Progressive Narrative Report
Project Name:
Ramu Early Warning and Climate Change Adaptation (REWACCA)
Project
Project ID Number: 00074956
Focus Area:
Middle Ramu and Upper Ramu River Catchment, Madang Province,
Papua New Guinea.
Children of Koromasaric village in Middle Ramu District await flooded Sogeram River to
subside before they can cross over to school. Their school, Wanang Conservation
Elementary School, is a further two-hour’s hike after crossing this section of the river.
Floods like this affect children’s school attendance and impacts their long term learning.
Confidential
Project Progressive Narrative Report
PURPOSE OF PROGRESS NARRATIVE REPORT
This document is purposely to provide a progressive report on project 00074956 to
partners and stakeholders including the Madang Provincial Disaster and Emergency
Management Coordination Office, Office of Climate Change and Development, and the
National Meteorological (Weather) Office.
The main goal of REWACCA project is;
“Safe and resilient communities in which children, youth contribute to managing and
reducing the risks associated with climate change-induced floods in Upper and
Middle Ramu catchment of Madang Province.”
Expected Outcomes of this project are;
1. Increased awareness and capacity of children, youth, and communities to
facilitate EWS & DRM (flood risks).
2. Established network of EWS through installation of rain and stream gauges.
1
PROJECT PROGRESSIVE REPORT
1.1
Progressive Narrative Report Details
Background:
FPCD first learned of the programme “Enhancing adaptive capacity of communities to
climate change-related floods in the North Coast and Islands Region of Papua New
Guinea” by coincidence on the eve of a planned provincial inception programme. This was
when the organization was invited to attend and made a presentation as to how it can
participate in this programme utilizing the resources and networks FPCD already
established on the ground in Madang Province.
The FPCD’s Community Development Programme officers then presented a proposal to
undertake the Early Warning System project for flood-prone communities in Middle and
Upper Ramu areas. The project then kicked off in July 2014 with funding support from
UNDPs Adaptation Fund through contract number 00074956.
The implementation strategy for this project is proposed to follow the following simple sixstep process;
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1. Get to know the Community.
(Situation Analysis)
6. How well did we do?
(Monitoring & Evaluation)
2. Identify community needs.
(Needs Identification)
5. Take action together.
(Implementation)
3. Decide what to do first.
(Prioritise Needs)
4. Plan how to do it.
(Action Planning)
Please note that Output from Step 1 is a Situation Analysis Report, while output
from Steps 2 – 4 is a Disaster Preparedness Plan. An Implementation Plan is the
outcome in Step 5. However, most activities will need further funding for plans to
be successfully completed. Step 6 is an ongoing activity and helps to check on
work progress and re-planning.
Planned Activities/Outputs & Project Update:
The following activities and outcomes were planned to be undertaken over the twelve
months period of this project contract period. We also provide brief update of progress so
far.
Table 1: Progress Update of planned activities
Planed activities
Expected outcome/s
1. Assess and document
children and youths
perspective of climate
change and disaster risks
through KAP survey in
target/selected communities
and schools.
Report on Knowledge,
Attitudes and Practices of
Middle and Upper Ramu
Communities to Climate
Change-induced Floods.
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Progress to date & Remarks
 A stakeholder consultation at
the provincial level was
conducted in September, and
the needs identified are listed
on pages 8 to 10 of this
report.
Project Progressive Narrative Report
 KAP (Baseline) survey was
undertaken from October 20
to 30, 2014.
 Eight Divine Word University
students were engaged on
KAP survey fieldwork.
 Report compiled and
attached to this document.
2. Conduct awareness
roadshow in schools and
identified communities in
Ramu River on EWS.
3. Facilitate child-led (or with
inclusion of children’s
participation) village/Ward
DRR/CCA Planning
workshops/meetings.
4. Facilitate child-centred
climate change adaptation
activities with target schools
in Middle and Upper Ramu
communities.
5. Support in the creation/
strengthening of village
disaster management
committees.
6. Training on
CBDRM/DRR/CCA
activities/adaptation
measures with target
communities and schools.
Enhance children, youths
and communities’
understanding about climate
change concepts, and the
importance and uses of rain
gauges and EWS.
 One video of DWU students’
engagement produced.
