ActionAid has been implementing DIPECHO project in Nepal since 2006 and has gained considerable experience under third and fourth action plans, reaching out to nearly 130,000 people, both urban and rural, in five districts. The learning from previous projects was instrumental in designing the DIPECHO V project, giving equal emphasis on community empowerment as well as advocacy for an enabling policy environment.

The current project titled Surakshit Samudaya II: Building disaster resilient communities, Nepal” is funded by European Commission Humanitarian Aid department under the fifth DIPECHO Action Plan for South Asia, co-financed by Australian Government through AusAid with ActionAid UK and ActionAid Australia as the partners to the donor with responsibility of field implementation by ActionAid Nepal.

ActionAid has entered into a strategic partnership with Practical Action Nepal wherein ActionAid will offer Participatory Vulnerability Analysis tools, techniques and processes to Practical Action DIPECHO project team. Practical Action will provide technical support to establish and maintain community based early warning systems in the project locations of ActionAid. ActionAid will also work very closely with other DIPECHO partners and other DRR stakeholders in Nepal towards unified approach to disaster risk reduction, strengthening grassroots approaches while contributing to national DRR initiatives for a strong and efficient policy framework.

Project Objective
To strengthen capacities of community and local institutions for reducing impact of disasters and ensuring rights of disaster vulnerable people

Expected Results and Proposed Activities
Results 1: Capacity of communities is enhanced to reduce impact of disasters through collective actions

• Formation, activate and sustain REFLECT circles in project areas


• Formation, activate and strengthen community based Disaster Management Committees (DMC)


• Training on First Aid, Light Search & Rescue and Emergency Response


• Disaster preparedness materials at community level


• Emergency relief fund


• Training to school children and teachers on school safety


• Community based Early warning system

Result 2: Enabling environment created through appropriate DRR policies and plans

• District level coordination meeting


• Functional network of DMC


• Exposure visit


• Community and District Level Pre-monsoon Meeting


• Contingency Plan and Mock drill


• National convention of disaster vulnerable


• Training to Government officers on DRR/HFA


• Training to NGO leaders on DRR/HFA


• Training to Constituent Assembly Members on DRR/HFA


• IEC materials produced and distributed


• EQS Day, ISDR day celebrated jointly

Result 3: Target stakeholders demonstrate increased awareness on disaster preparedness methods at family and community level

• IEC materials developed and distributed


• PVA exercise conducted


• Street theatre


• FM radio broadcasted at national


• DRR video shows

Result 4: Small scale mitigation measures with government and local support contribute to vulnerability reduction

• School retrofitting, demonstrating school safety


• Hospital room retrofitting, demonstrating hospital safety


• River embankment protection using Bio-dyke model


• Raised tube well platforms to make them flood proof

AAN-DIPECHO Project
Strategic Approach to Disaster Risk Reduction

• Improving the ability of vulnerable communities to cope with disasters through community-based disaster preparedness strategies, ensuring adequate emergency preparedness to respond to disasters and reduce impact of disasters at family and community levels


• Establishing and capacity building of alliance and networks for effective disaster preparedness and response


• Hazard mapping and vulnerabilities assessment of the disaster prone areas and advocating for necessary protection measures


• Promoting the rights of disaster affected and disaster vulnerable people by advocating for effective and strong DRR policy framework in the country


• Involving the existing stakeholders for making them accountable and responsible towards disaster management of the communities


• Improving the access of the communities towards locally available resources for DRR


• Developing and strengthening the safety net for communities, linking various institutions from the community organizations to national government for a pro-active approach to DRR