1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Book project: where people and their land are safer - A Compendium of Good Practices in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) (where people and their land are safer)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Swiss Red Cross (Swiss Red Cross) - Switzerland

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

04/10/2016

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Reference(s) to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Technologies

2.1 Short description of the Approach

An effective system for dissemination of early warning messages was established among the vulnerable communities in Chars (riverine sandy islands) of Gaibandha district, Bangladesh, in order to strengthen their coping mechanisms and reduce loss and damage caused by floods.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Early warning systems are an essential element in building resilience through effective disaster preparedness and risk mitigation: the key characteristics of the approach entail linking the intervention units at community level with national and sub-national early warning systems. It also consists of developing the capacity of the local government institutions and organised communities to not only disseminate early warning but to effectively respond to floods. Merely installing an early warning system is not sufficient to equip communities to cope with recurrent floods; it needs to be linked to broader aspects of disaster preparedness and increased response capacity of communities and local government.
The vulnerability and capacity assessment (VCA) is the basis of all measures oriented at reducing disaster risks. The VCA was carried out with the involvement of local stakeholders, especially the target communities, to understand the vulnerabilities and risks associated with floods as well as to gain insight on existing capacities and capacity gaps that needed to be addressed. The process resulted in a risk reduction action plan which was to be jointly implemented by the target community and local government.
The risk reduction plan pointed to the need of having in place a mix of structural, management and contingency measures. This involved linking local, sub-national and national early warning systems, developing contingency and evacuation plans supported by establishment of safe places where people could move during floods. The risk reduction plan also highlighted the need to support household level protection measures - structurally this meant raising household plinth levels above flood levels. In addition, local early warning system was established through installation of flood markers/pillars, and warning flags at key sites. Capacities were built to internalise, monitor and consequently respond to evolving local flood situation.
Building communication channels that link the local institutions to higher level flood forecasting system resulted in streamlining information from source to destination. The weather forecast communication flow is both vertical and lateral – vertically it is a mix of web-based flood information and mobile telephony which begins at the Flood Forecast Warning Centre (FFWC) - the apex body that monitors flood situation in Bangladesh. FFWC transmits information to the sub-national local governments that have digital centres with trained personnel to access information from FFWC website. Trained entrepreneurs at these digital centres are responsible for monitoring flood forecasts and updating the Union Parishad (the lowest level of local body) and communities on evolving flood situation. By analysing and interpreting relevant information they play a key role in catalysing the early warning system. The local bodies , Union Parishads, use a mix of communication modes - such as miking (public address system), radio and cellular phone - to transfer early warning information to the communities. On the other hand, flood markers are installed locally that are adjusted according to increase in water levels. Designated trained persons – Youth Response Team - take the responsibility to do this. This is monitored by community and the Union Parishad.
In normal times, drills and simulations are conducted by trained team of village volunteers/first responders. They take the lead in organising evacuation and movement to safe places. The government (and project) brings in the logistic support, especially transportation, to facilitate evacuation and movement to safe places.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.4 Videos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

To promote resilient communities through improved flood preparedness that reduces loss and damage of vulnerable people's lives and protects their livelihoods in the chars of Gaibandha district.

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	interactive	Key Actors: VDMC/CBOs and Local Government Institutions (UDMC) Activities : formation of CBOs, reformation of UDMC, VCA and volunteer selection
planning	interactive	Key Actors: VDMC/CBOs and Local Government Activities: preparation of risk reduction action plan, preparation of evacuation plan along with map of evacuation routes (route to be taken for the evacuation in moving to safe places), contingency plan development, planning of emergency and health infrastructure, Early Warning Systems (EWS) planning
implementation	interactive	Key Actors: VDMC/CBOs and Local Government Activities: Establish Early Warning System, emergency infrastructure, access infrastructure (wooden bridge, roads, etc.), household infrastructure
monitoring/ evaluation	self-mobilization	Key Actors: VDMC/CBOs, Local and Sub-national Government Activities: Developing Quality Assurance System, Community Review Meeting, Site visits/physical verification, quality and financial audit, survey and spot checks,
Initiation	self-mobilization	Ket Actors: VDMC/CBOs, Local Government and Private Sector: Activities: O&M of built infrastructure and Sanitation Marketing which involves supporting local entrepreneurs to establish local supply chains of toilet building materials through their own investment and build toilets for users that bear the costs. The project does not build latrines directly but rather mediates the linkages of users with the sanitation entrepreneurs

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• all relevant actors, as part of a participatory approach

Explain:

Since participatory approach has been adopted to examine vulnerabilities and capacities, the approach and technology choice to address risk and vulnerabilities was collectively decided.

