Final Evaluation of Inclusive Community-based Disaster Risk Management (ICDRM) Project in Bangladesh & Philippines

According to Economic and Social Comission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) report, disaster impacts on the social and productive sectors were nearly 43 percent and 38 percent in six countries in the South and South West Asia subregion (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, and Afghanistan, respectively). Meanwhile, according to the ASEAN Disaster Management Handbook 2019, South East Asia is the world's most vulnerable region to natural disasters, with ten ASEAN Member States (including the Philippines). In the last decade, disasters in the area have shown that hazards are becoming more severe, more frequent, and unpredictable. Funded by Plan International US, Plan International Asia Pacific Regional Office (Plan APAC), in collaboration with Plan International Philippines, Plan International Bangladesh and their local partners, has been implementing the Inclusive Community-based Disaster Risk Management (ICDRM) Project since Oct 2017, which will be continued till September 30th, 2021. Country implementation of project activities are still ongoing, EREF is also in the process of communication with potential countries who needs support on COVID-19 response and recover

The project aims to increase disaster preparedness capabilities of communities in Bangladesh and the Philippines; and in addition to mitigated impacts of disaster and addressed the specific needs of girls, boys and their families who affected by disasters in Asia Pacific through the disbursement of Emergency Response & Early Recovery Fund (EREF). The project also ensures the identification of elements of a replicable model for building inclusive community level disaster preparedness. In the Philippines, the project covers 20 Barangays in Mindoro. In Bangladesh, it covers 27 wards in Bhola. The types of disaster responded were typhoon, flood, earthquake and COVID-19 response.

Centre for Research and Development (CRD) in Bangladesh and A2D from Philippine are conducting this evaluation study jointly under the leading by Dr Mokhlesur Rahman. The overall aim of the evaluation is to assess the extent to which the expected outcomes and goal of the project has been achieved in the targeted project locations and at the regional level. The specific objectives of the final evaluation are; To determine the extent to which the expected outcomes and goal of the project has been achieved in the targeted project locations and at the regional level; To identify key project achievements (or lack thereof), gaps, constraints, lessons learned and good practices; To generate concrete conclusions and propose practical recommendations that can be used to strengthen Inclusive DRM interventions and community resilience in a similar context and to develop potential future projects.