Speaking points dipecho meeting nepal 2010 draft 3

SPEAKING POINTS – DIPECHO PARTNERS MEETING – NEPAL 2010
ANALYSIS OF CONTEXT AND PROBLEM STATEMENT
The activities of DG ECHO in the field of Disaster Preparedness are “to ensure preparedness for risks of
natural disasters or comparable circumstances and use a suitable rapid early-warning and intervention
system”. The DIPECHO program was set up in this context to improve the capacities of communities at
risk to better prepare and protect themselves against natural hazards.
While Nepal has seen significant developments in terms of disaster risk management legal framework
and policy, the long lasting political deadlock has, and will, hamper translation of policies into effective
measures. In addition, the last 2 national 3-years plans (national planning commission) have significantly
reduced the disaster risk management focus compared to the previous 5-years plan, going from “natural
& man made created disaster management” to “irrigation and water induced disasters prevention”. The
short to medium term perspective do give great room for political instability, which should in turn
hamper the capacity of DP & DRR stakeholders to effectively support national efforts.
Humanitarian and development funding trends in Nepal focus greatly on response to emergencies and
direct support to national development strategies, leaving intermediate sectors under financed,
including DP & DRR. This situation can be explained by a variety of reasons but the predominant one
might be the lack of “demonstrated” adequate links between needs and resources. More coherence
between people’s needs and actions taken should be promoted through the diverse forum where
DIPECHO expertise is relevant by advocating for a shift in funding from response to preparedness and
mitigation.

Evolutions observed in the legal framework (National & International)
Over the last years, important changes have occurred in terms of legal framework for DP & DRR in
Nepal. Some of these changes have been influenced to some extent by DIPECHO partners while others
are the result of the international trends. This evolution has implications at all levels of interaction in the
Nepalese context but these implications remain quite unknown and probably changing / unstable. The
legal framework needs to be assessed in order to i) measure the progresses, ii) identify remaining gaps,
iii) adapt to these new rules and constraints, iiii) focus on remaining gaps.
DIPECHO funded actions should make clear reference to and contribute to achieving international
agreements (e.g. Hyogo Framework for Action) as well as national strategies and policies. In addition,
whenever possible, based on the expertise available, DIPECHO actions should “feed” national debates
and “works in progress”.
DIPECHO: STATUS OF PLAY
DRR is a part of DG ECHO's mandate. The policy framework for DG ECHO's mandate in DRR is outlined in
4 key documents namely ECHO’s Mandate: Article 2f of the Council Regulation (EC) No. 1257/96 of
1996; EU Consensus on Humanitarian Aid – 2007; EU Strategy for supporting DRR in Developing
Countries - 2009 and ECHO policy framework on DRR (draft). Until 2-3 years ago ECHO DRR activities
were more or less synonym with DIPECHO, but now the focus of DG ECHO's DRR support include:
disaster preparedness (DIPECHO and DRR targeted projects), mainstreaming DP/DRR in all of ECHO’s
interventions, advocacy towards other services of the commissions, donors, and stakeholders (LRRD)
and additional funding lines (thematic funding, ad hoc decisions).
Focus of DIPECHO was highlighted: natural disasters, implementation of pilot projects with
demonstrative purposes and clear exit strategies, replication and scaling up projects, participation in
larger DRR initiatives and local response capacities. Objectives of DIPECHO in short are to reinforce the
resilience and response capacity of communities and DM authorities, integrating DDR in humanitarian
response, and intensify capacity building, advocacy and coordination.
DIPECHO was created in 1996 and has since 1998 channeled more than EUR 186 million to DRR projects
worldwide. DIPECHO covers at present 9 regions. In South Asia DIPCHO is working with 27 partners in 5
countries (38 districts, 730,000 direct beneficiaries. Since the first Action Plan for South Asia both budget
and number of partners have increased significantly.
LOGIC OF ECHO INTERVENTION IN DP/DRR SECTOR
The overriding objective of DIPECHO interventions is “to reduce the vulnerability populations living in
areas most affected by natural disasters” - increasing the awareness and the response capacities of

