INCEPTION REPORT

National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy

and Strategic Action Plan - Nepal
2016- 2030

Submitted to:
United Nations Development Programme,
Pulchowk, Kathmandu, Nepal

Submitted By:
Practical Action Consulting Pvt Ltd.
Lazimpat, Kathmandu
Submission Date: 24 November 2016
Contents
Background ................................................................................................................ 3
Approach and Methodology ....................................................................................... 4
Work Plan................................................................................................................. 15
Stakeholder Organizations ....................................................................................... 17
Government Organizations ................................................................................... 17
Non-Governmental Organizations ........................................................................ 17
Humanitarian Organizations ................................................................................. 17
Development Agencies ......................................................................................... 18
Inter-Governmental Organization.......................................................................... 18
Private Sector ....................................................................................................... 18
Research and Academic Institution ...................................................................... 18
Proposed Structure of Disaster Risk Reduction Policy and Strategic Action Plan .... 19

Practical Action Consulting – Inception Report

2
Background
Nepal is exposed to various geophysical and climatic hazards which each year kill hundreds
of people and wreak vast economic damage. Nepal stands at the top 20th on the list of the
most multi-hazard prone countries in the world. It is ranked at the 11th in earthquake risk, 4th
in climate change risk and 30th in flood risk. Major disasters in Nepal are earthquake, flood,
landslide, drought, storm, hailstorm, avalanches, cold-waves, forest fires and Glacial Lake
Outburst Flood (GLOF). Floods, landslides, epidemic, thunderbolt and forest fires are
recurring disasters. The Gorkha earthquake 2015 resulted in loss of 8891 lives and destruction
of over a half million houses with economic loss of about USD 7 billion. An average of 300
people die each year due to floods and landslides only with annual economic damages
exceeding USD 10 million. In the past 100 years, earthquakes have caused the most deaths
of all natural disasters. However, floods have cost the most in damages. 33,482 people lost
their lives due to various disasters from 1983 to 2015 (DWIDM1, 2016).

The causes of disasters in Nepal are the combination of various phenomena such as fragile
geology, extreme weather, land degradation, soil erosion, urbanization and unplanned
development activities. The Himalayan mountain range is formed by orogeny, resulting from
the collision of the Indian subcontinental plateau with the European continental plateau. The
orogenic movement is still active as evidenced by numerous earthquakes in the region. The
mountains and hilly landforms are young and unconsolidated and are fragile due to crustal
deformation in the course of the orogenic movement. During the summer monsoon season, a
belt of low atmospheric pressure known as “monsoon trough” is normally established over the
northern plains of India. Sometimes, it moves northward to the foothills of the Himalayas and
stays there for a couple of days before retreating back. Because of the lowest pressure, it
creates the most unstable weather condition in and around this area, the severity of which
depends mainly upon the moisture content in the air. During this period, a heavy downpour of
the rain occur triggering severe floods and landslides. Deforestation and unmanaged
agricultural practices contribute to land degradation and soil erosion resulting in heavy
sediment load in the rivers which aggravates the flooding problem. Urbanization also
aggravates the flood problem by decreasing runoff retarding functions and accelerating flood
flows due to pavements, rooftops and drainage systems. Urbanization has also resulted in
increase in vulnerability.

Government of Nepal has promulgated various laws and policies, including Natural Calamity
(Relief) Act, 1982 and National Strategy on Disaster Risk Management (NSDRM), 2009.
NSDRM, 2009 is based on Hyogo Framework for Action and encompasses strategies on every
aspect of disaster management. Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change
Adaptation have become national priority and being institutionalized to support sustainable
development in Nepal through the harmonization and mainstreaming process. Now, the
Government of Nepal intends to formulate National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy and Action
Plan: 2016-2030 in line with Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction taking into
account the lessons learned and gaps identified through the implementation of NSDRM,
lessons learned from 2015 Gorkha earthquake and other initiatives around climate change
and Sustainable Development Goals. The process envisages engagement of government
agencies, non-government organizations, private sectors and development partners to jointly

1
DWIDM, 2016. Disaster Review 2015, Government of Nepal, Ministry of Irrigation, Department of Water
Induced Disaster Management.
Practical Action Consulting – Inception Report
3
review the efforts made so far and identify the future priorities. The outcome of the process
will be an updated version of NSDRM, 2009 and DRR Policy documents. Practical Action
Consulting Pvt. Ltd. (PAC Nepal) is providing technical support to this process. UNDP and
AINTGDM are facilitating this process through funding support.

