http://www.mohca.gov.bt

http://www.ddm.gov.bt

Department of Disaster Management
Ministry of Home & Cultural Affairs
Royal Government of Bhutan

Bhutan’s Way of Achieving
HFA Through Capacity
Development
Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction
5th March, 2014

Pema Thinley
Visiting Researcher
Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC)

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

About Bhutan
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Area of Bhutan: 38,394 sq km.
Altitude: Varying from 590.55ft to 24,770.34ft above sea level.
Population: 733,004 (projected 2013).
Capital: Thimphu.
Forest Cover: 72% (approximately).
Currency: Ngultrum.
Major Export: Hydro-electricity
Protected areas: 51.44% of total land.

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Hazards in Bhutan
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Earthquake
Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)
Floods/Flash floodLandslide
Forest fires/Structural fireWindstorm
OthersVisiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Defining Capacity Development“The process through which individuals, organizations, and societies
obtain, strengthen, and maintain the capabilities to set and achieve theirown development objectives over time.”(UNDP)“If capacity is the means to plan and achieve, then capacity development
describes the way to those means”(UNDP)

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

HFA Priority 1“Ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and a local priority with astrong institutional basis for implementation”
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Disaster Management System in place at all level as per the Disaster Management Act of Bhutan 2013.
Mainstreaming DRR Initiatives at the national and local level: Sustainable development, climatechange and disaster risk reduction integration.
Creating awareness at all level (decision makers).
Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) Program: Involving the community in thewhole DRR process. CBDRM Training of Trainers completed for 14 Dzongkhags and roll out to 121
blocks completed.

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

HFA Priority 2“Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning”
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Assessing Risk: Developing the technical capacity of the relevant agencies/municipalities on risk
assessment.
Vulnerability Assessment of Critical Structures: Trainings for both national level and local engineers
were provided on the use of standard vulnerability assessment checklists for schools and healthfacilities.
Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) Program: Enhancing the capacity ofcommunity on planning processes and hazard, vulnerability and capacity assessment tools.
Early warning for Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF): Several end to end awareness campaigns on
automatic early warning system especially for the 21 most vulnerable communities.

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

HFA Priority 3“Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety andresilience at all levels”
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Building Response Capacities: Formation and training of search and rescue teams at all levels.
Initiatives to integrate cultural heritage and disaster risk reduction: - Disaster Preparedness andSensitization program for the monastic bodies/district administration.
Safe School Initiative Program: Raised awareness of not only the education personnel and students but
has also led to public awareness and education, thus leading to the development of a culture of safetyand resilience. 22nd September observed as the National School Preparedness Day.
Raising awareness through various means: International Day for Disaster Reduction.

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

HFA Priority 4“Reduce the underlying risk factors”
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Mainstreaming Initiatives: Building capacity at national/local level to mainstream DRR into thedevelopment plans and programs.
Good Construction Practice: - Enhancing the knowledge and skills of local masons and carpenters for
ensuring safe construction practices in building rural homes.
Creating public awareness on reducing underlying risk factors at all level through Community Based
Disaster Risk Management.

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

HFA Priority 5“Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels”
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Capacity development through conferences/workshops on formulating disaster management/contingency plans.
Training the local officials on post disaster assessments with a specific format for better response
during the emergencies.
Training of Search and Rescue teams at all levels.
Conducting regular mock drills.
Incident Command System & All Hazard Incident Management Training at the national (NationalSearch and Rescue Team) and local level for systematic response during emergencies.

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

International and Regional Trainings/Workshops organized
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International Conference on DM and Cultural Heritage (December 2010)
SAARC Regional Workshop on Landslide Risk Management in South Asia (May 2011)
International Conference on GLOF Risk Mitigation (December 2012)
SAARC Regional Training on ICS and Multi-Agency Coordination System. (May 2013)
SAARC Regional Workshop on GLOF Risk Mitigation in South Asia (July 2013)

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Issues and Challenges
Local Level
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Disaster management is a new concept : Less participation from the community due to lack ofawareness/ knowledge on DRR.
Developing capacity is an ongoing process that needs to take place overtime: Time and Resource
constraints.
Sustaining trained people as focal persons of DRM in different agencies: DEAD end of capacitybuilding.
Frequent transfer of responsible officials (trained persons) at the local level (District).
Trainings and workshops are very much dependent on the availability of resources from thedevelopment partners: Sustainability.
Inadequate resources for capacity building: NO dedicated training centers in the country (eg. Searchand Rescue, Fire fighting, etc.).
Lack of monitoring and evaluation due to insufficient manpower.

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Issues and Challenges
National Level
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Managerial and technical capacity of the Department of Disaster Management needs to bestrengthened.
Understaffing.
Very limited professionals specialized in the field of DRM in the country.
DRR is an added responsibility.
Capacity building opportunities are rather adhoc both in terms of subject as well as timing depending
on offers and availability of funds from different sources.
Lack of capacity building opportunities available within the country.
Financial Constraints due to competing resource needs under the FYPs of the RGoB.
Coordination.

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Future Opportunities

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

http://www.mohca.gov.bt

http://www.ddm.gov.bt

Department of Disaster Management
Ministry of Home & Cultural Affairs
Royal Government of Bhutanབཀའ་�ིན་ཆེ་ལགས།།
Thank You
Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B