communities, as well as local authorities, to potential and frequent natural disasters and to reduce the
effects of these disasters on the most vulnerable.
The program aims therefore to do this primarily by:
Targeting the most vulnerable communities and categories of population using bottom-up
participatory methods and relevant local materials/resources that can be easily replicated. Specific
attention will be given to gender, children and the disabled in line with DG ECHO’s strategy on the
most vulnerable populations.
Fostering appropriate and sustainable preparedness activities that are coordinated with local,
national and international institutions and that can be easily replicated in other parts of the region
and beyond. Small-scale mitigation and prevention activities are encouraged and should
complement the projects if they have a demonstrative purpose and a proven impact while being
replicable within financial reach by local communities and authorities. This should be supported by
advocacy and adequate promotional activities ensuring access of communities and organizations to
relevant technical sources and support in view of effective replication.
Focusing on the areas most exposed to frequent natural hazards and with less coping capacities.
Special attention could be given to the remoteness and difficulty of access of the proposed areas or
the so called forgotten areas.
Regional and multi-national approaches should be considered where advantages compared to
single national approaches are demonstrated on the basis on in-depth needs assessments and
adequate expertise in concerned countries. Unless similar activities addressing similar situations &
related needs would be implemented in the targeted countries, regional approaches would better
fit projects aiming at addressing national level issues rather than community level ones.
Reinforcing local response capacities by building stocks of emergency and relief items when
adequate local management capacity is proven and accountability ensured. In that regard, the
Nepal Red Cross Society shall be considered as the privileged interlocutor while capacity building
aspects should also be addressed at district and sub-district levels.
Reinforcing and sustaining national capacities through advocacy and capacity building on the basis
of the past achievements recorded in the field. In that perspective, coordination with non-DIPECHO
national initiatives should be promoted in order to extend the impact of DIPECHO partners’
experiences and expertise. Supporting district level efforts in line with national policies through the
DDMC1
should also be considered in the perspective of fostering local response capacities,
effectiveness and accountability.
1
DDMC: District Disaster Management Committee.

Multi-hazards approach is strongly recommended to ensure a more comprehensive response and
impact. However, this does not prevent sector focused projects aiming at developing a single but
well defined activity at country level.
Mainstreaming DP & DRR by DIPECHO partners into their other programming, further to the sole
DIPECHO projects, is strongly expected as a multiplier effect. Indeed, an effective mainstreaming of
DP & DRR by ECHO partners should be an outcome of the regular implementation of DIPECHO
projects and should be adequately developed in the relevant sections of the Single Form.
PRIORITIES IN TERMS OF REGIONS, HAZARDS FOR DIPECHO (Updated from partners’ meeting 2010)
The priorities below have been established for the 5th
action plan. However, there is need for validation
and refining of the proposed. In particular, fatalities and other sorts of quantified impacts recorded per
type of hazard, region, season… would greatly improve the validity of these priorities. In addition,
disaggregated figures from a gender perspective would provide a more qualitative analysis, both in
terms of prioritization and design of responses. Available and relevant disaster scenarios may be
relevant to support priorities identified.
 Hazard priorities
Floods (increased frequency) & subsequent epidemics (60% of lives losses)
Landslides & avalanches (increased frequency)
Earthquakes (not only KTM valley) & subsequent fires
Cold & Hot waves
GLOF (emerging – Is the impact measured?)
Need for multi-hazard approach
Other: Droughts (is DIPECHO a relevant tool to tackle drought related issues?)
 Geographical targeting priorities
High prevalence of multi hazards.
High human / livelihoods losses (actual or potential).
Areas where integrated approaches are possible (multi hazard focus).
Areas where previous efforts have been effective (or insufficiently effective) & possibility or
need for follow up to scale up or reinforce.
Neglected and/or remote and/or forgotten areas (from DP/DRR & humanitarian &
development perspectives).
Low socio-economic development (Low DAG index / low HDI index / prevalence of female
headed HHs / prevalence of excluded groups…).

 Hazard geographical prevalence
Earthquake: KTM valley and Pokhara first, but not only!
Floods: All Terai regions
Epidemics: Mid & Far West regions, all flood prone areas
Landslides: Mountains & Hills
Avalanches: Mountains & Hills
Fire: Mountains, East & West Terai
Cold & hot waves: Districts bordering India
Drought: Districts bordering India, Mid & Far West Hills, Mountains
GLOF: Mountains & related river basins
SECTOR PRIORITIES FOR DIPECHO INTERVENTIONS
The items listed hereafter are not strictly the DIPECHO priorities but rather sectors and specific focuses
where significant evolution or absence of significant evolution requires taking stock of the current
situation and discuss implications for further progress in the frame of DIPECHO projects.
 Local disaster management components, targeting local actors in disaster prone areas:
Early warning systems: Significant efforts and progress have been made in this sector,
including a draft national EWS strategy to be hopefully soon adopted by the parliament, a
reinforced DHM2
(increased coverage, skills and means), proven effective community based
set up… Although improvements can always been made, further replication and expansion of
such initiatives and expertise should be considered by DIPECHO partners in flood prone areas.
Sharing expertise within DIPECHO partners should be seek through planning partnership at
the project design phase to ensure adequate planning and operational coherence. The
Department of Hydrology & Meteorology being the only stakeholder in that sector having a
dedicated network (monitoring stations, analysis / forecasting tools, communication
network…) and an official mandate, it should be systematically involved and consulted from
the initial stage. However, other local stakeholders could be involved where available and
relevant.
2
DHM: Department of Hydrology & Meteorology.

