Introductory Meeting with Vijayawada Municipal Corporation

News

An ICLEI South Asia team met Additional Commissioner (Projects) of Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) on 25^th July, 2024, to brief them about the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN): Accelerating Inclusive Action programme. The objectives of the CDKN programme and its activity plan were shared with her. The CDKN programme aims to extend technical support to the VMC in assessing its disaster resilience, formulating climate-induced disaster-resilient action with a focus on gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) and ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) approaches as an addendum to climate action plan currently being prepared, and executing a pilot project incorporating suggestions from VMC under Knowledge to Action (K2A) projects. The collaborative efforts between ICLEI South Asia and the municipal stakeholders aim to chart a pathway for achieving just, transformative, ecosystem-based and locally-led city disaster resilience. Engagement in Kakinada: a. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with fisherfolk community in Kakinada: An FGD was conducted with fisherfolk community in Kakinada to discuss and understand the status and positioning of this particular community in the socio-economic context of the area. The conversation navigated through the gendered perspective of educational attainment, income, division of labour within household, age of marriage, access to technical and financial instruments, access to basic services, access to land and other resources within the community. Being engaged in a climate induced disaster sensitive and natural ecosystem dependent economy, how has the climate change and degradation of ecosystem impacted their livelihood generation over the years. The session also targeted to explore the authority in decision making and level of participation by the community members in the disaster risk reduction activities, especially understanding the inclusivity in response, relief and rehabilitation process. The conversation pointed out to the realities of livelihood getting significantly impacted by climate change, with reduced fish catch leading to reduced income and compelling them to seek alternative employment opportunity elsewhere whereas for many of them despite the life-threatening risks posed by cyclones and heavy rains, fishing remains primary occupation. The community is highly vulnerable to flooding due to its proximity to coastal area, but they receive support through government awareness programs, early warnings, and assistance during disasters, while also relying on mutual aid within the community. Gender roles in household decision-making are collaborative, with women taking on full responsibility when men are away on extended fishing trips, demonstrating adaptive responses to the challenges they face. b. Discussion with Multiple Departments in Kakinada Introductory meeting was held virtually with Collector and District Magistrate, Kakinada district, Commissioner, Kakinada Municipal Corporation[1] and Joint Collector Trainee, Kakinada district explaining the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN): Accelerating Inclusive Action programme. District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) headed by the Collector and District Magistrate, being the decision maker for local government level disaster management, it was imperative to lay out the objectives and activity planned under the project to seek their approval. The team requested their support in facilitating data collection especially from district level departments and stakeholders, conducting stakeholder consultation workshop and implementation of K2A project. [1] Present Commissioner assumed position after the initial introductory meeting with Kakinada Municipal Corporation To this end, series of discussion had been held with Sub-District Forest Officer (Sub-DFO), District Disaster Response & Fire Officer, Project Manager, DDMA and Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA) City Mission Manager. Sub-DFO and the Research Scientist at Sub-DFO shared insights on the biodiversity mapping and conservation initiatives undertaken by the department in the eco-sensitive areas adjacent to Kakinada. Notably, community based eco-tourism, awareness generation and promotion of alternative livelihood are gaining traction for leveraging the ecosystem services in sustainable manner. Discussion with District Disaster Response & Fire Officer, and District Project Manager highlighted their focus on response and recovery measures on contingent basis. While traditionally vulnerable groups such as elderly, women, and children are prioritized in the response-recovery system, it is not designed to be strongly inclusive and the overall system did not adopt prevention and mitigation centric approach. Discussion with MEPMA City Mission Manager pointed out some of the awareness campaign being undertaken in coordination with Self Help Group (SHG), Town Level Federation (TLF), and Slum Level Federation (SLF) especially focusing on livelihood generation, prevention of vector borne diseases, and social security measures. These multi-departmental and community level discussions will form the basis of understanding the on-ground disaster management initiatives especially its effectiveness in mitigating disaster impact for traditionally vulnerable communities, and role of these communities and local ecosystem in disaster management. This will contribute to formulating the disaster resilience actions with a focus on gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) and ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) approaches as an addendum to climate action plan currently being prepared. Assessment for Disaster Resilience in Kakinada: Disaster resilience for Kakinada has been assessed as per Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities developed by UNDRR. Score has been assigned preliminarily based on literature review, secondary data and insights gained through ICLEI SA’s prior engagement with Kakinada. The assessment reflects that the city has effective disaster response, infrastructure resilience and well organized for disaster resilience while it needs to strengthen financial, institutional and societal capacity to build resilience. Reiterating the key intelligences as obtained through the bi-lateral discussions, the score card also emphasised the need of integrating natural ecosystem and community participation in the disaster resilience planning, currently not practiced. The findings of the assessment will be validated through a stakeholder consultation in the last quarter of 2024. Training Module A training module is being prepared for capacitating Urban Local Bodies (ULB) to prepare a climate-induced disaster resilient city action plan that has integrated GESI and EbA approaches. The training module pack is divided into several modules; each module is divided into a few learning units and complemented with activities and Q&A for interactive sessions. The module pack is aimed to foster the need of mitigation and preparedness centric disaster resilience over response and relief centric approach and instil the understanding of mainstreaming of GESI and EbA in disaster resilience planning process among others.