Pre-inception meeting with UNDP was held at UNDP CDRMP office, Lagankhel, Lalitpur on
18 October 2016. Meeting with Management Committee was held on 20 October 2016 at
National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC), Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA). Likewise,
the Pre-consultative meeting with UN Agencies, Donors and Development Partners was also
held at NEOC MOHA on 16 November 2016.These meetings were useful in understanding
the first-hand information about the project, the perception of the several stakeholders,
planning and process required over six months for project execution, collecting important
documents for review and appraisal and refining the approach and methodology for the
project.

The inception report includes all the necessary information to execute and implement the
project. It also captures the specific change taken place in the time gap of the proposal
submission and final approval. The revised approach and methodology, work plan and Table
of Content of DRR Policy and Action Plan are part of the report.

Approach and Methodology

A combination of approach and methodology that comprises of desk study, consultation
meetings, stakeholder’s workshops, and key informant’s interviews would be applied for the
development of disaster risk reduction policy and strategic action plan.

The approach should also be

 Multi-Hazard Focus: For the development of policy framework actions will account for
multiple hazards affecting, including but not limited to, floods, droughts, earthquakes,
fire, cyclonic storms, hailstorms, cold wave, heat wave, road accidents, boat capsize,
stampede and lightning. The multi-hazard approach will not only mean that different
hazards will require hazard-specific actions to be undertaken, but also that any action
should consider the impact of more than one hazard during planning and
implementation.
 Risk Reduction Approach: The policy frameworks and action plans will be developed
considering disaster risk reduction approach. Conventional approach of disaster
management is more focused on response approach. We will give more emphasis on
risk reduction rather than relief and rescue. The recovery and reconstruction with build-
back-better approach will reduce the risks of future disasters.
 Multi-Sector Focus: Disasters affect almost all sectors. The most affected sectors are
agriculture, livelihood, shelter, health, education, infrastructure, water supply and
sanitation, tourism, civil aviation, and information and communication. The policy and
action plans will be developed for all sectors likely to be affected by disasters.
 Geographical Diversity: Given that disaster risks manifest differently across different
geographies, the same disaster risk reduction action may have different practical
manifestations across different geographies. Hence, geographical diversity of disaster
risks should be considered while formulating DRR policy and strategic action plan.

A broad approach and methodology categorized under several tasks is being discussed
below.

Task 1: Collect, review and analyse the key Nepal-specific DRM legislations, existing
depository of reports and lessons learned around Nepal’s Climate and Disaster Risk
Practical Action Consulting – Inception Report
4
Management, and support providing key analysis as inputs to DRM Policy and post 2015 DRR
strategic roadmap in line with Sendai DRR priorities.

This task is the underpinning of the assignment. Within this task a comprehensive review of
existing legal and regulatory documentation on DRR, and Climate and Disaster Risk
Management practices will be completed. This review will enable our team to pinpoint the gaps
and address them throughout the formulation of “Disaster Risk Reduction Policy and Strategic
Action Plan”.

The following approach and methodology will be adopted to assess and analyze DRM
legislations, existing depository of reports, and lessons learned around Nepal’s Climate and
Disaster Risk Management:

a) Collection of existing rules, regulations, acts, plans and strategies related to Disaster
Risk Reduction (DRR), Climate and Disaster Risk Management in Nepal
b) Review and analysis of the legal and regulatory documents
c) Identifications of lessons learned and gaps in Nepal’s Climate and Disaster Risk
Management practices

National Disaster Local Self Governance NSDRM

Response Act
Framework

Climate Change Policy Natural calamities Water Induced Disaster

and NAPA (Relief) Act, DM Bill Management Policy

Gap analysis and lessons

learned

Summary and Recommendations as input

to DRR Policy and Action Plan

Figure 1: Approach and methodology for assessment of legal and regulatory framework for DRR/M in
Nepal

