BRAC Afghanistan has started a project on Disaster Management named by eCommunity Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR)' Project from 1 st of January 2007. The donor of this project is Oxfam-Novib. It has been implementing in Samangan Province.
The disaster management includes disaster risk reduction, sustainable poverty alleviation, socio-economic development, conflict transformation in a right-based perspective and empowerment of vulnerable communities in general.
Although the communities are central in disaster management, the role of BRAC Afghanistan and other service delivery organisations should not to be neglected. The organisations have to go through a process of joint learning to empower the communities. Insights have to be shared amongst organisations and put into practice to serve the communities better. Therefore, all relevant stakeholders such as the communities, BRAC Afghanistan and other Aid Agencies working in the project areas need to be included in this initiative to make the disaster management program successful. The community needs to be empowered through disaster education so that they themselves can minimize the disaster risk and ensure their community participation as and when needed.
Project Activities
Set up of DMU with clear roles and responsibilities/ToR with functional resources support systems Recruitment and orientation of the pilot CBDRR project staff, Community Facilitators in target areas Conduct baseline survey in the target areas to determine the needs Placement of community facilitators in target areas and organize regular field visits, community mobilization and awareness creation meetings, Organize village level workshops and seminars to identify common approach and working mechanisms/management systems
Formation of groups on issue based risk reduction, mitigation, local early warning systems (Afghan context) evacuation and rescue operations plans as a part of disaster preparedness Organise advocacy campaign with electronic and printing media in favour of disaster preparedness, Monitoring of the project by the DMU team through field visits, Evaluate the project performance in a regular basis (quarterly, half yearly and at the end of the project) prepare the report as well, Organise community leaders' training on management and coordination, Mobilize communities to address their vulnerabilities through livelihood asset creation, education, healthcare, employment, taking better care of livestock, creating safety net, etc. (open ended activity based on people's innovation and creativity), Develop common training curriculums include, Code of Conduct, SPHERE Minimum standards, Rescue and evacuation drills, resource mapping skills, leadership and basic group management skills, Vulnerability assessment (PADR), emergency camp management, establishment of early warning systems etc, Local resource will be identified and mobilised to face the emergency need, A contingency plan will be developed through active participation of the community, Develop and strengthening capacity of community structure and institutionalise the system, Prepare an emergency checklist to face the emergency situation.