WHAT HAS EVOLVED IN EWS AND HOW COULD IT BE SCALED UP?
Synthesis from partners’ inputs:
Evolution:
Tests made in different types of river basins proved being efficient: The system works.
EWS training guidelines and strategy have been drafted: The formal framework is
developing.
Scaling up:
EWS should become “multi-hazard” by involving landslides in future. Through a “joint
activity” or a more direct partnership between some partners?
Should / could be health (epidemics) integrated in a wider EWS? This seems
incompatible with DHM being the coordinating agency. Are there alternatives or would
we create a too heavy tool?
Adoption and implementation of the strategy is essential for scaling up with a strong
government involvement.
Should DIPECHO continue covering the needs in CBEWS across Nepal or rather support
the GoN through DHM in extending the coverage of the network? Does DHM have the
capacity to grow adequately and timely?
DIPECHO can continue extending the coverage of needs, to some extent, while further
empowering DHM for a softer transition and piloting the incorporation of landslides in
the system.
EWS must keep focused on inclusiveness, as it is in a developing phase, to ensure that it
will remain inclusive once fully led by GoN / DHM.
Linking the EWS services to other sectors and longer term programs would be supported
by ECHO to the extent that it does not change dramatically the DIPECHO approach.
Capacity-building of local actors: This sector should be considered under i) District & Sub-
district level and ii) National level, according to the mandate and expertise of the partner,
while both approaches are important in the Nepalese context. Capacity building could also be
talked at both levels when it comes to strengthening capacities of actors such as NRCS in a
given aspect (e.g. disability inclusiveness…). However, capacity building approaches should
always be associated to concrete and objectively verifiable outcomes having a demonstrated
impact on national or local capacities.
Capacity building of local DIPECHO partners: While DIPECHO partners implement projects in
partnership with local NGOs or NRCS local chapters, a particular attention should be given to
building capacities of the field team at the inception of and along the action. Specific training
plans should be core activities of the proposed actions in order to i) ensure achieving the

action’s objectives and ii) increase local expertise availability. This should also be seen as a
multiplier tool in view of sustaining and replicating activities implemented through DIPECHO
funded actions.
Trainings: In line with the above, trainings should be promoted not only at community level
but also within diverse departments and institution. Partners should pay great attention to the
quality of the trainings while ensuring an appropriate coordination of such efforts, in
particulars when it comes to improving national standards, or assimilated as such.
HOW TO ENSURE ADEQUATE EXPERTISE IN-COUNTRY?
SHOULD WE RETHINK CAPACITY BUILDING APPROACHES?
HOW TO ENSURE ADEQUATE DP/DRR EXPERTISE IN-COUNTRY?
Academic sector should be involved in field activities so that field experience and
research can be incorporated into curriculums.
INGOs should support strong and effective DP/DRR mainstreaming in local partners’
portfolio. But they should do it in their portfolio first, which will in turn benefit to local
partners.
DIPECHO should have a greater focus on relevant local government staff capacity
building through trainings and effective involvement in programs.
INGOs must promote the institutional capitalization of expertise within their local
partners.
SHOULD WE RETHINK CAPACITY BUILDING APPROACHES?
INGOs must “invest” in capacity building, including through local internships. Focus
should not be only on Kathmandu academic sector and should promote gender balance.
Private sector, in particular construction companies, can be made aware of improved
techniques and their benefits.
DP/DRR is and will be growing in Nepal. DIPECHO can’t keep on having “individual”
approaches but must participate to a wider and coordinated approach.
Strong or growing local civil society networks exit in the field. Building their capacity will
allow them to influence a wider part of the population in the long run while advocating
at local government level.
Capacity building should be a permanent focus at every stage of the project, from the
conception to the evaluation.
Quality trainings could be approached as a “joint activity”.

