ANNEXE 1 : Description of the project
Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction
Towards increased resilience and reduced vulnerability to natural
disasters through CBDRR in Cambodia and Laos
Donor
The project was funded by the European Commission Humanitarian’s Aid and Civil protection
department throught its Disaster Preparedness Programme (DIEPCHO) and the French Red
Cross.
In Cambodia, the DIPECHO project implemented by the French Red Cross is the project
component that have been taken over from ZOA, as this organisation will be phasing out from
the country in 2011 announced a couple of years ago. The implemtnation of the project built
on the previous experience of CBDRM in Oddar Mean Chhey implemented by ZOA.
In Laos, this project is following a first DIPECHO project implemented between October 2008
and January 2010 in Savannakhet Province and in Khammouane Province.
Duration of the project
15 Months.
From JULY 1st 2010 to SEPTEMBER 30th 2011
(NB: The entire project component for Cambodia is expected to be fully completed by 24
October 2011. This was due to the fact that the target area of operation has been affected by
border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia. The suspension of some project activities was
requested as of 7th February 2011 and activities resumed on 3rd March 2011.)
Budget of the project
Total budget : 688 235 Euros
Cambioda budget : 352 294 Euros
Laos budget : 335 294 Euros
85 % funding by European Comission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department.
Country situation
1 ) Cambodia :
In Cambodia, natural disasters such as floods and drought are regularly reported affecting all
parts of the Country. Moreover, storm was observed on recent years, the cyclone Ketsana has
even affected the Northern part of the country. This trend might continue as a result of climate
variability and climate change phenomena. In addition to the natural hazards, the country is
also vulnerable to epidemics such as malaria and dengue. Then, the food security of the
population may be seriously affected by pest infestation and livestock disease.
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Though Cambodia is not experiencing the large scale disaster on a regular basis (but recurrent
small-scale disaster), the changing climate patterns along with the human pressure on natural
resources affect the livelihood of the most vulnerable people.
2 ) Laos :
All of the communities surveyed fall within the watershed of the XeyBangFay River – one of the
main tributaries of the Mekong River. The XeyBangFay River itself and especially the
confluence of the XeyBangFay and the Mekong rivers have been identified as one of the most
flood prone areas of Laos.
This flood prone area is now been predicted to become even more vulnerable due to the
completion of a major new hydroelectric scheme, the Nam Theung Dam. The exact
consequences of this development are as yet unclear but they will exacerbate the already
severe problem of annual flooding in the area.
Location
1 ) Cambodia :
The action was carried out in Anlong Veng District (all 5 communes) and Trapeang Prasat
District (all 6 communes) in Oddar Meanchey province in Cambodia.
2 ) Laos : The project area is in central Laos as follows :
- In Khammouane Province of central Lao, three Districts: Mahaxay, XeyBangFay and
Nongbok.
- In Savannakhet Province of central Lao, one District: Xaibouli adjoining Nongbok District.
All of the project communities are situated along the banks of the XeyBangFay River.
Beneficiaries
Total : 56 334 persons
Cambodia : 42,290 inhabitants of 81 communities are considered as direct beneficiaries from
the action.
Laos : 14,044 inhabitants of 23 communities are considered as direct beneficiaries from the
action.
Among them, the following groups of persons can be specified as fallows :
- Red Cross Cambodia and Lao First Aid Volunteers that will benefit of the enhancement
of their roles in disaster preparedness and response within the community
- Red Cross Youth Volunteers
- Children and teachers from schools that will benefit from small scale mitigation
measures ( Cambodia ), receive informal education session on DRR and natural
resource management ansd benefit from of sensitization in Disaster Management and
Public Awareness campain, as well as part of simulation exercices ( Laos ).
- Villages that will benefit from disaster predardness and response within the
community.
- Village and Commune Disaster Management Committee members that will benefit
from refreshers training, coaching and continuous support to revise their DRR plans
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Results
1) Cambodia :
-
Reinforce capacities of the Committees in Disaster Management and CRC branch of
Oddar Meanchey to improve and sustain the preparedness to disaster at community
level.
-
Increase knowledge about disatster risk reduction, climate change and sustainable
resource management for children from natural hazard-prone areas
-
Develop Community and stakeholders’ knowledge on how to address risk and potential
climate change through a better understanding of the water balance and natural
resource management.
2 ) Laos :
-
Reinforce / Consolidate / Improve knowledge and awareness of how to respond to
disaster risk in flood prone communities.
-
Improve flood prone communities’ practices to prepare for and mitigate the impact of
disasters. The most vulnerable houselholds will be supported within the community.
-
Strenghened the capacity of the Lao Red Cross and local governments’ to deliver and
sustain DRR (methodology, matrix) in four Districts and two Provinces.
Result expected for both Cambodia and Laos :
-
Reinforce national societies in their role and expertise in DRR at local, national and
regional levels.
Activities
1 ) Cambodia :
-
Conduct assessments at the beginning and at the end of the preject on community’s
perceptions and experience in water uses, climate and environnemental issues.
-
Raise awareness of about 400 children from primary school on DRR and CCA through
informal sessions in class, exposure visit and drawing competition.
-
Organise a provincial workshop to disseminate the results and the lessons learned on
sustainable water resource for reducing the vulnerability of communities facing hydrometeorological disasters.
-
Explore and develop specific practical collaborations between active DRR and
development agencies ( EG : participation to forum on DRR and education in Cambodia,
cross exposure visits, exchange of tools and practices...)
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2 ) Laos :
-
Carry out at the beginning of the project realistic and detailed baseline capacity
assessment.
-
Develop in partnership with communities and District authorities contingency plans and
disaster simulation exercises.
-
Set up and implement a Mitigation Fund for community level micro-projects.
-
Based on the comprehensive monitoring of the ongoing project and usage of the
CBDRR training manual, document, publish and publicise the process followed including
best practices and lessons learnt and revisions to the handbook.
-
Carry out meetings with active DRR agencies (including the National Disaster
Management Office - NDMO) to promote and co-establish a DRR platform within the
country and potentially at Provincial level and/or at watershed level.
Activities for both Cambodia and Laos :
-
Formalise the interactions between FRC, LRC and maybe CRC with IFRC with regard to
the facilitation of a regional DRR platform and contribute to regular bi-annuals
meetings.
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