First-ever community-level Anticipatory Action Simulation in Sri Lanka. Report of the Anticipatory Action Simulation, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka, 25-27 July 2023

First-ever community-level Anticipatory Action Simulation in Sri Lanka. Report of the Anticipatory Action Simulation, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka, 25-27 July 2023
Author: Alahacoon, Niranga
Publisher: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Initiative on Climate Resilience
Total Pages: 18
Release: 2023-12-01
Genre: Nature
ISBN:

Sri Lanka experiences distinct monsoon seasons, the Southwest and Northeast monsoons, contributing to the risk of flooding and landslides in different regions. The Nuwara Eliya district, facing elevated threats of landslides and floods, underscores the importance of proactive measures such as Anticipatory Action (AA). AA empowers communities by enabling precautionary measures, and a collaborative three-day simulation, involving World Vision Lanka, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), and government partners, sought to enhance community resilience comprehensively. The simulation focused on holistic empowerment, resilience-building, coordination strengthening, and increased awareness. The AA simulation, spanning preparedness, readiness, and activation triggers, involved early warnings that activated AA protocols. Community engagement included awareness campaigns, evacuation planning, and resource pre-positioning. As rainfall intensified, readiness triggers prompted canal cleaning, slope stabilization, and household preparations. The active phase featured an evacuation alert efficiently communicated by Mr. Early Warning. Community members, supported by various stakeholders, were evacuated to safety centers, with special attention to vulnerable groups and diverse services ensuring their well-being. Feedback highlighted positive responses to early warnings and potential practice impact. However, confidence levels varied regarding facing future disasters, and community satisfaction with services indicated room for improvement. Accessibility and support services for vulnerable groups emphasized the need for enhanced inclusivity in disaster preparedness. The simulation, a collaborative effort of key agencies, showcased a comprehensive approach, providing valuable insights for future initiatives.

Development of an Anticipatory Action Plan for flood and landslide hazard in Sri Lanka. Report of the Community Risk Assessment, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka, 25-27 July 2023

Development of an Anticipatory Action Plan for flood and landslide hazard in Sri Lanka. Report of the Community Risk Assessment, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka, 25-27 July 2023
Author: Alahacoon, Niranga
Publisher: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Initiative on Climate Resilience.
Total Pages: 35
Release: 2023-12-01
Genre: Nature
ISBN:

Climate-related disasters, especially in vulnerable regions like Sri Lanka, necessitate proactive and anticipatory measures. In response, a detailed community risk assessment was conducted in Nuwara Eliya, Ambagamuwa Divisional Secretariat Division (DSD) to develop anticipatory action plans for floods and landslides. Focusing on vulnerable populations, including impoverished families, pregnant women, and elderly communities, the Anticipatory Action Protocols aim to empower communities and reduce potential hazards' impact. The objectives of developing Anticipatory Actions include community empowerment, hazard impact reduction, and the encouragement of innovative disaster preparedness approaches. The Community Risk Assessment (CRA) framework employs tools such as transect walks, seasonal calendars, venn diagrams, and hazard maps to comprehensively assess local vulnerabilities and capacities. This process ensures a participatory approach, fostering a nuanced understanding of the community's dynamics. Anticipatory Action Plans are highly tailored, utilizing the information gathered from the CRA to address specific risks effectively. The CRA serves as a systematic methodology for identifying, estimating, and ranking various risks, enhancing community awareness, prioritizing risks, and providing indicators for measuring changes in vulnerability over time. The Anticipatory Action Intervention involves proactive strategies within disaster risk management. Feasibility studies identify high-risk areas and beneficiaries, and trigger statements guide timely implementation. A district-level technical advisory committee reviews the Early Action protocol, ensuring accountability and inclusiveness. External stakeholders, including plantation companies, contribute resources crucial for effective implementation. Preparedness activities involve developing community-based early warning mechanisms, aligning them with national thresholds, establishing vigilant groups, and providing training. The readiness stage includes identifying suppliers, executing trigger monitoring, validating beneficiary lists, and coordinating with communities. Prioritized early actions encompass getting timely forecasts, implementing cash-for-work, disseminating messages, mobilizing trained volunteers, and activating on-site monitoring. Other components address shelter, housing, and settlements; restoring livelihoods; water, sanitation, and healthcare; and education, with each segment focusing on specific preparedness, readiness, and prioritized early actions. The partnership and coordination section emphasizes establishing technical working groups, training community volunteers, and coordinating with external agencies for effective disaster management.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka
Author: Asian Development Bank
Publisher:
Total Pages: 110
Release: 2019-12-23
Genre:
ISBN: 9789292618889

This report highlights Sri Lanka's energy sector structure, government strategy, policy, and development plans, and complements the Sri Lanka-ADB country partnership strategy for 2018-2022. It outlines ADB's experience and strategy in the country's energy sector and provides background information about investment and technical assistance operations. The report also reviews previous support from ADB and other development partners.

