Learning for impact Disaster Risk Reduction photo: SEEDS Asia ENHANCING RESILIENCE AND REDUCING THE RISK OF DISASTERS IN THE AYEYARWADY REGION, MYANMAR In 2013, Y Care International supported the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) of Myanmar to carry out a pilot project focusing on disaster risk reduction (DRR) in the Townships of Einme and Ngapudaw in the Ayeyarwady Region of Myanmar. The project aimed to build resilience and reduce vulnerability of communities exposed to natural hazards such as floods, cyclones, earthquakes and landslides. CWS-Asia/Pacific provided support to the YMCA in-country and liaised closely with Y Care International throughout. The project focused on strengthening the capacity of the YMCA Head Office, the local YMCA branch in Pathein and communities on disaster preparedness, mitigation and response; on fostering a culture of learning and learning opportunities around youth led DRR. The pilot project was evaluated in January 2014 and key findings and recommendations are summarised below. KEY FINDINGS Innovative training necessary action in any context, it requires them to A Mobile Knowledge Resource Centre (MKRC) led by have a certain level of knowledge, interest, and desire SEEDS Asia was used to provide training for young to take action. The materials of the MKRC are viewed volunteers through a mobile truck which contained as highly innovative, interactive, fun and interesting, interactive models and other learning aids. The and suitable for people will low levels of literacy or approach is based on the idea that for people to take mobility. The materials were very well received by 2 KEY FINDINGS (CONTINUED) Myanmar it was much easier to carry out activities at the community level compared to those that are not the project communities and have been successful registered. Community leaders’ engagement with the in increasing knowledge, engaging interest and YMCA and the project also meant that implementation prompting desire which has led to action. was much more successful; leaders helped to conduct trainings, coordinated with the villagers to encourage The feedback on the training by MKRC was very them to participate in the activities and provided timely positive. Young volunteers enjoyed the activities, advice to the project team. their self-confidence increased dramatically and their motivation and enthusiasm to use new skills and share CHALLENGES new knowledge was evident. As a result of training, 100 per cent could correctly identify the emergency Replication flags used by the state for disaster warnings, and 77 YMCA volunteers reported that the replication of per cent could correctly state how to respond to a training in the communities was sometimes difficult tsunami warning. as some of the skills learnt in the training were not appropriate for their communities e.g. use of fire Volunteer-led action extinguishers, and they often felt their skills and The 35 YMCA volunteers (18 male, 17 female) held knowledge were insufficient to answer certain specific discussions with communities to share personal questions that community members asked. This led stories about disasters, taught the participants how some to lose their confidence and affected their ability to respond to disasters and how to assess hazards in to engage the community on the subjects they were the community. As a result of the project, communities equipped to explain. are now undertaking many new activities to reduce their vulnerability to disasters, including: listening and Compensation responding to early warnings, discussing DRR options A constraining factor faced by volunteers was that and sharing storm and weather information with some community members expected compensation neighbours. for attending trainings. Some volunteers said it was because they were daily labourers and would lose YMCA Pathein and its team of volunteers were out on daily income; others said it was because very well respected in the communities. Through other NGOs had given them an, often substantial, various emergencies they had responded to, and allowance for attending training and it had become other activities, they developed very solid and an expectation. This seemed to affect the willingness important relationships. This was reflected in how the and desire for people to attend sessions. This is not communities responded when the volunteers came to an issue unique to this project but one that should be do DRR awareness or run training activities and how addressed. much support they gave them. Accessibility Co-ordination YMCA Pathein’s ability to attract, mobilise and sustain The YMCA has been extremely proactive in engaging the engagement of a team of committed volunteers with other organizations and sharing their specialist – including persons living with disabilities – cannot knowledge of young women and men and particularly be underestimated, as was notably demonstrated vulnerable groups. The YMCA is now a member of the by how many of the volunteers signed up to the pilot Myanmar DRR Working Group, a group made up of project and how few dropped out during the 9-month stakeholders working on DRR in the country including period. However, it should be noted that three out of NGOs, intergovernmental organisations and United the original five persons with disabilities dropped out Nations agencies. of the project because it was a challenge for them to reach other villages for activities, emphasisng the need Local ownership and engagement for any future project to ensure inclusiveness for all by As the YMCA is registered with both the Ministry making provisions that allow this. of Religious Affairs and Ministry of Social Welfare in 3 PROJECT FACTS of community members community members had never received received training DRR training before the on DRR from young 96% project 438 volunteers Communities have increased of community members knowledge of: cyclones, flooding, could correctly identify earthquakes, landslides, fire, how to react to a tsunami tsunamis, thunderstorms 77% warning after their training RECOMMENDATIONS FROM LEARNING Keep it practical exercise with other organizations that do work Practical activities were well received by both adults on these issues is carried out so that community and children. Organizations should assess training and members can be referred elsewhere for additional project ideas based on their accessibility, practicality support. YMCA Pathein successfully made links with and replicability for communities with limited education other NGOs to strengthen general coordination and levels and other vulnerabilities. Future projects should use for referrals. also put in place extra support for volunteers with additional needs, such as those with disabilities, to Invest in dissemination ensure inclusive participation. Sharing DRR knowledge within and between communities in this project was an effective way of Understand the local context increasing community resilience. Future DRR projects It is important to understand and to know the should continue to include ways to ensure DRR community and the influential leaders within them knowledge is shared within and between communities. to ensure full and sustained engagement from the One way of facilitating this knowledge transfer is beginning of any project. It is also beneficial to develop by supporting young people to engage in peer to an understanding of when would be a suitable time to peer education; shown to be extremely effective in conduct awareness sessions to reduce the likelihood villages in the Ayeyarwady Delta. It is important that of it interfering with work and other schedules and thus information is also shared with particularly vulnerable helping to ensure maximum participation. Ideal timing members of the community. may also vary between villages. Efforts should be made to support and facilitate A comprehensive needs assessment should aim to dialogues and relationship building between identify not only the biggest hazards and health risks communities and local governance structures to build faced by the community but should try to assess their relationship and increase accountability. Where how current disaster management techniques can be possible, supporting the capacity building needs of built upon. It should also identify other priority risks local government authorities in disaster management is within the community e.g. snakebites and damage also important. by elephants, and how managing these can be incorporated into trainings even if these issues would Ensure clear roles and responsibilities not fall under the definition of a disaster. Roles and responsibilities of all key stakeholders in future projects should be clearly outlined by all from the Seek allies beginning of the project to ensure clarity. When there Where issues are identified that may fall outside of are challenges or delays, updates should be given by an organisation’s capacity or the remit of a particular regular communication between all stakeholders so project, it is advised that a scoping and engagement that support can be given. for graysvale use gamma1.8 4 MYANMAR: NATURAL DISASTERS SINCE 2000 2008 CYCLONE NARGIS 20+ disasters 138,000 dead triggered by natural hazards 1,000,000 displaced STORIES OF CHANGE }When the Nargis Cyclone hit, so many people }The project has helped us to strengthen our and things were destroyed. So I think the disaster disaster committee in the village, which we set up is very dangerous. I decide to participant in this after Nargis with the help