Vietnam Review Trip Hanoi, Quang Binh, Ha Tinh 21st March – 7th April 2011 Australian Red Cross, Vietnam Red Cross & International Federation of the Red Cross Table of Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................. 3 Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 3 1. Background ..................................................................................................................................... 4 2. Purpose of Review .......................................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Team composition ............................................................................................................... 4 3. Methodology ................................................................................................................................... 4 4. Limitations ...................................................................................................................................... 5 5. Findings: ......................................................................................................................................... 6 5.1 Overall Situation ..................................................................................................................... 6 5.2 Structure of the Administration............................................................................................... 7 5.3 Coordination ........................................................................................................................... 7 5.4 Findings for Objective 1: ........................................................................................................ 7 5.4.1 Needs Assessment/Damage Assessment......................................................................... 7 5.4.2 Selection Criteria............................................................................................................. 8 5.4.3 Distribution Process ........................................................................................................ 8 5.4.4 Water Supply ................................................................................................................ 11 5.4.5 NOMAD Deployment ................................................................................................... 11 5.5 Findings for Objective 2 ....................................................................................................... 13 6. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................... 16 7. Recommendations ......................................................................................................................... 17 7.1 For Vietnam Red Cross Society ............................................................................................ 17 7.2 For Australian Red Cross Society ......................................................................................... 17 8. Annexes......................................................................................................................................... 18 Annex A: Terms of Reference for the Review .............................................................................. 19 Annex B: Working Agenda for Reflection W‟shop on Needs Assessment & M&E Training ..... 20 Annex C: List of Red Cross Participants in the Reflection Workshop on Emergency Needs Assessment and M&E, 24 March 2011, Hanoi ................................................................................. 21 Annex D: Field Trip Itinerary ........................................................................................................ 22 Annex E: Questionnaires used for the field trips .......................................................................... 23 Annex F: List of Key Stakeholders ............................................................................................... 26 Annex G: Translation of the Government Beneficiary Criteria for the Floods in October 2010 (Ha Tinh Province) ........................................................................................................................... 30 Australian Red Cross Vietnam Monitoring Trip, 22 March - 6 April 2011 2 Acknowledgements The review team wishes to acknowledge Vietnam Red Cross Society (VNRCS), International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) and Australian Red Cross staff based in Hanoi for the support provided in ensuring that the arrangements for this trip went smoothly. Further, thank you to the interpreters who accompanied us on the trip, without them we would have been completely lost. Thank you to all the Local government members of the People‟s Committee, Fatherland Front, Provincial and branch members of the Red Cross in Quang Binh and Ha Tinh who have taken the time to meet with us and share their experiences and activities during the floods in October 2010. Finally, to the commune members who participated in sharing their stories with us. Summary This review trip was conducted from 21st March to 7th April 2011 with the main objective to assess the timeliness, appropriateness and effectiveness of emergency relief activities funded by AusAID in responding to floods in Quang Binh and Ha Tinh provinces. In addition, the contribution of the Australian Red Cross supported Emergency Needs Assessment and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) training programs in preparing VNRC for this emergency was also reflected on. The review team consisted of members from Australian Red Cross, Vietnam Red Cross, and IFRC. The team worked together in the initial days planning the agenda for the reflection workshop (Objective 2) as well as preparing for the field trip review in Quang Binh and Ha Tinh provinces (Objective 1). The review trip also provided an excellent opportunity to up-skill an Australian Red Cross trainee delegate in monitoring and evaluation. A one day reflection workshop was held in Hanoi to reflect on the training on Needs Assessment and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) which was supported by the Australian Red Cross in 2010. The workshop was well attended and facilitated by the Vietnam Red Cross with overall good participation and input by. This training has prepared Vietnam Red Cross at the provincial level with skills to respond at times of emergency, such as the floods in October 2010. Further thought needs to be held however on how these skills can filter down to the district branches, as this level of Red Cross structure had little benefit from the training. Monitoring and evaluation practice and knowledge also remains low, so this is a further opportunity to support in the future. A field trip to Quang Binh and Ha Tinh was conducted from 26 March to 2 April 2011, visiting four districts and 11 communes. In total over 65 people were interviewed from the Red Cross and Government agencies, and over 120 beneficiaries (both in focus group discussions and individual households). This information has guided the conclusions of this trip and feedback provided to Australian Red Cross, Vietnam Red Cross and IFRC. In terms of the emergency response activities in Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces, the review team has positive conclusions about the assistance that the Vietnam Red Cross Society provided during the floods in October 2010. Overall the food and cash distribution was assessed as appropriate, effective and timely. The cash distribution process, following IFRC cash programming guidelines provides a good example for other National Societies to learn from the process, and therefore Vietnam Red Cross is encouraged to document this process and disseminate widely. The deployment of the NOMAD was well received by the communities, and the support by Vietnam Red Cross in terms of other water supply assistance was also effective and appropriate. There were no observed concerns about the selection criteria for beneficiaries, or on the distribution process. The two objectives of the review trip have been successfully met. This review provided a valuable opportunity for partners in this response to reflect on the work undertaken in the emergency response to the floods in October 2010. Overall the review team, of Vietnam Red Cross, IFRC and Australian Red Cross found the mission worthwhile, and a good opportunity to gain lessons for future programming. Australian Red Cross Vietnam Monitoring Trip, 22 March - 6 April 2011 3 1. Background Australian Red Cross has an ongoing partnership with VNRC, a component of which has been to support the rollout of Emergency Needs Assessment and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) training to assist the national society meet their identified need of increasing staff capacity in these areas. Throughout October 2010, flooding in Vietnam caused severe loss and damage, particularly in the most isolated communes. Joint emergency needs assessments conducted very early in the disaster, reported that the floods affected a total of 25 districts in the five provinces of Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Nghe An and Thua Thien Hue in central Vietnam. IFRC received AusAID funds to support VNRC in the provision of food relief and cash distribution and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion for up to 9 650 households in the two severely affected provinces of