2011/5/11

Community Participation in Disaster Preparedness Planning:
A Comparative Study between Nepal and Japan

Presented By
Maiya Kadel
Section Officer, Disaster Management Section
Ministry Of Home Affairs, Nepal
Visiting Researcher (ADRC),2010B
Japan, Kobe.

Japan and Nepal: Two Asian Nations

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ADRC has been playing significant role in Disaster Reduction andpromoting disaster awareness programs in its member countries
ADRC and its member countries

ADRC Office in Kobe, Japan.

I am deeply shocked at the huge loss of valuable lives and property from TOHOKU PACIFICOCEAN EARTHQUAKE -2011 March 11, in Japan. It is my firm believes and hope that courageous
Japanese people would very soon be able to recover from this massive disaster.

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Geographical settings of Japan and Nepal
Mt .Fuji/Shinkansen/Sakura blossoms In
Japan), 3776 m.

Mt. Everest (Nepal), Highest Mountainof the World 8848 m.

Climate condition of Japan & Nepal
Satellite image of Hokkaidō in
January

Satellite image of Mt.Everest in
October 2002(Rt.)

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MY Presentation Outlines
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Specific Aims of my Research
Research Method
General information of Nepal &Japan
Disaster Scenario of Nepal & JapanThe Great Tohoku Pacific Ocean Earthquake
Policy and Institutional Frameworks Related to Disaster Management in Nepal& JapanParticipation , Importance of coordination and Actors for coordination in Nepal
Community participation in DPP : Nepal & Japan
Challenges of community participation in Nepal
Lessons learnt from Disaster Management System in Japan
Recommendations for effective community participation in Nepal
Concluding Remarks

Specific Aims of my Research• The main objective of this study is to analyze some prevailing bestpractices of community participation in disaster preparedness planning in
Nepal and Japan and make recommendations appropriate for Nepal.
The followings are the specific objectives:• To study practices of community participation in disaster
preparedness planning in Nepal and Japan.
• Look at the roles of government organizations and NGOs in
preparedness planning in Nepal and Japan.
• To recommend the appropriate practices of community
participation in disaster preparedness planning and mobilizing
communities to minimize the damages and losses fromdisasters.

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Research Method• The general interview guide approach was applied• appropriate guided questionnaires were developed• Interviewees were selected from different governmentorganizations, UN agencies, INGOs and NGOs.
The main source of secondary data of my research• In Nepal: published and unpublished data and information
available in the Ministry of Home Affairs & Published data fromother ministries ,departments, NGOs and INGOs• In Japan: ADRC Reference materials, JICA’s Training materials
and published data from different agencies have been used for
Research purpose.

General information of Nepal• Nepal is a land locked country between Indian and China andoccupying the central part of the Hindu-Kush belt .

• Nepal has a rugged topography, complex geologicalstructures with active tectonic process and continued seismic
activities.
• The elevation of the country rises from 70m. at Terai to8848m. at Mt. Everest.
• The spectacular views of the mountains and enjoy
mountaineering at the highest peak of the world attracts
t it
tourists.

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General information of Japan• Japan is situated in northeastern Asia between the North
Pacific and the Sea of Japan. It is divided into 8 regions and 47
Prefectures.
• JJapan consists
i t off fourfmajor
j islands,
i l d surroundedd d byb more thanth4,000 smaller islands. Japan’s highest mountain is Mt. Fuji,
3,776 m. height.
• Japan's topographical features include coastlines with varied
scenery, towering mountains, volcanic and twisted valleys that
invite tourists into the mysterious world of nature.

Conducted Cabinet meeting at Mt. Everest• Cabinet meeting of Nepal, has been held at Mount Everest on
4th December 2009, to sensitize the impact of climate change
on Himalayany regiong .
• The aim of the meeting was to draw the attention of theinternational community to consider the impact of climatechange on the Himalaya and poorest and most vulnerable
communities depending on its resources.

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Disaster Scenario of Nepal• Geological, topographical, climatic and socio-economic
condition have made Nepal vulnerable to various types ofdisasters.
• Nepal is facing various types of disasters; floods, landslides,
earthquakes, drought, fire, windstorm, epidemic, lightening,
Glacier Lake Outburst etc.
• All these disasters have serious socio-economic impacts on
the community as it disrupts their way of life causing
immense hardship to the affected people and reduce
economic growth rate of Nepal.

