Rehabilitation, Reconstruction & Development A Post Cyclone Nargis Initiative 1 2 Metta Development Foundation Table of Contents Forward, Executive Director 2 A Post Cyclone Nargis Initiative - Executive Summary 6 01. Introduction – Waves of Change The Ayeyarwady Delta 10 Metta’s Presence in the Delta. The Tsunami 11 02. Cyclone Nargis –The Disaster 12 03. The Emergency Response – Metta on Site 14 04. The Global Proposal 16 The Proposal 16 Connecting Partners - Metta as Hub 17 05. Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Development August 2008-July 2011 18 Introduction 18 A01 – Relief, Recovery and Capacity Building: Rice and Roofs 18 A02 – Food Security: Sowing and Reaping 26 A03 – Education: For Better Tomorrows 34 A04 – Health: Surviving and Thriving 40 A05 – Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation: Providing and Protecting 44 A06 – Lifeline Systems and Transportation: The Road to Safety 46 Conclusion 06. Local Partners – The Communities in the Delta: Metta Meeting Needs 50 07. International Partners – The Donor Community Meeting Metta: Metta Day 51 08. Reporting and External Evaluation 52 09. Cyclones and Earthquakes – Metta put anew to the Test 55 10. Financial Review 56 11. Beyond Nargis, Beyond the Delta 59 12. Thanks 60 List of Abbreviations and Acronyms 61 Staff Directory 62 Volunteers 65 Annex 1 - The Emergency Response – Metta on Site 68 Annex 2 – Maps 76 Annex 3 – Tables 88 Rehabilitation, Reconstruction & Development A Post Cyclone Nargis Initiative 3 Forword Dear Friends, Colleagues and Partners On the night of 2 May 2008, Cyclone Nargis struck the delta of the Ayeyarwady River, Myanmar’s most densely populated region. The cyclone was at the height of its destructive potential and battered not only the southernmost townships but also the cities of Yangon and Bago before it finally diminished while approaching the mountainous border with Thailand. With thrashing rains and winds reaching 164 kilometres per hour, the cyclone drove a great tidal wave almost four meters high over the flat lands of the delta. Nothing was left as before. The loss of lives and livelihoods, private homes and public property was immense. Metta itself lost five staff members, and a colleague suffered the loss of his entire family of five. The houses of 53 staff and project committee members were destroyed. While the memory of colleagues, friends and loved ones swept away in the night will always be with the survivors, Metta was pleased to be able to offer practical help in assisting in the reconstruction of the homes of their fellow staff members. Natural disasters are dreadful, and the devastating effects are multiplied because they are largely unpredictable. Myanmar is disaster prone. However, as Metta has gradually expanded into new regions and challenges over the years, the staff has developed, gaining not only experience and knowledge but also cultivating the conviction that every person must give his or her best to cope with the situation at hand, however difficult. In particular, the relief work following the 2004 tsunami strengthened our networks with the communities, which made a significant difference in our response to the more devastating Nargis. It was very gratifying to see that the Ah-Hsin Chaing village concrete bridge, constructed after the tsunami, enabled villagers to flee to safety during Nargis. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to cross the widened and raging stream. Such was the degree of experience and successful cooperation with the villagers that the Metta Area Coordinator became the Chairman of the Nargis relief work for 13 villages in Deedukone village tract. Thus Metta was rewarded in the response to Cyclone Nargis, when new opportunities presented themselves and partners and volunteers from different parts of the world, some silent for many years, rushed to Myanmar and afforded their assistance. Many international agencies also came forward and shared their resources, offering not only disaster and emergency-related assistance but also organisational development training. Without these reinforcements, Metta’s leaping from USD 2 million to 12 million per annum would have been impossible. 2 Metta Development Foundation The proposed budget for the 3-year Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Development (RRD) post Cyclone Nargis initiative was USD 17,929,885.00. A budget shortfall of USD 7,815,230.00 led to curtailing most activities by 31 March 2011. The mangrove projects alone could be carried through until 31 July 2011. Nonetheless Metta is grateful indeed for this unprecedented trust and support. The post Nargis initiative has again led us to more collaboration with communities as well as the local groups and authorities. It is not surprising, then, that Metta has been given access to assisting the affected communities by the June 2010 flooding and October 2010 Cyclone Giri in Rakhine state, March 2011 earthquake in eastern Shan state and June 2011 Kachin humanitarian emergency. With my retirement I would like to put on record here my gratitude for the