PROJECT FACTS

Phase I: August 2007-July 2009

Budget: CHF 172’000 (USD 138’250)

<>SDC contribution: CHF 87’000 (USD 69’125)

Location: Kyrgyzstan

Implementing Agency: UNDP, Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic

Donor: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

Note: The project is co-financed by UN Agencies and by the Kyrgyz Red Crescent Society

BACKGROUND

The Kyrgyz Republic lies in a very seismic zone. Landslides, mudflows and floods are major hazards, causing 200-300 events every year. During the 1992-2006 time period over 580 people were killed by disasters. During the first 11 months of the year 2006 alone, 74 people became fatal victims of disasters. The annual damage in the country caused by natural disasters is estimated at about USD 35 million while the state budget presently only allocates USD 8.8 million for disaster alleviation. In addition, Kyrgyzstan is at high risk to man-made disasters created by industrial and nuclear waste dumps that are left over from the Soviet times. Many tailing dumps were built directly on the flood plains of rivers or landslides. This may lead to  disasters at a regional level.

In order to tackle this list of problems, a series of follow-up actions were undertaken by the UN Country Team in Kyrgyzstan (UNCT). This with the aim not only to enhance the overall preparedness and response capacity of the UN agencies, but as well to achieve an enhanced streamlining between all actors – including the Government – and their joint efforts in the overall disaster management in the Kyrgyz Republic.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Swiss government started to assist Central Asian Republics in disaster reduction efforts in 2003. Disaster reduction became one of the five main domains of cooperation for Swiss regional cooperation strategy in 2007-2010 in Central Asia. The programme mostly concentrates on Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

The main objective of the project is to strengthen cooperation and coordination for disaster response between the Government, the UN Country Team (UNCT), Red Cross & Red Crescent Movements and other major actors in this field and to be able to respond adequately and effectively to possible emergency situations. SDC will contribute with funding and advice in disaster risk reduction.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) of the Kyrgyz Republic is directly responsible for the coordination of the activities related to the implementation of preventive measures, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

The Project Coordinator is placed in the Ministry of Emergency Situations and works on the necessary day-to-day project activities in close communication with the Inter-Ministerial Commission, Ministry of Emergency Situations, UNCT, National Red Crescent Society, NGOs and other key stakeholders in the area of disaster response. The Project Coordinator serves as a Focal Point for the established Disaster Response Coordination Unit (DRCU).  The Ministry of Emergency Situations as a working body of the Inter-Ministerial Commission will call and convene the coordination meetings of DRCU at the Crisis Management Center, make the Ministry’s expertise and support available and lead the entire process of preparedness for disaster response. 

Overall the project will:

The following actions are being taken to improve disaster response coordination capacity in the country:

• Draw an inventory of all actors dealing with disaster response in Kyrgyzstan (Government Agencies;International Organizations, Non-Governmental Institutions);

• Identify Sectoral Groups by considering the "cluster" approach and in accordance with the UN Humanitarian Reform Process;

• Align the UN IA Contingency Plan with a) the Ministry of Emergency Situations’ action plan, b) the National Red Crescent Society's Contingency Plan and c) other interested organization's plans;

• Compile a comprehensive database on the Ministry of Emergency Situations’ web-site showing available emergency stocks (MES, UN, RCSK and others);

• Make feasible coordination mechanisms operational at the regional level;

• The Ministry of Emergency Situations as a working body of the Inter-Ministerial Commission will coordinate activities of the DRCU together with the UN, Red Cross and Red Crescent movements and other key stakeholders in the area of disaster response;

• DRCU is to be integrated into the National Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan being developed by the WB project on Disaster Hazard Mitigation;

• Secretariat support is necessary to facilitate interaction between all parties, ensure efficient

support for emergency preparedness, effective response and management of emergencies and will be placed at the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

The following results are expected:

• Strategic and operational links across actors are identified;

• Clear goals, strategies, roles and responsibilities are formulated;

• Exchange of information and coordination between parties involved are improved;

• Coordination mechanisms for disaster response of UNCT with Government and other organizations are designed to be able to respond adequately and effectively to evolving crises/conflicts;

• The overall preparedness and disaster response capacity in the country is strengthened.

OUTLOOK

The project will facilitate and optimize the humanitarian response where there is a risk of ongoing emergency situation through regional advocacy activities, early warning, donor liaison, monitoring, information gathering, analysis and development of rapid response mechanisms.