Specific Objective: Vulnerabilities of targeted rural and urban community population to natural and manmade disasters arereduced and capacities strengthened in Armenia

1 Communities (rural and urban) have strengthened their disaster risk management capacities based on analysis of their disaster vulnerabilities and related development needs

1.1 Implement baseline survey in old and new communities focused on general demographic data, basic needs, most vulnerable groups, etc.

1.2 Conduct Climate Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) of Vanadzor city and support implementation of Adaptation Action Plan developed based on CVA results.

1.3 Conduct extended Vulnerability & Capacity Assessments (VCA) in each of 4 new and 4 existing selected communities. All data will be analyzed and relevant VCA report developed and shared with authorities and stakeholders.

1.4 Train/Upgrade/Refresh 4 old and 4 newly established CVGs in First Aid, Basic Search & Rescue, Psychosocial Support, RC/RC Disaster Response Tools and Principles, communication during emergencies and other skills as required

1.5 Provide CVGs with relevant personal and team equipment.

1.6 Develop Community Based disaster preparedness and mitigation plans

1.7 Print and disseminate information and education materials.

1.8 Raise awareness in target urban and rural communities on DRR, CCA with key focus on schools and most vulnerable groups (identified though VCA and baseline) through Family Emergency Plans and “Safe Family” module, different competitions and events, simulation evacuation, etc.

1.9 Organise workshops on Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Livelihood/environmental Protection and Community Development Four Year Plan for general population of targeted rural communities and regional and local authorities.

1.10 Support 28 old and 28 new targeted schools to upgrade fire safety norms and evacuation procedures by providing fire protection equipment, updating school evacuation schemes and providing evacuation signs

1.11 Conduct simulation exercises in target communities and a regional simulation with involvement of all 8 Groups in close cooperation with Regional Rescue Service.

1.12 Implement small scale disaster risk reduction, economic, health, environmental or social projects, identified and agreed during VCA process, in close co-operation with local authorities and relevant stakeholders.

1.13 Organise workshop for revision/development of the Stepanavan City Resilience Action Plan for 2017-2019 and support its implementation paying relevant attention to economic, health and social problems identified/prioritized

2 Strengthened coordination and, cooperation between ARCS, other CSOs and government agencies through joint actions, advocacy and knowledge sharing

2.1 Launch project through a national and regional Kick-off meeting with all stakeholders and partners to ensure strong sense of ownership which ensure increased sustainability.

2.2 Improve DRR coordination mechanism through organising meetings at national level (DRR national platform) and in the target region for discussing and gathering all relevant data and information on DRR and Climate Change topics, presenting the project progress and ensure proper coordination and collaboration

2.3 Advocate at national and regional level for CBDRR, CCA and relevant non-DRR problems of most vulnerable groups and schools

2.4 Advocate and ensure that Stepanavan Branch is member of Stepanavan City Emergency Response Commission and Lori Branch is member of Lori Regional Emergency Response Commission and Regional Crisis Management Centre having its clear role and responsibility in case of emergency within the local disaster response system.

2.5 Prepare and disseminate report on the lessons learned and good practices.

2.6 Develop and sign MoU between Armenian Red Cross, Lori Regional Hall/Marzpetaran, Lori Regional Rescue Service and targeted 8 rural communities which will assign clear roles and responsibilities per each party on further development, maintenance and sustainability of CVGs as well as ensure CVG integration in to the Regional DR System.

2.7 Establish effective cooperation and ensure integration between Regional Rescue Service and CVGs through regular meetings, study visits to Fire-fighters Stations and Regional Crisis Management Centre.

3 ARCS has enhanced its operational knowledge and organizational capacities for the scaling up of DRR programming.

3.1 Assessment of Stepanavan Territorial and Lori Regional Branches DRR/CCA capacities to provide capacity baseline and update log frame with any new capacity building needs identified.

3.2 Organise VCA/CBDRR/CCA/Project management/Proposal writing trainings for staff and volunteers of HQ and Stepanavan and Vanadzor Red Cross Branches for involving them in community based actions.

3.3. Strengthen capacities of Red Cross Stepanavan Branch’s Crisis Management Centre Lori Branch’s Climate Change Adaptation Training Centre and organisation of trainings and simulations for CVGs and public campaigns using its capacities.

