Email Proposal
Service Line:
# 6 Natural Disaster Reduction
Country:
The Republic of Kazakhstan
Project Title:
Promotion of Civil Security in the Areas of Kazakhstan under the Earthquake
Description:
Background
Due to the diversity of landscape relief, climate conditions and industrial infrastructure, the Republic of Kazakhstan is subject to
natural and man-made disasters. It is subject to strong and devastating earthquakes. Approximately 30% (650.000 km1) of the
territory of Kazakhstan has more than 6 million inhabitants and a high concentration of industrial facilities (40%) are located in
the high seismic zones. In May 2003, the Zhambyl region was hit by a destructive earthquake with a magnitude of M> 5.4 which
affected 43,300 people and brought devastation to housing and social infrastructure. The consequences of the earthquake
showed that neither people, nor the local administrative authorities, including medical centres, were prepared for such disasters.
Civil society was not informed, not prepared and was not actively involved in rehabilitation of the area. Almaty was also hit, in
1911, by a tremendous earthquake with a magnitude M>8,2. The overall potential damage was estimated in the hundreds of
millions of US dollars and resulted in tens of thousands death. Today, Almaty is the centre for business, culture, education and
scientific institutions with a population of more than 1,500,000, which comprises 11% of the total population in Kazakhstan.
Additional earthquakes in seismic zones without proper preparedness of population will damage the development of the whole
country.
The project goal The project aims to provide support in order to strengthen the capacities of local communities to participate in
early warning and preparedness to earthquakes, to equip the local communities with the knowledge and skills required for
effective mitigation in case of natural disasters.
Catalytic
The project will raise the level of awareness of the local population, decision-makers and the public on natural, technological and
environmental disasters, so that theyunderstand the necessity of prevention and preparedness. It will also promote access to
information for civil security on disaster response and decision-making.
Commitment to build a partnership between Community Based Organizations (75% of Community Based Organizations are
located in Almaty and South-East Kazakhstan), and Government bodies, such as Parliament, Emergency Agency, Ministry of
Environment Protection, Ministry of Health, Local Akimats, Institute of Geography of Academy of Sciences, Kazakh Research
Institute on Seismic Construction and Architecture, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, etc. in order to
promote sustainable development through direct linkages of disaster preparedness and mitigation to the broader development
realm.
Time Critical
1,5 years
Intended Output
 Survey of the most hazardous and vulnerable settlements and evaluation of the infrastructure, scientific & monitoring
capacity, the preparedness of the civil society (ref: Remote Villages of Kazakhstan, 2001-2003) and elaboration of ways to
predict natural disasters;
 Raised awareness of population in preparedness to earthquakes in the disaster zones of Kazakhstan (via mass media,
video recording and training)
 Development, promotion and approval, of the Government’s program on “Risk Reduction and Mitigation of Damages from
Natural Disasters” and the allocation of Government resources for preparatory measures.
Co-funding:
Order of priority:
Budget:
Focal Points
D:\533566404.doc
In-kind- Emergency Agency, Kazakh Research Institute on Seismic Construction and Architecture,
USAID project- US$10,000
First
$150,000
Zharas Takenov, Head of Environment and Sustainable Development Unit/Sustainable Development
Policy Specialist (zharas.takenov@undp.org), Aida Karazhanova, Senior Programme Assistant
(aida.karazhanova@undp.org), UNDP Kazakhstan; Tel:+73272 582643
Fax 73272 582645