Lessons learned
Starting a new programming area, such as disaster
preparedness and risk reduction (new to the National
Society and to the government), requires that time
and effort be put into advocacy and into building an
approach best suited to the context. Therefore, such
programmes should be planned with a long-term
outlook and not just as brief, one-year interventions.
The integrated approach to assessment and village
preparedness and risk reduction planning, which also
considers health risks and risks to livestock, ensured
that vulnerabilities were addressed more broadly
(including from a health and livelihood perspective)
and multiple hazards were taken into account. Using
International Federation tools for integrated
programming, such as VCA, as an entry point
facilitates a holistic approach to risks and capacities.
Participatory methods ensured that community
members found the identification of vulnerable
groups and the focus of mitigation measures fair.
At times, communities concentrate on undertaking
structural mitigation activities and pay less attention