The CDKN programme aims to extend technical support to the VMC in assessing its disaster resilience, formulating climate-induced disaster-resilient action with a focus on gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) and ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) approaches as an addendum to climate action plan currently being prepared, and executing a pilot project incorporating suggestions from VMC under Knowledge to Action (K2A) projects. The collaborative efforts between ICLEI South Asia and the municipal stakeholders aim to chart a pathway for achieving just, transformative, ecosystem-based and locally-led city disaster resilience.

Engagement in Kakinada:

a. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with fisherfolk community in Kakinada:

An FGD was conducted with fisherfolk community in Kakinada to discuss and understand the status and positioning of this particular community in the socio-economic context of the area. The conversation navigated through the gendered perspective of educational attainment, income, division of labour within household, age of marriage, access to technical and financial instruments, access to basic services, access to land and other resources within the community. Being engaged in a climate induced disaster sensitive and natural ecosystem dependent economy, how has the climate change and degradation of ecosystem impacted their livelihood generation over the years. The session also targeted to explore the authority in decision making and level of participation by the community members in the disaster risk reduction activities, especially understanding the inclusivity in response, relief and rehabilitation process.

The conversation pointed out to the realities of livelihood getting significantly impacted by climate change, with reduced fish catch leading to reduced income and compelling them to seek alternative employment opportunity elsewhere whereas for many of them despite the life-threatening risks posed by cyclones and heavy rains, fishing remains primary occupation. The community is highly vulnerable to flooding due to its proximity to coastal area, but they receive support through government awareness programs, early warnings, and assistance during disasters, while also relying on mutual aid within the community. Gender roles in household decision-making are collaborative, with women taking on full responsibility when men are away on extended fishing trips, demonstrating adaptive responses to the challenges they face.

b. Discussion with Multiple Departments in Kakinada

Introductory meeting was held virtually with Collector and District Magistrate, Kakinada district, Commissioner, Kakinada Municipal Corporation[1] and Joint Collector Trainee, Kakinada district explaining the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN): Accelerating Inclusive Action programme. District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) headed by the Collector and District Magistrate, being the decision maker for local government level disaster management, it was imperative to lay out the objectives and activity planned under the project to seek their approval. The team requested their support in facilitating data collection especially from district level departments and stakeholders, conducting stakeholder consultation workshop and implementation of K2A project.

[1] Present Commissioner assumed position after the initial introductory meeting with Kakinada Municipal Corporation

To this end, series of discussion had been held with Sub-District Forest Officer (Sub-DFO), District Disaster Response & Fire Officer, Project Manager, DDMA and Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA) City Mission Manager. Sub-DFO and the Research Scientist at Sub-DFO shared insights on the biodiversity mapping and conservation initiatives undertaken by the department in the eco-sensitive areas adjacent to Kakinada. Notably, community based eco-tourism, awareness generation and promotion of alternative livelihood are gaining traction for leveraging the ecosystem services in sustainable manner. Discussion with District Disaster Response & Fire Officer, and District Project Manager highlighted their focus on response and recovery measures on contingent basis. While traditionally vulnerable groups such as elderly, women, and children are prioritized in the response-recovery system, it is not designed to be strongly inclusive and the overall system did not adopt prevention and mitigation centric approach. Discussion with MEPMA City Mission Manager pointed out some of the awareness campaign being undertaken in coordination with Self Help Group (SHG), Town Level Federation (TLF), and Slum Level Federation (SLF) especially focusing on livelihood generation, prevention of vector borne diseases, and social security measures.

These multi-departmental and community level discussions will form the basis of understanding the on-ground disaster management initiatives especially its effectiveness in mitigating disaster impact for traditionally vulnerable communities, and role of these communities and local ecosystem in disaster management. This will contribute to formulating the disaster resilience actions with a focus on gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) and ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) approaches as an addendum to climate action plan currently being prepared.

Assessment for Disaster Resilience in Kakinada:

Disaster resilience for Kakinada has been assessed as per Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities developed by UNDRR. Score has been assigned preliminarily based on literature review, secondary data and insights gained through ICLEI SA’s prior engagement with Kakinada. The assessment reflects that the city has effective disaster response, infrastructure resilience and well organized for disaster resilience while it needs to strengthen financial, institutional and societal capacity to build resilience. Reiterating the key intelligences as obtained through the bi-lateral discussions, the score card also emphasised the need of integrating natural ecosystem and community participation in the disaster resilience planning, currently not practiced. The findings of the assessment will be validated through a stakeholder consultation in the last quarter of 2024.

Training Module

A training module is being prepared for capacitating Urban Local Bodies (ULB) to prepare a climate-induced disaster resilient city action plan that has integrated GESI and EbA approaches. The training module pack is divided into several modules; each module is divided into a few learning units and complemented with activities and Q&A for interactive sessions. The module pack is aimed to foster the need of mitigation and preparedness centric disaster resilience over response and relief centric approach and instil the understanding of mainstreaming of GESI and EbA in disaster resilience planning process among others.