Integrating community-based disaster risk management into socio-economic development process
Country: Thailand
Organization: Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC)
2) Sector of activity: Advocacy Advocacy, strategic action planning, capacity building
 Government officials and other stakeholders preparing CBDRM action plan in Lao PDR
3) Description of your products or services: The Partnerships for disaster reduction in South East Asia (PDRSEA) project was initiated in 2001 to promote community- based approaches to disaster risk management. The project aims to establish an improved and enabling environment for community-based disaster risk management (CBDRM) through promoting ownership in national programs and local entities, enhancing the capabilities of CBDRM practitioners and the expansion and strengthening of existing partnerships. Over the years the project has evolved in a highly focused manner and has contributed significantly to create an enabling environment for preparing disaster resilient communities in five project countries. The key thrust of this project is to institutionalize CBDRM in government policy-making and planning through the following strategic programme support areas:
1. Enhancing technical and operational capacities of communities and partner organizations, 2. Framework developing and action planning 3. Carry out research to identify capacity gaps and development of tools and techniques to support decision- making 4. Strengthening networking of disaster risk management practitioners. 5. Information system management at central and local including level.
The principal clients of the project are: at-risk communities, National Disaster Management Offices, Local government, NGOs/CBOs. The project worked with communities and partner organizations in the earlier years, and now has focused on central and loal government
4) Description of innovation: The basic assumption of this model is that integration of the concept of CBDRM into overall socio-economic development process and the governance is a prerequisite of the disaster risk mitigation. Integration of CBDRM into government policy and planning leads to the institutionalization of this concept. This means that all tiers of the government such as national, provincial, district and community should recognize the need for involving communities and community groups in disaster risk management in their policies and plans, allocate funds for CBDRM activities, assign responsibilities to operational level staff to provide support to community groups, develop appropriate strategies and program to support community action and establish technical resource centers in the country.
Therefore, institutionalization of CBDRM requires the following as its preconditions: 1. Strong policy support 2. Existence of formal organizations/institutional support 3. A framework of disaster risk management 4. Institutionalized budget 5. Presence of dedicated, trained and competent personnel 6.Political will.
Based on the national consultation workshops, the Project has developed a conceptual framework for the institutionalization of CBDRM in all the project countries. A national strategic collaborative action plan on CBDRM has been prepared and implemented, resource mobilization strategies and CBDRM tools and techniques have been developed and successfully implemented.
 Government officials and other stakeholders preparing CBDRM action plan in Lao PDR
5) Description of the financial model: The project has been supported by Disaster Preparedness European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (DIPECHO), however, the follow up activities after the completion of the project will be done by the concerned NDMOs, and other government ministries and NGOs. In the national strategic action plans, provisions have been made to form the community owned disaster risk management fund in the districts. This will enable to sustain the ongoing community initiatives. During the strategic planning commitments have been made by NDMOs/Ministries and NGOs to support for the implementation of action plans. Financial supports have been/will be received from the following sources:
1. Central government /Ministries 2. NGOs/Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies 3. Local communities 4. International organizations (donors/INGOs/UN) 5. Regional cooperation agencies such as ASEAN, ADPC, Mekhong River Commission (MRC) and so. 6.Business organizations.
Client fees represent this approximate percentage of operational budget: 10%
6) Key operational partnership: PDRSEA works closely with the National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs), Local government institutions, and key governmental ministries and departments along with I/NGOs. The project assists government agencies in developing strategies and action plans to support community action for disaster risk management. The project also works closely with international donors, media and business entities in order to mobilize support for community based approaches. The Project has helped NDMOs, and NGOs in enhancing their technical and operational capacities. Te government agencies have supported in formulating appropriate policies and plans, capacity enhancement of local communities, resource mobilization, monitoring and evaluation and establishment and strengthening of early warning system. NGOs are supporting in disaster risk communications and capacity building.
 Minister of Interior of Timor Leste making commitments for the integration of CBDRM into government policy making and planning
7) State of implementation:
We are at the Scaling Up stage. So far, an enabling environment for CBDRM institutionalization has been created. Strategic collaborative action plans have been produced, curriculum on CBDRM for local government officials and communities have been prepared and made operational, CBDRM standards have been developed and development field practitioners’ handbook and other resources packages produced and adapted in the countries. Various capacity building, vulnerability reduction approaches have been adopted to reduce the disaster impacts. National as well as external resources have been mobilized to implement the strategic plans. Strengthening of the concept and wide replication in all parts of the country is required.
What institutions, communities, populations or geographic areas have benefited most from your product/service? Government offices, NGOs, CBOs, Local government officials, media people, business entrepreneurs, very high vulnerable communities, and village cadres of five countries of Southeast Asia namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Timor Leste and Vietnam have been benefited from these activities. Majority of at-risk communities have been benefited directly or indirectly from these activities.
What specific partnerships do you need to be successful? We just need furhter stregnthening of the existing partnerhsips.
8) Replication strategy or expectation:
What plan, if any, do you have for replicating your disaster strategy? What policy, legal or institutional constraints must be overcome for you to be successful?
Once the strategic plans are smoothly operational, ADPC plans to move to other countries and region to replicate this idea of institutionalization of CBDRM in socio- economic development process. However, ADPC will be involved in these countries partly in some areas such as follow up activities, capacity building and development of early warning system, research and technology innovation. The participating countries have endorsed the CBDRM strategic plans in their national disaster management plan, therefore no hurdles in policy level have been seen.
Which specific areas - and why - in your field would benefit most from investment by corporations, foundations, and other investors:
1. Framework development and action-planning-it makes conceptual clarity and identifies key activities and roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders to be done in the country for the integration of CBDRM into policy making and planning. 2. Research and development of tools and techniques to support decision making – Activities include: assessment of capacity gaps of disaster risk reduction organizations, and standardization of CBDRM curriculum, development of CBDRM standards, impact indicators and vulnerability criteria, and strengthening of national CBDRM database system. 3. Strengthening partnerships for sustainability- Media orientation, publication of newsletters, lessons learnt. Form or strengthen the existing networks of CBDRM practitioners in the country. This might include: UN network, NGO network, governmental network, mixed network, regional network, 4.Capacity building
9) The organization: How does the initiative fit with your overall organization's strategic goals and priorities? How did the initiative start?
CBDRM is one of the key units of ADPC and falls under high priority areas. CBDRM approach has been included with priority in the fifteen year strategic plan (2005-2015 AD) of ADPC. In addition to this project, ADPC conducts a number of CBDRM training courses and stduies. Apart from PDRSEA, other units at ADPC are also launching CBDRM projects in the countries of South East Asia. Therefore, ADPC has put CBDRM as a one of the most prioritized area and goals.
9a) Is there a social entrepreneur behind this idea?
It is a collective outputs of many individuals at ADPC.
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10) On the mosaic diagram, which of these factors is the primary focus of your work?
- Factor: Lack of scenario planning and preparedness
- Principle: Leverage the power of each sector
- Other: -
Contact Information:
Name: Mr. Shesh Kanta Kafle
Organization: Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC)
Mailing address: Pathumthani 12120, Khlong Luang, PO Box: 4; AIT OUtreach Building, Bangkok
Country: Thailand
Email:
skkafle@adpc.net
Tel: 66-0-94837980 (cell)
Fax: 66-0-25245382
Website: www.adpc.net
Organization's legal status: Inter-Governmental Agency
Number of Employees: 60
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