Disaster Scenario of Japan• Japan frequently, affected by unpredicted events of natural disasters suchas earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruptions, floods, landslides andtyphoons.
• Many large scale Earthquake, Tsunami, and Typhoons struck the country,
which caused massive damage to lives and property and great loss of
economy.
• Enormous disasters have been contributing to the development ofsustainable disaster management system especially, advanced weather
forecasting system and disaster communication system in Japan.
• The commonest disasters in Japan are Earthquake and tsunami whichcause catastrophic damages to the coastal belt of the country.
• The large waves of tsunami that crash up against the shore and often wash
away people, buildings, and bridges. For example recent EQ and Tsunami(2011, Tohoku Pacific Ocean Earthquake)7

2011/5/11

The Great Tohoku Pacific Ocean Earthquake• The great Pacific Ocean Earthquake occurred on March, 11, 2011 at 2:46
pm at a magnitude of 9.0 at a depth approximately 25 kilometer andtsunami hit along Sanriku offing, near the east coast of Honshu, Japan• The magnitude of the main shock was the largest and the strongest quake
ever recorded in Japan.
• It caused confirm death of 14,084 people and missing of 13,511 people
officially (Source: Police Agency of Japan, date: 21 April 2011) and estimatedeconomic loss around 309 billion US dollars.
• The need for more community involvement in the tsunami devastatedareas through organizing community volunteers has been suggested by
Civil society.
• Meanwhile, community members have already started working to gear up
th relieftheli f andd rehabilitation
h bilit ti program.
• The Great Hanshin Awaji and other disaster experiences would help Japanto recover soon from this great disaster and human catastrophe.

Some Touchable photos after Tohoku Pacific Ocean Earthquake:8

2011/5/11

Pictures of Great Hanshin Awaji EQ,1995/1/17

Participating on Hanshin Awaji Earthquake Memorial
Ceremony on17 January 2011.

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Earthquake Safety Awareness Rally in Nepal

1934 Earthquake in Nepal

Before 1934 earthquake

After 1934 earthquake10

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1934 Earthquake in Nepal

1988 Earthquake, Eastern Nepal

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Some similarities of Flood disaster , about Nepal and Japan
Koshi flood of
Nepal,August,2008

Inundation of Toyooka City,
Japan,(21,Oct.2004)

Source: Toyooka city government

Policy and Institutional Frameworks Related to DM in Nepal• Disaster risk management always hinges on the sound policy guidelines
and competent institutions.
• The Government of Nepal has enacted Natural Calamity (Relief) Act, 1982
for disaster management in Nepal.
Nepal• The Three -Year Interim Plan (2007-2010) recognizes disasters as one of
the major impediments of national development process, and addresses
DRM tasks• Prime Minister’s Natural Calamity Relief Fund• National Strategy for DRM 2009. This new Strategy, based on Hyogo
framework of Action, which encompasses prevention, mitigation,
preparedness,d
response, recovery.
• National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA),2010• Local Self Governance Act, 1999
• Sectoral Policies and Acts Related to Disaster Risk Management122011/5/11

Present Institutional Arrangement
Cabinet(Policy, Budget, Emergency Declaration)
Central Natural Disaster Rescue Committee(Home Minister-Chairperson including membersof all key Ministries, Departments, NRCS, etc.)(Coordination, Response, Rescue, Relief)

Rescue and Treatment SubCommittee
Chaired by Minister of Healthand Population
Supply, Shelter andRehabilitation Sub-Committee
Chaired by Minister of PP&W

Regional Natural Disaster Rescue Committee
Regional Administer chaired the committee(Regional Resource Mobilization, Direction)¥
District Disaster Rescue Committee
Chief District Officer chaired the committee(program Execution, Rescue & Relief, Data collection)

Basic Legal Frameworks of Disaster Management in Japan• Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act (1961) is the cornerstone of legislationof disaster management in Japan.
• Following acts are the other relevant acts associated with disastercountermeasures Basic Act (1961);• Erosion Control Act (1897), Disaster Relief Act (1947), Building Standard Law(1950)• Landslide Prevention Act (1958), River Act (1964), Act on Special Measures
for Large-scale Earthquakes (1978).
• Erosion Control Act 1897:• Disaster Relief Act 1947:• Building Standard Law 1950:• Land slide Control Act 1958:• River Act 1896:

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Disaster Management System of Japan (source: Japan DRM)

Participation is an active Process in which the Participants take initiatives
and actions that are stimulated by their own thinking and by deliberations
over which they exert effective control.
Collective effort by the People
To pool whatever resources they have and available resources from outside
To attain objectives they set for themselves14

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Participation Process
Participation means Following:• Use of participation to achieve some predetermined goal or objective• It is an attempt to utilize the existing resources in order to achieve theobjectives of Programmers/Projects• Participation is viewed as a serious of exercises for data collection andactivity implementation.
Participation as a process:• Participation attempts to empower people to participate in their own
development• The focus is on improving the ability of the people to participate beyond
achieving the objectives of the project.
• Participation is an end, is viewed as a long term process• Participation is relatively more active and dynamic.