The national legal and regulatory frameworks on disaster risk management are the following:

i. Natural Calamities (Relief) Act, 1982 and proposed Disaster Management bill
ii. Local Self Governance Act, 1999
iii. Water Resources Strategy, 2002
iv. National Strategy for Disaster Risk Management, 2009
v. National Disaster Response Framework, 2013
vi. Climate Change Policy, 2011
vii. National Adaptation Programme of Action to Climate Change, 2010
viii. Water-Induced Disaster Management Policy, 2015

Natural Calamities Relief Act, 1982 is the sole legal instrument to define disaster and reduce
disaster risk in Nepal till now. It is expected that proposed Disaster Management bill currently
under review at the legislative-parliament will replace the Act. The Act covers disaster
mitigation measures to earthquake, fire, storm, flood, landslide, heavy rain, drought, famine,
epidemic, and other similar natural disaster. The Act also includes industrial accident or
accidents caused by the explosions or any other kinds of disaster. The Act has set up different
institutions for disaster response as follows:

 Central Disaster Relief Committee

Practical Action Consulting – Inception Report

5
  Regional Disaster Relief Committee
 District and Local level Relief Committees

The Act has also made funding arrangements for relief and rescue operations as follows:

 Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund

 Central Disaster Relief Fund
 District Disaster Relief Fund

The National Strategy for Disaster Risk Management (NSDRM, 2009) has set the vision of
building a “Disaster Resilient Nepal”. NSDRM has identified 5 priority strategic actions in line
with the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005 -2015 and 29 cross-sectoral strategic
activities as follows.

Priority Action 1: Ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and local priority with
a strong institutional basis for implementation
Strategic Activity 1: Establish the institutional system for DRM
Strategic Activity 2: Formulation/modification and enactment of policies, rules,
regulations for incorporation of comprehensive disaster risk management concepts
Strategic Activity 3: Mainstream DRR into national development
Strategic Activity 4: Integrate DRR and preparedness for better response in the
development plans, programmes and regular activities of local development
institutions (DDCs, VDCs and Municipalities etc.)
Strategic Activity 5: Prepare and gradually implement various policies and protocols,
standards, guidelines, hazard-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs),
hazard-specific special national programmes for DRR
Strategic Activity 6: Establish a network of Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs) –
one at the central level and others at the district and municipality levels
Strategic Activity 7: Allocate resources and develop sustainable funding Mechanisms
Priority Action 2: Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning
Strategic Activity 8: Assess the disaster risks due to different natural hazards and
vulnerabilities at different levels and different scales; and develop a system to
periodically update and make it publicly available
Strategic Activity 9: Establish and institutionalize an authentic, open and GIS based
Disaster Information Management System (DIMS) at the central, district and municipal
levels to cover all disaster-related information
Strategic Activity 10: Establish a national system of hazard/risk monitoring and early
warning to specific hazards
Strategic Activity 11: Prepare land use maps focusing on urban and urbanizing areas,
and develop a system for periodically updating and using it for land use planning
Priority Action 3: Better knowledge management for building a culture of safety
Strategic Activity 12: Develop/modify the National Policy on education and implement
it so that it gives recognition to schools as important centres for propagating disaster
awareness.
Strategic Activity 13: Implement disaster education
Strategic Activity 14: Develop curricula on DRR training for different target groups and
implement training programmes for all stakeholders
Strategic Activity 15: Develop and implement a comprehensive national programme
for disaster awareness
Strategic Activity 16: Develop plans, programmes and facilitate for use of mass
communication media for dissemination of information on disaster risk and risk
reduction
Strategic Activity 17: Develop/strengthen and encourage awareness raising
programmes on DRM at the local level

