Capacity building and community preparedness in Turkmenistan (DIPECHO VII)

• Under the 7th DIPECHO Action Plan for Turkmenistan
• Project name: «Capacity building and community preparedness in Turkmenistan»
• Code reference: DP 2012
• Timeframe: June 2012 — November 2013

Project proposal «Capacity building and community preparedness in Turkmenistan»

The summary of the project:

Turkmenistan suffers from frequent earthquakes, floods and mudflows. Almost the whole country is seismically active, including the cities of Ashgabat and Turkmenbashy and the provinces of Ahal, Lebap, Mary, Dashoguz and Balkan. Major tremors occurred in 1929, 1946, 1948, 1983 and 1999, and in 2000, Balkanabad suffered a quake registering 6 on the Richter Scale.

The project will include specific trainings for the staff of CPR teams, particularly for chemists, signalmen and physician and medical assistants to respond efficiently and in a coordinated manner at emergency cases. They will be ready to provide coordinated assistance to people in need. This is an important project that recognizes the need to provide CPR staff with the necessary special equipment to better and efficiently respond during possible natural disasters and appropriate trainings will be organized for practical use of this equipment. The project will increase resilience and reduce vulnerability of local communities and institutions to natural disasters, through trainings on how to behave and respond in emergency situation in the disaster prone 20 communities and for school students of those 20 local communities. Besides, the necessary inventory for creating and maintaining DP stocks in communities will be procured by the National Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan (NRCS) and will be regularly replenished by the local communities. One of the main expectation of the project to enhance CPR staff and local authorities to monitor, assess and respond to disasters, through the development of disaster plans and coordination. Additionally, workshops to improve disaster response planning and management abilities of CPR staff and representatives of local governance will be organized and conducted in all 5 provinces. And in turn according to the developed disaster response plans simulation exercises will be organized and conducted in all provinces.

The combination ofoutcomeswillensurethat concreteactions implemented throughthe ECHO resourcesaresustainable beyond the lifetimeof theproject.

Overall Objective:

To improve the preparedness and response capacities of the Civil Protection and Rescue (CPR) teams as well as the inhabitants of the targeted communities in Turkmenistan

The specific objective:

To strengthen the capacity of the «Department of CPR» and its branches in the regions under the Ministry of Defense of Turkmenistan and targeted communities to effectively respond to and to be prepared for possible natural disasters

Project purposes:

• Increasing and improving the capacity and coordination of government institutions as well as of local communities;
• Education/Training for CPR and NRCS staff, local communities and for school students of those local communities;
• Specific trainings for the staff of CPR teams, particularly for chemists, signalmen and physician and medical assistants;
• Enhancement of CPR staff and local authorities to monitor, assess and respond to disasters;
• Workshops to improve disaster response planning and management abilities of CPR staff and representatives of local governance;
• Simulation exercises in all 5 provinces;
• Providing with the necessary special equipment for CPR staff;
• Advocacy and public awareness rising among the population in the disaster prone area. Trainings on how to behave and respond in emergency situation in the disaster prone communities and for school students of those local communities;
• Creating and maintaining DP stocks in communities.

Expected results:

Expected result 1:

CPR staff are trained and equipped to respond efficiently and in a coordinated manner in the event of disaster. Training schedule developedand coordinated with MFA Turkmenistan and Ministry of Defense of Turkmenistan. The list of participant of signalmen, physician and medical assistants and chemists coordinatedwith the Ministry of Defense of Turkmenistan. The term of reference for international trainer/expert developed and trainer recruited. The trainer contractedand the development of training modulestarted. 3 specific trainings for the staff of Civil Protection and Rescue teams, and particularly for chemists, signalmen and physician and medical assistants organized and conducted. The specification for the equipment developed and a tender for purchase and deliveryannounced. Tender conductedand the best company selected and the equipment purchased. The equipment to CPRtransferred: which are acoustic device for searching victims (2 items); heat sensor/thermal (2 items); and waxwork/plaster cast (2 items).2 trainings organized for practical use of the equipment and drills for all CPR staff in the provinces.

Expected result 2:

Enhanced capacity of CPR staff and local authorities to monitor, assess and respond to disasters, through the development of disaster plans and coordination. The term of reference for international expert/trainer developedand trainerrecruited. Trainer contractedand the development of module/manualstarted.The training schedule and the list of participants coordinated with MFA Turkmenistan and Ministry of Defense. 5 workshops to improve disaster response planning and management abilities of CPR staff and representatives of local governance in the 5 provinces organized and conducted. Reports on the conducted training developed and submitted. The developed manual on DPM printed and distributed to CPR staff. The list of participants coordinatedwith Ministry of Defense and CPR department for the coordination meeting. 5 coordination meetings by 1 for each region for drafting the disaster planning for each province organized and conducted. Simulation exercises conductedusing the draft disaster plans.

Expected result 3:

Increased resilience and reduced vulnerability of local communities and institutions to natural disasters. Trainings on how to behave and respond in emergency situation in the disaster prone 20 communities organized and conducted. 20 training on how to behave and respond in emergency situation for school students of those 20 disaster prone communities organized and conducted. One training for NRCS staff on effective implementation of the project conducted.Necessary inventory for creating and maintaining DP stocks in 10 communities procured, and regularly replenished by the communities.