KATHMANDU: Youth Innovation Lab and Lutheran World Relief have marked the graduation ceremony of the second cohort of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) fellows. Through plenary discussion, experiences sharing from DRR fellows, and reflection from municipal representatives, the learnings, experiences, and achievements of the second cohort was celebrated together with the representative from the federal government, mayors and municipal representatives, UN representatives, DRR professionals, a diverse group of young leaders from the various field working in DRR sector in Nepal.
Speaking at the event Uddhav Prasad Rijal, Under Secretary of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority presented about the BIPAD portal and its six modules, which is an integrated and comprehensive Disaster Information Management System owned by the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Home Affairs, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.
He specified the unique features of the BIPAD portal that holds not only the data but visualize the data in an understandable format in the form of maps and infographics. He further emphasizes the need for rigorous enhancement of the system, upgradation of the system, addition of new features within the system over time to make the system functional.
At the event, Narayan Gyawali, Program Director of Lutheran World Relief gave the overview and objective of the event further highlighting the importance of BIPAD portal localization at the municipal level and the use of data for informed decision making.
He further stated the importance and usability of the BIPAD portal for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and further pinpointed the importance of data for sectoral impacts management and suggested the need to advance the BIPAD portal to reducing the impacts of disaster on livelihood damage.
In the Plenary Session moderated by Pradip Khatiwada, Executive Director of Youth Innovation Lab, Uddhav Prasad Rijal, Under Secretary, NDRRMA stressed the need for open access to data and the role of data and information for decision making for effective DRRM. Rakesh Shah accentuated the role of BIPAD portal localization and how it now has paved the way to support and reach the at-risk and most vulnerable communities.
He further underlined the challenges of the sustainability that municipalities face due to the intervention carried out on a project basis with a limited time frame and budget. Similarly, Krishna Humagai, MoFAGA stressed the role of coordination that MoFAGA and technical support would be provided to municipalities and rural municipalities in the days to come.
Angela Tamrakar, DRR Researcher, Youth Innovation Lab talked highlighted the technical aspect of the BIPAD portal and its features. She further emphasized the unique aspect of BIPAD including BIPAD being developed on a modular basis with the flexibility to adapt to any changes, open access system to all, and integration of open data and integrated system hosting data to support every Disaster Management cycle.
Similarly, Kiran Ojha, Country Director, LWR appreciated the positive thinking that has developed and the confidence level that has enhanced among the youth due to the fellowship approach.
Furthermore, Uttam Kumar Sharma, Mayor, Saptakoshi Municipality underlined the main challenge of effective DRRM being the lack of resources to carry out DRRM intervention. He further pinpointed the need to focus on the proactive approach rather than the reactive approach i.e., focus should be on risk reduction and management rather than response.
Every year, Nepal suffers from a significant loss of life, physical assets, livelihoods, and environmental damage due to natural and non-natural disasters. To aid in disaster risk reduction and management activities effectively, the Government of Nepal has developed an integrated and comprehensive Disaster Information Management System locally known as Building Information Platform Against Disaster (BIPAD) portal, http://bipadportal.gov.np.
The one-stop platform has been developed with the concept of creating a national portal embedded with independent platforms for national, provincial, and municipal governments with a bottom-up approach of disaster data partnership.
The government of Nepal has put the BIPAD portal in place, however, its localization has been a challenge. Through Disaster Risk Reduction – Young Leaders Fellowship (DRR-Fellowship), an initiative of Youth Innovation Lab, young engineers, environment and DRR graduates have been mobilized and placed at municipal governments to communicate risk at the local level, sensitize the need for data for informed decision making and enhance the technical capacity of local governments.
In the second cohort, localization was carried out in seven municipal governments of Siraha and Saptari of Province 2 supported by SAKSHYAM project USAID/LWR. Placed at the municipalities, seven DRR fellows have sensitized the BIPAD portal, assisted in the day-to-day capacity transfer, mapped and digitized disaster-related datasets, and supported the municipalities to administer and operationalize municipal BIPAD portal.
During the fellowship period, DRR fellows have worked towards enhancing the technical capacity of local governments to understand disaster-related data and use them for informed decision-making.
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