Phase I: 2006-2007<>

Phase II: 2008-2010

Current budget: 251’668 Swiss francs (238’000 USD)

Overall budget: 357’743 Swiss francs (337’000 USD)

Swiss contribution: 100’000 Swiss francs (94’260 USD)

Location: <>Kyrgyzstan

Implementing Agency: Public Foundation “CAMP Alatoo”

Donors: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), German development cooperation agency (GTZ)

Background

Central Asia and especially its mountainous areas is prone to natural disasters like earthquakes, land and mudslides, avalanches, floods, droughts and rock fall. Numerous disasters frequently affect the economy and the population of Central Asian countries, killing people, damaging livelihood and hampering sustainable development. In the last few years the region suffered from a number of devastating events drastically affecting the national economies.

Both governmental structures in charge of emergency situations and local people lack financial resources and skills to prevent natural disasters. In this situation, awareness building and training of local decision-makers in basic skills of Risk Management becomes more and more urgent.

Project Description

Swiss government assists Central Asian Republics in disaster reduction efforts since 2003. Disaster reduction became one of the five main domains of cooperation for Swiss development programme in the region in 2007-2010.

An Awareness Building Project on Integrated Local Risk Management is supported in Tajikistan since 2004. In 2006-2007 its successful experience is replicated in Kyrgyzstan by CAMP Alatoo.

The public Foundation CAMP Alatoo is a locally registered non-profit organisation in Kyrgyzstan and successor of the Central Asian Mountain Partnership Programme (CAMP), funded by SDC and implemented by the Centre for Development and Environment at the University of Bern (CDE) in 2000-2008.

The project uses innovative Autodidactic Learning for Sustainability (ALS) approach developed by CDE as a participatory and pedagogical tool for organization of workshops in Kyrgyz villages prone to natural disasters.

Workshops are prepared and conducted in villages by moderators in collaboration with the groups of beneficiaries.  During a workshop groups comprised of stakeholders with different knowledge, experience, interests, and perceptions work several days on defined thematic issues. Participatory learning methods, context-based learning, sharing of experience among participants, and development of systemic comprehension are the main characteristics of the approach.

During workshops CAMP Alatoo presents an exhibition on wheels in the centre of villages. It consists of 30 posters, photos and texts on risk management. The exhibition is usually accompanied by presentation of film People and Disasters produced jointly by UNDP and CAMP Alatoo.

After these workshops villagers identify local risk mitigation measures for their own settlement. They can also apply for a grant to finance a small risk mitigation project.

Outlook

By the end of the project, CAMP Alatoo will organize a round table in Bishkek to discuss its experience with beneficiaries, Ministry of Emergency Situations and other donor agencies in Kyrgyzstan. NGO looks for ways to further promote application of ALS approach among partners. The round table should contribute to the improved awareness on disaster risk management at the national level.

Contacts

Aida Gareeva

Project Coordinator

CAMP Alatoo

36 Oshskaya Str.

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Tel: + (996) 312 54 05 73

aida@camp.elcat.kg

www.camp.kg