Updated June 2008

Formulation and Design of Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme 2010-2014

In May 2008, Aguaconsult was invited to lead a multi-disciplinary team to formulate and design Phase II of the Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme in Bangladesh. CDMP is an innovative multi-donor framework, financed by the Government of Bangladesh, UNDP, DfID and the EC, which seeks to move Bangladesh disaster management from a response and relief focus to a broader and more holistic vision of risk management. This task can only be achieved through a comprehensive approach that unites Governments, donors, NGOs and the vulnerable communities and the private sector in a joint strategy for effective risk reduction.

The design of CDMP Phase II started in May 2008 and is expected to be finalised by September, based on a series of consultations with risk reduction stakeholders in Bangladesh. Aguaconsult is adopting an innovative approach to the design of CDMP II with a view to raising the focus of disaster management programmes to a broader Governmental spectrum.

Provision of technical support to fundraising for Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor

Aguaconsult has been working with WSUP to enhance and consolidate their fundraising and procurement programme, with a particular focus on foundations and private sector collaboration. Research into potential opportunities and funding options is an essential component of the assignment and Aguaconsult has been working with WSUP staff in the UK and in-country Funding Officers and Project Managers in the facilitation and development of proposals. Tasks also include the active promotion of WSUP to potential funders and technical backstopping in the form of the provision of quality assurance of EOIs and bids and liaison between WSUP and external funding agencies.

Evaluation of Disaster Risk Reduction Mainstreaming in DG ECHO's Humanitarian Actions

In November 2007 Aguaconsult won a competitive tender with the Evaluations Department of the European Commission's Directorate General for Humanitarian Aid to evaluate the mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction into the design and funding support for their humanitarian response operations. This global review is now in its final stages, and has involved an assessment of humanitarian responses and strategies in eight countries in Latin America, Africa and South East Asia. The purpose of this exercise has been to evaluate how far DG ECHO has been able to mainstream DRR into its relief operations and coordination as well as advocacy opportunities in these situations. The evaluation has included assessments of the added value of these components in different sectors and at different stages in the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction phases. The evaluation has focused on how the mainstreamed components were formulated and integrated into DG ECHO decisions, how well operational partners responded by including DRR aspects in their proposal and the success of implementation of these components. One key output of the evaluation is an inventory of mainstreamed components as reference and guidance for DG ECHO staff for improving the design of future interventions. The evaluation is due to be finalised by the end of June 2008.

United Nations Development Programme/Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (UNDP/BCPR): global study of the interface between disasters and conflict; May 2007 to September 2008

Based on an international tendering process, in May 2007 Aguaconsult was awarded a contract to carry out a study examining the interface between conflict and disasters for the UNDP/BCPR. This is a relatively less well known area of humanitarian intervention and the study aims to develop a common typology of interfaces and improved programming tools for UNDP country office staff. The project is now in its final stages, and has involved field missions to eight countries: Sri Lanka, Sudan, Haiti, Bolivia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Kenya and Zimbabwe, as well as the carrying out of a desk-based review of the situation in Kyrgyzstan. These country case studies have been analysed and developed into a report which presents the findings relating to the interface between disaster and conflict risk and highlights areas of existing good practice. This report will form the basis for a framework or guide for UNDP country office staff to improve programming where they face these complex interface scenarios. The comparative analysis document is in the final stages of production and the Aguaconsult team is now working to draft the new framework document, entitled 'Undertaking an integrated approach for programming in disaster-conflict interface: A How to Guide'. The study is due to be finalised in September 2008, with a roll-out event to trial the new how to guide.

Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC): provision of technical advisory services for the implementation of the new MCC £230 million Compact for Mozambique; September 2007 - ongoing

The MCC Due Diligence for Mozambique Compact with the Government of Mozambique (GoM) is a £230 million grant for the provision and improvement of water supply, sanitation and roads in rural areas and small towns. The grant will support interventions in Cabo Delgado, Niassa, Nampula and Zambezia (Northern Mozambique Provinces) pursuing the main goal of contributing to the acceleration of broad-based and inclusive growth and poverty reduction through boosting livelihood opportunities for small-holders and expanding rural markets. Aguaconsult is working with a consortium of private sector companies in providing technical support to MCC for the execution of the proposed set of interventions. The company has been tasked specifically to assess the institutional and policy aspects of the proposal relating to new capital investments and reform in the peri-urban and rural water and sanitation sectors.

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