 Institutional linkages and advocacy, targeting institutions involved in disaster
management/disaster risk reduction, in particular at regional, national and sub-national levels:
Advocacy: Under the DIPECHO 5th
action plan, a number of successful advocacy initiatives
have been undertaken by DIPECHO partners and translated into a significant influence on
policy making (e.g. DRR tool kit, EWS national strategy…). Pursuing such efforts appears to be
increasingly important while Nepal is in the course of developing its strategic and legal
framework for Disaster Risk Management. In that regard, partnership with international and
national organizations having a relevant mandate should be developed in order to increase
the impact of advocacy on the basis of the practical achievements recorded by DIPECHO
initiatives at grassroots and district levels.
While it is recognized that communities themselves remain the first responders in times of
disasters, large scale preparedness and response capacity will not be achieved unless national
capacities are being built and sustained in line with an adequate strategy and legal framework.
For that reason, advocacy should not be considered of minor importance and field work
should be used to “feed” advocacy.
Involving relevant national stakeholders, such as NRCS, in advocacy efforts should also be seen
as a potential multiplier effect as well as a way to sustain the actions initiated through
DIPECHO.
HOW TO ENSURE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT THROUGH ADVOCACY?
Advocacy initiatives must be coordinated and in line with other stakeholders’ initiatives,
in particular when they can provide access to policy making level.
The translation of policies and strategies into concrete field capacities and actions
should be the focus.
The greater involvement of media and civil society networks can play a key role in
increasing the pressure on central and local government for more effective and
accountable planning and action.
Facilitation of coordination: There is an increasing number of official, informal, Ad Hoc,
national or local coordination forums and mechanisms while fluid and systematic information
sharing is not always ensured, to the detriment of all stakeholders. DIPECHO partners should
ensure that all coordination forums relevant to their activities are identified in the relevant
sections of the Single Form and that efforts will be made to share and use the information
available. This aspect should be particularly important in the frame of regional and national
level projects (including consortiums).

SHOULD A DP / DRR DEDICATED COORDINATION FORUM BE ESTABLISED?
Coordination platforms do exist in Nepal but are fragmented (sector approaches
through clusters) or insufficiently active / efficient (national platform). In all cases the
stakeholders involved are not fully representative of the sum of expertise and resources
existing in country. The current level and type of coordination does not allow having the
“big picture” of this sector in Nepal or discussing broad “technical” approaches.
The government should be encouraged to have a leading role in coordination but the
current political context and instability limit the effectiveness of this approach, although
it should not be abandoned.
Civil society must be involved as well and encouraged to play the “watch dog” role in
GoN led forum.
The priority, further to the coordination mechanism itself, is an effective sharing of key
information on resources available, needs identified and actions implemented, involving
all stakeholders, including donors.
Opinions are divergent regarding the need for a specific and regular DP/DRR dedicated
coordination forum. However, at least, ad hoc dedicated coordination meetings could
be called by the UN in the framework of the DRR consortium.
Institutional strengthening: Nepal has seen its DP & DRR institutional environment evolving
significantly over last years. However, this does not translate yet into well coordinated
operational capacities at all levels from central government to communities. While local
initiatives tend to expend, in particular through contingency planning, much remains to do in
order to transform strategies and intentions into practical capacities. Dedicated and trained
human resources remain scarce and dedicated material resources even more, thus hindering
preparedness response effectiveness in times of disasters.
HOW COULD DIPECHO STRENGTHEN INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITIES?
The support & coaching provided by INGOs, including DIPECHO partners, to DDRCs
under the umbrella of OCHA appears to be effective and fruitful. It should be extended
in time and scope while involving better the local civil society.
Strengthening institutional capacities should also include supporting district authorities
in effectively implementing their plans and strategies in the field.
DIPECHO partners should contemplate opportunities of developing strong links with the
academic & research sector for a long term impact.
DIPECHO projects should be linked with other partners’ longer term / development

projects for an effective mainstreaming, including in capacity building of local
stakeholders.
DIPECHO projects may support a coordinated and UN led approach to develop GoN
capacities by bringing in field expertise.
National initiatives: Large scale, nation-wide and long term multi-sector initiatives involving a
wide panel of actors and reflecting the national strategy, such as the DRR consortium - 5
Flagships, should not be avoided whenever effective linkage is possible within the DIPECHO
specific timeframe and mandate. Such linkages have to be carefully thought in order to ensure
that related activities will have a demonstrated impact within the project lifespan.
HOW COULD DIPECHO WORK ALONGSIDE SUCH INITIATIVES?
While national / large scale initiatives sometimes face difficulties to be implemented at
grassroots level, DIPECHO projects could be supportive in a mutually beneficial
approach. This is only possible if considered from the initial stage of the projects.
The key added value of DIPECHO in that frame is its proximity to the communities and
district authorities, while national initiatives may be adequate for a large scale
replication of the models developed in the field.
Coordination would allow DIPECHO feeding such initiatives through sharing of
experiences and practical achievements in the field.
 Information, Education, Communication, targeting direct and indirect beneficiaries:
Awareness raising among the general public: Large scale public awareness has scaled up
during the 5th
DIPECHO action plan, in particular through the radio components. Based on
demonstrated impact of such activities, efforts should be pursued whenever relevant and
effective, preferably through joint initiatives.
Education: Whenever possible actions should target schools as a mean to multiply the impact
of activities conducted at community level. Such approaches must be well inserted into a
coherent strategy.
HOW CAN DIPECHO INFLUENCE THE EDUCATION SECTOR POLICY?

