1. Aug 2010, Kathmandu
Surakshit Samudaya II:
Building Disaster Resilient Communities, Nepal
“Mainstreaming DRR into Local Development”
‐ Orientation workshop for VDC Secretaries
ActionAid Nepal DIPECHO Project Publication
PROJECT AT A GLANCE DRR Advocacy ‐ Mainstreaming DRR Orientation to VDC Secretaries on
into local development works in Nepal mainstreaming DRR into development
Project Area:
Banke Nepal is one of the acknowledged ‘global The National strategy for Disaster Risk
Sunsari hotspots’ for disasters. The increasing Management, Nepal (2009), clearly states the
Udayapur frequency and intensity of disasters have been roles and responsibilities of Village
adversely affecting this Himalayan country. Development Committees in dealing with risk
Partner NGOs:
Whereas there has been increasing efforts to reduction. The proposed disaster management
BEE Group
address disasters through appropriate act (2007) also clearly indicates the role of
UPCA Nepal
mechanisms, including adoption of National village disaster management committees.
NP Nepal
Strategy for Disaster Risk Management (Oct,
Co‐Action Nepal
2009), there is also a growing concern that VDCs are the local level institutions that deals
Beneficiaries: there is a need to further strengthen the DRR with development at the grassroots. VDC
13,854 people framework in Nepal, so as to insure the Secretaries have direct and constant access to
development investments and arrest erosion the people and are best placed to ensure that
Budget:
of social, economic and environmental assets risk reduction is mainstreamed at the local
Euro 441,339
due to a variety of disasters that pose danger levels. There are nearly 4,000 VDCs in Nepal
Start Date: to the lives and livelihood of the people and and each VDC has a budget of not less than
01 July 2009 rights of disaster affected and vulnerable NRs. 3 million per year. This funds are primarily
people are protected. One of the key measures used to provide development assistance at the
Duration:
identified by DRR stakeholders in the country village level, often planned and implemented
17 months
is to inform the policy makers of the country through a consultative approach.
For more details, contact: and solicit their support to develop strong and
ActionAid Nepal appropriate DRR and humanitarian legislation. VDC Secretaries report to the district
Ph: 01‐4436477 ActionAid has been engaged in policy advocacy administration and are under the Ministry of
by working with the government and Local Development (MoLD). As per NSDRM,
Village Development constituent assembly through the ongoing MoLD has mandate to incorporate risk
Committees (VDCs) DIPECHO project in Nepal. reduction measures into every development
plan. MoLD has worked out clear guidelines to
Village development
One of the key actions through advocacy work mainstream DRR into local development
committee (VDC) is the
is to inform and sensitize government officers works. In addition, at times of disasters, VDC
lower administrative unit
at various levels on grounding disaster risk Secretaries are responsible for assessment as
of under the Ministry of
reduction at local levels, by mainstreaming well as relief distribution at local levels. Thus,
local development
with development works. This was done by VDC Secretaries have multiple role and
(MoLD), reporting to the
orienting secretaries of village development responsibilities both as relief workers and DRR
district development
committees in three project districts of Nepal. torchbearers.
officer. There are 3915
VDCs in Nepal. VDC Participants, Sunsari, 25‐26 June 10 Group work, Banke, 15‐16 Jul 10
secretaries are civil
servants with different
responsibilities including
administration of VDC
budget for basic services
and development. They
are the focal points for
local people and are
involved in disaster What is Mainstreaming DRR? Mainstreaming risk
management and reduction is the process to fully incorporate disaster
risk reduction into development policy and practice
development functions.
that it becomes fully institutionalized (Tearfund, ‘05).

