Project Facts:

Duration: Phase Ill (2008 – 2010)
Current Phase Budget: US$ 172’000
SDC contribution: US$ 86'000
Location: Republic of Tajikistan
Partners: Ministry of Education, Committee of Emergency Situations, Ministry  of Health, various NGOs
Implementing Agency: Focus Humanitarian Assistance
Donor: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid Department (SDC HA)

Background

The Central Asian Region is marked by high seismic activity. Many large earthquakes have caused large losses of life and significant property damage in the past fifty years. There were more than 30 earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 6.5 on the Richter scale in the region during the twentieth century. 
The countries of the Region need to ensure continued political and economic growth through urban earth-quake mitigation efforts, which needs an upgraded capacity of the governments concerned to better respond to the earthquake emergencies. Public awareness component is also of major importance.

Overall goal

The project overall aim is to foster safer schools and hospitals, and building government capacity in delivering earthquake awareness and preparedness trainings.

Project objectives

1) Mass production of publications and instructor materials on earthquake safety.

2) Implementation of basic disaster awareness trainings reaching schools, hospitals, government departments.

3)  Implementation of an impact assessment methodology for assessing the effectiveness of earthquake safety preparedness work.

4)  Hand over to Government systems, so that they are in a position to provide schools and healthcare facilities with trainings on disaster awareness and preparedness in a sustainable and systematic manner.

5)  Perform rapid risk assessment of schools and health facilities to prioritize most at-risk areas.

6)  Advocacy of earthquake safety into national planning of governmental partners. 

Contacts:
Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan