The target area Kalam and Utror are located in upper Swat to the north of Mingora city. The area is famous for its scenic beauty and is favorite tourist destination for national tourists. The area received worse damages in 2010 flood, the flash floods destroyed parts of 72 km road connecting Utror with Kalam and Behrain. The mountainous terrain makes the people vulnerable to multi hazards like flood, land sliding, water borne epidemics and river bank soil erosion. Majority people in Kalam and Utror derive their livelihood from growing vegetables, while a number of families are also associated with tourism. Both these livelihood sources have received worse damages during 2010 flood. Farming is at the subsistence level and is mostly characterized by mountainous tillage. Several people cultivate land near the river in unprotected flood plains. Both types of farmers were affected by flood of 2010. The lack of land use planning resulted in massive construction of houses, shops and hotels near river Swat. People’s productive assets engulfed in water as majority of these were exposed to flood. Currently people are struggling to rebuild their livelihoods through the support of humanitarian organizations but apart from recovery interventions there is a wide gap in sustainable approach to livelihood protection through disaster risk reduction measures. In case of disasters in future local people are not prepared to respond in an organized manner, mainly due to limited skills, knowledge and equipment. Local authorities have limited capacities and are not prepared to confront disasters of large magnitude. There is no contingency or preparedness plan both at community and local authorities’ level. The early warning system does not exist and if it was in place before 2010 flood, a lot of precious lives could be saved.

The people in target union councils Utror and Kalam are confronted with multiple hazards, including water borne epidemics, major flood, ten years flood, river bank soil erosion and earthquake. Major flood is prioritized as major hazard as it has inflicted huge damages following water borne epidemics. River bank soil erosion which is an on-going phenomenon after 2010 is third in priority ranking. Vulnerabilities are persistent and according to the data among 2,227 households in 10 high affected villages of Utror and Kalam, 207 households are at high level of vulnerability as their house and land both are exposed to flood. While 1,240 households are at medium level, which shows that either their house or land is being exposed to the major hazard i.e. flood.

According to the risk analysis, among 2,227 households in the target region, 400 households are at high risk, 1,545 on medium and 282 are at low risk. Union council Utror is extremely vulnerable where 271 households are at high and 598 at medium risk. In union council Kalam 137 households are at high and 939 are at medium level of risk.

The area received little attention from humanitarian organizations mainly because of inaccessibility. Since the 2010 flood wiped out almost 7 kilometers road connecting the target area with the rest of the district, the construction material and other needed inputs could not reach the area for almost 3 months. Now the dirt road has been constructed by Pakistan Army connecting both union councils with the rest of the district. The recovery needs are still unmet and an integrated approach is needed to re build people’s livelihoods.

Goal: DRR systems and interventions are in place, which enable stakeholders to reduce the negative impacts of natural hazards on communities.

Objectives of the project

• HHs and communities (DMCs) are better prepared for disasters and more capable of coping with them by using their own, locally available resources (Preparedness)
• Negative effects of natural disasters on livelihoods and environment are reduced (mitigation)
• Local and Regional Authorities and DRR Institutions function more effectively and are providing more appropriate; preparedness, prevention and mitigation support to at-risk communities regarding potential natural hazards.

1. Disaster Preparedness

Under Disaster preparedness component, following activities have implemented in both the UCs:

• Conduct baseline, midterm and post-project DRR KAP, Household Vulnerability Monitoring and GMI surveys, mid-term review and produce the report
• Development of IEC material for DRR awareness among key stakeholders
• Run public media and awareness raising campaigns
• Formation and strengthening of Disaster Management Committees (DMC) at village level (Committee Members, Sub Committee Members & Activists)
• School Preparedness Planning & DRR co-curriculum
• Produce DRR, Emergency and Evacuation and land use plans for communities, UC, , health facilities covering all stakeholders and vulnerable groups
• Establish Emergency Plan’s Systems/ CBDRM plans
• Design EWS with stakeholders
• Provide hardware components & communication equipment for mosque system
• Implement community EWS

2. Disaster Mitigation:

Under Disaster Mitigation component, following activities have implemented in both the UCs:

• Construction of protection walls along the river using locally available material
• Resilient rehabilitation and reconstruction of disaster resilient irrigation channels 
• Afforestation along the river bank and fragile slopes for soil stabilization
• Provision of energy efficient stoves for reducing pressure on forest resources
• Awareness on climate change adaptation environmental sustainability with study on changing availability of water sources 
• Awareness on low cost disaster mitigation measures (bio engineering and SALT) through knowledge exchange and demonstration

Local Authorities Engagement for Effective DRR:

Under Disaster Prevention component, following activities have implemented:

• Inform Local Authorities of the HFA, communities’ DRR needs and increase their awareness and knowledge on appropriate action
• Advocate for and monitor appropriate allocation and spending of DRR budgets and resources by Local and Provincial Government