Mercy Corps LTS2 Semi-annual Report (October 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018) Leveraging Tradition and Science in Disaster Risk Reduction in Mongolia-2 (LTS2 - Mongolia) SEMI ANNUAL REPORT (Oct 1, 2017 - Mar 31, 2018) Agreement # AID-OFDA-G-15-00101 Submitted to: USAID Submitted by: Mercy Corps April 2018 COUNTRY CONTACT HEADQUARTERS CONTACT Ramesh Singh Denise Ledgerwood Country Director Senior Program Officer Mercy Corps Mercy Corps PO Box 761 45 SW Ankeny Street Ulaanbaatar 79, Mongolia Portland, OR 97204 Phone: +976 9911 4204 Phone: +1.503.896.5000 [email protected] [email protected] Mercy Corps LTS2 Semi-annual Report (Oct 1, 2017 – March 31, 2018) ACRONYMS AND TRANSLATIONS Aimag An administrative unit similar to a province or state APF Aimag Partnership Facilitator AWI Advanced Weather Information Service Bagh An administrative unit similar to a sub-county (sub-soum) CITA Communication Information and Technology Authority Dzud An environmental hazard that unfolds over several seasons and includes drought conditions in the summer leading to poor forage availability and low temperatures, heavy snows and/or ice in winter, which combine to exhaust animals, leading to death from starvation or exposure. ECHO European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations ES engageSPARK EMA Emergency Management Agency FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Hural An elected decision-making body at the district, province and national level ICT Information and Communication Technology KEIO Keio University of Japan LEWS Livestock Early Warning System LEGS Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards LEMA Local Emergency Management Agency LTS Leveraging Tradition and Science in Disaster Risk Reduction in Mongolia MEGD Ministry of Environment and Green Development MNO Mobile Network Operator MNDI Mongolian National Development Institute MOFALI Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry NAMEM National Agency of Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring NEMA National Emergency Management Agency NUM National University of Mongolia OFDA Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance RIMES Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Emergency Warning System SMS Short Message Service SDC Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation soum An administrative unit similar to a county ToT Training of Trainers UNDP United Nations Development Program WB World Bank GENERAL INFORMATION Project name: Leveraging Tradition and Science in Disaster Risk Reduction in Mongolia 2 Duration: May 1, 2015 to Jun 30, 2018 Funding: Total funding: $1,478,206.00 USAID: $1,478,206.00 Direct Beneficiaries: Government representatives and local authorities; community representatives, herder organizations and herders (total 85,894) Indirect: Rural residents in 16 aimags (total 469,054) Reporting period: October 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018 Target area: 171 soums of 16 aimags 2 Mercy Corps LTS2 Semi-annual Report (Oct 1, 2017 – March 31, 2018) Target areas in 171 soums of 16 aimags Aimag Soums HOVD Altai, Bulgan, Uench, Must, Munkhkhairkhan, Darvi, Chandmani, Durgun, Zereg, Mankhan, Myangad, Khovd, Tsetseg, Erdeneburen UVS Bаruunturuun, Dаvst, Zuungobi, Zuunkhаngаi, Mаlchin, Nаrаnbulаg, Undurkhаngаi, Sаgil, Tes, Turgen, Khyargаs, Tsаgааnkhаirkhаn, Umnugovi, Tarialan, Ulgii, Zavkhan, Khovd, Bukhmurun, Ulaangom BAYAN-ULGII Аltаi, Bulgаn, Sаgsаi, Ulааnkhus, Tsengel, Bayannuur, Tsagaannuur, Nogoonnuur, Altantsugts, Buyant, Deluun, Tolbo ZAVHAN Aldаrkhааn, Asgаt Bаyantes, Bаyankhаirkhаn, Ider, Numrug, Songino, Tosontsengel, Tudevtei, Telmen, Tes, Tsаgааnkhаirkhаn, Tsаgааnchuluut, Tsetsen-Uul, Erdenekhаirkhаn, Ih-Uul, Otgon, Yaruu, Shiluustei, Zavkhanmandal, Santmargats GOBI-ALTAI Bugаt, Bаyan-Uul, Delger, Tonkhil, Tugrug Khаliun, Sharga, Taishir, Tseel HUVSGUL Bayanzurkh, Galt, Jargalant, Tsagaannuur, Tsagaan-Uur, Tsagaan-Uul, Chindamani-Undur, Rinchinlkhumbe, Ulaan-Uul, Khankh, Erdenebulgan, Alag- Erdene, Arbulag, Tarialan, Tsetserleg, Shine-Ider, Khatgal, Murun UVUR-HANGAI Bаt-Ulzii, Bаyan-Undur, Burd, Khаrkhorin, Khujirt, Ulziit, Yesunzuil, Zuunbаyan-Ulааn, Uyanga, Nariinteel AR-KHANGAI Bulgаn, Ugiinuur, Tuvshruulekh, Khаshааt, Khotont, Tsenkher, Tariat, Tsakhir, Khangai BAYAN-KHONGOR Bаyanbulаg, Bаyan-Ovoo, Gurvаnbulаg, Jаrgаlаnt, Jinst, Zаg, Ulziit, Khureemаrаl, Erdenetsogt, Galuut DUND-GOBI Аdааtsаg, Erdenedаlаi, Bayanjargalan, Govi-Ugtaal, Gurvansaikhan, Undurshil UMNU-GOBI Bulgan, Sevrei, Khurmen SELENGE Altanbulag, Yeruu, Mandal, Orkhon, Bayangol, Orkhontuul, Baruunburen, Javkhlant, Khushaat SUKHBAATAR Asgat, Dariganga, Erdenetsaagan,Bayandelger, Naran, Ongon, Suhbaatar, Tuvshinshiree DORNO-GOBI Airag, Altanshiree, Dalanjargalan, Delgereh, Ikhkhet KHENTII Bayanmunh, Bayankhutug, Bor-Undur, Galshar, Darhan, Delgerkhaan, Kherlen, Norovlin, Batnorov, Bayan-ovoo