Specify on what basis decisions were made:

• research findings
• personal experience and opinions (undocumented)

• Government policies and mandates

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users
• field staff/ advisers

• Anser-VDP (Village Defence Party) member

Form of training:

• demonstration areas
• public meetings
• courses

Subjects covered:

Several training courses and workshops were organised on disaster preparedness and response:
1. Early Warning System (for UDMC/VDMC/ Anser-VDP/YRT/VCRP/Staff): Disaster context in Bangladesh, techniques to identify water levels against standardised danger levels, determining flood intensity by observing pillars and flags, dissemination strategies for early warning messages among the community, and role of stakeholders to warning message dissemination.
2. Evacuation Plan (for VDMC/YRT/VCRP): Response operation, preparing checklist for response, preparing risk and resource map, information collection and analysis, preparing evacuation route maps, and roles and responsibilities of respective stakeholders in effectuating evacuation plan
3. Response Plan (for UDMC): Importance of response plan, key constituents of preparedness and response, interpretation of Early Warning information from FFWC, creating contingency fund, search and rescue, emergency relief and first aid, identifying safe exit route and transportation, damage assessment, launching control room, involving existing manpower and resources in the community and other organisation, and prepositioning of rescue equipments.

Comments:

609 VDMC/UDMC members were trained on various DRR topics. 255 local youth volunteers (YRT/VCRP) were also trained on early warning message dissemination, flood forecast interpretation, preparing evacuation plan and route map.
4 mock drill demonstration events were conducted by local government in which 276 community members participated. Refresher training was also organised for newly elected union parishad members on their broad mandate with specific reference to their roles and responsibilities in disaster risk management.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, greatly

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local
• regional

Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.

CBOs/Village Disaster Management Committee (VDMC)- on an average each CBO/VDMC has 17 members. Their roles and responsibilities entail assessments, beneficiary selection, developing and implementing Risk Reduction Action Plans (RRAPs) with special focus on disaster preparedness and response. A key function entails their engagement in Early Warning Systems (EWS) and planning and implementation of emergency and health infrastructure, shelter protection, and creating access infrastructure. Operation and Management of all built assets and infrastructure is their responsibility.

Local Government/UDMC: on average it has a 36 members. Standing orders on disaster of the government defines their roles and responsibilities which covers the entire gamut of functions associated with disaster risk management at the local level. Strengthening preparedness and leading effective response is critical to their mandate.

Specify type of support:

• capacity building/ training
• equipment

Give further details:

Megaphone, stretcher, Lifejacket, Lifebuoy, Torchlight, Raincoat, Gumboot, Rope and First aid box are some of the equipments that have been given to target communities. Further, the YRTs have received whistle, umbrella and apron for early response operation

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

A joint monitoring team has been formed comprising representative of CBOs, local government and project staff.

If yes, is this documentation intended to be used for monitoring and evaluation?

No

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

No

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

Indicate the annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach in US$:

10384.00

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 10,000-100,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

Swiss Red Cross

Above mentioned amount is for the Early Warning System Implementation approach only

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Yes

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• none

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• voluntary

Comments:

All actions related to dissemination of early warning were performed on a voluntary basis.

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

No

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

If yes, describe how:

Union Digital Center is an information hub that exists in the union where people have easy access. The technology is simple and the approach is easy to understand and has already benefited the targeted community. The anchoring of preparedness in general and Early Warning Systems (EWS) in particular in local government and its rolling out in collaboration with communities imparts high probability of sustainability to disaster preparedness measures. During the project cycle, two flood events of significant magnitude have tested the approach and technology and resulted in tangible benefits for the community. At the same time since sustainability considerations are inbuilt in project design and have guided the implementation of the approach and technology, the likelihood of their sustainability is very strong.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
A trained group of volunteer is available in the community
Response equipments are in place and ready to use if and when needed
Early Warning System facilitates people's timely access and movement to appropriate emergency infrastructure and protected shelters
Rapid evacuation, especially for physically challenged, children and elderly people, and cattle
Crops are saved due to timely action related to sowing and harvesting
Means of preparedness, such as boat, banana raft, portable cooker, firewood, oral rehydration solution, dry food can be collected beforehand
Balanced representation of community in governmentt mandated disaster committees
Coordination/ communication with development actors and local government/union parishad is more forthcoming

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Sustainability dimensions have been well considered and applied in adopted approach and technologies
Strengthened community institutions are in place to address disaster risk Management issues, especially those related preparedness and response mechanisms
Community and local government interface has been strengthened to devise appropriate disaster Management solutions
Decisions on preparedness approach and attendant technologies are taken collectively by stakeholders
A replicable model of early warning systems, emergency and access infrastructure has been established

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Long term maintenance of response equipments	UDMC should play custodian's role; local people should contribute towards recurrent cost

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Replicability of the model might be difficult due to lack of funds and functionaries available with local government	Support local government in negotiating more resources from higher levels of governance and Administration; build capacity of local government to utilise resources efficiently and effectively

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Three VCA Reports published by UDMC with support of DRRWASH project

Available from where? Costs?

Bangladesh Red Crescent Society

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Flood Forecasting & Warning Centre (FFWC), Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), SOD

URL:

http://www.ffwc.gov.bd/#, http://ddm.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/ddm.portal.gov.bd/page/a3f4cc27_7f7d_4c2b_a1b0_166fe6bef73b/udmc.pdf