ACP-EU NDRR Resources

This Knowledge Note describes a benchmarking method developed to track the progress of Pacific Island Countries (PICs) toward best-practice flood risk management (FRM). FRM is a process for assessing flood risk, evaluating options to manage the risk, and implementing a strategic plan to reduce risk. The method was applied to assess current urban FRM practices in Fiji, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, focusing on riverine flood hazards. The results show the following:

Alongside the ACP-EU NDRR-funded Climate Vulnerability Assessment: Making Fiji Climate Resilient, launched at COP23 in Bonn under Fiji’s historical Presidency (see story here and report here), a summary report was also published, highlighting the main messages of the assessment.

The ACP-EU NDRR-funded Climate Vulnerability Assessment: Making Fiji Climate Resilient, launched at COP23 in Bonn under Fiji’s historical Presidency of this major global event, provides significant new analysis of Fiji’s vulnerability to climate change. It includes projections that show the potential impacts of climate change on Fiji over the coming decades, and analyses of what climate change means for its economy, health and food security together with what it could mean for key industries including agriculture and tourism.

On 14 August, 2017, a tropical convergence in the Regent area on the outskirts of Sierra Leone's capital of Freetown resulted in a section of Sugar Loaf mountain coming down. A combination of heavy downpours and unregulated construction on the sides of the mountain undermined its structure leading to mudslides and floods, killing 493 people with an additional 600 people missing and leaving over 3,000 people homeless.

The Risk Atlas shows how Rwanda is prone to a number of natural hazards. Meanwhile, the (physical) vulnerability of the different assets vary across hazards with high vulnerability to drought and landslide and moderate vulnerability to earthquake and windstorms.

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In the frame of the Building Climate Resilience in Tanzania Water Sector project funded by the ACP-EU NDRR Program, Ramani Huria is a community-based mapping activity in Dar es Salaam training university students and local community members to create highly accurate maps of the most flood-prone areas in the city. Tanzanians are mapping their own city in order to solve flooding using better urban planning, better drainage and maintenance and better community waste management.

A summary report was published on the Southwest Indian Ocean Islands Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative (SWIO RAFI), co-financed by the ACP-EU NDRR Program and the ACP-EU Africa Disaster Risk Financing (ADRF) Initiative. The report summarizes progress made in advancing analytical work to improve the understanding of disaster risks and risk financing solutions for Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Zanzibar.  The risk profiles along with key findings were published in this report that provides detailed quantitative risk data for each island nation.

The Coastal Management and Beach Restoration Guidelines for Jamaica had the overall objective to support national policy and institutional development relating to coastal resources, natural hazards and climate related impacts and sustainable development. This was done through the review, consolidation and update of existing priority guidelines and regulations into an integrated and more coherent package, which will establish linkages between existing sector specific policies and ocean and coastal zone issues. 

On June 9, 2017, more than 100 participants including ministers, permanent secretaries, ambassadors, disaster risk management (DRM) coordinators, recovery advisors and policy officers from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries attended a “Focus Day” on lessons learned from post-disaster response in ACP countries in the frame of the ACP-EU Natural Disaster Risk Reduction (NDRR) Program.

Building upon the tripartite Joint Declaration on Post-Crisis Assessments and Recovery Planning signed by the EU, the WBG, and the UN in 2008, which aims at mobilizing the partners and their resources to harmonize and better coordinate post-crisis response frameworks, the ACP-EU NDRR Program has supported ACP governments in undertaking 19 post disaster assessments jointly with the EU and UN since 2011.

Africa

A series highlighting achievements in disaster risk initiatives.

Communicating Flood Risk Along Guyana’s Coast
In January 2005, heavy rainfall caused catastrophic flooding along Guyana's coasts, affecting 290,000 people – almost half of Guyana’s population. Total flood damage was estimated at $465 million, or nearly 60 percent of the country’s GDP, prompting the government to work towards increasing its capacity to manage flood risk.

This report summarizes the activities and achievements under the Result 2 of the Program Building Disaster Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa. African Regional Economic Communities (RECs) have operational capacities for coordination, planning and policy advisory capacities regarding DRR in order to support their respective Member States, regional and sub regional programs for the period 2014-16.