 First awareness session was
conducted with 15 staff and
250 students of Waput
Elementary and Primary
School.
 Awareness session
coincided with Universal
Children’s Day celebrations
on November 20, 2014.
CCA/DRR Plans for
respective target
wards/communities compiled
through a participatory
process.
Yet to be undertaken.
Increased participation of
children and youths in
climate change adaptation
planning and implementation
initiatives.
Improved capacities of
disaster preparedness and
awareness of leaders.
Yet to be undertaken.
Capacity building of children,
youths and families in EWS
management, improved flood
disaster preparedness,
improved food security and
community coping strategies.
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Yet to be undertaken.
 Awareness on setup of
EWS conducted with 6
school management and
some communities. Three
of the schools are located
next to main tributaries of
Ramu River. These are
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Sogeram, Bikei, and
Ranara.
7. Support community-initiated
and/or initiate CCA/DRR
activities in target
communities.
8. Initiate home
gardening/cultivation of
flood-tolerant and droughtresistant crops with identified
children, youths and
families.
One successful disaster risk
reduction initiative per
community.
Yet to be undertaken.
Introduction of flood-tolerant
and drought-resistant food
crops in target communities.
 Meetings held with school
management regarding
introduction of floodtolerant and droughtresistant crops.
9. Installation of rain and
stream gauges, and training
of selected youths in Upper
Ramu.
Installation of a network of
EWS of rainfall and stream
gauge stations in Upper and
Middle Ramu.
10. Follow-up capacity building
of selected youths on EWS
data recording and
management in target Ramu
tributaries.
Improved capacities of
youths monitoring and
managing the EWS system
established within target
area.
 Schools have agreed to
include cultivation of these
crops and distribution in
neighbouring communities
as part of their agricultural
lessons.
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 Initial GPS locations of rain
gauge and stream flow
gauges collected. Refer to
Table 3, below.
 More sites to be identified
and GPS information
needed for a more reliable
EWS network.
Yet to be undertaken.
Project Progressive Narrative Report
Detailed Description of Achieved Outputs and outcomes to date:
The initial stages of the project contract period is to obtain baseline information. This will
help future planning as well as assess success after project completion. The following
summarises initial baseline data collected through consultations and questionnaire
surveys.
i)
A Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) of Middle and Upper Ramu
Communities to Climate Change and Floods. – completed.
This KAP survey was carried out from October 20th to 30th 2014, by a team of eight Divine
Word University’s final year environmental health science students and three FPCD staff
members.
The surveyors collected information from 274 respondents. Forty-seven percent of
respondents were female, while thirty-seven percent were children and youths. Although
the survey only covered communities accessible by road we can confidently conclude that
the results contained in KAP report is a fair representation of current field conditions, in
terms of CCA and DRM knowledge levels.
A summary and key recommendations are provided below. For a more detailed report,
refer to Appendix 2 – “Survey Report: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices in Responding
to Climate Change-induced Flooding in Middle Ramu and Usino-Bundi Districts of Madang
Province, Papua New Guinea.”
a)
KNOWLEDGE of Climate Change:
i)
Most respondents first heard of “climate change” through mainstream media.
ii) The elders “experienced” climate change before they came across the term
“climate change”. The changes were “experienced” during the implementation of
their traditional village calendar.
iii) Many respondents were able to pick out the right words to define “climate change”.
These words did not differ too far from the definition as described by the IPCC
(intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).
iv) Respondents were clearly unable to differentiate between climate change and
natural disasters, and their linkages.
v) With very little understanding of climate change concepts, compounded by
ongoing misinformation, there is a certain degree of fear amongst the people,
especially the elders since the future is unknown under the new conditions.
vi) There were mixed feelings in regards respondents’ understanding of actions
contributing to climate change. Adults squarely blamed industrialised nations as
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main contributors, while defending their fuelwood burning and poor agricultural
practices as insignificant. Children and youths, on the other hand, indicated that
all mankind whether in developed or third world nations must bear the blame as
human activity contributed to climate change. Many respondents were still unsure
about the causes of climate change.
vii) There were also mixed reactions, in regards children and youths’ vulnerability to
climate change and disasters. While many agreed children and youths were the
most vulnerable, some argued that everyone, together with children, youths and
adults were equally vulnerable.
b)
ATTITUDES to Climate Change and Disasters
i)
Majority of people interviewed were concerned about climate change and
disasters, and were keen to learn more about them.
ii) There were few respondents who indicated they were not interested in learning
about climate change and DRM. It was concluded that these people did not
perceive climate change as a severe issue.
iii) Based on respondents feedbacks, the most preferred actions in terms of
educating target groups on CCA and DRM is as follows;
Priority Level
Most Preferred
Actions in CCA & DRM
1) It is important to educate children and youths on climate
change and DRM in school to increase their capacity
and awareness.