Practical Action Consulting – Inception Report

6
 Strategic Activity 18: Encourage and support NGOs, CBOs and other stakeholders for
developing and implementing awareness raising programmes on disaster risk
reduction and preparedness
Priority Action 4: Reducing the underlying risk factors
Strategic Activity 19: Integrate disaster risk reduction consideration into infrastructure
development planning and implementation
Strategic Activity 20: Assess, protect and strengthen critical public facilities and
physical infrastructures
Strategic Activity 21: Develop and implement, on a priority basis, special DRR
programmes for the most vulnerable segments of the society – the marginalized and
Dalit groups; women; the handicapped; disadvantaged groups, children and the elderly
Strategic Activity 22: Incorporate disaster risk reduction measures into post-disaster
recovery and rehabilitation processes
Strategic Activity 23: Develop and promote alternative and innovative financial
instruments for addressing disaster risk reduction
Priority Action 5: Enhance preparedness for effective response
Strategic Activity 24: Develop and enact National Integrated Disaster Response
System
Strategic Activity 25: Develop and implement emergency response and preparedness
plan, including setting up a system of emergency operation centres throughout the
country
Strategic Activity 26: Establish and/or strengthen warehousing and prepositioning
capacities at strategic locations (centre, district, municipality and villages) for storing
food, medicines, other relief supplies and rescue tools and equipment
Strategic Activity 27: Establish a robust communication system that can be used during
emergency situations as well as during preparedness phase
Strategic Activity 28: Establish an efficient transport and logistics management
mechanism
Strategic Activity 29: Enhance emergency response capacities of communities at the
VDC level

The sector-specific strategic activities are also identified in the following sectors.

• Agriculture and Food security

• Health
• Education
• Shelter, Infrastructure and Physical Planning
• Livelihood Protection
• Water and Sanitation
• Information, Communication, Coordination and Logistics
• Search and Rescue, and Damage and Needs Assessment

NSDRM will be reviewed, gaps identified and improvements recommended in line with Sendai
Framework for DRR. The analysis will specifically address how to update the strategy based
on the Sendai Framework in a locally applicable way. Furthermore, additional national and
international documents will be reviewed including good practice examples of National
Disaster Management Plans.

Outcome- Once the review of existing laws, acts, and legislations, legal and regulatory
documents will be done, a primary understanding of overall approach about development of
policy needs would come out, which may further lead the development of key points of action
required with DRR policy framework.

Practical Action Consulting – Inception Report

7
  A concise review report would be submitted by PAC Nepal that can be shared with
important stakeholders associated with the development of policy and action plan.

Task 2: Assess progress that the DRR sector in Nepal has made and areas for further
improvement as identified in the PDNA/PDRF.

The following approach and methodology will be adopted to assess the progress that the DRR
sector in Nepal has made and areas for further improvement as identified in the PDNA/PDRF.

a) Collection of reports on disaster risk management, Post Disaster Needs Assessment

(PDNA) and Post Disaster Recovery Framework (PDRF) after 2015 Gorkha
Earthquake in Nepal.
b) Review and analysis of reports
c) Identification of areas for further improvements as input to DRR Policy and Action Plan

Climate and Disaster Risk PDNA PDRF

Management practices and status

Gap analysis and

lessons learned

Summary and Recommendations as input

to DRR Policy and Action Plan

Figure 2: Approach and methodology for assessment of the progress that DRM sector has made in
Nepal

Beyond the points mentioned above some of the critical areas also be looked after to access
the progress made in DRR sector is

 Governance- This includes understanding proper laws, regulations, designated

responsibilities, cooperation and reviewing of existing measures in terms of DRR.
 Risk and Vulnerability Assessment- A thorough review of risk assessment
measures would be done to understand the progress made in risk and vulnerability
assessment.
 Data Management – To assess the progress made in DRR assessing how disaster
related data have been managed by several government departments would also be
crucial aspect of understanding. Lack of availability of credible data often creates
confusion among government practitioners and international donors during planning
and intervention for DRR.
 Mainstreaming of DRR- An assessment will be made to understand how far the
mainstreaming of DRR has been incorporated into some of the important
sectors/thematic area of governance i.e. Agriculture, Health, Education, Climate
change adaptation, Critical infrastructure.

Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) has identified the following priorities in DRR
sector:

 Reconstruction of damaged DRR assets and improvements;

 Measures to improve preparedness, response, relief and logistics systems;

Practical Action Consulting – Inception Report

8
  Measures to strengthen information and communication capacities for relief, response
and recovery;
 Measures to enhance multi-hazard risk monitoring, vulnerability assessment, risk
information dissemination and awareness;
 Improvements in legal and institutional arrangements;
 Measures to mainstream DRR into the developmental sector, particularly housing,
private and public infrastructure, social sectors (health and education), and livelihood;
and
 Measures to improve integration of climate change adaptation and DRR, policy
guidelines, institutional development.