CBDP Planning Program as a good initiative
General Objectives:• To reduce the losses of life and properties cause by disaster throughstrengthening DP/DM capacity of vulnerable communities
Specific Objectives:• To raise the awareness level of communityy people
p p on Disaster
Management• To enhance the DM capacity of community people throughthe provision of training, sensitization, simulation exercisesand establishing good networking• To encourage the community people for disaster mitigation
initiatives at local levels• To develop
p and execute communityy DP planp
• To further strengthen coordination mechanism withstakeholders for DP/DM activities.

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Disaster Reduction Publicity through Street Drama.

Community Participation in Tarai District of Nepal: Participatory
Approach, Tools and Techniques.

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Our Participation on disaster drills exercises in Japan.

Attain goal

Build common
understanding

Joint action/
Partnership

Build
relationship
IMPORTANCE OF
COORDINATIONManage/Mobilize
Resources

Ensure effective
management system
Enhance
Working
proficiency

Transfer
responsibility/
Ownership

MotivateMti t
all actors

Promptp and Effective
Actions

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MOHA/
CDRC/
DDRC

Line Ministries/
Departments

National Security
Units

District
Authorities
Local
Community

UN Agencies

DPNet-Nepal
DPNet
Nepal

Actors for
coordination in Nepal

INGOs

NGOs

Community
clubs/ groups/
Leaders
Privatesectors

Donors/International
Community

CBOs

Media

Universities/
Academicians

Corporate/ Financial
Institutions

Community Participation in Disaster Preparedness Planning in
Nepal (CPDPP)• CP-DPP is recently developed phenomenon in Nepal.
• Before the enactment of Natural Calamity relief Act, 1982, there
were no any efforts in place for disaster preparedness planning.
• Wait and see policy was in place and funds relief items wereallocated on the ad-hoc basis.
• There is little attention or no attention paid to community
participation in disaster preparedness planning andimplementation18

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Policy Guidelines for Community Participation in Disaster
Preparedness in Nepal
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Natural Calamity Relief Act, 1982
National Action Plan 1996
Periodical Plans
National Strategy for DRM 2009
Disaster Preparedness and Pre-monsoon Planning Workshops
District Disaster Preparedness Plans
Community Participation in UN and DIPECHO Projects in Nepal

Mitigation Work and Community Awareness Programs

A mitigation work (renovation of school building) conductedin Mahankal School, Lalitpur to minimize disaster risk

Deputy teacher sponsors are attending DM ToT,at Banepa
School students are conducting street drama in
Kundheshowri School, Sindhuli

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Some Good Initiations taken by Community for Mitigation
Structural Mitigation
Flood Retaining Wall

Gully and Cannel Protection

Gabion boxes wall along the river bank

Sand bags embankment

Response team involved in distribution and record keeping

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Community Participation in Japan:
Japan has many experiences about natural disasters mostfrequently in the world
gained the knowledge and developed the skills of responding andpreparing for disasters through its past experiences“C“Community
i –basedb d didisaster M
Management”” hhas ddrawn people’sl ’
attention in the field of disaster management“preparations” for emergencies that have been made on a regularbasis will be greatly valued.
Recently developed new term, Gensai “to reduce disasters” hascommonly be used in Japan.
Community based disaster prevention led by citizens that plays thecentral role in reducing disasters.

Community’s programs in Japan (Cont.)• Community Emergency Drill Programs: City government has
focused on establishing and developing voluntary organization fordisaster prevention in communities• Schoolh l Disaster Prevention EducationdPrograms: Thish programs
are designed and utilized mainly by teachers, but most of the
program can be conducted in cooperation with local communities.
• Fire and disaster management agency in Japan (FDMA): Role of
the FDMA “Safe and secure regional development with thecooperation of local residents” and “National response in times of
need”
d”

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Fire Services in Japan
Local residents(Voluntary disaster preventing organizations)
Cities, Towns and Villages(Fire Defense Headquarters, Volunteer Fire Corps)
Prefectures
Fire and Disaster Management Agency• Fire services in Japan began as municipalities with functions closely linked to
local communities and has played a vital role in ensuring the safety andsecurity of the public of Japan.

• Plus Arts is one of the Non-profit Organization which
creates awareness, encourages Community Participation in
Japan. It clarify the lessons and skills learned from the great
Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.
..Making
Making disaster reduction part of the daily routine…Putting creativity to work in disaster reduction and...to learn about disasters through fun games

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Iza! Kaeru Caravan• A new kind of disaster reduction training program learning throughFun Games which makes children active and inspires them toparticipate in the program repeatedly.
Purpose of the Iza ! Kaeru Caravan:• To develop original disaster prevention education systemappropriate to local community.
• To create program which is localized, sustainable andparticipatory.
• Original programs were developed through collaboration
work with the local NGOs and preparatory workshop.
• Create a mechanism to organize “Enjoyable Disaster
Prevention Drill” by local residents themselves.

