GOI-UNDP project on “Climate Risk Management in Urban areas through Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation”, funded by USAID Project Update: October 2012 –December 2012 Background The GOI-UNDP project on “Climate Risk Management in Urban areas through disaster preparedness and mitigation” supported by USAID, focuses on reducing disaster risks in six cities with the following key objectives: 1. Reduce disaster risk in urban areas by enhancing institutional capacities to integrate climate risk reduction measures in development programs as well as to undertake mitigation activities based on scientific analyses. 2. Enhance community capacities to manage climate risks in urban areas by enhancing the preparedness. The key results envisaged under the project are: City Disaster Management Plans in 6 cities Hazard Risk and Vulnerability Analysis in 5 cities Communities in 359 wards trained to respond to disasters Action plan to strengthen Early Warning Systems in 5 cities based on analytical studies Sectoral (4) plans in each of the 6 cities to mainstream DRR and Climate Change Adaptation in development programmes. Knowledge management will be cross cutting across every activity area. The project with an outlay of US$ 1.21 million, over a period of three years was approved in October 2102.The project covers the cities of Bhubaneswar, Gangtok, Madurai, Shimla, Trivandrum and Vijayawada. The cities were selected jointly by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and UNDP based on the hydro metrological hazard profile and increasing impact of climate change in the cities. These cities are covered under the Urban Risk Reduction Project which provides a platform and an enabling environment to implement risk reduction and climate change adaptation initiatives. These cities are also covered under different national schemes such as JNNURM, providing an opportunity for integration of DRR in on-going development programmes. The project is being implemented under the on-going Disaster Risk Reduction Programme framework approved by the Government of India. The Programme Management Board (PMB) set up for the DRR Programme and co-chaired by the MHA and UNDP, oversees the delivery and achievement of results under the project. A Project Steering Committee comprising (PSC), chaired by the National Project Director (NPD), also the Joint Secretary (DM Division), MHA will oversee the project and be accountable for the achievement of planned results and efficient use of funds. At the state level the State level Steering Committees set up by the respective State Disaster Management Authorities for the GOI-UNDP DRR Programme will closely monitor the project implementation at the city level and ensure inter-departmental linkages to facilitate mainstreaming of DRR and sustainability of the project outputs. 1 The Annual Work Plan for 2012 (covering the period October to December 2012) was approved by MHA and UNDP in October and it envisaged the following: Recruitment of national and city project coordinators Organisation of inception workshops in all the cities Finalisation of M&E Framework between USAID and UNDP Formulation of the national work plan for the year 2013 Progress The National Project coordinator and 6 City Project Coordinators (3 of whom are women) have been recruited and inducted into the Project. Multi stakeholder consultations were held in all the 5 cities to initiate state level discussions on the project. Representatives from various government departments, Municipal Corporation, NGOs, volunteer groups, research and training institutes participated in the discussion. The consultation focused on the components of the project, relevant stakeholders as well as roles and responsibilities of different line departments as well as the monitoring mechanisms of the project. The participants also discussed appropriate implementation strategy, and suggested the focal point from the state for the project implementation. The consultation in Bhubaneswar has been deferred to 30th January at the request of the state government. However, a meeting was organized in Bhubaneswar on 24th December to finalize implementation modalities and support mechanisms. Details of the city consultations are given in table -1. Table-1 City Shimla Date 17/11/12 Gangtok 04/12/12 Vijayawada O7/12/1 2 Madurai 12/12/12 Trivandrum 14/12/12 Bhubaneswar 2 24/12/12 Key implementation modalities District Collector to perform the role of the project coordinator. Office of the Shimla Municipal Commissioner would be given the responsibility for implementation. The Department of DM in the state Government will be the overall State Nodal Agency for the project. Municipal Corporation Gangtok City will be implementing the project under the overall guidance of the State Steering Committee chaired by the Principal Secretary Land Revenue and DM. The funds for the project would be routed through the DM department to the Municipal Corporation. Municipal Corporation Vijayawada City will be implementing the project under the overall guidance of the State Steering Committee chaired by the Principal Secretary Revenue and Disaster Management Department. The funds for the project would be routed through the DM department to the Municipal Corporation. Municipal Corporation Madurai City will be implementing the project under the overall guidance of the State Steering Committee. The funds for the project would be routed through the DM department/Department of Urban Development to the Municipal Corporation Trivandrum Municipal Corporation will be implementing the project under the guidance of the State Project Steering Committee (SPSC). The Corporation will open a bank account for the project in a nationalized bank for the project funding. The Project coordination Unit will be set up in H&UD department. BMC will be implementing the project. OSDMA will provide necessary technical support. Project level steering committee will be set up at H&UD Department with Secretary H&UD as Chair for approving project components, financial outlay and monitoring inputs. H&UD (SUDA) Department will open and operate an exclusive bank account for receiving the funds from MHA and placing them at the disposal of the municipal corporation. Based on the inception workshops and guidance provided to the city administrations, the city workplans for the year 2013 are being drafted. These would be then submitted to MHA/UNDP for approval. The M&E framework (attached as Annex -1) submitted to USAID contains output specific quantitative and qualitative indicators, means of verification, and timelines for completion as well as primary and secondary responsibilities. The M&E also has a reporting plan scheduling reporting timelines/frequency and articulates the monitoring mechanisms. Progress against Outputs Project Output 1: City Disaster Management Plans with adequate focus on climate risk management prepared/ updated: Terms of reference has been developed and advertised for a consultancy assignment to review the CDMPs. This assignment is scoped to conduct a review of the CDMPs that has already been prepared to assess the process followed, clarity, comprehensiveness, efficiency, appropriateness, and dissemination including the integration of climate risk management measures in the CDMP. This assignment also aims to provide specific recommendations and provide strategies to each city administration on addressing the gaps identified during the review process and to update the CDMP. Project Output 2 – Hazard Risk and Vulnerability Analysis / Detail Safety Assessment of lifeline buildings to be conducted in 5 cities using scientific methods and appropriate tools and techniques like GIS and probability modelling. Target: HRVA reports prepared for 5 cities. ToR has been drafted to recruit experts/agencies to review and conduct hazard, risk, and vulnerability and capacity assessments with emphasis on climate change through interactive and participatory processes in the cities and to provide recommendations to reduce risks by linking with city development plans. Output 3 to 6 - No activities carried out during this reporting period. These would be part of the city workplans for period Jan-Dec 2013. 3