Locations
Strengthening Urban Preparedness, Earthquake Preparedness and Response in Western Regions of Nepal
Summary
Strengthening Urban Preparedness, Earthquake Preparedness and Response in Western Regions of Nepal (SUPER) project seeks to enhance municipal and provincial preparedness for impending urban and earthquake risks for effective disaster response in select places in the western regions of Nepal. It does so by enhancing the understanding of risk, the preparedness measures against it, and coordinates among state and non-state stakeholders including private sectors, whilst engaging the at-risk communities.
The project is funded by the European Union Humanitarian Aid and responds to the Humanitarian Implementation Plan (HIP) 2021 call for both earthquake preparedness in Western Nepal and urban preparedness.
Background
In light of the new federal governance structure of Nepal, the European Union Humanitarian Aid has prioritized its support to build the capacities of the local and provincial governments for disaster risk reduction and emergency response to urban and earthquake risks. SUPER works towards this end so that there is ownership of the project approach through budget allocation in the government’s annual plans to ensure future sustainability of the work. SUPER is implemented by a UNDP led consortium, with UNICEF and UN Women as consortium members. The project works with multiple stakeholders at provincial and local government levels such as the community, private sector, academia, international institutions, UN agencies, Red Cross, I/NGO and more. The project results will be delivered under the leadership of respective government authorities.
Major Achievements
- Completed earthquake impact modelling and baseline intra-provincial and municipal level table-top simulation exercises in all 4 municipalities and 3 provinces. This has led to an increased awareness and understanding among the government stakeholders and public to bolster preparedness against earthquake and urban disasters. For example, in Sudurpaschim Province the budget allocated in disaster management increased by 71.16%; in Dhangadhi, by 672.42%; in Amargadhi by 700%.
- Assessment of Provincial Emergency Operation Centres (PEOCs), Municipal Emergency Operation Centres (MEOCs) and District Emergency Operation Centres (DEOCs) has been conducted in the three provinces. SUPER supported the setting up of MEOCs in partner municipalities and supports the regular functioning of the Emergency Operation Centres through the secondment of Information Management Officers, who ensure the centres produce daily situation reports for all concerned stakeholders and are in a capacity to operate 24/7. The EOCs work as the command post during disasters, and they have been supported with required equipment to function smoothly.
- The SUPER consortium collaborates with UNRCO and other humanitarian agencies such as WHO, WFP, and IFRC to strengthen humanitarian architecture and cluster mechanisms in these provinces, also through development of cluster contingency plans to be better prepared for large scale disasters.
Project Outcome
- Result 1: Shared understanding/ Anticipation for managing earthquake and urban risks
- Result 2: Systems strengthening at provincial and local levels through coordination mechanisms, plans
- Result 3: Clusters-specific preparedness, and improved coordination and interlinkages between province, local levels and humanitarian stakeholders
- Result 4: Demonstrating specific measures for reducing disaster risk in urban municipalities and provinces through enhanced preparedness
- Result 5: Advocacy and policy engagement for enhancing humanitarian preparedness and reducing disaster risk
Gender & Social Inclusion
The project is guided by a GEDSI-sensitive programming: it has reached 3405 women and 36 gender and sexual minority; is in the process of conducting a GESI Analysis to understand existing social structure, gender discrimination, and inequalities for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management; and is also developing a scenario-based gender responsive costing framework for earthquake and urban flooding in Nepal.
- Developed video PSAs on preparedness measures against urban disasters and earthquakes, targeted specially for persons with visual and hearing disabilities. The videos were in coordination with the National Federation of Disabled Nepal (NFDN), the National Federation of Deaf Nepal (NFDN), the Parent Federation of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (PFPID), and Nepal Association of the Blind (NAB). The videos are among the first of their kind, given the 70-30 ratio size of the sign language interpreter, and the text size of the subtitles. Moreover, the word choices in the video have also been simplified based on input from the various federations, so that the content is truly accessible. They have been owned by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).
- Ensured diverse participation in all of its trainings reaching a total of 6,224 unique beneficiaries, out of whom 3007 are female and 24 identify as gender minority.
- Developed a Checklist for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in Disaster/Emergency Preparedness.
- Developing a scenario-based gender responsive costing framework for earthquake and urban flooding in Nepal.
Related Materials:
Project details:
| Project Status | Active |
| Project Period | August 2021 – November 2023 |
| Project ID | 00120172 |
| Focus Area | Energy, Environment, Climate and Disaster Risk Management |
| Collaborating Partners |
|
| Consortium Members | UNICEF, UN Women |
| Budget | USD 2,910,216.72 |
| Contact | CO Focal Point Pragyajan Yalambar Rai Portfolio Manager Email: pragyajan.rai@undp.org |
Project Focal Point Siddhartha Sharma National Project Coordinator Email: siddhartha.sharma@undp.org |