Practical Action South Asia Regional OfficeNarayan Gopal Sadak, Panipokhari, Maharajgunj, PO Box 15135, Kathmandu, Nepal

T: +977-1-4423639/4423640, F: +977-1-4423632, E: info@practicalaction.org.np, W: www.practicalaction.org/nepal

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

The project will continue Practical Action’s work to implement, facilitate and advocate cross-border flood risk management approaches between India (Uttar Pradesh and Bihar) and Nepal. The project will document the best practices, challenges and successes of bilateral and multilateral collaboration on information sharing and supporting each other for community flood resilience.

GEOGRAPHICAL AREA• KoshiRiverBasin(Khotang,Bhojpur,Sunsari,

Udayapur and Saptari) • KarnaliRiverBasin(Bardiya,Kailali,Surkhet,Dailekh,

DotiandAchchham)• Crossborderandregion-widefloodriskreductionin

Nepal and Indian states (Uttar Pradesh and Bihar)• Replicationofsuccessfulfloodresiliencepolicy,

practices and lessons across and beyond focus geographic region through provision of evidence based technical advisory services.

PARTNERSPracticalActionimplementsNepalFloodResilienceProjectinpartnershipwithNepalRedCrossSociety(NRCS)inKoshiRiverBasinandCentreforSocialDevelopmentResearch(CSDR)inKarnaliRiverBasin.Thekeyprojectstakeholders are the communities in targeted locations, membersoflocalandDistrictDisasterReliefCommittees(DDRC),DepartmentofHydrologyandMeteorology(DHM),andministriesanddepartmentsleadingDisasterRiskManagementinitiatives.CollaborationandcoordinationwithNepalRiskReductionConsortium(NRRC)anditsflagships will be continued. International engagement will be created through our offices, partners, alliance members and networks to sharing-learning, provide technical and advisory services at international level.

BUDGETCHF1,500,000

TIME PERIOD5 years (July 2013 – June 2018)

Nepal Flood Resilience Project

TheNepalFloodResilienceProject(NFRP)ispartoftheGlobalFloodResilienceProgramme(GFRP),the

globalallianceinitiativeofZurichInsuranceCompany/ZZurich Foundation (hereafter referred to as Zurich), having a vision to establish a committed civil society-private sector partnership to build community flood resilience through its alliance partners. The programme seeks to combine research, community development and risk expertise, with network reach to strengthen capacity and increase resilience of communities so that they can better assess, manage and recover from shocks. The learning and outcomes of the programme will also be used to shape

and improve global tools for identifying and assessing flood resilience in communities around the world.

ThegoaloftheNFRPistobuildresilienceofpoorandvulnerable communities in Nepal with improvements measured using a resilience measurement framework together with documenting the best practices and lessons learnt. This goal will be achieved by identifying and testing effective approaches towards enhancing community flood resilience, and consequently up scaling these practices by influencing policy at the local, sub-national, national and regional levels.

PracticalActionisimplementingNFRPwithfinancial and technical support of Zurich and in close collaboration with alliance partners including the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) andtheWhartonRiskManagementandDecisionProcessesCentreattheUniversityof Pennsylvania and the International FederationofRedCrossandRedCrescentSocieties(IFRC).PracticalActionwillworkclosely with the alliance partners of the ZurichGlobalFloodResilienceProgramme.A resilience measurement framework developed by the alliance will be used to monitor and assess the progress and impacts which will contribute towards strengthening the alliance’s approach for measuring resilience.

OBJECTIVESThe overall objective of the programme is to enhance the resilience of flood vulnerable communities, by building capacity to resist, absorb, respond to and recover from the effects of the flood in a timely and efficient manner. The specific objective is to build resilience of flood vulnerable communities in Nepal, particularly in Koshi and Karnali river basins.

To achieve the objective, the project has expected following five outcomes consisting various activities:

Outcome 1: Improved national, sub-national and local flood early warning system by linking it with flood forecasting

The project will explore to pilot forecasting and strengthening early warning technologies and approaches at the national level. It will also facilitate to build the capacity of relevant government organisations,specificallytheDepartmentofHydrologyandMeteorology(DHM)andtheMinistryofHomeAffairs(MoHA).Theproject will work at the sub-national level to improve connections between communities and the national level relevant governmentinstitutionsincludingDHManddisaster risk management agencies. The project will work at the community level to enhance their access to information and improve their capacity to understand and act upon forecasts and early warning.

Outcome 2: Improved community flood resilience including preparedness, mitigation and resilient livelihoods.

The project will undertake a flood vulnerability assessment and baseline study in the project communities. Throughout the project, resilience will be monitored and evaluated through the use of a project-wise resilience measurement framework. Assistance will be provided to communities and relevant agencies to establish and strengthen governance for flood resilience. The project will document lessons on how to effectively support and improve community level governance for flood resilience, best practices in community level flood resilience governance and in linking community and sub-national government structures. These lessons will be taken to sub-national as well as national stakeholders in Nepal and other relevant countries for wider replication.

The project intends to demonstrate efficient and effective flood mitigation activities. Where possible, such mitigation

activities will be integrated with sustainable livelihoods. The impact of floods on important market systems will be assessed and the strategies will be put in place to reduce market system vulnerability. Knowledge materials tailored to the needs of the target audience including audio-visual materials, “how to” videos, technical briefs and radio programmes will be developed and disseminated.

Outcome 3: Improved sub-national flood resilience including up-scaling of best practices of

community level flood resilience nationwide

The project will work to build the capacity at the sub-national

and district level which will be critical to replicate successful good practices to building flood resilient communities across Nepal; the key districtinstitutionsDistrictDisasterReliefCommittee(DDRC)andtheDistrictDevelopmentCommittee(DDC)inparticular.Theproject will support to mainstreamDisasterRiskReduction(DRR)into

sectorial planning such as agriculture, drinking water,

irrigation, and infrastructure development at local, sub national

and national level. Lessons on how to effectively support and improve

community level governance for flood resilience, best practices in community

level flood resilience governance and in linking community and sub-national government structures will be documented. The project will work to improve the integration and cooperation of community structures and sub-national government structures to enhance linkages at both bottom-up and top-down processes. A knowledge need assessment in Nepal covering major river basins and bordering areas in India will be conducted to identify knowledgegapsinthefloodDRRsector,prepareknowledgeproducts and disseminate to wider target groups.

Outcome 4: Improved national capacities for flood resilience through influencing in policy, legislation and governance

Practical Action will continue to support agencies of the government of Nepal to formulate and implement disaster risk management policies, strategies and plans such as the National Early Warning Strategy and its implementation. Based upon the lessons learnt, the programme will also engageinfinalisingtheDisasterManagementActofNepal, integrating key lessons from this project, as well asPracticalAction’sworkonDisasterRiskReductionandClimateChange.Theprojectwillworkcloselywithgovernment agencies to enhance up scaling of the good practices. The project will involve key government line agencies right from the beginning of the activities including need assessments, intervention, and design together with learning and sharing activities. The project will assess critical knowledge gaps where further flood research is needed and integrate climate change issues in our project initiatives as well.

Outcome 5: Enhanced cross-border and region-wide flood risk reduction

Both Koshi and Karnali rivers are cross border rivers between Nepal and India so the project will work towards improving cross-border cooperation on flood early warning systems which is critical for saving lives, livelihoods and enhance flood resilience.

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Technical InnovationGlobal Reach

International Federationof Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies