Annex 4: Zero draft template for documenting Examples of Good Practices
Examples of Good Practices serve as evidence of HFA1 achievements in Asia Pacific in order to
support the recommendations made for HFA2.
The following template serves as the guide for countries and organizations/stakeholder groups
to share the examples.
Title of the Good practice/case
Enhancing Livelihood with Building DRR Skills through the
study
Construction of Trade Training Centers in Pakistan
Which key area/questions the
HFA2, Area 5 'Reducing Exposure and Underlying Risk
example contributes to
Factors'
Abstract
Provide a 3-5 line abstract of the Good Practice/case study
The project implemented by Christian World Services –
Pakistan/Afghanistan (CWS-P/A) focuses on flood-affected
families in the districts of Sukkur, Khairpur, and Thatta, which
are some of the poorest districts in Pakistan. The project
provides vocational training and craft skills to provide the
opportunity to develop construction trade-related skills and
capacities to increase household income generation and
provide a positive alternative to the youth, mitigating
possibilities of them being involved in unsavory activities
(e.g., terrorism). The construction curriculum will incorporate
DRR concepts to ensure knowledge transfer on safer
construction practices.
Context
Briefly state:
In late July 2010, Pakistan experienced the worst monsoon
flood in its recorded history, wreaking havoc in all four
provinces and affecting over 18 million people. The heavy
rainfall coupled with the melting of glaciers increased the
water level of rivers and dams, causing a high level of flooding
in the north western and southern parts of the country. Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa Province (KPK) was so heavily damaged by the
rains that there is no historical precedence for such massive
floods in the country’s history. Over 1,000 people lost their
lives and thousands remained stranded and exposed to
diseases and hazardous conditions. Scores of helpless
families were stuck in the flood and in need of rescue and
emergency assistance. Hundreds of families across 25
districts of KPK alone lost their household and economic
assets — making this the worst disaster of its kind for
Pakistan’s already unstable socio-economic infrastructure.
Other areas including parts of Southern Punjab and inner
Sindh were also heavily damaged by the floods in 2010.
Unfortunately for Pakistan, the floods recurred in August
2011 and widespread damage was caused to millions of rural
communities in Sindh, Punjab, and Kohistan when monsoon
rains returned. The monsoon rains from August to September
2011 created further havoc in 22 districts of the province of
Sindh. More than 8.91 million have been affected by this
calamity, 446 people have lost their lives and many more
have been stranded and are facing disease and hunger.
Some of the major needs identified in the aftermath of these
recurrent disasters are livelihood recovery, infrastructure
rehabilitation, and the need for safer construction practices.
How the problem was addressed?
- What was done to address the problem?
After conducting detailed market assessments on what
trades have the most employment potential, CWS-P/A set
up construction trade training centers which would
provide training on Carpentry, Masonry, Electrical Works,
Plumbing, and Welding. The curriculum was designed in
coordination with relevant government agencies to ensure
that graduates pass the government licensure exam upon
graduation. The curriculum, especially on Masonry and
Carpentry, was upgraded to include DRR concepts for safer
construction.
- Who was involved and what role did they play?
1
http://ndma.gov.pk/Documents/monsoon/Sindh/Losses_Damages_06Oct2011.pdf
CWS-P/A worked closely with the Trade Testing Board,
Government of Pakistan, in finalizing the curriculum. It also
worked closely with communities in finalizing the project
design and beneficiary lists. Furthermore, CWS-P/A
coordinated closely with the private sector and other
enterprises to ensure that graduates are positively linked
to employers upon graduation. It also coordinated closely
with the UN and other NGOs working on
reconstruction/rehabilitation work in these districts as
they have expressed an urgent need for locally available
skilled laborers in the area.
- What were some of the challenges and how were they
overcome?
In Pakistan’s context, construction is only done by males
and although other agencies have been able to
successfully train women in construction trades, such as
masonry and carpentry, they had difficulties in linking
them to employment. Since one of the major outcomes of
this project is to ensure sustainable income arising from
the training, it was difficult for CWS-P/A to ensure a
gender balance on direct beneficiaries. Obviously the
indirect beneficiaries (family members of the graduates)
include women and girls. In the succeeding phases, a
separate livelihood program specifically for women was
included. These courses focused on embroidery, tailoring,
and handicraft development.
- What are the lessons learnt?
Aside from the challenge of ensuring gender balance among
the direct beneficiaries, the lessons have been quite
positive. In an external post-project evaluation conducted,
the consultants confirmed that the project was highly
relevant, effective, efficient, impactful, and sustainable.
Involving the community in all aspects of the project cycle
was a very important learning. The local communities have
been involved in the process monitoring and had complete
information of the project activities and its implementation.
This knowledge among the community members will help in
deriving the long-term benefits of the project and in sustaining
activities
in
the
future.
Development
of
the
Village
Management Committees (VMCs) and investment of the
social mobilization efforts of the project will help the
communities to plan forward to explore the new areas and
livelihood opportunities in the future.
- What could have been done differently and why?
With the knowledge that social mobilization and active
community participation are key aspects which contributed
significantly to the success of the project, more time should
have been given towards this component.
An apprenticeship program could be incorporated.
Youth development organizations could be formed on top of
the VMCs. These groups could have been capacitated in
developing linkages with the market for potential
employment.
Stronger career counseling services should be made
available.
Results
- What was the result of this approach/intervention?
All the graduates were able to graduate successfully from
the courses with a 100% passing rate in the Government
Licensure Exams. Out of the 2,274 licensed graduates in
the last 4 years, a 72% successful employment rate was
achieved and continues to date.
In addition to providing employment opportunities, these
skilled workers are equipped with DRR knowledge of safe
construction and causes and consequences of disasters.
Mainstreaming such DRR skills in skill building greatly
reduce the underlying risk factor for these communities by
obtaining skilled workforce that will implement DRR
sensitive reconstruction efforts, given the vulnerability of
housing structure against floods and earthquakes.
- What were the key elements of success?
The key element is the active participation by the
community, especially in design and process monitoring.
Strong linkages with the private sector also ensured
employment for the graduates. And a good market
analysis when deciding trades ensured a higher potential
for sustainable income.
Measuring success
- Was the success/impact measured?
- If so, how / if not why not?
Yes, a post-project impact assessment was conducted. The
result of the assessment was used to improve design for
future interventions. During the project, continuous
monitoring and evaluation, as well as an established
complaint mechanism, ensures that continual learning is
achieved and necessary changes in design and
implementation are immediately done.
HFA 1
- Have the result contributed to HFA1 progress in the
country?
o
If so, how?
Yes. Especially Priority for Action 4 (underlying risk factors)
of HFA1 as this project successfully addressed the need to
reduce underlying risk factors (recovery schemes,
vulnerability reduction with diversified income options,
public-private partnership, and, since graduates got involved
in the post-disaster reconstruction work, protection of
critical public facilities).
o
How can similar initiatives be better captured in
DRR/HFA progress review?
Focusing on resilience building elements in skill
development program would enable to capture such impact
from similar initiatives.
- Did HFA1 play a role in enabling this initiative?
o
If yes, how / If no, what needs to be for HFA2 to
enable such initiatives?
Yes. HFA1 was referred to by CWS-P/A when it was
designing the response for the massive floods of 2010.
Potential for replication
- Can this initiative be replicated?
Yes.
- Explain how or why not?
With the experience of successfully implementing the
project as well as the positive external impact assessment
results, it would be possible to replicate this project.
Contact
Provide contact information of the key person(s) for this
example of practice
Takeshi Komino
Head of Emergencies
Tel: +66-2-2146077, Fax: +66-2-2146078
Email: takeshi@cwspa.org.pk