Adaptation to Climatic Variability and Change: The role of climate information in coastal and other high vulnerability regions of South Asia (funded by NOAA).

More coming soon

Lei Basin, Pakistan ...............

Rohini and Bagmati Basins, Nepal ................

Lower Rohini and Bagmati Basins, India ...........................

Gujarat, India .................

Information, Communication Systems, Policies and Adaptation: ekgaon’s Communication Systems Unit (CSU) has been looking into various aspects of climate change impacts and role that communication can play in building adaptive capacities of vulnerable communities. The critical questions which ekgaon is looking into are: Impact & Vulnerability; impacts also depend on the degree to which vulnerable populations are able to get, correctly interpret and act on advance warning of impending disaster (flood, drought, cyclone etc.).  Early Warning Systems; that are ‘alive’ in that situation serve multiple functions and are increasingly recognized as a critical factor influencing the economic and human impacts of climatic variability and change.  The nature of such systems, the degree to which different sections of communities have access to them and the way warning functions relate to the cultural and behavioral patterns within community are equally critical factors.  Communications Systems; technologies, systems, accessibility and there management framework, however communication systems are not a function of technology and access alone.

ISET-Nepal brings substantial experience to the issues addressed by this project. The founding members of ISET and ISET-Nepal have conceptualized and led major regional research programs on the technical, social and institutional dimensions of water related issues in South Asia for more than two decades. Under the project, ISET-Nepal will play a lead role in researching flood and drought issues in Nepal and the earthquake issue in Kathmandu. Under this element of the project, ISET-Nepal will lead the production of: (1) one scoping paper combining flood and drought issues in Nepal and the earthquake issue in Kathmandu as well as existing data on risks and disaster risk reduction in the upper Rohini and Bagmati basins; (2) one policy paper on flood and drought issues in Nepal and the earthquake issue in Kathmandu.

PIEDAR is in contact with Earthquake Relief and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) and partnering with Concern Worldwide in spreading Disaster Risk Reduction training and preparedness.  The director of PIEDAR, Syed Ayub Qtub, was an official during the 1974 earthquake in Pakistan and has conducted extensive DRR research.  Under the project, PIEDAR will play a lead role in researching Pakistani government national policy reviews on climate change and disaster risk reduction. With input from Fawad Khan and Daanish Mustafa, PIEDAR will lead a policy study on the 1974 earthquake and lessons for disaster risk reduction under current hazards, both the recent 2005 earthquake and other hazards such as floods. This policy paper will also include a review of government policies on disaster risk reduction under the current political environment.

Winrock International India (WII) is interacting closely with the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) and is well known for its work on climate, water and disaster related topics. With support from Sara Ahmed, ISET Associate, WII will play a lead role in researching Indian government national policy reviews on climate change and disaster risk reduction. Under the first phase of the project (September 2006-March 2007), WII will lead the production of: (1) one scoping paper covering policy on climate change and disaster risk reduction at a national level in India; and (2) one draft policy paper on a review of India’s national policies on climate change and disaster risk reduction. Analytical frameworks will be utilized that enable exploration of the role governance and institutional factors play at local and national levels in the functioning of, and anticipated benefits from, investments in risk reduction or risk transfer. Research will also be undertaken to identify specific opportunities for risk reduction or transfer within the national policy and governance context. Results anticipated include identification of cost effective of disaster risk management strategies along with the governance and institutional considerations affecting their effectiveness.