1

Nepal Earthquake
Response Project
ReportAPRIL2015
SEPTEMBER

2017

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Contents
3

Introduction

5

Food

7

Shelter

8Child Protection

11

Education

14

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

15

Livelihood

16

Capacity Building

17

Conclusion

18

Financial Outlook

19

Acknowledgement

Acronyms

CBDRR

Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction

CCS

Child Centered Space

CRM

Community Resiliency Model

DDRC

District Disaster Reduction Committee

ECD

Early Childhood Development

EiE

Education in Emergency

IG

Income Generation

NCED

National Center for Education DevelopmentNGO

Non Governmental Organization

TLS

Temporary Learning SpaceUN

United Nations

UNICEF

United Nations Children's Fund

VCPC

Village Child Protection Committee

VDRMC

Village Disaster Risk Management Committee

VDC

Village Development Committee

Introduction

Introduction
Worst in 80 years

While initial relief goods were being distributed,

On 25 April, 2015, a powerful earthquake with ava r i o u s a s s e s s m e n t s w e r e d o n e t o p l a n f o rmagnitude of 7.8 struck Nepal with its epicenter 50

successive activities to respond to children’s andmiles (80 km) north-west of the capital Kathmandu.

communities' needs. Child Centered Spaces (CCSs)

Another strong aftershock with magnitude of 7.3

were set up in May and June to provide safe places

followed on 12 May, 2015, this time with epicenterto gather, play and receive trauma support. This

47 miles north-east of Kathmandu. Out of the 31

intervention was crucial for child protection in a

districts affected, the 14 districts in the Western

period where no schools had yet opened and people

and Central Region experienced severe damage

remained in temporary shelters experiencing a

to infrastructure, houses, schools and roads. The

series of aftershocks.

casualties reached almost 9,000, and 22,300
were injured 1 . Out of the affected population

After immediate needs were met, ChildFund beganof 2.8 million in these 14 districts, 1.1 million

working to normalize children’s lives by supporting(40%) were children 2. The earthquake destroyed

schools to resume functioning. Over the next 5

3

605,254 houses and damaged 288,255 houses .

months (June to October), Temporary Learning

Over 35,000 classrooms were rendered unsafe forSpaces (TLSs) were constructed and school water

4

use . Sindhupalchowk District was one of the mostand toilet facilities were repaired. Educational

severely affected, where 3,570 died and thousands

materials for teachers and children were provided

5

were injured .

to encourage children to go back to school. In
December, to cope with cold winter weather,

Responding to Immediate Needs

classrooms were insulated and warm clothes wereImmediately after the earthquake, ChildFund

provided for learners.

staff were in the field to assess the damage andneeds of the communities. From Kathmandu, relief

In addition to the facilities and material assistance, agoods were prepared and logistics arranged forseries of capacity building sessions were conductedSindhupalchowk District. On 1 May, 6 days after thefor teachers and community leaders on topics ofearthquake, our Emergency Response Team started

Disaster Risk Reduction, Education in Emergencies,

distributing food and temporary shelter materials.

Psychosocial Counseling, and Child Protection. A

Within 6 weeks, 3,227 households were assistedChild Protection assessment was conducted withthrough 4 Village Development Committees (VDCs)

teachers and community leaders to review thein Sindhupalchowk District.

mechanisms and standards in localities and establish
a monitoring and referral system.

1. Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
2. Nepal Earthquake-Humanitarian Situation Report-Three months review-25 July 2015
3. Nepal Earthquake 2015: Post Disaster Recovery Framework- 2016-2020
4. A Year On Nepal Earthquakes: Education Continues In Affected Districts But Children Still Need Safe And Stable Learning
Environment (UNICEF NEPAL)
5. Government of Nepal, Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal

3

4

Introduction

Relief to Rehabilitation

In Sindhupalchowk and Ramechhap, a total of

After a year of response activities, rehabilitation

14 schools were provided new and renovatedtowards permanent recovery started. The renovation

classrooms for 1,863 students. In our two and half

and reconstruction of earthquake-resistant school

year response operation, over 3,000 households withbuildings started in June 2016 in consultation with

about 13,000 persons and 46 schools with 5,337

teachers and community leaders. Toilets and water

students were reached in the two target districts.

facilities in schools were constructed as well. For
the lower grades, classrooms were carpeted, with

The Response Project was implemented with 3 local

low tables and cushions to make them more child-partner NGOs in 2 districts in close coordination withfriendly and culturally appropriate.

District Disaster Reduction Committees (DDRC).
ChildFund was assigned to Pangretar, Dhuskun,

Construction was closely coordinated with the District

Tauthali and Petku to conduct relief operations in

Education Office to avoid duplication of services andthe areas of Food, Education, Child Protection,

to meet government school requirements. ChildFund

WASH, Non-food items and Livelihood programming.

opted to make the classrooms structures stronger

Community participation assured orderly distribution

than government standards to ensure safety in theand proper monitoring of construction, which added

event of future aftershocks or earthquakes. This wasto our program accountability. At national level,necessary to achieve the aim to “Build Back Better”

ChildFund worked in coordination with government

in our emergency response.

and the UN for quality response and to avoid
duplication of services.

ChildFund Nepal Earthquake Response

Sindhupalchowk district

Epicenter (12 May)

Nepal
Epicenter (25 April)

Kathmandu

Ramechhap districtNepal Earthquake Response Project Report | Food

Food
Ensuring the right to adequate foodChildFund's initial response started with foodand June 2015. ChildFund provided a food basket

distribution to 3,227 households (an estimatedfor each household containing 30 kilograms of rice,

12,364 individuals) in Sindhupalchowk District,

4 kilograms of lentils (dal), 1 kilogram salt and 2

where 3,570 deaths had been reported. The

liters of cooking oil. Distribution points at Pangretar

localities of Dhuskun, Pangretar, Petku, and Tauthali(862 meter above sea level) and Tauthali (1,928

had been areas of ChildFund operation since 2013.

meter), were strategically selected with community
representatives and partner NGOs, so that people inDistribution was conducted in 2 phases between May

remote areas could have access.

”Food from ChildFund, together with thesalvaged food from our collapsed house,kept us alive for two or three month.”
Nilmura, 32 years old mother, Dhuskun

Food

3,227Families

Rice134,154 kg

Dal(Beans)

17,576 kg

Salt

12,364

Individuals

6,339 kg

Oil
6,454 kg

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Nepal Earthquake Response Project Report | Food

1 May food distribution in Pangretar VDC was met by long line of awaited people with emotional encounter. ChildFund was the first aid agency to provide support in the area.

Nepal Earthquake Response Project Report | Shelter

7

Shelter
Providing immediate protection from heat and rain
Because of continuing aftershocks and anotherto distribute shelter materials alongside its second

strong earthquake on 12 May 2015, most people

food distribution from 22 May to 13 June, justremained outdoors. Procurement of shelter materials

before the rainy season. Tarpaulins (12 x 18m) were

was delayed due to scarce supplies and the demand

distributed to 2,688 households and ground sheetsfrom many agencies. However, ChildFund was able

(10m) to 2,986 households.

Shelter

2,986 Families
11,481 Individuals

2,688
Tarpaulin

2,986

Ground Sheet

An elderly man carrying a tarpaulin
and a sack of rice back to his family.

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Nepal Earthquake Response Project Report | Child Protection

Child Protection
Leave no child behindChild Centered Space (CCS)

Mothers who were busy attending to family needs

Within a few weeks after the earthquake, while

felt safer knowing children were in CCSs with trained

children’s trauma was still acute and families wereteachers and volunteers. Various psychosocial

still in temporary shelters, 21 Child Centered Spaces

activities like songs, dances, story-telling, and(CCSs) were established in 2 districts of Ramechhap

puppet shows were conducted, and biscuits andand Sindhupalchowk. About 85 volunteer youth andjuice were provided. CCS facilitators were able toteachers were trained to operate these CCSs before

observe and identify children with symptoms ofschools resumed classes. The CCSs operated for

distress. Staff provided psychosocial support andbetween 5 and 13 days, depending on location. The

counseling to these children through home visits.

average number of children participating reached1,603, with the highest attendance reaching nearlyParticipation enabled children to transition back to

2,000.

regular school despite the fact they were living in
unfamiliar temporary shelters.

First Child Centered Space set up.

Nepal Earthquake Response Project Report | Child Protection

Child Protection

Child Centered Spaces

21

Established

1,603

Children participated85

Volunteers

School-in-a-Box Recreation
Kit
kits

180
Early Childhood
Development
Kits

96

School Kits Dignity Kits

60
Book
Bags

93

46 Schools
5,337 Students

Training Participants

851 Girls

Psychosocial Counseling

23Child Protection

88”

The earthquake scared me a lot. I felt it
was the end of the world. In CCS, Teacher
asked me to talk about what I felt, and thismade me feel no longer like I was alone. I
had a good time dancing and singing.”
Agreja, 11 years old, Dhuskun

Provision of Dignity Kit for Girlsin December. Each kit contained tooth brush, tooth

Adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable during

paste, bath soap, a towel, laundry soap, shampoo,

disasters as they have to use open spaces fordisinfectant liquid, a hand torch, nail cutters, combs,

bathing and toilet. To address their need for

re-usable sanitary napkins, and underwear, allhygiene, ChildFund provided dignity kits to 851 girls

packed in a handy bag.

of grade 6 to 10 in 12 schools of 2 assisted districts

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Nepal Earthquake Response Project Report | Child Protection

Children curiously checking out their Dignity Kit

Capacity Building for Child Protection

3. Assessment on Child Protection:

Various trainings for teachers and community

Assessments on child protection issues wereleaders were conducted in two districts for ensuringconducted in 2 districts through an external

protection of children.

consultant in December 2015. The recommendationfrom assessment reports was to strengthen and

1. Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction

implement local child protection mechanism and(CBDRR) Training

standards, establish a child protection monitoring

4-day trainings were conducted for 85

and referral system, enhance local capacity on child

representatives from Ward Citizen Forum (WCF),

protection, promote children’s participation, andVillage Disaster Risk Management Committees

raise awareness on child protection issues.

(VDRMCs), and other community leaders, from
November to December 2015. The basic concept ofdisaster risk reduction and its impact on children,
families and communities were discussed. DRR
action plans for their wards were finalized on thelast day of each training.
2. Child Protection Training
A 2.5-day Child Protection Training was conducted
for 88 teachers, members of Village Child Protection
Committees (VCPC) and the Ward Citizen Forum(WCF) from September to December 2015. With thereview of existing child protection mechanisms at
district and national levels, participants learned how
to coordinate with government to raise and manage
child protection issues.

Nepal Earthquake Response Project Report | Education

11

Education
Safeguarding the right to education
Temporary Resumption of School2) 344 Teacher Supply Kits were provided in 45

Even as most school buildings had totally or partiallyschools in August. Each included a file bag, acollapsed in Sindhupalchowk and Ramechhap

schedule notebook, graph paper, chart paper, aDistricts, the Department of Education declared

punch machine, a stapler, glue sticks and a maskingthat all classes would resume by 31 May 2015.

tape.

From June to October, ChildFund constructed a
total of 60 Temporary Learning Spaces (TLSs) with

3) Students Supply Kit (stationery, school bag,

120 classrooms in 32 schools in 2 districts, which

uniform) were distributed to 5,133 students of 45

accommodated 2,401 students. About 44 wereschools of 2 districts.

completed before the monsoon season started.
ChildFund also provided educational materials,4) 5,101 children received sweaters for school in

uniforms, sweaters for winter and equipment for

December 2015 to February 2016.

schools.
5) Classroom Management and other equipment,
1) In coordination with UNICEF, 180 School-in-a-Box

tables, cushions, shoe racks, carpet, andkits, 96 Early Childhood Development (ECD) kits, 60

groundsheets were provided to 91 classrooms in

Recreational Kits, and 93 Book Bags were also

17 schools of Sindhupalchowk District. To store

distributed to 46 schools, benefitting about 5,337

student records, 32 filing cabinets for teachers werestudents.

provided as well. 3 microscopes were provided to 2
schools in Tauthali.

TLS provided immediate relief for children back to school.

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Nepal Earthquake Response Project Report | Education

Education

Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS)
60 Shelters
120 Classrooms
91 Classroom Facilities
Student Supply Kits

Teacher Supply Kits

5,133

344

Teacher Training

220 Teachers
Classroom Renovation

Classroom Reconstruction

35

40

Classrooms

Classrooms

1,536

1,045

Students

Students

Capacity Building for Teachers in Disaster Situation

disaster teaching materials produced by the National

To cope with children’s needs in the post-disasterCenter for Education Development (NCED).

situation, the following trainings were conducted forteachers.

2. Psychosocial Counseling

1. Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Education in

A 3-day training was organized in December 2015

Emergency (EiE) and Psychosocial Support

for 23 teachers in Sindhupalchowk District tosupport children with basic behavioral issues andA series of 2-day trainings was conducted fromidentify students with severe psychological trauma

August to September 2015 for 220 teachers offor professional counseling.

45 schools. Each teacher was provided with post-Nepal Earthquake Response Project Report | Education

Reconstruction of Schools

the government to ensure the proper educational

With government approval of school renovation

environment.

13

and reconstruction on 7 June, 2016, ChildFund
developed a construction plan and implementing

By September 2017, 35 classrooms were renovatedguidelines for partner NGOs, schools andand 40 were constructed in 14 schools in 2 districts.

communities. Consultations were conducted with

Carpet and low tables with cushions were provided

District Education Offices and School Management

for the lower grades while desks and benches

Committees to ensure proper construction and towere installed in classrooms of higher grades. Allpromote ownership of schools by communities.

classrooms were provided with bookshelves, shoeracks, whiteboards and doormats. 1,863 students inWithin the construction plan, new toilets, water

14 schools can now study in well-equipped andfacilities and classroom equipment were required byearthquake-resistant classrooms.

Monitoring school construction process with Head Teacher of school

Inauguration at completed school building

Completed classroom with shelves and study table

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Nepal Earthquake Response Project Report | Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene(WASH)
Ensuring safe water and hygiene for children
To meet immediate needs for safe water andSeventeen permanent, child-friendly water facilities

hygiene, 11 water facilities were repaired and 5

were constructed in 14 schools and 58 toilet rooms

toilets constructed in 4 schools in Sindhupalchowk

in 13 schools in 2016-2017, together with renovation

District, together with the Temporary Learningand construction of school buildings.

Spaces construction.

Child-friendly taps set at varying heights to accommodate different ages.

Children enjoy clean water in Dhuskun. This facility benefitted 112
children in the school. On the school wall, it is written, "Soap andwater for the habit of washing hands".

WASH

ToiletTemporary
Permanent

Drinking Water

4 schools
11 schools
58 toilet rooms 62 water taps
1,742 students 2,235 students

Nepal Earthquake Response Project Report | Livelihoods

Livelihoods
Supporting families to help themselves
The objective of the income generation (IG) support

from the land were hardly enough to cover theirprogramme was to help families support the holistic

basic needs even for 3 months. Two members

development of their children. The project provided

from each family attended a 5-day training on goat

102 goats (5 per family) and other support services

raising and shed construction in October 2015. The

to 20 poor families (in 2 groups of 10 each) in

distribution of goats and support for construction of

Tauthali, Sindhupalchowk.

shed was completed by middle of November 2015.
A second batch of 10 families was supported in

All these families had some land, but the products

They received goats as income generation support.

December 2016.

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Nepal Earthquake Response Project Report | Capacity Building

Capacity Building
Preparing staff to First Do No Harm
To ensure the proper implementation of projects,

2. Essentials of Humanitarian Practice & Project

staff of ChildFund in Nepal and partner NGOs

Management in Emergencies

received the following training.

This training provided an introduction to disastermanagement.

1. Community Resiliency Model (CRM)
This training imparted skills to help restore balance

3. Organizational Safety and Security

in body, mind and spirit, and to understand common

Orientation was given on safety and security

reactions resulting from trauma and stress. It

policies and procedures for maintaining a safe

helped staff who themselves had been affected byworking environment for staff. It also reinforced thethe earthquake to cope, and the skills acquired wereidea that staff at all levels have the responsibility

then applied in sessions with children, community

and authority to address deficiencies in security

people and fellow staff.

procedures.

