Term of Reference
CONFERENCE
Ecosystem Management and Disaster Risk Reduction:
Best practices based on practical field experience
1. Rationale of the intervention
The project “Building Community Resilience to Coastal Hazards in Gwa Township, Rakhine State” is a
Disaster Risk Reduction project which started in October 2012 and will be completed by the end of
December 2014. The objective of the project is to Increase resilience and reduce vulnerability in rural
coastal communities through support to strategies that enable them to better prepare for, mitigate
and respond to natural hazards, and is composed of 3 main results:
- Result 1: Community awareness of disaster risk is increased and mitigation and coping
mechanisms are developed and implemented (with particular attention to the vulnerable,
especially disabled and children) through the creation and capacity building of 30 community
based Village Disaster Preparedness Committees (DPC)
- Result 2: Community awareness of ecosystem management is increased and effective measures
are developed to rehabilitate mangroves
- Result 3: Township Disaster Preparedness Committees (TDPC) have improved capacity in
emergency response coordination, information management, and resource mobilization
The project is implemented by ACTED, French INGO and Swanyee Development Foundation (SDF),
Myanmar local NGO with financial support of USAID-OFDA.
2. Background of the result 2 of the project
As part of the preliminary assessment done by ACTED in 2012, its was found that there was an
inadequate integration of natural resource management into disaster risk reduction and mitigation at
village level, which led to human pressure on local resources and significantly increase the disaster risks:
Over 75% of Gwa Township is covered with forest (total of 434,592 acres) of which mangroves represent
15,000 acres. Ongoing illegal and/or unsustainable livelihood practices threaten the stability of fragile
coastal ecosystems and contribute to coastal erosion. Population pressure has been increasing and
encroachment into these forests has become uncontrollable. Mangrove forest lands have been
converted into paddy fields or used for shrimp farming or salt drying areas. These coastline ecosystems
represent a cost-effective buffer against wind and flooding which contribute to reducing risk of hazards
becoming a full scale disaster. Therefore, authorities and local communities need capacity-building in
how to assess and monitor the coastal watershed environment, and relate resource protection actions
to hazard risk and integrate risk reduction into natural resource management planning. The proposed
intervention had therefore for interest to integrate ecosystem management with a focus on awarenessraising of the importance of mangroves and community projects aiming at their rehabilitation.
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ToR Environmental Conference
As part of the results 2, activities have been undertaken to achieve the followings:
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A comprehensive ecosystem report has been developed, as a result of a field assessment
mission and academic review. The assessment highlights what environmental actions could be
taken to improve and/ or restore the ecosystem in the area, particularly addressing DRR
environmental considerations.
Outcomes of the assessment and provision of report findings has been presented to the
communities, local authorities and other relevant stakeholders to ensure appropriate awareness
raising and related resource protection actions to hazard risks, and ultimately integrated into
natural resource management planning and integrate risk reduction into natural resource
management planning.
The environmental management awareness raising has culminated in a call for proposals from
all target villages, based on Village Disaster Contingency and Mitigation Plans. The DPC (Disaster
Preparedness Committee’s) had to demonstrate support and input from villages authorities and
community leaders, and proposed projects aimed at protecting and restoring environmental
zones which coincide with high vulnerability areas to reduce that vulnerability. 12 micro projects
were selected for a total amount of 55,000 USD, and covered trees and mangrove replanting.
Some other micro-projects were covering the aspects of water access during disaster events
through flood resistant wells, as well as improving access to identified safe areas through road
rehabilitation.
3. Objectives of the conference
The conference is organized jointly by ACTED and ADPC in Nai Pyi Taw and will aim to build consensus
related to best practices across Myanmar for Disaster Risk Reduction and management of specific
ecosystem (mangrove and forest).
It will aim to bring together Government officials, Research and Environmental protection agencies,
INGO’s and civil society to discuss the issues at stake for environmental protection, with the focus on the
benefit of these to reduce disaster risks. The entry point of the conference will be the results of the DRR
project in Myanmar, implemented by ACTED and Swanyee Development Foundation and founded by
USAID-OFDA, while it will work in line with ADPC's 2020 strategy. The general objectives will be to
identify best practices based on practical experience by a various range of stakeholders."
To achieve this objective, academic researcher as well as active local environmental agencies (MERN,
MEGA) working in Myanmar will be invited to join to share their recommendations, and present the
outcomes of their project. Any development agency which is working on the aspect of DRR and
ecosystem rehabilitation/conservation and who are willing to participate will be as well invited and
share their thoughts/recommendations.
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The objectives of the conference will aim to:
 Define the state of the degradation of the mangrove/forestry based on the last up to date
research in Myanmar
 Present DRR and Ecosystem Management Awareness strategy in place by government/(I)NGO’s
 How mangrove can support innovative approach
 Understand linkages between Disaster Risk Reduction and environmental protection, mangrove
and forestry rehabilitation
 Present recommendations based on recent practical experience implemented by DRR
practitioners
 Reach an understanding and agreement on the best practices to be replicate based on these
past experience, with commitment from stakeholders (local government and NGO’s)
4. Expected date – Agenda
The conference is planned to be conducted on the 16th of December 2014 in Nay Pyi Taw (effective
venue to be confirmed).
Time
8:30-9:00 am
9:00-10:00 am
10:00-10:15 am
10.15-10.30 am
10:30-11:00 am
11.00-11.30 am
11:30-12:00 am
12:00-1:00 pm
1:00-1.30 pm
Program
Registration
Opening
Remark by Director General of Relief and Resettlement Department
Remark by Director General of Ecosystem Conservation and Forestry
Remark by ACTED Country Director
Remark by ADPC Country Director
Agenda presentation – Group Picture
Coffee Break – Access to IEC materials exhibition
USAID-OFDA Project Presentation
Academic presentation – Degradation of mangrove and forest in
Myanmar
DRR and Ecosystem Protection
Livelihood and Ecosystem Protection
Lunch Break - Access to IEC materials exhibition
National Biodiversity Strategy – MAPDRR : Contextualization of
previous presentations into Myanmar institutional frameworks
1.30-3.15 pm
DRR practitioners best practices
3:15-3:30 pm
3:30-4:30 pm
Coffee Break - Access to IEC materials exhibition
Open discussion on day learning and listing of key aspects for DRR and
Ecosystem Rehabilitation
Wrap up – recommendations and commitment
ACTED Country director
ADPC Country Manager
Ministry of environment and forestry
4.30-5.00 pm
MC/Facilitator
ACTED administration
MC
ACTED
FFI
ADPC
MERN
Ministry of
Environmental
conservation and
Forestry - RRD
Local and International
NGO’s – to be define
MC
MC
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5.00 pm
Closing
5. Expected participants
- Government: Ministry of environmental protection and forestry, RRD, Gwa Township authorities
- Environmental agencies (local and International): FFI, MERN (Myanmar Ecosystem
Rehabilitation Network)
- DRR practitioners (International and local organization)
- Institutional partners: OFDA – ECHO – UN
- Journalists (Myanmar Times – others to be defined)
6. Communication strategy
A space will be made available for Ecosystem conservation stakeholders to display awareness materials
(leaflet/posters or handbooks) used to reach improve community’s knowledge and awareness on the
importance of ecosystem protection, with linkage with Disaster Risk Reduction.
Journalists will be attending the conference and insure participation visibility of the action. Press release
to be provided beforehand to the journalists invited.
7. Expected outcomes of the conference
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Best practices will be shared and commitment reached on DRR and ecosystem rehabilitation
Stakeholders will have a common understanding of DRR and ecosystem rehabilitation
The networks of DRR practitioners is enhance, to ensure a potential joint collaboration in
the future
8. Contacts
ADPC - Angeliki Parasiraki, country manager
Email: angeliki.p@adpc.net
ACTED – Benoit Gerfault, DRR program coordinator
Email: benoit.gerfault@acted.org
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