2) Children and youth have the equal rights to participate
and be involved in CCA and DRM work.
3) Children and youths are more vulnerable to the impacts
of climate change and disasters, given that they are
sensitive to changes and more likely to be injured or
killed during disasters.
4) I want to become a trainer to train/educate others on
child-centered approaches to CCA and DRM.
5) People have no control over climate change and
disasters and it is an act of God.
Least
Preferred
6) I can reduce my vulnerability to climate change and
natural disasters.
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c)
PRACTICES in CCA & DRM:
i) None of the respondents had undergone any previous climate change and DRM
training.
ii) Teachers indicated they made attempts at discussing climate change in their
classes. But require additional information and material support to enhance their
eagerness to teach the subject.
iii) The Wanang community, of Middle Ramu District, since they are located within a
Conservation Area, have sufficient contact with external sources, including
researchers that enlighten them with relevant information on climate change (and
DRM to some degree).
iv) CCA and DRM is insufficiently covered in the national school curriculum although
elementary schools use traditional seasonal calendars. At the same time, primary
schools briefly covered climate change in science lessons.
v) Respondents have requested that CCA and DRM be included in the education
syllabus. More information and resources should be provided to teachers who are
struggling to educate the next generation in their care.
Based on the above findings, the following recommendations are proposed as the way
forward, but are not in order of priority.
35
Recommendation 1:
The concept of climate change is fairly new amongst target communities in Middle Ramu
and Usino-Bundi Districts. There is clearly hunger for information. So much has been said
but with insufficient detail as mainly these information is highly technical and complex for
villagers to comprehend, let alone teachers. Clearly, the people are confused as to what
climate change phenomenon really is. Associated with insufficient information, is an
increasing level of fear, especially amongst the senior population.
It is recommended that FPCD, with support from Office of Climate Change and
Development (OCCD) and concerned stakeholders in Madang, including World Vision
International, Red Cross Madang Branch, and the Madang Provincial Disaster and
Emergency Coordination Office, through FPCDs 4CA (Child-Centred Climate Change
Adaptation) concept be the catalyst these people have been seeking to enlighten their
lack of information on climate change and DRM. This can be achieved through;
i) A series of workshops targeting focus groups (women, youths, teachers, old
people, and people with disability, and school children) carried out over the
duration of the project.
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ii) In-services for teachers, facilitated by a climate change expert, during term breaks
when teachers are free from their teaching commitments.
iii) Facilitate competitions amongst schools like spelling, debates, drawing, and fun
games as a means of educating school children with CCA and DRM themes.
iv) Awareness and education roadshows be conducted in all target communities to
explain and differentiate between CC and its effects/impacts and natural disasters
associated with CC using visual aids as mediums to effectively convey CC
information.
v) Introduce and share with OCCD a daft Teacher’s Guide on Climate Change
Education for Lower Primaries developed in 2013 for potential integration into the
PNG Education system. This will also directly contribute to enhancing Pillar 5 of
PNG National Vision 2050.
Recommendation 2:
FPCD should network closely with organisations and interest groups within PNG in pooling
resources together to use in educating families and youths on climate change adaptation
and disaster risk reduction activities. Since all target communities have been impacted in
one way or the other by climate change-induced flooding, impacting agriculture and food
crops, adaptation activities should look at introducing flood-tolerant and drought-resistant
cropping to;.
i)
Youth groups interested in participating in agriculture; and
ii) Target primary schools, as part of grades 7 and 8 agriculture lessons. Schools
have requested for seeds for their agricultural sessions. Past lessons have mainly
been classroom-based. With the supply of flood-tolerant and drought-resistant
crop seeds school children can be able to put into practice the theory sessions.
In addition to introducing food crops, FPCD, in close consultation with the Madang
provincial authority and network partners in Madang Province, and PNG, introduce
programmes aimed at reforestation of hillsides, river banks, and other high disaster risk
areas. Reforestation can be effectively managed by engaging with schools and school
children in target communities.
Recommendation 3:
All villages and Local Level Government Council Wards need to be empowered to handle
climate change-related floods and other disasters within their areas of responsibilities.
Many lacked the necessary skills and knowledge to handle crises of this nature.
Disaster preparedness planning sessions should start at the community level. These plans
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then get integrated into the Local Level Government plans, the District plans and then into
the Provincial plans.
Recommendation 4:
Engage closely with schools and church mission stations in the establishment of early
warning system for floods in most of the main tributaries of Ramu River. Engaging with
schools is beneficial to children as they will learn the use of these instruments and be able
to take readings.
The communities so far that the project made contact with are listed in the table below.
Table 2: List of target communities contacted.
Name of
Ward Local Level
No.
Village &
District
#
Government
School
1
Tutere
30
Usino
UsinoVillage
Bundi
Project
Zone/
Division
Upper
Ramu
2
Yamagi
Community
30
Usino
UsinoBundi
Upper
Ramu
3
Banu
Community
30
Usino
UsinoBundi
Upper
Ramu
4
Koroba
Village
13
Gama
UsinoBundi
Upper
Ramu
5
Yakumbu
Village
Korona
Village
13
Usino
UsinoBundi
UsinoBundi
Upper
Ramu
Upper
Ramu
UsinoBundi
Middle
Ramu
UsinoBundi
Upper
Ramu
6
7
Abul-Palamu
Village
8
Waput
16
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Remarks
Village located next to Bikei
River responsible for flooding
Usino Government Station
and surrounding
communities.
A group of settlers located in
the flood plains on Ramu
River.
Composed mainly of settlers
from the highlands of
Madang. Proposed location
for river flow gauge station
near Banu Bridge.
Located next to Omi’e River,
a major tributary that drains
into Ramu River.
Located next to Bopo River, a
tributary of Ramu. School
relocated due to continuous
floods and disturbance to
children’s education and
school calendar.
Rain gauge to be installed at
Umari camp, FPCD target
FRO camp.
This community is flooded by
the Waput River, and the
Project Progressive Narrative Report
primary school run by the
SDA Church had to relocate
away from the river.
Recommended by the
Madang Provincial Disaster
Office for inclusion in FPCD
target communities.
9
Ranara
Station
3
Rai
Coast
Upper
Ramu
(For details, refer to the full KAP report, attached as Appendix 2.)
Possible sites for rain and stream flow gauge station installations mainly along main
tributaries of Ramu River. GPS positions of these locations have also been collected, and
are shown in the table below.
Table 3: GPS Locations of potential gauging stations.
GPS Locations
No.
Location/site
Latitude
Longitude
5
6
7
Name of
Tributary/River
1
Abul-Palamu
5.244035°S
145.21054°E
Sogeram
2
Banu Bridge
5.55831°S
145.26562°E
Ramu
3
Tutere SDA
Church
5.51896°S
145.38261°E
Bikei
4
Waput SDA
Primary School
5.56797°S
145.43524°E
Mea
Yamagi
Yakumbu
Koroba
5.56620°S
5.63497°S
5.70615°S
145.30726°E
145.48659°E
145.55248°E
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Yamagi
Yakumbu
Omi’e
Remarks
FPCD target
forest resource
owner community.
Recommended
location for river
flow gauge
station.
Major tributary
that mainly
responsible for
floods in and
around Usino
Station, and
Yamagi
community.
Site
recommended by
Madang Provincial
Disaster and
Emergency
management
Office.
Project Progressive Narrative Report
8
5.88002°S
145.82274°E
Surinam
9
10
Ranara Lutheran
Primary School
Korona
Tingari
5.65679°S
5.51026°S
145.49948°E
145.12602°E
Sausi
Tingari
11
Bangapala
4.30572°S
145.35151°E
Ramu
12
Wanang
5.13819°S
145.10912°E
Wanang
ii)
FPCDs target
FRO community.
But currently not
cooperating with
FPCD, and may
be a hindrance to
the EWS project.
FPCD target FRO
community along
Ramu River.
