The mountainous region of GBAO (Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast) is very much prone of natural hazards, frequently hit by small to medium scale earthquakes, mudflows and flash floods. Breakout of the glacial lakes (formed by melting of the glaciers) is of particular concern, as they originate in remote mountainous areas and the risk is not known to the communities which could be affected. At the same time land for urban development in the region is extremely limited and expansion of rural and urban settlements without consideration of hazards puts population under additional risk. The project will develop and expand a safe living environment in and around Khorog town – capital of GBAO - by integrating Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) measures into urban and rural development planning, building capacities of the local authorities and population on disaster-sensitive development, offering information on the existing risks and supporting with implementation of targeted projects to protect 90 communities from the impact of natural disasters, weather extremes and changing climate. To strengthen the capacities of the people to cope with disasters and increase their livelihoods the project will also roll out a set of income generation activities.

The project in brief

Directorate/federal office responsible	SDC
Credit area	Humanitarian aid
Project partners	Contract partner International or foreign NGO Agha Khan Foundation
Budget	Current phase Swiss budget CHF    1’540’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    1’527’513
Project phases	Phase 4 01.08.2016 - 31.03.2020   (Completed) Phase 3 01.12.2013 - 31.01.2016   (Completed) Phase 2 21.09.2011 - 31.10.2013   (Completed)

Further technical details

• Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation	DISASTER PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS DISASTER PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS GENERAL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
  Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation	Disaster prevention and preparedness Disaster prevention and preparedness Environmental policy and administrative management
  Cross-cutting topics	The project takes account of gender equality as a cross-cutting theme.
  Type of support	Official development assistance (ODA)
  Type of collaboration	Bilateral cooperation
  Finance type	Aid grant
  Aid Type	Project and programme contribution
  Tied/untied aid	Untied aid
  Project number	7F06585