Malteser: Strenghtening Disaster Resilient Communities and Local Risk Management to Minimize Loss and Damage in Rakhine State

In Myanmar, Rakhine State is one of the regions particularly prone to natural disasters. The increased number of cyclones and strong winds in the past decades has caused significant damage to the people’s life, livelihood and assets on a regular basis. In addition, people are facing noticeable changes in climate and weather with seasons acting differently. This has created a strong pressure on community economies, natural resources and also communal peace and tolerance.

To contribute reducing losses and damages caused by natural disasters and the adverse effects of climate change in Rakhine State.

• 20’000 people in 18 villages in coastal, high risk areas (from whom 2’000 will directly be involved in the activities of the project).
• Local authorities at township and state level
• Other organizations involved in DRR in Rakhine State

The capacity of local authorities and the population to adapt to climate change is strengthened and their resilience to natural disasters increased.

Expected results:  

1. Local authorities are better informed about duties and responsibilities regarding disaster risk management and climate change adaptation.
2. Disaster resilience of participating communities is increased through the development of adaptation plans, trainings, and mangrove afforestation.
3. Disaster resistant infrastructure is constructed / rehabilitated to mitigate the risks.

Results from previous phases:  

Although this is the first phase supported by SDC, the program has started with funds from the German Government (BMZ) in 2013 already, with the following insights:

• The percentage of people that believed that the impacts of disasters can be reduced doubled from 40% to 80% over time.
• Around 80% of the community members knew when and where to evacuate, compared to less than 50% before the intervention.
• During the August 2015 floods due to cyclone Komen, no casualties or injured people have been reported from the project area. This shows that the DRR preparedness program worked: people were prepared and issued early warning of the coming cyclone via megaphones. The Early Warning and the Search & Rescue Task Forces, trained by Malteser International, ensured that each villager, including pregnant women, elderly and people with disabilities, was evacuated to the evacuation centre. Task Forces were able to report to Community Empowerment and Resilience Association (CERA) and Malteser International the assessed damage and needs via phone.

German Government (BMZ) [co-donor]; Community Empowerment and Resilience Association (CERA) [implementing partner]

Currently several INGOs and UN agencies have DRR programs in Rakhine State: IOM, ACF, ACTED, Oxfam, Plan. MI regularly attends coordination meetings (including the recently established DRR Working Group), and exchange lessons learned with other actors by organizing visits of project sites and inviting them to /participating in workshops.

Phase 1 09.10.2015 - 31.12.2017   (Completed)