poverty in Nepal. ActionAid Nepal, Information sharing and action plan workshops for stakeholders
with its mission to empower poor and excluded people to eradicate poverty and injustice, has adopted Disaster Risk Project Objective Disaster Relief fund to Disaster Management Committees
Reduction as a crosscutting initiative.
To enable communities towards disaster management through awareness, empowerment and enhanced capacity of Small Scale Mitigation and Preparedness
Poor and marginalized people are affected more by disasters. They are often pushed into the vicious disaster-poverty cycle, accountable stakeholders In the vulnerable communities, small structural support and mitigation work can go a long way in
leading to a constant struggle for subsistence, which in turn severely impairs their effort to claim rights and lead a life with
Expected Results and Proposed Activities reducing the impact of disasters. Under this project, model mitigation work like school retrofitting,
dignity. For such communities, it is imperative to have deep understanding about the causes of disaster and poverty, and
emergency shelters, flood control structures and environmental management will be demonstrated as
about available measures and opportunities to reduce the impact of disasters. ActionAid Nepal, through its Disaster Risk Awareness, Capacity Building and Leadership a part of disaster preparedness initiatives.
Reduction initiatives, addresses the issues of vulnerability and hazards while enhancing skills, capacity and leadership of the The community-based approach to disaster preparedness will be centred on REFLECT process, a highly effective
vulnerable groups so that they become more resilient to disasters. ActionAid believes in a collaborative approach to disaster participatory tool to mobilize the community and strengthen their collective leadership. Through participatory vulnerability Result 3: Ensure protected sites through small scale mitigation for disaster preparedness
risk reduction and is committed to the principles of participation, accountability and transparency. analysis, awareness and capacity building measures, people will be motivated to build coping mechanisms and resilience Identification and marking safe exit in project area
to disasters. Establishing traditional early warning system
DIPECHO Project Retrofitting school buildings to make it quake-proof
Results 1 : Raised awareness and enhanced capacity of communities and stakeholders to cope with disasters Emergency shelters to be constructed in disaster prone areas
From November 2007 onwards, ActionAid Nepal has been implementing a project titled Surakshit Samudaya, a DIPECHO
Formation of community-based Disaster Management Committees Afforestation through plantation in flood catchment areas
project in five disaster prone districts of Nepal, towards building safer communities through disaster management. This
Participatory Vulnerability Analysis and Risk Mapping
project is funded by European Commission under its Humanitarian Aid department, as a part of the DIPECHO Action Plan Access to Resources and local participation
for South Asia. Under DIPECHO III (2006-07), AAN had successfully implemented a disaster preparedness project in three Disaster Management Training for grassroots volunteers
districts of Nepal and the current project under DIPECHO IV will have a wider coverage and scope to address issues related Training in First Aid, Search, Rescue and Evacuation Result 4: Increased access to locally available resources through accountable and responsible
to disaster vulnerability in the country. Activate and sustain REFLECT centres in project area stakeholders
Training in managing Fire Disasters Disaster Management plan to be developed by Disaster Management Committees (DMC)
Masons’ Training for disaster proof buildings Rescue and relief materials to be kept at bay with DMCs
Awareness through radio and street theatre Mobilising government resources to preparedness and mitigation
Grassroots Networking and Linkages Improving linkages to access relief during disasters
Collective action is key to community efforts to disaster preparedness. In this AAN-DIPECHO Project
project, efforts will be made to link people’s grassroots initiatives with government and other stakeholders, effectively Strategic Approach to Disaster Preparedness
building up a network of people, institutions and government to ensure community resilience to disasters.
Make disaster preparedness a community-based approach, ensuring participation and