Rural Communities’ Disaster Risks and Climate Change Resilience

Project completed

In the natural disasters prone environment of Kyrgyzstan, most vulnerable to such risks are the rural communities. In the frame of its Country Strategic Plans (CSP), the World Food Programme (WFP) strengthens their disaster risk and climate change resilience. The Swiss contribution to this intervention line/pillar of the CSP will magnify its impact via implementing a more comprehensive approach and increasing the number of direct beneficiaries.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Kyrgyzstan
Climate change and environment
Agriculture & food security
Disaster risk reduction DRR
Household food security
01.01.2022 - 31.12.2022
CHF  2’000’000
Background Natural disasters are common and diverse in the Kyrgyz Republic. Low level of disaster preparedness, lack of comprehensive resources management, as well as lack of private sector-driven insurance and risks transfer mechanisms, have contributed to a high level of food insecurity for at least a quarter of all households in the country. As the Kyrgyz Disaster Risks Reduction (DRR) strategy for 2018-2030 confirms, there is an essential lack of disaster preparedness on the sub-national and local levels due to low capacitles of the institutions and communities in disaster risks resilient planning.
Objectives Institutional climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction systems, practices and knowledge are improved with a positive impact on poverty and food security, decreasing vulnerability and building resiIience.
Target groups

Direct groups:

  • Up to 50’000 vulnerable households
  • Provinces/Oblast administrations: Batken, Osh and Naryn
  • Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES); Ministry of Natural Resources, (MNR); Ministry of Labor and Social Protection (MLS); Kyrgyz Agency on Hydrometeorology (Hydromet)
  • Local governments
  • Community-based organizations (CBOs) and farmers

Indirect groups:

  • Private Sector
  • Other Swiss initiatives (SECO and SDC projects)
Medium-term outcomes

Outcome 1: The government, local authorities and communities have capacity to apply effective models of disaster risk management and climate change adaptation practices that also ensure environmental sustainability and an adequate level of food security.

Outcome 2: Improve climate-smart nutrient-dense on-farm activities and encourage diversification of climate-smart off-farm income sources, ensuring sustainable income generation practices leading to improved resilience and poverty reduction.

Outcome 3: Coherent implementation of disaster risk management systems, enhancing emergency preparedness at all levels and across actors for the benefit of vulnerable communities.

Results

Expected results:  

  1. Systems and technologies for DRR/CC risks management are improved at national and local levels
  2. The DRR/CC legislation has improved including regulations on risk transfers
  3. The disaster and climate-resilient infrastructure and assets has improved
  4. The innovative practices and technologies for disaster risk reduction and climate change mitigation piloted for on-farm and off-farm activities
  5. Increased awareness and capacity of local authorities, population, and civil society on DRR/CC topics
  6. Countrywide systems and technologies for disaster risk management and climate change adaptation are fully functional and integrated at all levels


Results from previous phases:   As was confirmed by the external evaluation of the current CSP, despite essential funding gap, WFP rehabilitated and reconstructed more than 494 community disaster protection assets (e.g. dams and diversion channels) benefitting more than 16’000 vulnerable households in the targeted areas. WFP also supported the Ministry of Emergency situations (MES) in strengthening national disaster information systems. In addition, evaluation recommended aligning with the state social protection system and strengthening national targeting processes to ensure that the most vulnerable are included. Finally, the evaluation suggested a major strategic shift towards more focus on resilience building through a development and long-term approach towards food insecurity and DRR/Climate Change (CC) resilience building. That implies that the approach will be kept in the coming WFP CSP (2023-2027).


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Project partners Contract partner
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • World Food Programme
  • Contribution to the WFP CSP 2018-2022 DRR/CC pillar


Coordination with other projects and actors Synergies and coordination will be encouraged with SECO-financed Naryn Urban Resilience project and SDC-financed “Sustainable Economic Development” and “Bai-Alai“ projects.
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    2’000’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    1’980’000
Project phases Phase 2 01.01.2023 - 31.12.2027   (Current phase)

Phase 1 01.01.2022 - 31.12.2022   (Completed)