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Update as of 24 July
2006
Restoring
lives and livelihoods | Revitalizing small
businesses in Indonesia |
Innovative approaches to sustainable livelihoods programming
in Sri Lanka |
Integrated community programmes
in the Maldives | Latest
operational developments |
Printable version (PDF Document , 162kb, 6 pages)
| Previous facts
sheets
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| Restoring
lives and livelihoods |
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The vulnerable poor and marginalized are the most affected
by natural disasters and have limited resources to recover
by their own means. Support to improved land use practices
and productivity, to the restoration of inland fishing,
and to the re-vitalization of small businesses are vitally
important for sustaining rural and coastal livelihoods and
economic growth at the household and village level.
In the three main countries
of operation – Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives
– innovative approaches by the Federation and partner
national societies (PNS) are helping to restore the lives
and livelihoods of the communities and individuals affected
by the tsunami. |
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| Revitalizing
small businesses in Indonesia |
Many communities along the coastline
of Aceh province were reduced to poverty levels as a consequence
of the economic disruption caused by the tsunami. In particular,
villages relying on agricultural production and fisheries
for subsistence and small business were severely affected.
Restoring the livelihoods
of the estimated 600,000 people affected by the tsunami,
and those impacted by subsequent earthquake in Nias earthquake,
is an integral part of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement’s
recovery activities in Sumatra.
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| Animal
husbandry is a popular choice of rural Acehnese villagers
seeking to restore their economic income with grants
provided by the British Red Cross livelihoods project.
Photo: British Red Cross (p14265) |
Several PNS active in
the Movement Coordination Framework (MCF) for Indonesia
have committed their resources to helping rebuild the
socio-economic fabric and have dedicated livelihoods projects
underway. The MCF programmes include restoring traditional
industries such as fishing and farming, fostering entrepreneurial
initiatives and, with some plans, integrating employment
activities with housing reconstruction programmes.
One of several Red Cross
Red Crescent projects restoring customary industries on
Sumatra is the Danish Red Cross ‘Primary production
support programme’ in 16 tsunami-affected villages
in Teunom district along Aceh’s west coast. The
project is helping to revitalize the agricultural base
through a three-pronged approach encompassing: flood prevention,
including river bank protection and dyke reconstruction;
rehabilitation of agricultural drainage systems; and local
gardening support, including provision of seeds and also
training where required. The programme is also complemented
by a community-based needs identification process and
a community-driven cash component that generates employment
for people to carry out the labour-intensive rehabilitation
and reconstruction work.
The French Red Cross
(FRC) has a pilot project well into implementation that
is revitalizing a small part of the jermai (inland) fishing
industry off the coast of Pidie district. Fishermen are
being re-supplied with nets, rope to repair the nets,
and inshore boats. Onshore, middlemen “basket holders”
are provided with woven baskets to carry the fish catches
from the boats to fishmongers. The FRC is completing the
economic chain by distributing buckets and ice storage
boxes to fishmongers so that the fish can be preserved
to reach markets further away, previously beyond accessibility
because the catch would rot if transported longer distances.
The scale of this project is modest, numbering no more
than two dozen beneficiaries in each of the three stages;
however all the Acehnese involved in the project are now
earning a sustainable living.
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| Fish baskets
are offloaded for distribution to beneficiaries
of the French Red Cross fisheries-restoration livelihoods
project. Photo: French Red Cross (p14265) |
The Belgian Red Cross
Fr. and Federation consortium to build 17 traditional
labi-labi longboats reaches back into the long maritime
history of Aceh. When completed, these 19-metre deepwater
fishing boats will form the basis of a Panglima Laut cooperative;
an organization with traditions stretching into the past
of Aceh's nautical traditions, where all the fishermen
on a boat equally share the gains rather than one boat
owner with non-secure daily workers. To date, five labi-labi
are finished and are having their mechanical equipment
installed; six are on the water with hulls completed and
decks being built; and the rest are in varying stages
of construction. Altogether, these 17 deep-sea fishing
boats will restore the livelihoods of 289 fishermen, which
will, in turn, benefit an additional 1,500 family members.