Group discussion

Nepal Earthquake Response Project Report | Conclusion

Conclusion
Towards the Resilient Community
ChildFund prioritizes Child Protection in an

As we delivered timely and quality humanitarian

Emergency.All activities within our emergency

response focusing on children, ChildFund ensured

response related, directly or indirectly, to child

Disaster Risk Reduction activities were included

protection and child rights. Child friendly classroom

to start the process of returning to community

management, construction of child friendly water

development in the reconstruction phase.

taps, separate toilets for girls, and training on childChildFund's "Build Back Better" approach means notprotection and child friendly teaching techniques are

only creating stronger school facilities, but also asome clearly visible examples. Promotion of childstrengthened school management system and childclubs and encouraging their participation in matters

protective community system. The preparation ofconcerning children contributed as well.

a School Safety Plan ensured that the schools will
now be guided in their disaster preparedness andmitigation activities.

Summary of Findings: Final Evaluation
ChildFund conducted an external evaluation at project end as a means of improving its future assistance efforts.
As a global organization, we are committed to learning from this experience to support children in communities
walking the path from recovery to resilience.

The evaluation shows that interventions have been highly relevant and appropriate and have achieved the following objectives
with reasonable efficiency:•Immediate lifesaving through timely distribution of high quality food and shelter materials•The medium-term recovery and rehabilitation of services through creation and use of appropriate and well-facilitated childcentered spaces, timely construction of high quality temporary learning spaces with drinking water and toilet facilities anddistribution of teaching and learning materials, and uniforms and dignity kits for adolescent girls•The long-term reconstruction needs of the target areas through construction of earthquake-resilient school buildings withfalse ceilings (to protect from sound pollution and to insulate heat), child-friendly toilets, water taps and classrooms. Libraryand office facilities are provided in some schools.
All this was possible through the persistence, devotion, openness to learning and flexibility of ChildFund as well as partner NGO
staff and other stakeholders, in spite of the fact that ChildFund Nepal had no previous experience of emergency response atsuch scale. This would not have been possible with a typical jobholder mindset.

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Nepal Earthquake Response Project Report | Financial Outlook

Financial Outlook
Expenses Distribution per Sector(April 2015 – September 2017)

Capacity Building
4%
Livelihood
1%
WASH
6%

Education
76%

Above percentages show distribution of direct project cost.

Food
7%
Shelter
5%Child Protection
1%

Nepal Earthquake Response Project Report | Acknowledgement

Acknowledgements
The 2015 Nepal earthquake was a traumatic

We also express our gratitude to the ChildFund

experience not only for the people in our supported

Alliance member countries, including theareas, but also for ChildFund Nepal Office staff

governments of New Zealand and Canada, and theand its partner NGOs, who themselves lost homes

Rotary Club of Canada Uxbridge Chapter, which

and family members and friends. The response

provided not only funds but also human resources,

operation was difficult from the beginning with few

technical assistance and encouragement.

experienced staff in emergency recovery, and achaotic situation in Kathmandu, where many shops

We thank the member agencies of ChildFund

were closed, demand for supplies was high, andAlliance for sending staff with special skills for the

prices were erratic.

emergency operation.

Despite these difficulties, ChildFund and its partners

Special thanks goes to UNICEF, which provided

managed to deliver supplies and services to thechildren’s kits for the Child Centered Spaces andneediest populations in the worst-affected remoteschools.

areas, especially children and women.
Last, but not least, our sincere gratitude goesPrimary thanks goes to the partner NGOs whoto the individual donors from all over the world,

carried out such difficult work when they themselves

who contributed to the project through various

were suffering from trauma and loss:

organizations. We did our best to bring your goodwill
to the people of Nepal, especially the children andGramin Mahila Srijansil Pariwar (GMSP)

Ramechhap Business & Professional Women (RBPW)

Tuki Association Sunkoshi (TUKI)

families who suffered the most.

19ChildFund Alliance is a global network of 11 child-focused
development organizations working to create opportunities forchildren and youth, their families and communities.
ChildFund Japan

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Author: ChildFund Japan Nepal Office Emergency Response Team
Published by ChildFund Japan© ChildFund Japan 2017
All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior permission of the publisher.