Some activities of Community Participation in Japan.

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Challenges of community participation in Nepal• Needed a comprehensive disaster management Programin Nepal, to internalize the board range of issues of DM
and DRR• Ensure successful adaptation and sustainable DM &DRR
through Coping and accumulation of useful information
to communities at risk.
• Role of media on dissemination of information about
disaster is limited• DRR education and training is inadequate to createawareness among school children, members of thecommunity and in educational curricula.

Challenges (cont.)• Nepal is situated at a high EQ risk Zone; there is abuilding code but do not follow seismic building code
standard for construction.
• Needed mainstreaming gender perspectives to put
emphasis on women focused approach into DM andDRR policy making process.
• To utilize the information for disaster risk reduction
initiatives at local level: district and village level tofformulateldidisaster preparedness
d
plans
l
and
d mitigation
ii istrategy.
• Lack of systematic and scientific disaster data basesystem about hazards mapping24

2011/5/11

Lessons learnt from Disaster Management System in Japan• “ self-help, mutual help”, and then public aid functionneeded to be properly coordinated to reduce impact ofdisasters .
• Introduce DM & DR education at schools, “Disaster Risk
Reduction begins at school”• Disaster Prevention is the person’s bonds. The motto of
every community is “make a town is happy town,
Happy town against disaster.”• Disaster education can facilitate people to build
awareness about disasters.

Lessons learnt (cont.)• Booklets, Maps, Sign Plates, are valuable means ofcommunication for disaster mitigation.
• City, Region, Home, Individual role is important for
Improvement of the disaster responsive capability in
the Region.
• Kaeru Caravan” is amazing learning tools, to reduce therisk of disasters.
• The most powerful tool for disaster management iscommunity empowerment and community
sustainability.

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Lessons learnt (cont.)• Preparing emergency goods that can be easily carriedout in case of disaster.
• Community based disaster prevention culture led bycitizens reduces impact of disaster.
• Learning from the past fact and experience, is very
important for disaster preparedness in future.
• Japanese experience on Disaster mitigation especially “
The great Hanshin
Hanshin-Awaji
Awaji earthquake”
earthquake , showed the pathof facing disaster successfully and early recovery.

O-Naruto Bridge, Awaji, Island

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Comparison of infrastructural condition of Japan & Nepal• Japan is a highly developed country.
• On the other hand, Nepal is a developing country.
• AboveAb
picturei tshows,
h
J
Japan’s’ mostt moderndb idbridge,another picture of Nepal shows how school children,cross big river to attend school risking their life
everyday by catching ropes.
• Nepal needs more resources for its infrastructuraldevelopment Thatdevelopment.
That’ss why Nepal
Nepal’ss DR effort needs
assistance from developed country.

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Recommendations for effective community participation in
Nepal• Compulsory DR training / drills in elementary andsecondary and all levels of education.
paction p
plan has to be developedp for• A complete
increasing seismic safety of public facilities, schools,
hospitals, and lifelines especially in Kathmandu andother parts of Nepal.
• Conduct regular research on indigenous knowledge on
hazard assessment and risk mitigation measures• There is no disaster management museum in Nepal. We
can open a disaster related museum in Nepal so thatcitizens and school children can learn from visiting
proposed museum.

Recommendations for effective community ……
• Urgently develop retrofitting strategy for public facilities, schools
and hospitals in accordance to proper earthquake technology.
co-benefits
benefits ,soso• Prepare a sound disaster mitigation strategy with cothat , vicious circle can be transformed into virtuous circle.
• Arrange need based training on disaster preparedness andrecovery to all local level authorities involve in DRR• Development of disaster mitigation package, to assess disaster risk
involving school teachers and students for communities at risk
• Conduct
C dregularl researchh on indigenous
i dikknowledgel d on disasterdirisk mitigation and disseminate it to communities.
• A community based approach should be adopted, in order tostrengthen corps of volunteers on disaster preparedness.

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Concluding Remarks• Disaster is a multi-dimensional phenomenon, neither
predictable nor always manageable.
• Though measuring, monitoring and mobilizing thecommunity role for the multi-hazard context isproven approach in DRM.
• Nepalese community preparedness plan has very
limited tools, technique and technology thanJapanese modality.
• Thus, comparatively, Nepalese DRM practices could
be enhanced and expanded by the advancecommunity owned Japanese preparedness activities.

Let us learn to walk with
Community……………………………
THANK YOU VERY MUCH…
DOMO ARIGATO GOZAIMASU

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