Activities within the BSRC project

Established Community Based DRR Teams in six rural (Dialli, Tezekend, Tirjan, Kurdmashi, Aniq and Kuzun) and two urban (Ismailli and Gusar) communities (each 12 members)

Conducted Baseline survey, Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) and simulation exercises in each targeted communities as well as six rural communities.

Developed Community Based Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation plans

Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction teams were trained in First Aid, Basic DRR, Basic Search and Rescue, Early Warning and Climate Change adaptation Physiological support and Safety at Home. In addition, relevant equipment, personal uniforms and First aid kids for the teams were purchased and distributed.

Raised awareness of the targeted communities, including teachers and pupils on DRR, CCA and mitigation measures, through developing Family Emergency Plans. Different type of booklets, leaflets were developed and distributed among the community members.

Implemented small scale mitigation project in close co-operation with local authorities. In Ismayilli road repair in Tazakand village, bridge repair in Dialli and Kurdmashi villages, pipe culvert in Tirjan village and water pipe establishment and bridge repair in Aniq and Kuzun villages of Gusar district.

Three types of DRR brochures on earthquake, landslide and flash flood including climate change adaptation component were updated and distributed among the rural and urban targeted community members.

Urban DRR events. The public event in the frame of Urban DRR was held on 5th May 2014 in Ismailli with total coverage of 400 people and CBDRR team members from targeted villages. Event was attended by the AzRC President, Head of Executive Power, representatives of local authorities and staff of the NS. During the event visibility materials were distributed among the people. On 11 September 2015, big event devoted to World First Aid Day was implemented in Gusar. The event was carried out at the central Narimanov Park with participation of 100 representatives of local authorities, community members, volunteers, mass media and local population. During the event FA skills were demonstrated, quiz was held and promotion materials distributed. In October 2015 workshops on DRR Management Plan development were carried out in Gusar. During workshops the plan objectives and its possible structure were presented and discussed with the participants along with identification priority hazards and their impact, SWOT analysis and further preparation city action plan towards reducing disaster risks in the city.

Activities

In the framework of the second phase of the project “Building Safe and resilient communities” Georgia Red Cross Society plans to cover more communities and increase preparedness level in the existing ones. According to the experience, evaluation and recommendations gained from the first phase during the second phase we added some of the activities to the existing ones to fulfill the project and to cope with the expected challenges.

During the second phase all the activities will continue, and new branch Akmeta is added, according to the experience gained previously, there was added some of the activities, to build sustainability by providing ToT trainings in Psycho-Social Support (PSS) and Firs Aid (FA), to deeper cooperation with Local Authorities (LA) and other stakeholders, to motivate volunteers and establish stable and strong Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR) Volunteer groups.

During Second phase Georgia Red Cross Society (GRCS) will work on the three main directions: Local Level, Regional Level and Capacity Building. First step will be to identify, establish, train and equip Community based Disaster Risk Reduction Volunteer Teams in the new target communities and refreshed in the existing ones. Conduct Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Survey baseline and endline in order to identify outcomes of the project. Conduct Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) at local level identify main problems and jointly with Local Authorities implement Small Scale Mitigation Projects. Cover more schools, conduct Family Emergency Plan (FEP) Trainings, competitions, conduct simulation exercises establish committees of five. Conduct school simulation exercises, to activate and refine existing evacuation plan. Strengthen cooperation with Local Authorities by conducting annual Roundtable meeting and experience sharing meetings; involve them in all of the activities, conduct jointly simulation exercises at municipality level and involve all stakeholders. Strengthen cooperation with Emergency Management Agency (EMA) by conducting regular trainings with Fire and Rescue Brigades at local level.  Conduct regular experience sharing meetings with target branches. Provide ToT trainings for leader volunteers in Psycho-Social Support (PSS) and First Aid (FA), and trainings for volunteers and staff in advocacy and project writing. Elaborate and distribute Informational and educational Materials (IEM), Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA), Community based Disaster Preparedness and Response plan (CDPRP) and regular meetings with beneficiaries for awareness raising. More works needs to be done to increase the motivation of volunteers, by organizing excursions, for the most active volunteers organize Regional Summer School in which will participate volunteers from three target countries. Conduct Simulation exercises for all target branches. On national level work of further development of Heat Waves (Tbilisi)