Project Name: Disaster Management Description
Quality Development Program for Disaster Management Project Sponsor
UDiON Foundation Author(s)
IoM (UN MIGRATION) and UDiON Foundation Contact Info
info@udionfoundation.org Proposed Date
Monday, January 27 – Tuesday, January 28, 2020 (9:00 am to 6:00 pm)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
“Diaspora Engagement in Disaster Preparedness” – a very in-depth, dynamic training on diaspora engagement in a natural disaster. The training is thoughtfully crafted to gear the discussion on the Diaspora Engagement focusing on how to engage the NRBs (Non-Resident Bangladeshi) and the diaspora in a natural disaster in Bangladesh and connecting them to local resources. Sharing of knowledge and the dialogues throughout the 2-day long training will open the gateway for stronger collaboration to leave a lasting impact.
Bangladesh is the world’s eighth-most populous country and one of the world’s most disaster-prone and most vulnerable to climate change. It is estimated that about 10 million Bangladeshi citizens are impacted by one or more natural hazards annually.
The primary threats to Bangladesh are floods, droughts, cyclones and sea-level rise due to climate change. Over the last thirty years, Bangladesh has experienced nearly 200 of these climate-related disasters, which have killed thousands of people, destroyed homes and livelihoods and cost the nation around $16 billion in damage and economic losses.
Bangladesh ICT Policy 2009 stated to protect citizens from natural disasters through ICT based disaster warning and management technologies. Bangladesh’ Ministry of Food and Disaster Management (MoFDM) is responsible for
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Three agencies under the ministry:
– Disaster Management Bureau (DMB)
– Directorate of Relief and Rehabilitation (DRR)
– Directorate of Food (DoF)
The UN Migration Agency, IoM (International Organization for Migration), has been dedicatedly working for the last 65 years for promoting orderly migration across the world. They are partnering with governmental and non-governmental organizations to carry on their mission. They have been extending extensive efforts throughout the world with their protractive presence and leaving their footprints with tremendous impact.
There is about 200 Bangladeshi diaspora organization in the United States of America. The diaspora organizations are mostly focused on either Bengali culture and language, or development writ large in the Bengal region. Many are registered as charitable organizations in the U.S. and raise tens of thousands of dollars each year. Bangladesh is the third most remittent dependent country in the world; in 2012, remittances accounted for 12% of Bangladesh’s GDP. Remittances play an increasingly large role in Bangladesh’s GDP. Remittances alone from the U.S. are the fifth largest remittance source for Bangladesh. In 2012, $694 million in remittances were sent from the U.S. to Bangladesh, of a total $14.1 billion received from around the world.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
Connecting NRB’s to the local team of volunteers, activists, social workers, and government agencies. Provide the much-needed training and certification to better understand the disaster response essentials, more specifically how to resettle in the temporary and permanent shelter.
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CHALLENGES
Many NRB’s react to all sorts of disasters in Bangladesh but not organized or trained to better utilize their support financially and volunteer. A major portion of the financial support doesn’t reach its desire targeted populations as many middlemen take their cut.
SOLUTIONS
Building a better-trained network with the local support team and the NRB Diaspora primarily in the USA and around the globe will help and expedite the processes of funds and building a safer temporary and permanent shelters in the event of natural disaster in Bangladesh.
LONG TERM IMPACT AND OUTCOMES
NRB Diaspora and local support network team will have the firsthand experience. Attendees will gain proper knowledge and have the ability to evaluate the impact immediately after the disaster take place and be able to activate the local and NRB trained group of people within the network. This will eventually eliminate the middlemen and a major portion of the financial support will reach the targeted populations.
CONCLUSION
Private sector involvement in disaster management is a key element in strengthening Bangladesh’s future Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) capacity. Based on the conversations with various organizations and private companies, six models for the private sector in Bangladesh to develop their interests in disaster management and get involved in DRR were identified: 1) initiating DRR involvement based on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and disaster response experiences; 2) upscaling the general safety concept to include building resilience against natural disasters; 3) shifting from the subsidy‐driven to the demand‐based approach; 4) transferring from the commercial‐ to the business continuity‐oriented approach; 5) obtaining safety knowledge through technical and non‐technical training; and 6) adopting knowledge on safety and disaster management from overseas. Ultimately, this study aims to address what is necessary to strengthen the private sector involvement in Bangladesh to scale up the national DRR capacity.
TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION FEE
Free of Charge
TARGET AUDIENCE
NGOs Representatives, Government Agencies, Fire Fighters, First Responders, Social Activists, and Community Members.
REFERENCES
– World Resource Report (www.worldresourcesreport.org)
– UNDP, Red Cross, ISDR, IDRC, DKKV, ADPC, and BRAC
– Ministry of Food and Disaster Management (MoFDM), Bangladesh
