PROJECT TITLE   STRENGTHENING OF RESILIENCE THROUGH DRR AND LIVELIHOOD MEASURES IN VULNERABLE COASTAL COMMUNITIES IN DISTRICT THATTA, SINDH PROVINCE, PAKISTAN
DURATION   01-May, 2015 to 30-April, 2018
LOCATION   Sindh Province, Thatta District, Taluka Keti Bunder, Union Councils, Kharo Chan (New Name Sajan Wari) and UC Ketibandar (New Name Baghan)
FUNDING AGENCY   Malteser International
BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT / PROJECT AREA / NEEDS AND JUSTIFICATION According to OECD, Pakistan is still considered as fragile state.  The poverty in the population and the lack of coping capacities increases the vulnerability to natural disasters. Pakistan is regarded as high-risk country with special vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change. The geographical location of Pakistan and especially the Sindh province is prone to floods, hurricanes, droughts and earthquakes. The Sindh province has a coastline with a length of 350 km. A large part of the coast consists of the Indus River Delta. The center of this fragile and rapidly changing ecosystem is the coastal region around District Thatta. In the National Disaster Risk Management Plan, district Thatta (Sindh province) is classified at rank 24 most vulnerable out of 145 the most vulnerable districts. This is due to the fact that at one hand the local authorities at district level haven´t yet developed adequate coping strategies and on the other hand that the population is classified as extremely vulnerable. Taluka Keti Bunder and its two Union Councils Kharo Chan (new name Sajjan Warri) and UC Ketibandar (new name Baghan) of the district are the worst affected by the land degradation as a result of sea water intrusion. According to the Sindh Government figures, out of 43 Dehs of Keti Bunder Tehsil, 33 Dehs have been completely eroded and encroached by the sea. Similarly, the government figures show that out of 42 Dehs of Kharo Chan tehsil (old), 37 Dehs have been completely degraded which means more than 50% of the land has gone to the  sea (District  Disaster  Risk  Management  Plan  Thatta  2008)).Similarly  poverty  is  the serious issue in coastal Sindh, with 79% of the people in the project area under poverty line of which 54% are the poorest. In addition to lack of income opportunities and poor access to

Government services, coastal households have to deal with rapidly declining environmental conditions.

During  need  assessment  for  the  proposed  Action,  consultations  with  government  and communities point to the following compound problems;

Problem  1:  Lack  of  or  low  capacity  and  increasing  exposure  to  disasters  because; information and knowledge on IDRR and climate change is limited in local level government agencies  and  communities;  and  levels  of  poverty  and  landlessness  reduces  adaptive capacity.

Problem 2: Some of the most important livelihoods of poor women and men are under threat due to exposure to natural disasters. Crops cultivation is threatened by saline intrusion into fresh water sources, less predictable and unseasonal rains, and storm damage. Aquatic products and fish collection from coastal ecosystems such as mangroves and mudflats are threatened by over-exploitation and coastal erosion. Regular loss of livelihoods is dragging the vulnerable groups further into poverty circle.

Problem 3: Natural resources and the ecosystem services they provide such as fresh water for irrigation and drinking water are being degraded or salinized. The degradation or loss of natural habitats such as mangroves is increasing vulnerability to climate change and disaster risks.

Problem 4: Vulnerable groups such as women and other marginalized groups (… have minimal voice in how they are to be involved in IDRR and natural resource management, and existing IDRR and natural resource management practice and policies do not always reflect local challenges or incorporate the knowledge, experience and needs of these vulnerable groups.

Based on the conducted need assessment and vulnerability and risk analysis of the area, MI proposed measures to address the problems and enhance the capacities of the area and stakeholders. Proposed measures are exactly relevant to the BMZ Strategy and align with priorities  of  National  Disaster  Risk  Reduction  Policy  Pakistan,  2013,  National  Disaster Management   Framework, 2007, National Disaster Risk Management Plan 2013, National Climate Change Policy, 2013, the draft of the National Agriculture Policy 2013 and the local overall conditions in the province Sindh.

