On January 16-17, within the framework of the Alliance for Disaster Risk Reduction (ALTER) project, the Disaster Risk Reduction National Platform (ARNAP) Foundation and the AUA Centre for Responsible Mining initiated training on “The role and use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in disaster risk management processes: ALTER project Results”.
The aim of training was to introduce the beneficiaries, decision makers, specialists and students, the working materials and tools developed within the project through the use of GIS, as well as the way of how to use it. Taking the opportunity, in the agenda were also included the GIS based web portals and other works developed at different times within different projects. During the first day, the essence of geographic information systems was introduced, enabling the participants to understand what the GIS is, how to use it in terms of DRR, etc.
The reguliar batch of DRR equipment was handed over to the Tumanyan and Alaverdi community administrations.
The equipment was acquired within the framework of the “Enhancing Human Security and Building Resilient Societies in Disadvantaged Communities of Armenia” project funded by the UN Trust Found.
The rest of the equipment was also handed over earlier to the Berd and Amasia municipalities.
The acquired equipment is planned to distribute to the selected kindergartens and schools of the mentioned communities in the first quarter of 2020. 9 kindergartens in Jiliza, Tsakhkashat, Kachachkut, Ahnidzor, Atan, Martz, Shamut, Amasia and Gtashen communities will be provided with 1 fire panel (includes 2 fire buckets, 1 fire spade, 1 fire gaff, 1 blanket for firefighting), 1 fire extinguisher, 1 first aid kit.
Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Plans are under development for Alaverdi, Amasia, Tumanyan and Berd consolidated Communities.
The Disaster Risk Management Plan aim is to establish and develop a DRM system in the community. The DRM system is a set of processes and functions designed to strengthen disaster resilience capacities of community, prevent or prevention hazards, reduce the potential negative impact of these hazards, and contribute to the sustainable development of the community and society.
For the last 5 years, responsible agencies and supportive agencies have been focusing on seismic vulnerability assessment in schools, as a result of which the Seismic Safety Assessment Scale for schools was developed in 2016. However, during the experience, it has become clear that the existing methodology for assessing school seismic safety needs to be revised and developed a new scale, where included indicators and assessment principles will be more realistic.
Within the framework of the “Enhancing Human Security and Building Resilient Societies in Disadvantaged Communities of Armenia” project, four seminars on “Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction Training through Participatory and Child-sensitive Approaches” were held in October for 52 school deputy directors of Amasia, Alaverdi, Tumanyan and Berd communities.
The workshops were aimed at teaching deputy directors on disaster preparedness and risk reduction through the use of participatory and child- sensitive approaches, as well as introducing a ”Guide for School Staff, Rapid Assessment of Physical Depreciation of School Buildings”.
For the 30th anniversary of the UN convention on the protection of children’s rights, Disaster Risk Reduction National Platform Foundation (DRR NP) and UNICEF are jointly implementing the “Safe Learning Environment for Children and Adolescent Participation” project.
The goal of the project is to strengthen adolescent participation in construction of resilient buildings, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and environmental sustainability through the development of innovative technologies, life skills training and volunteering.
The project has started since May 2019 and some work has already been done.
The ‘’Disaster Risk Management (DRM) National Strategy’s Implementation Information Management online System” has been developed in the frame of “Strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction National Platform Capacities in Armenia” project, implemented by ARNAP foundation and UN Development Programme, funded by DG ECHO. Several trainings on the usage and testing of the System was done during the first semester of 2019.
THE SYSTEM GOALS
1. Establish reliable, regular, permanently updated information on the implementation of DRM National Strategy,
2. Support to analytical information formation on DRM strategy and related issues, which will serve as a basis to organization of planning process of results and making effective decisions in different levels.
3. Support to the RA Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Government with the process of periodic revision and modernization of the DRM Strategy,
4. To evaluate and analyze the impact of strategy’s actions and implementation results on the country’s development, as well as on the Sendai Framework Actions and Sustainable Development Goals implementation.
5. To form the necessary information on communication and visualization maintaining of DRR strategy implementation.