DRR awareness raising among young children is key to a sustainable impact of DRR
activities implemented today.
Because most DIPECHO projects do have a “school” component, a certain expertise has
been acquired, which makes DIPECHO partners relevant advisers to integrate DP / DRR
in school curriculum and implement trainings among teachers.
Education should be influenced at top level in order to ensure that a non fragmented
approach could be developed and institutionalized in a sustainable way.
DIPECHO projects shall be used to pilot implementation at district level, possibly by
adapting mechanisms used in e.g. mine awareness (cascade trainings allowing one focal
person in each school…).
This approach is complementary to structural retrofitting of schools and is relatively low
cost.
Schools are often used as safe shelter in times of floods and this creates tensed
situations, becoming a national issue. Such situations can be managed in order to avoid
disrupting classes provided that adequate provisions are made beforehand.
 Small scale infrastructure and services at community level:
Infrastructure support: Such approaches should be envisaged when needed to ensure the
effectiveness and sustainability of other components of the action. It should not be seen as a
way to cover gaps identified among local stakeholders, local government bodies,
independently from the core objectives of the action.
Structural mitigation works: Much has been done over successive DIPECHO projects, among
others. Mitigation works implemented should be replicable at an affordable cost, by local
actors. Besides, DIPECHO partners have the obligation to promote and facilitate this
replication through diverse ways including, but not limited to, local exposure visits,
dissemination of easy to use guidelines, development and advertisement of local expertise
and capacities, dissemination of technical impact study reports among local stakeholders
(district authorities, VDC secretaries, local NGOs and networks…). Indeed, developing
replicable systems ends up being meaningless if replication does not occur, thus proposals
should details plans to foster effective replication.
Non-structural mitigation activities: Similar comments would apply to non-structural
mitigation.
HOW TO MAKE MITIGATION A DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT PRIORITY?

DIPECHO partners must advocate at regional and district level for an increasing
resources allocation and investment into mitigation structures / measures with the
active involvement of the civil society, DMCs and networks such as NN-CDMC (formerly
NDAC). Such advocacy effort s should be linked to other initiatives, such as district
preparedness plans.
Ensuring mitigation to become an actual priority as district level requires linking with UN
agencies for advocating effectively at central level.
Adequate technical documentation and related support must be provided to district
authorities to guide informed strategies and implementation.
While promoting mitigation measures to be developed by district authorities and
communities, DIPECHO projects should ensure that it is not translating into moving the
problems to other communities and should keep on highlighting the need for adequate
community mobilization and involvement at all stages of the initiatives.
Stock-building of emergency and relief items:
Targeting the reinforcement of the response capacity of local actors and institutions in disaster-
prone areas in view of contributing to ensure an adequate response to natural disaster by
strengthening the timely response capacity following a natural disaster. As for “infrastructure
support”, stock building can’t be envisaged in a “one off” way. Indeed, stock building should be
complementing capacity building / strengthening of local responders. Heavy equipment, although
generally relevant in terms of preparedness, can’t be eligible under DIPECHO funds.
Feasibility & technical studies:
Whenever required due to the technical specificity of an action, partners should plan conducting
proper feasibility or technical studies that will allow refining the needs assessment’s findings
before implementation of the activities in the field. This should be considered more particularly
when the partner does not have all the technical expertise available in house.
Cross-cutting focus to be strengthened or clarified (List open to discussion)
 Disability Inclusiveness
Through DIPECHO V, disability inclusiveness has seen great developments with Handicap
International spreading expertise among other DIPECHO partners as well as the civil society.
Building on these first steps, DIPECHO partners will be expected to increase their focus on this
issue, incorporating disability inclusiveness from the very conceptual stage of their intended
Actions. Linking and partnering with relevant civil society local stakeholders should be considered