whole- hearted commitment of the Metta staff and volunteers, who have risked more and sacrificed more than I would ever have had the right to expect. Please forgive me for not mentioning the names of all friends and supporters here in this letter. But let me acknowledge one individual, Miriam Kapp, without whose unstinting efforts this report would have been less comprehensive and less rich in detail. The 11 minute RRD documentary film made by Shin Daewe, Ko Oo and Stephen Graham complements this report. It is for me deeply satisfying that the termination of my service of 14 years coincides with the wrap-up of Metta’s largest programme and most significant achievement. It gives me a splendid opportunity to ‘hand over’ Metta to Sai Sam Kham with all the facts on the ground to back up my words! Today, reviewing the past years in the light of the RRD Post Nargis Initiative, I am proud to say that Metta’s success is not based on stellar individuals but on the system itself. May this system continue to expand and develop to the benefit of the most vulnerable and needy. Yours sincerely Seng Raw Yangon, 31 August 2011 Rehabilitation, Reconstruction & Development A Post Cyclone Nargis Initiative 3 List of Maps Map of RRD Villages Reached by Metta August 2008 – March 2011 76 Annex 2 A01.01. A Roof over my Head - 78 Locations of Housing Constructed A02.01. Sowing and Reaping - 80 Food Security – Locations of Farmer Field Schools A03.01 For Better Tomorrows - 82 Locations of ECCD Centres Constructed A03.04 For BetterTomorrows - Locations of Schools, 84 A Home for Needy Children and A Youth Training Centre A04.01. Surviving and Thriving - Locations of Villages Where Hygiene 86 Promoters held Sub-Workshops List of Boxes Building Blocks - The Foundations for‚ Building Back Better: Farmer Field Schools 27 Early Childhood Care and Development 34 Child-Centred Approach 37 On the Bottom Line Emergency Relief – May 2008 – July 2008 14 A01.01. A Roof over my Head- Providing Housing 20 A01.02 Friends and Neighbours - Community Kitchens 23 A01.03. Opening Perspectives - Capacity Building Workshops 25 A02.01. Sowing and Reaping - Farmer Field Schools 30 A02.02. Casting Nets – Distribution of Small Fishing Boats and Nets 31 A02.02. Distribution of Draught Animals 31 A02.02. Income-Generating Projects 33 A03.01. For Better Tomorrows – ECCD Centres 36 A03.03-05 For Better Tomorrows – Schools, Teachers, 38 Educational Materials and Food for Education A04.01. Routine Hygiene - Latrines Built within the Framework 40 of the Health Sector, in Houses and Schools A04.02. Surviving and Thriving – Construction of Wells and Water Tanks/Ponds, 41 Distribution of Jars and Containers A04.03 Training and Teaching – Health Promoters trained, Sub-workshops Held 43 4 Metta Development Foundation Donors Reflect; Beneficiaries Speak; Metta Moves Forward Executive Summary: The Need is so Immense 8 03. Emergency Relief - Well-prepared 14 04. Global Proposal - Including the Remote, the Overlooked and Forgotten 16 05. Livelihood – Free of Debt 30 04. Health – Individual Solutions 42 05. Disaster Preparedness – Taking Responsibility 44 06. Local Partners – Sustainability 50 06. Volunteer Support – From next door and around the World 50 08. Reporting and External Evaluation – Keeping Contact 52 10. Financial Review - Meeting International Standards 58 11. Beyond Nargis, Beyond the Delta – Broadening the Basis, Building for the Future 59 List of Tables, Charts and Graphs Villages by Sector 6 Budget By Sector in USD 8 Annex 3 – Tables, Charts and Graphs A01.01. Summary. Housing Construction 88 A01.01. Summary. New Construction Supporting Orphans 89 A02.01. Summary. FFS with Participating Farmers by Season 89 A02.02. Summary. Distribution of Small Fishing Boats and Nets 89 A02.02. Summary. Income-Generating Projects 90 A02.02. Summary. Distribution of Draught Animals and other Livestock 91 A03.01. Summary. ECCD Centre Construction 92 A03.01. Summary. ECCD Nutritional Support 93 A03.04. Summary. School Construction 94 A03.04. Summary. School Repairs 95 A04.01. Summary. Latrines Built within the Framework of the Health Sector 96 A04.02. Summary. Potable Water. Construction of Wells/Ponds and Water Tanks 97 A04.03. Summary. Sub-Workshops Facilitated by Hygiene Promoters 98 A04.03. Summary. Health and Hygiene Items Distributed at Sub-Workshops 99 Rehabilitation, Reconstruction & Development A Post Cyclone Nargis Initiative 5 Executive Summary Regional Coverage – Programme Townships The worst natural disaster in Myanmar’s recorded history, The total number of villages that received support Cyclone Nargis, struck the Ayeyarwady Delta at the increased from 154 in the first year to 237 in the second. beginning of May 2008. Metta, with a Branch Office set By the end of July 2011 a total of 388 villages in 18 up in the Delta in Myaungmya in 2005 to provide relief townships benefited. The following chart shows the and initiate reconstruction after the tsunami in December number of villages reached and served in each sector in 2004, saw the schools and projects it had established in which Metta was active .