- Executive Summary
Overall Project/Program Status:
During the first half of 2013, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) received a number of new contributions for Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS)programmes, with additional soft pledges in the pipeline waiting for final confirmation. As most of the funding was received quite late in the year, many activities are only Development Operational Report Q 1 and 2, 2013 Nepal Country Office Page 2 of 30 just gettingunderway and this reporting period was largely taken up with preparing logframes. Hence, there has been progress only in limited areas.
Key Accomplishments:
Business Line 1: To raise humanitarian standards
Governance Secretariat was established to assist the NRCS senior management ongovernance issues and decision making processes regarding organizational and management issues.
The process for the review of NRCS 6th development plan has been started.
IFRC programme/project guidance was translated into Nepali language. NRCS is adapting it into Nepali context.
IFRC Long Term Planning Framework 2012-2015 was revised after two consultative meetings with the NRCS departments and the managements
Business Line 2: To grow Red Cross Red Crescent Services for vulnerable people
Conducted joint review and planning meeting of Disaster Management programmes and projects on 4 to 6 January 2013.
NRCS revised its earthquake contingency plan with the facilitation of IFRC Regional Disaster Preparedness Advisor in March 2013. The plan will be tested during the simulation exercise planned for September 2013.
IFRC and NRCS representatives were invited to participate in two consultation sessions on the earthquake preparedness in Nepal and especially in Kathmandu Valley. The first consultation meeting was organised by a team from European Union offices in Brussels and the second by the Australian Government.
Business Line 3: To strengthen the specific Red Cross Red Crescent contribution to development
HIV project was phased out in December 2012 and there was gap in funding until April 2013. However, fortunately, some fund has been confirmed since May 2013 and the project activities were commenced targeting female sex workers (FSW) in Pokhara sub-municipality of Kaski district. During the reporting period, the project major activities include behaviour change communication activities, referral service for voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) and sexually transmitted infection (STI) check-up, Candle Light Memorial Day observationand condom distribution through peer educators.
Impact study of social mobilisation activities: Organisation of comparative impact study for Measles/Rubella Campaign to assess the impact of social mobilization by the NRCS.
Koshi Basin Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR) project orientationwas organised for the representatives from the five districts, the representatives from the concerned departments at the NRCS headquarters and the IFRC representatives.
Business Line 4: To heighten Red Cross Red Crescent influence and support for our work
IFRC and NRCS representatives participated actively in the UN Humanitarian Country Team meetings and coordination work; especially in the Shelter Cluster where IFRC is the co-lead and NRCS leads the cluster together with the Ministry of Urban Development and its Department of Urban Development and Building Construction. This coordination work was heightened in May and June in preparation of the planned national simulation exercise which was then postponed due to the unexpected flooding in Far-Western Nepal which took place in mid-June. The monsoon started earlier than expected.
Flagship 4 continued coordination meetings and workshops, introducing also an Urban DRR monthly meeting. Flagship 4 was able to initiate coordination meetings for the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development and the CBDRR actors. 9 minimum characteristics of a disaster resilient community were developed, and a new handbook has almost been finished both in English and in Nepali.
IFRC, NRCS and PNS participated in the midterm review of the Nepal Risk Reduction Consortium. A draft report has been received for feedback/comments. The report is expected to be published in July 2013.
Business Line 5: To deepen our tradition of togetherness through joint working and accountability
Cooperation Management Meetings resumed after a break in April when the new IFRC Country Representative had arrived in the country among IFRC, NRCS and ICRC. Regular monthly Movement Partners Meetings were initiated again in May 2013 to enable the Movement partners to share information about on-going activities and their plans.
IFRC Nepal Country Office budgets were revised end of June to reflect the current funding situation.