as an essential sustainability factor, while shared approaches between DIPECHO partners should
not be neglected.
Synthesis of inputs from partners’ meeting:
Persons with disability are of the most vulnerable groups; because of the discrimination and
stigma attached to the disability but also because they also face, as other members of the
community, gender, caste and age issues. for example, women with disabilities are more
vulnerable to GBV.
WHO records for Nepal shows that 10% of the Nepali population has a disability; if we count
that a family is composed of 5 members, that means that 50% of the Nepali population are
concerned about the warning, life-saving and the rescue of persons with disabilities.
The needs of the most vulnerable segments of the communities should be addressed under all
components of the project cycle without discrimination.
Inclusiveness means accountability, impartiality and efficiency
Early Warning Systems will only be effective if the systems ensure warning is made accessible
to everyone in the community.
The legal framework for inclusion of persons with disabilities in DRR is set in a long line of
conventions, strategies and declarations (UNCRPD, NSDRM, Dhulikhel declaration, etc)– thus
projects has to have an inclusive approach - inclusion it is not a choice, but a must. Several of
the HFA priorities highlight inclusiveness
There are Examples from DIPECHO partners working in Nepal that we can build on: : Action Aid
– accessible water points; Danish RC- stockpiling of assistive devices; Care- Disability-inclusive
awareness ; Oxfam- inclusive mock drills, evacuation plans, IEC materials; Mercy Corps-
inclusive search and rescue and evacuation; Mission-East- promoting the inclusion of gender,
caste and disability issues into the Monsoon disaster preparedness plans; Practical Action –
distribution of assistive devices for participation into preparedness activities. Also UNDP,
NSET have been working on combining disaster safety and accessibility.
 Gender Inclusiveness & Gender Based Violence
Gender related issues are traditionally considered under mainstreaming and most DIPECHO
partners do focus, to some extent, on these issues. However, given the important prevalence of
gender related abuses of all sorts in Nepal, it is deemed necessary to go further to the sole
“mainstreaming”. Indeed, while diverse projects across Nepal focus on gender, the specific issues
of gender inclusiveness and gender based violence in natural disaster situations remain relatively
unexplored in Nepal. Thus there is great room for productive partnerships between DIPECHO
partners and gender focused stakeholders (including women’s organizations), whether local,
national or international. In addition, the current ECHO funded UNFPA’s capacity building project
on gender based violence should allow greater support to DIPECHO partners by the time Actions
are initiated.

Gender related components of the proposed actions should not remain general or vague. To the
contrary, effectiveness of the actions in that regard should be demonstrated through specific
(SMART) indicators in the logical framework.
Gender based violence (GBV) is defined as any act that is perpetrated against a person's will
Men and women's experiences should be included for all aspects of planning and
implementation
Selected approaches should ensure that men and women are equally involved. It is not
enough just to ensure that women are represented in the various committees, they should
have equal say and possibilities for expressing their views and bring their special needs
forward.
Reasons for addressing SGBV
Vulnerability increases violence
SGBV is life threatening
Negative consequences at all levels
Effective response to SGBV prevent further violence
How to address mainstreaming and GBV
Ensure meaningful participation of women in programming and decision making.
Raise awareness and build capacity (of teams and local stakeholders).
Obtain gender disaggregated data (to build clear indicators for LFA and M&E).
Ensure context analysis of specific vulnerabilities.
Ensure multi-sector (health, protection, response, legal framework) SGBV response and
prevention.
A large panel of key tools & guidelines are available (to be requested to UNFPA or ECHO).
A number of local & international NGOs have a strong field presence / expertise and are
willing to share it: DIPECHO partners should use it!
 Disadvantaged Groups
“Disadvantaged groups” is a very wide and vague concept. However it aims at highlighting the fact
that all, in a given community, may not be benefiting in the same way, or to the same extent, of an
action implemented for all. A number of factors can explain this fact, depending on the context of
implementation, including gender, cast, religion, physical status, age, political affiliation… However,
great attention must be given to equal involvement of all community members in projects to
guaranty equal access to benefits of the projects once disasters occur.
A group of people can be disadvantaged in many different manners, including with regard to
participation to a humanitarian project. Discrimination is a field reality, possibly including DIPECHO
projects. DIPECHO partners must ensure that this does not happen by questioning this potential

reality from the earliest stage of their programming, i.e. from the needs assessment, and keep on
being vigilant along the project lifespan, sensitizing teams and stakeholders through coaching.
 Global Campaigns
To the extent possible, DIPECHO individual projects need to be designed incorporating priorities
given by Global Campaigns.
“Schools safety”
Global objective:
Promote disaster reduction education in School curricula.
To promote school safety by encouraging the application of construction standards that
can withstand any kind of natural hazard.
Nepal’s achievements:
Since 1998, NSET’s School EQ Safety Program in 44 schools (SESP – seismic retrofitting of
schools; training teachers, students & parents; training local masons on EQ resistant
technologies).
Diverse small scale / pilot projects or activities implemented by diverse NGOs (retrofitting,
training & awareness, mock drills…), but not implemented strategically.
Models, technical designs, expertise are available but not used to a significant extent.
What more?
Challenges & weaknesses:
National strategy for school safety missing?
Pilots have not been replicated. By who and how should it happen?
School curriculum not DRR inclusive. How to tackle it?
Should DIPECHO have a systematic approach on school safety? How?
Curriculum mapping needed
DRR is already incorporated in curriculum for class 6-10 by DOE (Department of
Education) but Class 1-5 is not yet reached (what is the reality in the field??)
Teachers training for SS need to be upgraded (done by whom??)
No standard school safety strategy exists
Coordination with other school safety actors (UNESCO, NSBT, UNDP, SCN, CWF, UMN,
AAN……) needed
DRR as extracurricular activity should be addressed (isn’t it better within the curriculum?)
School preparedness plans should be developed and mock drills organized (at which
level??)

