Community Approach to Flood Management in South Asia

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August Phelps
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1 Community Approach to Flood Management in South Asia Prof. Kamta Prasad Chairman Institute for Resource Management and Economic Development (IRMED), Delhi (India)

2 Scope A Local Action related to involvement of village communities in management of flood in parts of Bangladesh, India and Nepal, the three major flood prone countries of South Asia. Objectives Building Resilience in Flood Prone Participation to Reduce Vulnerability. Communities Through Promoting Integrated Flood Management linking land and water uses, flood risks, socio-economic development, protection of the natural eco-system etc. : Community is the Best Integrator. The Initiative : Lead taken by APFM of GWP/WMO in Nov., 2003 Partner Institutions : BUP in Bangladesh, IRMED in India and JVS in Nepal

3 The Process First Phase : November, 2002 to March, 2003 : Preparatory Steps Kick-Off South Asia Meeting in Dhaka (Bangladesh) on November 6 & 7, 2002 Commencement of the study by Partner Institutions to explore the Potential of Community Approach to Flood Management (CAFM) Study undertaken in 2 selected rural areas in Bangladesh & Nepal and 3 in India (one each from three most flood prone states of Assam, Bihar and West Bengal). Two villages in each area. Result : The study indicated a high potential for Community Approach to Flood Management Report presented during the 3rd WWF in Kyoto (Japan) in March, Favourable response to the report by international community present in the session.

4 Second Phase : June 2003 to April/May, 2004 : Evolution of the Community Approach to Flood Management by the three Partner Institutions for their respective countries with full involvement of local people. 1 st Stage Widespread and Frequent Interaction with local people including PRAs, FGDs, etc. Consultation with local bureaucracy, other knowledgeable local persons and national experts Draft of a Manual on what the community should do for flood management was prepared. 2 nd stage Workshops organized in each district to: generate awareness on community participation get feedback for improvement of the Draft Manual. Identify capacity building training program for local people.

5 3 rd stage Capacity Building Training Workshops in all the selected villages organized on subjects like Awareness generation and orientation Flood Rescue and Relief - Health care & Hygiene - Veterinary Care - Farming Practices etc. The Manual was further revised Outcome of the Second Phase Finalized a Manual on CAFM containing a detailed set of guidelines for action by people to enable them to undertake their flood response activities more systematically and effectively. It also included provisions for institutional and financial empowerment of the local community and capacity building modules. Manual Translated in local languages of the study areas and circulated to people for Local Action. Raised public awareness in the study areas about potential role and responsibility of community in flood management. Strengthened self help capacity of communities of the selected areas for flood management.

6 Third Phase - Flood months of 2004 & 2005 : Community in Action During the flood period of 2004 and Village communities in selected areas in all the three countries involved themselves in management of flood in their areas in an organized manner as per framework indicated in the Manual. They formed their own flood management committees, organized capacity building training, undertook rescue and relief operations, took care of drinking water, health and hygiene aspects and had better interaction with the local level authorities Help and guidance provided by the same partner institutions under the overall guidance and support of APFM Outcome These resulted in lesser damages, quicker restoration of normalcy and increased confidence of the community in its own potential. These showed that if equipped with an organizational structure and improved capability and provided some funding support, the local community can manage floods better The manual was found practical, implementable and replicable.

7 Final Phase - Scaling up Local Action to the National Level and Beyond National Workshops in all the 3 countries organized : India in Nov., 2005, Nepal and Bangladesh in Feb., 2006 To highlight the new approach, evaluate its experience and findings & to demonstrate its usefulness before opinion & policy makers at the national level & to work out future strategy. Outcome : (i) CAFM has been welcomed and acknowledged by relevant government authorities and (ii) CAFM may be internalized in national disaster prevention policy and implementation strategy Need for a push by partner institutions for some time. A Regional Workshop scheduled on 3 to 5 April, 2006.

8 Additional Outcomes in India National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), the nodal institution of Government of India for disaster management became a collaborator with IRMED for the National Workshop. National Disaster Management Authority of Government of India became a sponsor of the National Workshop. Right Mix of Participation : A large number of senior officers from national and state governments, several noted experts and opinion makers participated in the National Workshop Government officers indicated their readiness to initiate action for implementation of CAFM NIDM sent copies of the Indian Manual to state governments to translate it in state languages and examine it for implementation in their respective states. At the request of IRMED, NIDM has also indicated willingness to provide funds during 2006 for implementation of CAFM but to a limited extent only due to constraint of funds.

9 Tasks Ahead for Ushering in a New Era Take advantage of the favourable environment that has emerged after the National Workshop in India Large scale multiplication of CAFM in different parts of India considered necessary to test its usefulness as a long term measure; completion of this process is a pre-requisite for a country wide adoption of CAFM. Substantial Funds are needed for the above for which donors support is called for. Pursuing the matter vigorously with government for making CAFM an integral part of the national strategy. IRMED has the necessary rapport with both the central and state governments and is ready is take up the responsibility. But, it would require funding support. Need for establishing a Centre for Community Approach to Flood Management at IRMED, the promoting institution in India, for carrying forward the above activities, for conducting research, and for giving advice on a sustained basis.

10 THANK YOU

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: FROM COMMUNITY APPROACHES TO FLOOD VULNERABILITY REDUCTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN SOUTH ASIA

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: FROM COMMUNITY APPROACHES TO FLOOD VULNERABILITY REDUCTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN SOUTH ASIA VULNERABILITY REDUCTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN SOUTH ASIA Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad Chairman, Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad (BUP) President, Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) 1 Constructing Sustainable