Kathmandu, Nepal – The Danish Red Cross is thrilled to announce a significant enhancement of our ongoing project, “Strengthening Ownership and Governance in Disaster Risk Management together with the Government of Nepal, humanitarian stakeholders and the civil society” also known as the STRONG in DRM together project. This development is marked by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations’s decision to provide an additional 200,000 Euros as part of their Humanitarian Implementation Plan (HIP) for 2023. The project is currently working to strengthen the capacity of the government to meet the needs of disaster-affected populations by acting in anticipation of floods based on scientifically determined weather forecasts in four basins – Babai, Karnali, Doda and Mohana, reaching affected families in early action and response during floods.
Introduction of the Crisis Modifier: The STRONG project will incorporate a new result area, the Crisis Modifier, offering an approach that will enable testing the anticipatory action mechanism using cash transfers and potentially leveraging Nepal’s social protection system. “The addition of the Crisis Modifier is a key enhancement to our project,” said Tamas Marki, Programme Manager for Anticipatory Action at the Danish Red Cross in Nepal. “It reflects our commitment to leveraging effective modalities such as cash transfers to support affected communities swiftly and effectively.”
Extension of the project and its impact: The project’s implementation period has been extended until 30 November 2024. This extension aims to allow sufficient time to test the anticipatory action mechanism during the 2024 monsoon season in Nepal, utilising the funds from the newly introduced Crisis Modifier.
Commitment to advocacy and learning: The Danish Red Cross remains dedicated to documenting and sharing the learnings from the STRONG project. “This top-up funding and extension of the project represent an acknowledgment of our efforts and an opportunity to deepen our impact,” Mr Marki added. “We will continue to advocate for more anticipatory action worldwide, sharing our experiences and learnings.”
This project, implemented by the Nepal Red Cross Society and supported by the Danish Red Cross, along with our partners Mercy Corps and the Finnish Red Cross, emphasises innovative, adaptive, and inclusive solutions in disaster risk management.
The Danish Red Cross extends heartfelt thanks to European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations for their continued support and trust in our mission. We are excited to continue this extended journey, enhancing our efforts to mitigate disaster risks and build resilient communities in Nepal.