Advocacy for and implementation of national strategy for school safety
Replicate pilots projects implemented by other organizations (i.e. NSET’s / MC/NRCS/AA)
(multi- hazard approach) (by whom??)
Promote advocacy on inclusive DRR curriculum
DIPECHO should have a systematic approach on school safety (drills, trainings, awareness
campaigns, mobilization of child clubs (i.e. Junior Red Cross Circles)
(Low cost) non- structural mitigation as pilot/ model of good practice (How can it be
replicated at a larger scale, further to DIPECHO projects)
Projects should be linked to the global campaigns right from the design/proposal stage to
the evaluation (what are the support resources existing??)
Identification of gaps and possible contributions
Explore indicators to measure the linkages and contributions
“Hospitals safety”
Global objective:
Protect the lives of patients and health workers by ensuring the structural resilience of
health facilities;
Ensure health facilities and health services are able to function in the aftermath of
emergencies and disasters, when they are most needed;
Improve the risk reduction capacity of health workers and institutions, including
emergency management.
NSET conducted an assessment of the structural & non-structural vulnerability of 14 major
hospitals in Nepal (2000-3).
“Guidelines for seismic vulnerability assessments of hospitals” & “Non-structural
vulnerability assessment of hospitals in Nepal” available (NSET, WHO, MoHP).
One DIPECHO project (AA / HI / NSET) tackled the issues of non-structural retrofitting and
hospital contingency planning. What’s next: report dissemination, advocacy…?
What more?
Coordination mechanism for hospital safety & contingency planning?
Mass casualty management strategy?
Lack of a holistic approach and coordination of efforts?
Every hospitals in districts and regional level should have contingency plans (diverse pilots
have been done / guidelines existing??)

Training on mass casualties management for hospital staffs (based on the above)
Mass casualty management strategy and guidelines for district and regional hospitals
should be developed (what already exists??)
Hospital facilities retrofitting (By whom? DIPECHO cannot handle it alone!)
Advocate for coordination among hospitals for emergency situations (to be clarified!)
Education- Awareness- Training (of whom by whom??)
Projects should be linked to the global campaigns right from the design/proposal stage to
the evaluation (what are the support resources existing??)
“Safer cities”
Global objective:
The overall goal of the campaign is to achieve resilient, sustainable urban communities,
with a growing number of local governments that are taking actions to reduce the risks to
disasters.
A longer term objective following the campaign is to empower local governments with
stronger national policies to invest in risk reduction at local level, as part of urban and
regional development plans.
Kathmandu city part of “My city is getting ready” regional campaign (June 2010 - Delhi).
Pilots and “good practices” exist but are not compiled & disseminated.
NSET & DIPECHO: Some level of involvement, but what’s next?
What more?
Authority delegated to local bodies to manage urban disaster preparedness but no
strategy or guidelines available.
How to scale up / replicate pilot initiatives?
Lack of technical expertise available.
Lack of empowerment of legally binding technical standards.
Safe exit and concentration / IDPs camps (component included in Flagships)
Pilots and good practices should be shared with authorities (How? Focusing on which
interlocutors?)
Dissemination of information on safer cities (to which interlocutors?)
Advocate for the implementation of building codes (to which interlocutors?)
Projects should be linked to the global campaigns right from the design/proposal stage to the

evaluation (what are the support resources existing?)
Climate Change Adaptation
This increasingly important focus needs to be carefully considered. Indeed, it can hardly be
considered as a sector of intervention unless specific impact(s) induced by climate change could be
clearly and technically demonstrated and quantified. However, when refining/revisiting DP & DRR
strategies in the light of evolving natural disasters’ impact, climate change adaption is somehow
automatically taken on board.
HOW CAN CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES BECOME CORE ISSUES IN DIPECHO?
Cross-cutting sectors must be considered by DIPECHO partners as central from the initial
stages of any project and thus be given adequate “space” in needs assessments and
activities, ensuring that relevant indicators are developed and verified.
To make this actually implemented, local implementing partner must be given adequate
skills through training and coaching.
Local civil society must be deeply involved and be given the chance to increase their
means as well as human and material resources to the extent possible.
Linking with other initiatives / projects implemented by specialized agencies should be
promoted.
DIPECHO partners should commit to achieve this to the same extent than they commit
to achieve “technical” objectives, by including specific indicators and activities in their
proposals.
Required resources must be requested to ECHO on the basis of clear objectives and
verifiable achievements.
REPLICABILITY/SCALING UP
Over successive DIPECHO action plans implemented through numerous individual projects, effective
methodologies and concepts have been developed, demonstrated and improved. While this process
should be pursued as the grassroots basis of larger expertise, DIPECHO should not be limited to that sole
approach. Indeed, large scale replication calls for distinct and complementary approaches that include,
but not limit to, partnering with local authorities at all levels, from VDC to national.