The British Red Cross
Society’s (BRCS) livelihoods programme combines
entrepreneurial development with the provision of permanent
housing. Six thousand households, representing some 15,000
people, are involved in various kinds of small business
enterprises, with 2,500 of these families identified as
needing new homes – to be built by BRCS as well.
Heads of household are given technical assistance to prepare
an expenditure plan for their proposed business, and funds
are deposited into specially-created bank accounts in
three phases, as carefully-monitored milestones are reached.
The businesses include typical activities such as fishing
and farming, but also ventures like warung (road-side
stalls and shops) and animal husbandry. Warung being set
up include coffee shops, food stands, walk-in dinettes
and tailors, while buffalos are proving very popular for
livestock rearing. Single parents receive an extra stipend
and children orphaned by the tsunami and living with surviving
relatives receive education payments to stay in school.
The Irish Red Cross
secondary education cash assistance programme (SECAP)
focuses specifically on keeping children in school who
may otherwise be forced to seek work to bring needed income
into families impoverished by the post-tsunami economic
disruption. Indonesian Red Cross (Palang Merah Indonesia/PMI)
programme partner volunteers consult with local village
leaders to identify the most vulnerable families, and
bank employees travel to the communities to set up accounts
for the students. The money received is used for a variety
of household needs as well as for school costs, plus the
grants free up family savings for use on other needs other
than to support their children’s education. The
project is seeing real success. More than 1,500 students
are enrolled in SECEP. The project will expand to 5,000
students by the last quarter of 2006, and – importantly
– 250 youngsters who were in their final year of
schooling when the programme was started have since graduated.
It is estimated that the improved employability of these
new graduates will have a knock-on effect of contributing
to the economic improvement of their home communities
and of the Acehnese economy overall.
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| A student registers
for her new bank account that will make it possible
to remain in school, thanks to funds provided by the
Irish Red Cross SECAP project. Photo: Irish Red Cross
(p14266) |
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| Innovative
approaches to sustainable livelihoods programming in Sri Lanka
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The Joint Report of the Government
of Sri Lanka and development partners estimates that some
150,000 people in Sri Lanka lost their main source of
income as a result of the tsunami of December 2004. The
tsunami swept away crops, workshops, tools and other equipment,
directly affecting the owners of these assets and consequently
affecting staff employed by damaged businesses.
In addition to restoring
these lost livelihoods, thousands of skilled workers are
now needed in the post-tsunami recovery stage for construction
of houses and other destroyed or damaged buildings. Communities
and individuals who relocated after the tsunami also now
need support to establish livelihoods in their new neighborhoods.
The response required
is unique in that it needs to address all of the above
needs while maintaining a balance and ensuring that it
does not cause more damage than good. It is crucial that
support provided is structured to reflect pre-tsunami
livelihoods activity, to meet the need for assistance
in new livelihoods and to maintain a balance between both
to ensure products or services offered as part of the
new livelihoods activity do not flood the market, bringing
down prices and defeating the entire purpose of the recovery
operation.
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| Beneficiaries
running the block making project in Akkaraipattu
Sri Lanka are producing 1,000 blocks each day. Photo:
International Federation (p14268) |
Red Cross Red Crescent
response
The Red Cross Red
Crescent Movement livelihoods support to communities
affected by the tsunami (and in some instances the armed
conflict) covers a wide range of activities implemented
on a stand alone basis, in support of Red Cross projects
in other sectors such as housing and psychosocial support,
or even in collaboration with external agencies and
organizations. Activities involve refresher vocational
training, asset replacement, micro credit, training
on how to run a successful business or cottage industry
and market products, agriculture, small fisheries, as
well as supporting beneficiaries of Red Cross Red Crescent
houses to rebuild livelihoods. Several projects are
ongoing, while some are set to commence soon.
In addition, short-term
cash for work projects such as clearing debris from
coir (coconut husk) collection pits, canals, lagoons,
road development and so on have already been completed
as part of an interim livelihoods support project.
Some of the livelihoods
projects that are integrated into, or supportive of
Red Cross projects in other sectors, include providing
widows with handloom machines, rice grinders or poultry
as part of the Danish Red Cross psychosocial project
in the east, Netherlands Red Cross supporting a coir
rope making project at the Malta Red Cross housing site
in the southern Hambantota district, and grants and
support to other communities.
A Canadian Red Cross
project with the World University Service of Canada
to support vocational training, an Australian Red Cross
funding for International Organization for Migration
livelihoods project, and an American Red Cross partnership
with the World Wide Fund for Nature to ensure recovery
and reconstruction, will all benefit livelihoods and
reduce environmental vulnerabilities and are examples
of Red Cross Red Crescent work with other agencies in
the livelihoods sector.
Some of the ongoing/completed
projects include:
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A Federation
funded project in Galle, Matara and Kalutara with
the Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka has
provided 1,325 people already engaged in construction-related
work with formal training in five identified vocations
as well as the necessary tools. Participants were
trained in carpentry, tiling, aluminium partitioning,
landscaping and wall painting. A survey of beneficiaries
of the project is ongoing.
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Training provided
to some 300 small-scale cinnamon farmers in planting,
plant maintenance, pest control and the like.
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Korean Red Cross
provided bicycles, sewing machines, mobile carts,
compressors and paint guns to meet specific livelihoods
needs.
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Over 1,400 boats,
1,100 engines and 7,000 fishing nets were distributed
to fisher families.
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Mushroom and
ornamental plants cultivation training is ongoing
in the south of Sri Lanka with support of Spanish
Red Cross.
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The German Red
Cross conduct training in construction related block-making
(for construction of houses) and setting up workshops
in the Ampara and Mullaitivu district.
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The Red Cross
Red Crescent asset replacement project in the Galle
assists 1,000 families in receiving grants of not
more than 20,000 LKR (240 CHF) for asset replacement
for small businesses, cottage industry, self employment,
agriculture and small fisheries
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The Red Cross
Red Crescent Micro Business Development programme
in the Ampara district helps build up and strengthen
small scale entrepreneurships in order to improve
and diversify income sources within and among households,
and to reduce their vulnerability through entrepreneurial
training, marketing support. Emphasis is given to
female headed households and most vulnerable families.
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A Community
Recovery and Launch of Community Recovery and Reconstruction
Partnerships project with 300 houses in Ampara,
funded by the Australian Red Cross.
Consultation with
beneficiaries, Government and other local administration
has been key to formulating the projects. This ensures
that the response is both appropriate to the country,
region and communities, as well as sustainable without
long-term external support.
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| Integrated
community programmes in the Maldives |
While the Federation does not
have any multilateral livelihoods activities, British
Red Cross is active in this area and has completed a livelihoods
analysis on five islands as well as participatory planning
processes on three.
A 15-strong community
mobilization team (predominately young Maldivians) has
been recruited and trained, and a plan of action for integrated
livelihoods and disaster management recovery programming
has been devised as a platform for engaging communities
and developing partnerships with government ministries
and agencies such as the Federation, Care Society, Food
and Agricultural Organization and the United Nations Development
Programme.
Community based recovery
plans have been completed on three islands. In June, 41
community groups representing 248 families registered
for community grants. Seventy per cent of the members
are women and approximately 300,000 MRF (29,200 CHF) has
been disbursed so far. It is expected that two-thirds
of households on each island will receive a community
grant.
Discussions with the
Bank of Maldives have been held in order to support the
efficiency of the grant process at island level. Presentations
of the community plans to stakeholders will be held in
August.
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| Latest
operational developments |
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In June the PMI/Federation
relief programme distributed 81 tents, 145 tarpaulins,
5,751 food parcels, 28,121 hygiene kits, 44,944 kerosene
stoves, 384 mosquito nets, and 21,954 baby kits.
