Entrants's Name: Asfandeyar Niazi

Country: Pakistan

Field: Citizen/Community Participation

Innovation - idea: Community Capacity Buiding

Innovation - why it is pioneering: At present the majority of Disaster Management plans are fragmented and fails to address the issue of preparing local populations for effective response to future disasters. DPART helps by training local communities to be self reliant empowered by proper training volunteers can search and rescue for survivors and treat minor injuries as well as prepare to be self sufficient for up to 72 hours.

Strategy - how it achieves impact: Trains Local Communities including schools to be better prepared for disasters and effectively respond to disasters within their communities. It addresses the main issue of community capacity building helping dispel the myths behind disasters and providing an easy to understand and implement training regimen to the local population. In the event of a large scale disaster like the October 8th earthquake traditional responding agencies such as the Medical and Fire services are stretched to the limit, a properly trained and managed volunteered force can provide support to rescue and relief operations.

The Program also provides a volunteer search and rescue team free of cost in the event of a major disaster and promotes better relations between volunteers and emergency response agencies.

Strategy - growth plans: We are discussing partnership with Care International to train local (master trainers) within communities who in turn will train members in their communities and help improve the local communities capacity in relations to Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response. It is also hoped that schools will consider showing a greater interest in our School Emergency Response Volunteers program and will introduce it into their curriculum.

Furthermore discussions are underway for cooperation between DPART and organizations including the NCHD: National Commission for Human Development Volunteerism for Community Development, National Volunteer Movement and the Punjab Emergency Ambulance Service.

It is our belief that the 200,000 + volunteers of the NCHD and other prospective partners will prove to be suitable ambassadors for community based disaster preparedness in Pakistan.

Impact to date: Though the DPART program we have inspired CARE International to provide Community Based Emergency Response Training in the Northern Areas of Pakistan (Under Discussion). Since 2005 Our Program has trained in excess of 600 students in subject including Earthquake safety to Basic First Aid. Schools have shown a great interest in the SERV: School Emergency Response Volunteers program and emergency response agencies are keen to build a long term partnership for coordination of Future Disasters.

Future impact: It is our goal to become a leading Voluntary Search and Rescue Team in Pakistan, to provide free and practical advice on Earthquake and Disaster Safety, publish a Disaster/Emergency Response Journal and working alongside the Civil Defence Directorate to comply with INSARAG guidelines to become Pakistan first "Volunteer" INSARAG Search and Rescue Team. It is our aim not to see a repeat of the helplessness and chaos of the October 8th Earthquake.

Sustainability - resource base: At present DPART has a 6 man Volunteer Search and Rescue team based In Islamabad, a Medical component with 2 Volunteer Doctors and 1 Paramedic, the majority of our finance comes from contributions form team members and volunteers and donated equipment from sponsors. However as we grow it is our aim to develop a detailed fundraising strategy to obtain much needed funds to keep our work going this could include the publication of a monthly journal, corporate sponsorship, technical/cooperation agreements, fundraising events including disaster awareness camps.

Major challenge for the field: It is almost a year on since the disaster that struck Pakistan, the international communities contributed greatly to help us get on our feet, however a year on very few organizations are working in this field . It is a shame that even after such powerful human tragedies assistance is piecemeal and driven by personal, political and financial interests.

Contact Information:

Name: Mr Asfandeyar Niazi - Program Coordinator
Country: Pakistan
Website: www.dpartpk.greybruce.org

Bio: I am trained Emergency Response Planner and Search and Rescue I have been deeply involved in the Pakistan earthquake and have assisted in the live rescue of 2 people in Margalla Towers and 3 in Allai, and having seen the devastation and disorganized chaos first hand, it is understood that we cannot stop tragedies from occurring it is my belief that we should all work together to ensure that in the future our communities are better prepared to respond to such disasters. In addition to my voluntary experience I have been a Risk Management consultant to multi-national companies and NGOs in Pakistan.