2. Surakshit Samudaya II: Building Disaster Resilient Communities, Nepal
Orientation to VDC Secretaries on mainstreaming DRR
Participants (Total 161) ActionAid DIPECHO V project in Nepal organized three workshops
Date Venue for VDC Secretaries of Udayapur, Sunsari and Banke districts in
Male Female Total
22‐23 DDC Hall, Gaighat, Nepal. Besides VDC Secretaries, participants also included VDC’s
50 7 57 technicians, personnel from district development committees of
Jun 10 Udaypur
respective districts. A total of 161 participants attended the 2‐
25‐26 Hotel Dreamland, days orientation workshops, organized in collaboration with
57 1 58
Jun 10 Dharan, Sunsari district administration, MoLD, MoHA and local partners. In
15‐16 Hotel Om Tanduri, addition to invited participants, a total of 25 persons were
45 1 46
Jul 10 Nepalgunj Banke involved as resource persons and organizing team members
Workshop Objectives Topics covered and discussed Resource persons
The main objective to the program is to The following topics were covered by From Ministry of Home Affairs
contribute to implementation of the resource persons during the course • Mr. Rameshwor Dangal, U‐Secretary
National Strategy on Disaster Risk of the workshop: • Mr. Ram P. Thapaliya, CDO, Sunsari
Management, 2009. The specific • Overview of disaster context in From Ministry of Local Development:
objectives of the program are as Nepal; Introduction to DRR. • Mr. Eak Narayan Sharma
follows: • Current policies and legal framework • Mr. Bishwa Raj Dotel, LDO, Banke
• To inform the VDC secretaries about on disaster management and DRR • Mr. Prem P. Bhattrai, LDO, Sunsari
the mainstream the DRR concept • Mainstreaming DRR into From DDRC, Udayapur
into local development planning. development plans of VDCs — MoLD • Mr. Bishwajeet Rai, Focal Person
guidelines From National Centre for Disaster
• To inform the VDC secretaries about
the VDMC as per NSDRM. • Roles and responsibilities of VDCs as Management
per NSDRM — MoHA guidelines • Mr. Jib Raj Pokharel, Chairperson
• To strengthen capacities of VDC • DRR Planning at VDC level using From Nepal Red Cross Society
secretaries in mainstreaming MoLD guidelines • Mr. Dolakh Dangi, Banke district
disaster risk reduction in • DRR Budgeting at VDC level using From ActionAid
development plans. MoLD guidelines • P. V. Krishnan
• Ashokraj Pokharel
Workshop processes and outcome • Pratima Shrestha
Methodology
The two days workshop was organized with support from district administration. While the resource persons mentioned above
were delivering key notes, the workshop was patronized by the chief officers from the respective districts including (Mr.
Basanta Upadhya), Chief District Officer of Udayapur, (Mr. Mohan Nath Mankey), Local Development Officer of Udayapur;
(Mr.arihar Dahal ), Ass. Chief District Officer of sunsari; (Mr. Basudev Dahal), Chief District Officer of Banke, and (Mr. Bishwa
Raj Dotel) Local Development Officer of Banke. After the presentations from resource persons, hands on planning and
budgeting exercises were conducted for the VDC Secretaries, helping them to include and incorporate DRR as a critical
approach to development planning process. All participants were given scope to discuss, deliberate and raise queries. A post
workshop evaluation was also conducted.
VDC Secretaries engaged in group exercise on
Key outcome of the workshops plan and budgeting, Udayapur, 22‐23 June 10
• The VDC secretaries are well informed about the disaster risk reduction.
• They develop their skills in mainstreaming DRR into local development plans.
• VDC secretaries are well informed about the provision of the NSDRM and the
working modalities and local level institution.
• VDC secretaries are well awared about the roles and responsibilities and
authority for disaster management at local level.
• VDC secretaries committed for establishing VDMC and allocation disaster
management fund in future.
• VDC Secretaries know how to mainstream DRR into local plan and budget
Evaluation of the Program
About 63 % of the VDC secretaries mentioned that they get clear ideas on DRR terminologies and concept of DRR. 92 % of the secretaries
became clear on the perception and understand the importance of DRR. They strongly felt the need of mainstreaming DRR into development
and have committed to revised their annual plan and prioritize for DRR as well. VDC secretaries do not feel that the government’s budget is
sufficient for the DRR. About 90 % of the participants found the program was useful for their DRR planning.