- Distribution of relief items is
now completed in Aceh Besar, Lamno, Teunom, Meulaboh and
Pidie; distributions are still ongoing in Calang, Lhokseumawe
and on Nias Island.
- Some 14,000 remaining food parcels
from this round of distributions are being collected from
the field storage facilities for onward shipment to the
Yogyakarta earthquake relief operation.
- The transitional shelter programme
continues to build momentum as almost all the material
(20,000 frames and over 32,000 cubic metres of timber)
has now been imported. Over 50 per cent of the targeted
20,000 transitional shelter units have been completed
with 10,250 of the galvanized steel frames installed to
date, 85 per cent of these clad with wood.
- PMI volunteers in Aceh Barat, Nagan
Raya and Aceh Barat Daya working with Federation and PNS
water and sanitation staff delivered hygiene promotion
awareness programmes in 30 villages across the three districts
and are assisting local communities in 17 villages to
build water and sanitation facilities.
- Medical equipment procured for
the first five of 15 planned health clinics in Aceh Barat
and Aceh Barat Daya has arrived and is in storage awaiting
construction of the designated buildings.
- The continuing radio operator training
for PMI’s early warning system development was conducted
in June, with participation of 45 staff and volunteers
from 14 PMI Aceh branches.
- The PMI/Federation team working
at Banda Aceh’s municipal water treatment plant
(PDAM) produced 8.1 million litres of safe drinking water
in June, distributed to residents and nearby IDP settlements.
- In the Meulaboh area, the water
sanitation team has constructed an additional eight washing
areas and latrines, one additional ‘hand dunk’
well, and one gravity-spring catchment with concrete storage
tank. A further 60 hygiene promoters from 30 villages
in the area were trained.
- A Federation commissioned report
(Agriculture and Aquaculture Technology Needs Assessment
Program for Nias, Sumatra) has addressed the increasing
incidence of poverty on Nias as a result of low agriculture
productivity following the tsunami and earthquake. The
report will be distributed to the Movement's livelihood
technical working group and other agencies working on
similar programmes on the island.
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The Belgium
Red Cross - Luxemburg handed over 33 houses
in the Kalutara district to beneficiary families.
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Danish Red
Cross has launched the schools-based psychosocial
manual. The manual has been translated into
the three national languages and will be distributed
by the Ministry of Education to all schools
in the country.
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The launch
of the community recovery and reconstruction
partnership (CRRP) was announced 13 July. The
Federation contributed USD 10 million to Phase
2 of the Government of Sri Lanka’s `Home
owner- driven housing programme` (ODHP).
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The Swedish
Red Cross Society, having distributed USD10
million, is the principal donor of the US$ 25
million contribution that the Federation is
making to the ODHP
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The Federation
has also received AUD 5.5 million from Australian
Red Cross to initiate construction of 300 houses
in Ampara, and other houses in Jaffna under
the Federation’s `top up` programme.
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Construction
of supplementary water systems was completed on
the islands of Kolamaafushi, Maamendhoo and Ghadhoo
on Gaafu Alifu Atoll and started on three islands
in Raa Atoll Meedhoo, Alifushi and Maduvvari.
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As part of
the effort to development community management
strategies and ensure the sustainability of the
supplementary water supply systems in the Maldives,
VCA training was conducted with the island communities
of Meedhoo and Maduvvari.
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A pilot project
to integrate CBDRM and water sanitation has started
in Maduvvaree and Meedhoo and will lead to a water
management plan drawn up by the island communities
themselves.
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Construction
has now begun on Dhuvaafaru Island – foundation
concreting has started on two plots (16 houses)
and a camp established for staff. Detailed designs
for the schools on the island have been produced
and will be discussed with the Ministry of Education.
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The first
phase of construction on Guraidhoo has been completed.
35 houses have been built and construction of
another 11 has already started.
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