BULGAN Bayan-Agt, Bayannuur, Gurvanbulag, Dashinchilan, Mogod, Khangal, Khisheg- Undur, Khutag-Undur EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Mercy Corps began supporting the use of weather and pasture data in production planning through the Gobi Forage Project, resulting in the introduction of the Livestock Early Warning System (LEWS) in 2007. The LEWS system continues to receive international development support from the World Bank. A number of government agencies1 in Mongolia are now tasked with creating and distributing information on weather risk and weather forecasts, but with little coordination and no clearly defined goals on how to reach end-users. In this context, information and knowledge products are being produced, but they are not reaching local communities, herder households, local administrators, and first responders who can utilize such necessary information. 1 The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA); the National Agency of Meteorology and Environment Management (NAMEM); the Ministry of Environment and Green Development (MEDG); aimag Governors’ Offices; aimag agriculture and veterinary extension workers, and soum governments. 3 Mercy Corps LTS2 Semi-annual Report (Oct 1, 2017 – March 31, 2018) From June 2013 to September 2014, the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) supported Mercy Corps’ efforts to address this communication breakdown through training and information delivery systems. The Leveraging Tradition and Science in Disaster Risk Reduction in Mongolia (LTS) project evaluated existing DRR and disaster management systems, connected local communities to weather information, trained local administrative units in emergency management planning and tested a mobile messaging platform, called the Advanced Weather Information service (AWI) that enabled herding communities to access, interpret, and apply weather forecast information to their management practices. The LTS project theorized that there was strong demand for information and for management tools that could improve planning, mitigation, and management of risks of extreme weather events like dzud, or severe winters in which thousands of livestock are lost due to cold and starvation. This demand was later validated through effective program implementation. Working closely with local partners and key national emergency management actors, LTS introduced planning tools that are simple to implement; provided increased understanding of available weather information; and identified opportunities for significant improvement in dzud preparation and response through simple management tools and improved information flows. LTS demonstrated that herders are eager to access more information and better tools to support improved dzud preparation and risk mitigation. Expanding upon our initial work, the LTS2 project has focused on accomplishing four goals: 1) further institutionalization of AWI; 2) improved use of rangeland carrying capacity information distributed through SMS for herders and local communities; 3) improved rangeland management/planning at the aimag and soum- level to prevent and mitigate dzud/drought; and 4) the introduction of local communities to sustainable mitigation activities based on Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS) to address effects of dzud on individuals, households, and local/rural communities. Mercy Corps is implementing the LTS2 project in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and MOFALI (Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry). PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND OUTCOMES This semi-annual report covers the period from October 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018, during which the program focused on: handing over the AWI server to NEMA; signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Agency of Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring (NAMEM); adding NAMEM contents to AWI; providing LEGS trainings and conducting LEGS retention tests; compiling a new, improved template for the Soum Disaster Plan approved by NEMA; and organizing a Stakeholder meeting on Dec 20, 2017. Period Activities Outcomes Oct 1, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was AWI received 24,061 text requests from 4,639 2017 – signed on October 12, 2017 by Mongolia’s mobile users. Mar 31, National Emergency Management Agency 2018 (NEMA) and the Communications Information Herders continue to use AWI to plan their daily work and Technology Authority (CITA) with including managing herds, cutting hay, setting up executives of all of the four mobile service camps, moving to new pastures, shearing wool, etc. providers in Mongolia (Unitel, Mobi Com, Skytel and G-Mobile) to extend the reach of 7,000 copies of Dzud lessons books were distributed AWI. to 45 soums for target herders. CITA has provided a special