This activity report summarizes activities of Result Area 5, also known as the Africa Disaster Risk Financing (ADRF) Initiative—referred to as the “ADRF Initiative”, the “Initiative” or “R5”—from its commencement in August 2014 to June 30, 2016. The ADRF Initiative is not financed by the ACP-EU NDRR Program but is part of the Building Disaster Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa Program.

In January 2005, heavy rainfall caused catastrophic flooding along Guyana's coasts, affecting 290,000 people – almost half of Guyana’s population. Total flood damage was estimated at $465 million, or nearly 60 percent of the country’s GDP, prompting the government to work towards increasing its capacity to manage flood risk.

Timor-Leste, a small, mountainous country in Southeast Asia occupying the eastern half the island of Timor, is highly vulnerable to natural hazards. Weather-related risks, such as monsoon rains, droughts, flash floods, landslides, and destructive winds are frequent threats. These risks are exacerbated by the potential for seismic risks, volcanoes, and tsunamis.

Despite its abundant water resources, Lesotho remains vulnerable to the impacts associated with regular and recurrent floods and droughts. The floods in 2011 were the largest in the country since the 1930s, while the drought in 2015 –16 period was the most severe on record. All the climate models indicate that average mean surface temperatures will rise, but precipitation projections vary greatly.

In February 2016, Tropical Cyclone (TC) Winston developed in the South Pacific Basin into a category 5 cyclone which struck Fiji on 20 February killing 44 people and leaving a trail of destruction across large parts of the island. The cyclone was the most powerful storm on record in the Southern Hemisphere.

Alongside the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment, undertaken with the support of the ACP-EU NDRR, the Government of Fiji also published a Disaster Recovery Framework. This document was prepared in coordination with the World Bank, the United Nations, the European Union, the Asian Development Bank and the Pacific Community.

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On January 27–28, 2013, heavy rains resulting from tropical cyclone Felleng caused severe flooding and landslides in the Seychelles, particularly in three districts on the southeast coast of Mahé (Au Cap, Pointe Larue, and Cascade), as well as on the nearby islands of Praslin and La Digue.

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The primary objective of the proposed activity was to assess the extent of damages and losses to critical public infrastructures in Saint Lucia resulting from flood and landslides, as a consequence of the torrential rain on 24-25 December 2013.

This PDNA assessed the extent of damages and losses to critical public infrastructures in Saint Lucia resulting from flood and landslides, as a consequence of the torrential rain on 24-25 December 2013.

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The PDNA resulted in a government-owned report outlining opportunities for mainstreaming disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation into national recovery and development strategies and next steps in the reconstruction and recovery efforts.

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The key objective of the PDNA was to assist Government of Samoa to:

Heavy rains between July and October 2012 combined with rising water levels resulting from the runoff contributed to the flooding of human settlements located downstream of the Kainji, Shiroro, and Jebba dams on the Niger River; the Lagdo dam in Cameroun on the Benue River; the Kiri dam on the Gongola River; and several other irrigation dams. In some cases, the dams were damaged; in others, water had to be released at full force to avert an overflow.

The primary objective was to support the Government of Djibouti undertake a drought Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA), identifying priority drought mitigation measures and develop a recovery strategy to address the short term emergency needs. The PDNA result also promoted strategies that support sustainable, economically strong livelihoods that address medium and long-term development goals, and potentially reduce the need for routine emergency appeals.

During the drought period (2008-2011), 3.7 million people were in immediate need of food, clean water, and basic sanitation in Kenya and urgent short and long-term interventions were needed to save the lives and livelihoods of millions. In response, under the auspices of Kenyan Ministry of Finance, a joint assessment team comprised of government line ministry staff, together with the EU, UN, World Bank, and other partners, mobilized to undertake a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA).