Outcome- An assessment report of the progress made in the DRR practices in Nepal and on
areas of improvement as input to DRR policy and strategic action plan. The report can be
shared with important stakeholders associated with the development of policy and strategic
action plan.

Task 3: Review the Sendai DRR Framework, COP21 Paris agreement, Nepal perspectives
for SDGs and also review the DRR/M approaches of region and countries similar to Nepal and
to synthesis key inputs for developing “Disaster Risk Reduction Policy and Strategic Action
Plan, 2016-2030” for Nepal.

The following approach and methodology will be adopted to assess international framework
for DRR, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Goals:

a) Collection of Sendai DRR Framework, COP21 Paris agreement and other COP
agreements, Nepal perspectives for SDGs and regional and international DRM best
practices
b) Review and analysis of reports
c) Identification of areas for further improvements as input to DRR Policy and Action Plan
Sendai DRR COP21 Paris Nepal SDG Regional and International
frameworks Agreement DRM practices

Gap analysis and

lessons learned

Summary and Recommendations as input

to DRR Policy and Action Plan

Figure 3: Approach and methodology for assessment of international framework for DRR, climate
change and sustainable development goals

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-20302 was adopted by 187 UN
member states at the Third World Disaster Reduction Conference in March 2015. It seeks to
achieve a substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and
in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses,
communities and countries. It is the successor instrument to the Hyogo Framework for Action

2UNISDR (2015a) Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction 2015–2030. In: UN world conference on disaster risk reduction, 2015 March
14–18, Sendai, Japan. Geneva: United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction; 2015. Retrieved from
http://www.unisdr.org/files/43291_sendaiframeworkfordrren.pdf.
Practical Action Consulting – Inception Report
9
(HFA). Four priorities of action of Sendai Framework are critical to making the world a safer
place in the next 15 years. These are: (i) to understand disaster risk, (ii) to strengthen disaster
risk governance to manage disaster risk, (iii) to invest in disaster risk reduction for resilience,
and (iv) to enhance disaster preparedness for effective response and to ‘Build Back Better’ in
recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
The Sendai Framework calls on States to undertake the following as part of the
implementation of the Framework:

 Appointment of national focal points

 Appoint an expert in the open-ended intergovernmental working group
 Consideration of other hazards in particular biological and man-made hazards
and updating of risk assessments
 Adoption and implementation of national and local disaster risk reduction
strategies and plans
 Identification of baselines
 Revise relevant legislation
 Assess and report on DRR plan
 Development and updating of regional strategies
 Peer reviews among countries
 Development and promotion of local platforms on DRR

The Sustainable Development Goals approved in September 2015 have reaffirmed the
outcome of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. In particular, SDG Goal 11 seeks
cities and settlements to be inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable and includes a specific
injunction to make use of the Sendai Framework in achieving this goal. The Sendai framework
states that disaster risk reduction needs to be integrated with sustainable development
program. Due to the interplay of different processes, disasters are increasing and intensifying.
Bad land use, planning, water management, and mismanagement of infrastructure renders
countries increasingly vulnerable to floods and droughts. Social inequality and political
exclusion makes poor people highly vulnerable to the impacts of disaster. Many of the causes
of disasters are linked to a lack of development, and sustainable development planning should
take this better into account. Successful action for DRR therefore needs to be factored into
the sustainable development goals. The team will review SDG goals in the context of Nepal
and the GON’s effort in mainstreaming DRR and CCA in key sectoral ministries. Disaster risk
reduction cuts across different aspects and sectors of development. There are 25 targets
related to disaster risk reduction in 10 of the 17 SDGs, firmly establishing the role of disaster
risk reduction as a core development strategy.

Cancun Adaptation Framework (adopted in COP16) specifically called for: “enhancing climate
change related disaster risk reduction strategies, taking into consideration the Hyogo
Framework for Action, where appropriate, early warning systems, risk assessment and
management, and sharing and transfer mechanisms such as insurance, at the local, national,
sub-regional and regional levels, as appropriate;”.

