The document summarizes the capacity building activities of the Surakshit Samudaya II project in Nepal, which aims to build community resilience to disasters. Key activities included assessing communities' knowledge of disaster preparedness, hazard mapping, training over 150 disaster management committee members and volunteers, first aid training for 48 young volunteers, and orienting 171 government authorities on disaster risk reduction. The capacity building efforts have empowered community members to advocate for their disaster-related rights and needs.

1. ENHANCING KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, SYSTEMS AND INSTITUTIONS THROUGH CAPACITY
BUILDING
Surakshit Samudaya II is the DIPECHO V project implemented by ActionAid in Nepal, aims to build
resilient of communities to disasters. Capacity Building is one of the key components of the project and
is treated as the process of combining all the strengths, attributes and resources available within the
community, and institutions that can be used to achieve project objectives and goal. Under capacity
building component, ActionAid Nepal has been facilitating a range of trainings at different levels,
developing and strengthening system and institutions, creating resources and support in creating an
enabling policy environment for DRR in Nepal.
The process began with assessing communities’ knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) on disaster
preparedness and disaster risk reduction through a baseline study. Hazard and vulnerability mapping
and capacity assessment were done through Participatory vulnerability analysis in 17 clusters/wards of
the project area. 17 disaster management committees are being supported to lead local DRR
initiatives, ingrained with more than 50 task forces and 32 REFLECT Circles at the community level. Up
to now, all the 137 DMC members and volunteers have been provided with orientation in CBDRR
through a rights-based approach. Informed community members are thus taking grassroots leadership
on DRR to a higher level, working towards sustaining local actions to cope with uncertainties of future.
"We have been facing inundation problems of Dondra River since a long. We were almost
uninformed about the rights of disaster affected people. Now we are informed, and
capacitated to know the rights of the disaster affected people through Surakshit
Samudaya II project. We are happy, excited and benefitted from the project. This time we
demanded money in VDC council for disaster management, and they are positive in the
regard".
-Shared by Ms. Mayabati Morya, Reflect Participant, Gangapur, Banke January 2010
Forty-eight young volunteers were trained on Basic First Aid and are equipped with the first-aid
materials. They are available in the community to assist distressed people. 171 district level
government authorities including other stakeholders, NGOs and political parties' representatives are
oriented on the DRR and HFA, thereby helping to realize national strategies and policies on disaster risk
management. During the project, school students will be trained on DRR, volunteers will be trained on
Light Search and Rescue and people at large will be sensitized towards bringing about an attitudinal
change towards risks.
ActionAid DIPECHO project is also working with the concerned ministers and constituent assembly
members, advocating stronger DRR policy framework in the country. The proposed DRR ToolKit and
sensitization workshop for CA members is our attempt to build capacity of policy makers to undertake
informed policy debates and decisions.

2. Risk Reduction is not the responsibility of DDRC alone, but should be the business of all. I
am sure this orientation program will help us to integrate disaster management not only
in theoretical aspects but in practicality. I request all of the participants to study HFA
book provided; and do accordingly in days to come.
-Shared by Mr. Ram Prasad Thapaliya, Chief District Officer, Sunsari, December 2009
Strengthening community cohesion and social bondage, their increased capacity to make informed
choices on their own well-being, their enhanced self-confidence through involvement in decisions
making processes and linkages with various stakeholders are some of the attributes of the capacity
building initiatives.
Training to Government Officers on DRR and HFA in Inurwa, Sunsari district
A group under discussion during CBDRR training to DMC members