ACT Appeal Central Asia: Community-based Disaster Risk Reduction: ASCE71

Appeal Target: US$ 235,274
Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: US$ 143,774
Geneva, 23 May 2007

Dear Colleagues,

Disasters result from the joint impact of a hazards and human vulnerability. Both appear to have increased in Central Asia, especially since the last decade due to seismological, geological and socio-economic reasons. Hazards identified by the communities include avalanches, mud flows, floods, droughts, chemical or nuclear waste fallout exposed by flooding/mudflows and earthquakes. All of which are exacerbated by the rough physical terrain, decaying rural infrastructure and limited government capacity.

Inappropriate natural resource management has lead to intensive and unregulated grazing, unprotected cultivation of steep slopes and in many areas almost complete deforestation. This leads to degradation of pasture, soil erosion and accumulation of debris in rivers and drainage canals, all of which contribute to an increased risk of flooding and mud slides. Radiation from radio active nuclear waste, associated with the Soviet era, is another serious risk that is often observed in some parts of the Central Asia. At the household level some other "risks" are prominent, like, the lack of safe drinking water, threatened livelihoods and animal diseases. In this proposal the main focus will be on mitigation of hazards identified by the community.

The Ecumenical Consortium for Central Asia (ECCA) currently comprising of ACT members Christian Aid (CA), DanChurchAid (DCA), Interchurch Organisation for Development Co-operation (ICCO) and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) has prioritised Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in as one of the key areas of intervention. This proposal requests assistance for local partners in implementing small community-based mitigation projects in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, with CA as the lead, responsible agency reporting to ACT CO, for this appeal. These projects include: risk mapping and awareness training; capacity building training in disaster mitigation/preparedness; formation of volunteer disaster mitigation task forces; disaster mitigation/preparedness training in schools; community level planning and demonstration projects linking disaster risk reduction with livelihoods. Since there is a need to have appropriate DRR measures for the vulnerable communities in the target areas, the proposed appeal will help to reach out to more number of persons, based on the lessons learned from those activities that have been completed in the previous years, which was funded by different ACT members.

Project Completion Date: 28 February 2008

Please kindly send your contributions to either of the following ACT bank accounts:

US dollar
Account Number - 240-432629.60A
IBAN No: CH46 0024 0240 4326 2960A

Euro
Euro Bank Account Number - 240-432629.50Z
IBAN No: CH84 0024 0240 4326 2950Z

Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together
UBS AG
8, rue du Rhône
P.O. Box 2600
1211 Geneva 4, SWITZERLAND
Swift address: UBSW CHZH12A

Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (jkg@act-intl.org) and the Programme Officer Michelle Yonetani (myo@act-intl.org) of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent directly to the implementers, now that the Pledge Form is no longer attached to the Appeal.

We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or other back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation.

For further information please contact:

ACT Program Officer, Michelle Yonetani (phone +41 22 791 6035 or mobile phone +41 79 285 2916) or ACT Program Assistant, Gabrielle Bartholomew (gdb@act-intl.org, phone +41 22 791 6036)
ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org

John Nduna
Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office