COP21 is an opportunity to reinforce the importance of coherent and coordinated actions on

reducing disaster risk and building climate resilience through recognizing Sendai Framework
as an existing international framework that provides means for implementing and accelerating
national and local actions on climate risk management and resilience. Article 8 of COP21 Paris
agreement is dedicated to averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage associated
with the adverse effects of climate change, including extreme weather events and slow onset
events, and the role of sustainable development in reducing the risk of loss and damage.
Climate change affects the frequency and intensity of natural hazards and more than 90% of

Practical Action Consulting – Inception Report

10
disasters are weather-related. Successful action for DRR therefore needs to be factored into
the climate change adaptation.

Climate change adaptation planning is further strengthened through consideration of exposure

and vulnerability to extreme and slow onset events; coordination with national and local
disaster risk reduction plans. Reducing disaster risk through effective adaptation plans at all
levels, improving people-centred early warning systems, improving ecosystem management
and enhancing disaster preparedness and disaster management capacities are crucial to
sustainable and resilient development.

Consultative Approach
Consultative approach would be adopted to review of Sendai Framework of Disaster Risk
Reduction-2015-30, COP 21 Paris agreement, Nepal SDG. After preliminary internal review
of above mentioned documents guiding principles and milestones for policy and action plan
would be developed. These will be shared with larger platform within most of national and
international agencies working in Nepal and the government stakeholders to provide their
feedback.
Review DRM approach of similar region - DRM approach of country similar to Nepal will
be studied. On preliminary basis few of the countries whose approach on DRR can be studied
are India, Bhutan, Bangladesh and some of the states i.e. Bihar, Gujarat from India.

Outcome- Review report of Sendai framework, COP21, SDG Nepal and regional DRM
approach

Task 4: Assist the Government of Nepal in designing and implementing the process towards
the development of “Disaster Risk Reduction Policy and Action Plan”, and support various
stakeholder’s consultations conducted by the Government.

The following approach and methodology will be adopted to assist the Government of Nepal
in organizing various stakeholders’ consultations and developing DRR Policy and Action Plan:

a) Consultative meetings with concerned Government and Non-Government agencies

involved in DRR
b) Key informant’s interviews
c) District /Subnational /National level workshops

Meetings Interviews Subnational/district National workshop

workshops

Identification of
the priorities

Summary and Recommendations as input

to DRR Policy and Action Plan

Figure 4: Approach and methodology for stakeholder’s consultation

The DRR Policy and Action Plan for various sectors will be identified with the stakeholders’
consultation process. Various thematic groups will be formed to focus discussion on each
sector. The thematic groups could be as follows:

 Agriculture and Food Security

Practical Action Consulting – Inception Report

11
  Health
 Education
 Housing and Cultural Heritage
 Industry and Commerce
 Transportation and Civil Aviation
 Energy, Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene
 Information and Communication
 Forest and Environment

Expected outputs from Thematic Groups:

 Sector specific DRR policy

 Sector specific priority strategic areas and
 Sector specific priority actions (short, medium, long terms)
 Implementation mechanism
 Financing arrangement

Outcome- Draft Report

The desk study and stakeholder’s consultation processes will identify the issues and priorities
for the formulation of two draft documents:

i. National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy and

ii. Updated National Strategy for Disaster Risk Management in line with Sendai
framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

Task 5: Support the Government in framing the identified priorities into a document in
Government policy format at the level to be presented for approval in wider level consultation.

The following approach and methodology will be adopted to assist the Government of Nepal
in developing DRR Policy and Strategic Action Plan:

a) Drafting document in government policy format, style and language

b) Editorial reviews of the final draft

Figure 5 illustrates the approach and methodology of drafting DRR Policy and Strategic Action
Plan.

Task 1: Review of Task 3: Review of

legal and regulatory Task 2: Assessment Task 4:
international
frameworks on DRR of DRR sector in Stakeholders’
frameworks on DRR
and Climate Change Nepal Consultations
in Nepal and Climate Change

Identification of the priorities and activities

Task 5: Preparation of document on DRR

Policy and strategic Action Plan

Practical Action Consulting – Inception Report

12
Figure 5 Approach and methodology for drafting DRR Policy and Strategic Action Plan

Guiding Principle, Policy and Strategic Action Plan

The overall outcome of this assignment would be national DRR policy document and revised
NSDRM to implement the DRR roadmap of Nepal in coming years. Over the years it is
expected that the policy and strategic activities would see several churning and policy and
planning level discussion. The outcome of these churning would reflect in robust and working
DRM policy and planning of the country. In line with Sendai Framework, the following guiding
principles could be followed in formulating DRR policy.

i. Strengthen state institutions and empower local authorities and communities for DRR
ii. Promote and protect all human rights
iii. Inclusive DRR
iv. Science and technology for DRR complemented by Indigenous knowledge and local
practices
v. Mainstreaming DRR in Development; DRR for sustainable development
vi. Integrating CCA in DRR
vii. Address underlying risks and develop culture of preparedness and resilience
viii. Built Back Better; Investment in future
ix. Global partnership and international cooperation

Broad outline of guiding principle, policy guideline and action plan is provided below.

Strategic
Guiding Indicators
DRR Policy Action
Principles
Plan

Priority Actions, Indicators for

Strengthen state institutions and DRR policy for
each activity
empower local authorities and safeguarding Strategic Activities,
communities for DRR, people’s lives,
Promote and protect all human livelihood, critical Institutional
rights, infrastructure, water Arrangement
Inclusive DRR, resources, food
Legal Framework
Science and technology for DRR security, adaptation
complemented by Indigenous to climate change, Implementation and
knowledge and local practices, policy on Follow Up
Mainstreaming DRR in compensation, early
Development; DRR for sustainable warning,
development, institutional
Integrating CCA in DRR, mechanism and
Address underlying risks and partnership,
develop culture of preparedness financing etc.
and resilience,
Built Back Better; Investment in
future,
Global partnership and
international cooperation

Practical Action Consulting – Inception Report

13
Operational Flow

The operational flow of this assignment is being mentioned for broader clarification
and understanding.

Figure 6 below further elaborates the process of formulating DRR Policy and Strategic Action
Plan

 Analysis of DRR  Development of  Stakeholder’s  Draft DRR Policy

issues and root strategic action consultation and Strategic
causes plan  Stakeholder’s Action Plan
 Formulation of  Development of consensus  UNDP Review
policy framework indicators for  MoHA Review
each strategic
activity

 Final DRR Policy and

Strategic Action Plan
 MoHA Approval
 Cabinet Approval

Figure 6 Process of formulating DRR Policy and Strategic Action Plan

Practical Action Consulting – Inception Report

14
Work Plan
The monthly Work Schedule (Table 1) outlines our overall work plan and lists all deliverables that will be delivered for Tasks 1 to 5.

Table 1: Work Schedule

S. No. Activities Time Frame in Month (October 2016 – March 2017)

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar
1 Pre-inception meeting with MoHA, UNDP/ CDRMP/
AINTGDM
1.1 Submission of Inception Report D1
methodology, table of content of Final Report, list of
organizations to be consulted
2 Visit and consultations with key sectoral ministries, UN
agencies, relevant development agencies, Nepal Risk
Reduction Consortium (Lead ministries and
coordinating agencies)I/NGOs and private sector
2.2 Report on key findings from consultations D2
3 Facilitate the meetings/ consultations with relevant
Government and Development partners, Support
organizing sub-national level workshop, bi & multilateral
meetings, and consultations with wider stakeholders
3.3 Report on facilitation of the meetings/ consultations/ D3
workshops
4 Develop a draft report on “National DRR Policy and
Action Plan” for wider consultation and feedback and to
prepare final document incorporating all feedbacks in
government standard format, style and language
4.4 Submission of draft report on National DRR Policy and D4
action plan
5 Feedback from all the stakeholders
6 Submission of final document including high quality D5
presentations

Practical Action Consulting – Inception Report 15

The weekly work schedule (Table 2) outlines our work plan for consultation workshops.
Table 2: Work Schedule for Consultation Workshops

S. Activities Time Frame in Weeks (December 2016 – March 2017)

No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
1 National Workshop
2 Regional Workshop
3 District Workshop
4 Report on key findings from
consultation workshops

Expected outputs from consultation workshops are the following:

 Priority areas for improvement of DRR in Nepal

 Policies corresponding to identified priority areas
 Priority strategic actions (short, medium, long terms) corresponding to identified priority areas
 Implementation mechanism
 Monitoring and Evaluation
 Financing

Practical Action Consulting – Inception Report 16

Stakeholder Organizations
Government Organizations
The following Government Organizations will be consulted for developing DRR Policy and
Strategic Action Plan.

1. Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers

2. National Planning Commission
3. National Reconstruction Authority
4. Ministry of Home Affairs
5. Ministry of Population and Environment
6. Ministry of Education
7. Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development
8. Ministry of Information and Communication
9. Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation
10. Ministry of Health
11. Ministry of Industry and Commerce
12. National Emergency Operation Centre
13. Department of Hydrology and Meteorology
14. Alternative Energy Promotion Centre
15. Department of Water Induced Disaster Management
16. Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management
17. Department of Irrigation
18. Water and Energy Commission Secretariat
19. Department of Agriculture Development
20. Department of Urban Development and Building Construction
21. Department of Mines and Geology
22. Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal

Non-Governmental Organizations
The following Non-Government Organizations will be consulted for developing DRR Policy
and Strategic Action Plan.

23. Practical Action

24. Mercy Corps
25. Oxfam
26. Care Nepal
27. Handicap International Nepal
28. Nepal Society for Earthquake Technology (NSET)
29. Disaster Preparedness Network (DPNet)
30. Society of Hydrologists and Meteorologists – Nepal
31. Nepal Geological Society
32. Himalayan Landslide Society

Humanitarian Organizations
The following Humanitarian Organizations will be consulted for developing DRR Policy and
Strategic Action Plan.

33. Nepal Red Cross Society

34. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Development Agencies
The following development agencies will be consulted for developing DRR Policy and
Strategic Action Plan.

35. United Nations Development Programme

36. Asian Development Bank
37. World Bank
38. Deutsch Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
39. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
40. United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
41. Department for International Development (DFID)
42. Danida
43. Swiss Development Agency (SDC)

Inter-Governmental Organization
The following Inter-Governmental Organizations will be consulted for developing DRR Policy
and Strategic Action Plan.

44. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)

45. SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC)
46. Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES)

Private Sector
The following private organizations will be consulted for developing DRR Policy and
Strategic Action Plan.

47. Nepal Land and Housing Developers Association

48. Nepal Insurer’s Association
49. Telecommunication companies (e.g. Ncell, Nepal Telecom)
50. Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs
51. Media (Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalist)

Research and Academic Institution

The following research and academic institutions will be consulted for developing DRR
Policy and Strategic Action Plan.

52. Tribhuvan University (Central Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Department

of Geology, Institute of Engineering - Centre for Disaster Studies)
53. Kathmandu University (Himalayan Cryosphere, Climate and Disaster Research
Center)
54. Pokhara University (Nepal Engineering College - Center for Disaster Risk Studies)

Practical Action Consulting – Inception Report

18
Proposed Structure of Disaster Risk Reduction
Policy and Strategic Action Plan
The following Table of Content is proposed for Disaster Risk Reduction Policy in Nepal.

i. List of Acronyms and Abbreviations

ii. Acknowledgement

iii. Executive Summary

1. Background

2. Disaster Risk Management in Nepal

3. Approach of the Disaster Risk Management Process

4. Disaster Risk Reduction Policy

4.1 Vision

4.2 Scope

4.3 Objectives

4.4 Guiding Principles

4.5 Policies

5. Implementation and Follow Up

6. Monitoring and Evaluation

7. Review and Revision

Annexes

Practical Action Consulting – Inception Report

19
The following Table of Content is proposed for Strategic Action Plan for Disaster Risk
Reduction in Nepal.

i. List of Acronyms and Abbreviations

ii. Acknowledgement

iii. Executive Summary

1. Background

2. Disaster Risk Management in Nepal

3. Approach of the Disaster Risk Management Process

4. Strategic Action Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction

4.1 Vision

4.2 Scope

4.3 Objectives

4.4 Guiding Principles

4.5 Priority Actions

4.6 Strategic Activities

4.7 Indicators

5. Legal and Regulatory Framework

6. Institutional Structure for Disaster Risk Management

7. Financial Arrangement

8. Implementation and Follow Up

Annexes

Practical Action Consulting – Inception Report

20