Previous initiatives such as district/regional/national preparedness workshops and VDC/district
emergency funds have proven significant impact, among others, in promoting awareness of populations
and authorities while making the latter more accountable to increasing expectations from the people.
Such trends shall be supported and reinforced as a first step toward effective scaling up of DP & DRR.
DOES “REPLICATION” NEED A STRATEGY? THEN, WHICH ONE?
Replication of models developed is among the core objectives of DIPECHO. However
there is need for clarifying what is a replicable model and how could replication
effectively happen.
Depending on the local needs and resources, an objective evaluation of the potential for
replication of models should be made, taking into account technical aspects and cost-
benefit ratio as well as affordability by local stakeholders.
Replication will not happen unless benefits are proven through well documented
piloting reports. Technical guidelines and coaching to local stakeholders by DIPECHO
partners are also key to district and VDC authorities to buy the models and mobilize
resources.
Use of communities’ common sense and adaptation to specific contexts must be
promoted rather than a “blanket coverage” approach.
Promoting replication is based on expertise sharing and advocacy, thus linking with UN
agencies and civil society.
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability implies distinct efforts at the various levels of intervention. One should not limit
sustainability to the sole buying in of targeted population groups while leaving aside other aspects.
Indeed, there are increasingly room and need for sustaining complementary efforts at other levels and
other scales through coordination, capacity building, advocacy to donors and authorities, partnerships
between stakeholders…
Empowerment of local authorities at VDC and district levels combined with improved skills and
increased funds available appears to be an essential step toward a sustainable disaster risk management
in Nepal.

LINKING RELIEF REHABILITATION & DEVELOPMENT
DIPECHO partners are strongly encouraged to link the proposed actions with other initiatives funded by
other donors, in particular other funding instruments of the European Commission (e.g. AIDCO), EU
Member States (DFID…) or other donors. Whenever possible, expertise developed through DIPECHO
funds should be used in the frame of longer term actions and, to the extent possible, incorporated at
proposal stage, where expected multiplier effects should be mentioned.
IS THERE ROOM FOR DIPECHO TO FEED A “LRRD” APPROACH?
DIPECHO partners need to explore potential links between DP/DRR and longer term
initiatives focusing on livelihoods, health… Partners are encouraged to do so primarily in
the frame of their own portfolio.
LRRD approaches could also be developed through linking with non-ECHO funded long
term projects, such as those (to be) planned in the frame of the Flagships and similar
initiatives.
EXIT STRATEGY
ECHO considers the DIPECHO partners as the first focus in terms of exit strategy. Indeed, further to field
actions, policies… DIPECHO intends to support capacity building and mainstreaming within DIPECHO
partners so that DP & DRR would be increasingly central to their entire operational programming.
In addition, “exit strategy’ does not call for the end of DIPECHO but rather for a coherent evolution over
time and projects. Indeed, DIPECHO funded initiatives cannot limit indefinitely to pilot projects and
community focus as it would not allow covering the immense needs at country level. Thus, an exit
strategy should be seen as the natural progressive handover of expertise and responsibilities to the large
panel of national stakeholders, including government and civil society structures. International
stakeholders should indeed work toward being increasingly unnecessary.
OTHER SPECIFIC MODALITIES
 Consortium
Consortium of several NGOs within DIPECHO is strongly supported by ECHO. It should be considered
when the specific expertise of 2 or more NGOs is required to achieve a given objective and none of

each NGO has all relevant expertise. Consortia are also relevant when partners intend to implement
similar activities and would benefit from a more coordinated approach. Caution should be taken
regarding all practical, financial, administrative modalities in the frame of a consortium.
 Regional & Multi-national Approaches
Regional approaches should be considered where there is an obvious comparative advantage to
national approaches. Partners should carefully consider coherence of situations, needs, expertise
and legal frameworks in the diverse countries targeted through a same project.
 Exposure Visits
Exposure visits should be considered where there is a relevant and significant impact expected as
well as decent expectations in terms of replication and/or multiplier effect. All these should be
clearly demonstrated, shared among partners and reported.
 Use of media (as a tool for awareness raising and visibility/communication)
The use of media has demonstrated its potential multiple purposes in multiple contexts. However,
previous experiences, although positive, have shown great room for increased professionalism and
improved efficiency, particularly in the frame of regional approaches. Alternative ways of planning,
designing and implementing such use of media should be considered. In all cases, greater
interaction with ECHO regional information officer will be required in future initiatives.

Speaking points dipecho meeting nepal 2010 draft 3

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