Madang-based Stakeholder Consultation Meeting
In September a stakeholder consultation was held with Madang-based partners to map
out needs and resources so as to enhance partnerships and cooperation for the benefit of
successfully implementing the projects supported by UNDP Adaptation Fund. The
stakeholders involved were World Vision International; Madang Creative Self-Help Centre
for the Disabled; The Nature Conservancy; PNG Red Cross, Madang Branch; and the
Almewo Community-Based Organisation in Lower Ramu area of Madang Province;
Madang Provincial Disaster and Emergency Coordination Office; and FPCD officers. At
this consultation the National Weather Office was also represented.
The detailed workshop report is attached as Appendix 3 – “Workshop Report: Ramu Basin
Early Warning & Climate Change Adaptation – Needs and Resources Mapping.”
Needs identified during this consultation were;
 More awareness on impacts of Climate Change.
 There is a need for provincial government to intervene since Political support is
important.
 Creative Self-Help Centre for the Disabled in Madang needs a “special education”
climate change curriculum for disabled persons.
 There is a need for all stakeholders to speak the same or common knowledge of
this complex concept of climate change during awareness. This will eliminate
distortion of information.
 Climate Change Facilitators must be certified by the National Training Council.
 Awareness on the security of the early warming instruments, including rainfall
gauges and river flow gauges need to be done well. Defacing of public facilities is
common in many PNG communities. Educating people on the role this instruments
plays will attempt to eliminate defacing and communities take ownership of them.
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




Geographical maps of the communities where the water gauges will be deployed
is required. This should be provided by the Office of Climate Change and
Development and Department of Environment and Conservation.
Weather Office will need to install ten or more rainfall gauges and two flow stream
gauges in areas linked by road for easy accessibility.
Essential that one or two member of community knows how to read and look after
stream gauges.
Project team should engage with Ramu NiCo for future maintenance of river flow
gauge at Banu Bridge, and nearby rainfall gauges accessible to them.
There is a need to identify specific roles of the communities within vicinity of rainfall
gauges and river flow gauges to take ownership of the EWS.
Through the presentations by stakeholders, needs were identified. The ‘needs identified’
can be classified into categories: (a) ‘Need’ that is a constraint to the stakeholders. That
is, it affects the delivery of the output. That involves the participation or assistance of
stakeholders to enhance a more effective outcome of the respective project. (b) ‘Need’
that stakeholder want to introduce or improve in. With the identification of needs from
stakeholders, proper execution of resources is viable to achieve the desirable result.
Table 4: Stakeholder Needs Categorisation
Categories of Need Identification.
Organisation
Need Identified
Involve
Participation or
assistance
Climate Change &
Awareness on the impact
Disaster Office
of climate change

Madang
Provincial assistance
Special education
curriculum for disable
Disability Centre,
people.
Madang
Speak the same or
common knowledge of the
concept of climate change

during awareness.
Certified Trainer (From the
National Training Council)
to educate on Climate
Change.
National Weather
Office
Awareness on the security
of the instrument
Geographical maps of the
communities
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

Want to Introduce
& Improve





Project Progressive Narrative Report
Weather Office need to
install ten or more rainfall
gauges and two flow
stream gauges on road
linked.
One or two member of
community knows how to
read and look after stream
gauges.
FPCD
2


Ramu NiCo helps provide
assistance.

To identify specific roles
the communities need to
play; to take ownership of
the EWS.

PROJECT ACTIVITY PHOTOS
Project Coordinator Mr Stewart Serawe explaining child-centred
approach to climate change adaptation to Madang-based stakeholders.
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Mr Robert Thompson of the National Meteorological (Weather) Services
Explains to stakeholders about Early warning Systems and discussed possible
models for Ramu.
Two Divine Word University students interviewing Grade 6 pupils of Wanang Conservation
Primary School in Middle Ramu District.
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Meeting community leaders at Waput Village, Usino-Bundi District.
A Divine Word University student (right) interviewing a youth from Yamagi Village in
Usino-Bundi District.
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A village elder near Sogeram River being interviewed by DWU students
during KAP survey in Middle Ramu.
A banner declaring Universal Children’s Day celebrations at Waput Adventist Primary School,
Usino-Bundi District. This event took place on November 20th 2014.
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