The Sri Lankan Economy

The Sri Lankan Economy
Author: Prema-chandra Athukorala
Publisher: Asian Development Bank
Total Pages: 291
Release: 2017-10-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9292579746

This is a pivotal period in Sri Lanka's economic development. The end of conflict opens a door for accelerated economic growth and poverty reduction. Reform is needed to regain momentum because fiscal imbalances and rising public debt could jeopardize macroeconomic stability. The economy would benefit from significant trade and commercial policy reform. The labor market suffers from sluggish growth of formal sector employment and from skills mismatches, which can be addressed by changes in education policy and systems. The book analyzes these and related critical constraints on the Sri Lankan economy, and proposes a set of policy reforms that would lay the foundations for more rapid and inclusive development.

Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Disaster Risks

Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Disaster Risks
Author: Dilanthi Amaratunga
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 914
Release: 2021-09-11
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 3030730034

This book presents a collection of papers under the theme of multi-hazard early warning and disaster risks. These were selected from the presentations made at the International Symposium on Tsunami and Multi-Hazard Risks, Early Warning and Community Awareness in supporting implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. This conference aimed to recognize achievements and to highlight work that still needs to be carried out. The conference promoted collaboration among academia, research institutions and disaster management offices, and further encouraged multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral interaction This International Symposium on Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Disaster Risk Reduction provided an important opportunity to reflect upon our progress to date in tackling disaster risk, but also to consider some of the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead of us. A particular focus of this event wasMulti-Hazard Early Warning. During the negotiations for the Sendai Framework, countries and partners highlighted the need to: 1. Continue to invest in, develop, maintain and strengthen people-centred, end-to-end early warning systems; 2. Promote the application of simple and low cost early warning equipment and facilities; 3. Broaden the dissemination channels for early warning information to facilitate early action. Countries also called for the further development of and investment in effective, nationally compatible, regional multi-hazard early warning mechanisms. To address these needs, global Target (g) of the Sendai Framework was adopted, namely to “substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to the people by 2030”. As illustrated by recent events in Indonesia, it is also vital to address the challenge of cascading hazards that pose a tsunami risk, and the importance of linking tsunami early warning to a multi-hazard environment. However, moving towards a multi-hazard environment is complex and poses many challenges but can bring significant benefits in terms of efficiencies and also in recognising the links between hazards, such as cascading threats. We very much hope that this book will provide an important platform to address these and other challenges in addressing disaster risk, as well as supporting implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

Sustainable Development: Asia-Pacific Perspectives

Sustainable Development: Asia-Pacific Perspectives
Author: Pak Sum Low
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 512
Release: 2022-01-13
Genre: Law
ISBN: 1009040294

The Asia-Pacific region has been experiencing rapid development in the past 30 years, and issues relating to sustainable development will become increasingly important in the coming decades. This comprehensive overview presents sustainable development from the perspectives of Asia and the Pacific, with contributions from more than 70 leading international experts. The first part focuses on the theories and practices of sustainable development, including national and regional perspectives, as well as international policies and law concerning climate change. The second part highlights the challenges and opportunities of sustainable development and poverty reduction amid the changing ecological, social, cultural, economic, and political environment in this region. These include issues such as the importance of science for sustainable development and related areas, including sustainable energy, stratospheric ozone depletion, climate change, land-use change, biodiversity, and disaster risk reduction. The volume is an invaluable reference for all researchers and policy makers with an interest in sustainable development.

Guidelines for Preparing and Using a Design and Monitoring Framework

Guidelines for Preparing and Using a Design and Monitoring Framework
Author: Asian Development Bank
Publisher: Asian Development Bank
Total Pages: 170
Release: 2020-10-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9292623877

These guidelines describe how a project-level design and monitoring framework should be developed and used throughout the project cycle for Asian Development Bank (ADB) sovereign operations and technical assistance projects. The design and monitoring framework is a key tool for project design, implementation, and evaluation, and provides the basis for ADB’s project performance management system. The guidelines are intended to help staff of ADB, government officers, consultants, project sponsors and borrowers, and other stakeholders prepare high-quality design and monitoring frameworks. They serve as an effective tool to ensure that ADB-financed projects contribute to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and Pacific region as envisaged in ADB’s Strategy 2030.

The Demography of Disasters

The Demography of Disasters
Author: Dávid Karácsonyi
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 277
Release: 2020-09-17
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 3030499200

This open access book provides worldwide examples demonstrating the importance of the interplay between demography and disasters in regions and spatially. It marks an advance in practical and theoretical insights for understanding the role of demography in planning for and mitigating impacts from disasters in developed nations. Both slow onset (like the of loss polar ice from climate change) and sudden disasters (such as cyclones and man-made disasters) have the capacity to fundamentally change the profiles of populations at local and regional levels. Impacts vary according to the type, rapidity and magnitude of the disaster, but also according to the pre-existing population profile and its relationships to the economy and society. In all cases, the key to understanding impacts and avoiding them in the future is to understand the relationships between disasters and population change. In most chapters in this book we compare and contrast studies from at least two cases and summarize their practical and theoretical lessons.