The Development of Comprehensive Disaster Risk Profiles for Enhancing Disaster Management project was launched in October 2012 and closed in April 2016, having successfully completed all key planned activities. The project was implemented by the WB in collaboration with the Rwandan Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR), and aimed at assessing the risk of various hazards and develop a comprehensive disaster risk profile. On September 10, 2015, the project launched its

The SWIO RAFI seeks to address high vulnerability of the Southwest Indian Ocean Island States to disaster losses from catastrophes such as cyclones, floods, earthquakes and tsunamis. The initiative is being implemented with financial support from the ACP-EU NDRR Program. 

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The Conservancy Adaptation Project (CAP) Workshop was held in Guyana on March 7, 2014, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture of Guyana together with the World Bank.

The Conservancy Adaptation Project (CAP) Workshop was held in Guyana on March 7, 2014, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture of Guyana together with the World Bank.

Publication of the 2011-2013 ACP-EU NDRR Progress Report.

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The ACP-EU NDRR Program brochure outlines the Program’s objectives and selected achievements. (French version coming soon).

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L'objectif général de ce projet etait de soutenir le Gouvernement du Cameroun (GdC) dans l’élaboration d’un plan et l’identification des mesures visant à prévenir l'effondrement de la digue et la réhabilitation des infrastructures liées à l'eau. Ceci afin de réduire les risques futurs, ainsi que de renforcer les capacités des agences gouvernementales locales et nationales pour se préparer et répondre aux futures inondations via un renforcement de la préparation aux situations et à la planification d'urgence.

Activités principales

The eruption of the Pico do Fogo volcano began on 23rd of November 2014 and continued until February 8th, 2015. By the end of the eruption, the lava had covered an era of approximately 520 ha with an average 8-meter height lava wall.

The 88 days of intense and effusive eruption culminated in the total destruction of all houses and community infrastructures of the localities of Portela and Bangaeira - Chã das Caldeiras, forcing the evacuation and displacement of 994 people.

In order to guide disaster risk reduction, the report identifies the need to upgrade hydrometeorological data management systems so vital climate information is readily available. Reliable data sets produced as a result are critical to planning and designing investments that are resilient to the impacts of disasters and climate change. In particular, accurate disaster data is important in helping to effectively integrate flood and landslide risk into urban development plans, infrastructure design standards and construction regulations.

Starting January 12, 2015, Mozambique experienced widespread flooding in the Zambezia province. Floods extended to neighbouring Nampula and Niassa provinces. Official data indicate 157,000 people affected by the floods (125,000 in Zambezia, 12,000 in Niassa and 20,000 in Nampula) and points to a death toll of 158 (out of which 134 in Zambezia province). 1953 classrooms (of which 381 in conventional building materials) have been damaged.

In January 2015, Malawi experienced some of the most devastating flooding in its history. In the aftermath, the Government conducted a PDNA with support of the EU, GFDRR and the WB.

The findings of the assessment have informed $80 million in WB financing to help restore agricultural livelihoods, reconstruct critical public infrastructure, enhance food security, and improve disaster response and recovery capacity.

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The publication analyses the fiscal and economic impact of natural disasters in the country, and was jointly prepared with the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development. The study showed that annual average losses associated with earthquakes and cyclones add up to $670 million, equivalent to 1.1 percent of GDP in 2013. This study will set the basis for developing a disaster risk financing strategy.

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Publication of the Timor Leste - Hazard Risk Assesment Synthesis Report

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The establishment of DiMSUR, co-funded by the ACP-EU NDRR Program was facilitated by the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat), in cooperation with UNISDR, with the support of the European Commission Directorate-General Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO).

The 2015 GFDRR Annual Report: Bringing Resilience to Scale compares the progress and results that have been made against GFDRR’s work plan from July 2014 to June 2015. It is structured through its five pillars of action: Risk Identification, Risk Reduction, Preparedness, Financial Protection, and Resilient Recovery.

The ACP-EU NDRR Activity Report for the period 2014-2015 offers an overview on how the Program continues to scale-up its support to disaster-prone ACP countries through technical assistance, capacity building and knowledge sharing. It outlines the progress of Program implementation and achievements by region, and on post-disaster response while also including feature highlights on achievements and lessons-learned from projects in the Indian Ocean Islands, Dominica and Vanuatu.