South Sindh particularly the Coastal Area is relatively peaceful as compared to rest of Pakistan, however street crimes, road traffic coalition and robbery is on minimum level in the area  while  the  overall  security  situation  continues  to  remain  stable  for  INGOs/NGOs activities. (Annex 6: Map of district Thatta)
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES / GOALS   Strengthening of resilience and improvement of livelihood of extremely vulnerable coastal communities.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES  
  • The coastal communities are sensitized and trained in DRR/Disaster prevention and climate change measures and have improved their livelihood.
  • Public and civil society structures are strengthened in order to provide benefits/efforts in the sector DRR/prevention and “improvement of livelihood”
  • A basic social and productive infrastructure is established that is resilient to natural disasters and climate changes.
OUTPUTS / ACTIVITIES / MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS   The coastal communities are sensitized and trained in DRR/Disaster prevention and climate change measures and have improved their livelihood.
  • Implementation of a Baseline study.
  • Capacity Building for the project staff.
  • Mobilization of the target communities
  • Mobilization & awareness raising meetings with targeted.
  • Training of District Master Trainers and Community Trainers.
  • Formation of  VDMCs and UCDMCs & training in CBDRM.
  • Establishment of DRM-plans and early warning systems.
  • Assessment of  alternative livelihoods and development of a new value chain.
  • Livelihood trainings and livelihood supports.
  • Training for stock breeder.
  • Establishment of a community endowment fund.
  • Livelihood risks &coastal & marine resource based livelihood adaptation assessment.
  • Professional training for youths and establishment of new branches of trade.
  • Knowledge dissemination through media.
Public and civil society structures are strengthened in order to provide benefits/efforts in the sector DRR/prevention and improvement of livelihood.  
  • Establishment of a DRM forum.
  • Establishment of a DRM plan on District level.
  • Development of an early warning system for the district.
  • Integration of the DRM/disaster preparedness in government development plans
  • Adaptation of development plan for the coastal region.
  • Improvement of the land use strategy.
A basic social and productive infrastructure is established that is resilient to natural disasters and climate changes.
  • Establishment of family based mangroves nurseries.
  • Re-Cultivation of mangroves.
  • Mangrove re-vegetation.
  • Implementation of 25 small scale mitigation schemes for disaster preparedness.
  • Construction of jetties.
DETAILS BENEFICIARIES COVERED   Direct beneficiaries: 56 most vulnerable villages of UC Kharo-chan (Sajan Warri) and UC Keti-bandar (Baghan) of Thatta district are targeted for the proposed project. The 56 villages will be clustered into 25 clusters in the form of village disaster management committees for the project implementation.   The total population of these 25 cluster villages is 22,971 individuals (Men 11,715 & Women 11,256) of 3,212 households are the targeted in 56 villages. It is estimated that the direct beneficiaries of the different project activities are 7,071 individuals (3,606 male + 3,465 female) of 964 households assuming that 30 percent of the total population will be directly benefitted from the project actions. However the exact figures can be calculated after detail base line study. Addition to the communities, 120 representatives (90 males and 30 females) of district administration and different government departments from  PDMA,  DDMA  in Thatta district,  official of  two  target  union  councils, Coastal   Development   Authority,   Department   of   Agriculture,   Fisheries   department, Department of Livestock and Department of Forest and 60 members (40 males and 20 females)  from  the  CSOs  will  be  directly  benefitted  through  various  capacity  building programs in DRR.

Indirect Beneficiaries: The total population of the Thatta district will be indirect beneficiaries as  the  District  Disaster  Management  Plan  for  Thatta  district  will  be  prepared.  Total Population of Thatta District as per 1998 census is 1,113,194 with 2.26 growth rate, the projected population in 2010 is 1,455,594. [Males 742,353 and Females 713,241] (Source UNDP’s Report on the Status of MDGs Sindh 2012)