Training on Pre-monsoon training on hazard forecasting for anticipatory action in Nepal

Date 15 May 2024 to 17 May 2024
Venue Nagarkot, Nepal
Contact Persons shrestha.manish@icimod.org
Type Training
Programmes SG3, SERVIR-HKH

Agenda

About the event

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and Start Fund Nepal (SFN) are collaborating to improve and localise anticipatory action for disaster in Nepal. As part of this process, we are organising a three-day residential training on the technical aspect of anticipatory action. During the training, we will introduce a series of forecasting tools related to floods, drought, landslides, and extreme temperatures developed by ICIMOD and Forecast-based, Warning, Analysis, and Response Network (FOREWARN). The training will also be a good platform to gather user feedback to improve our tools such as High-Impact Weather Assessment Toolkit, Flash Flood Prediction Tool, National agricultural drought watch – Nepal, Forest Fire Detection and Monitoring System, Prakop Alert, Cold and Heat Wave toolkit, Pahiro Alert and ForeC toolkit.

Objectives

  • Strengthen partnerships with NGOs and INGOs to improve and localise anticipatory action in Nepal
  • Provide hands-on training on using and interpreting various forecasting tools available for anticipatory action
  • Gather feedback on the tools for further customisation and enhancement

Expected outcomes

Upon completing the training, participants will better understand various forecasting tools and their use for preparedness for floods, drought, landslides, and extreme temperatures. This will also help our members raise and contribute to raising anticipatory alerts in SFN quickly and more confidently.

We also expect the participants to be able to transfer the acquired knowledge to other users/partners as required through a mandatory presentation/sharing session within a month of receiving the training to obtain a certificate.

Expected participants

31 (16 LNGOs and 15 NGOs) participants from SFN, along with members of the FOREWARN community, will be participating along with presenters from a wide range of organisations working in the field of anticipatory action. This also includes the focal body for weather forecasting, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), Nepal and members of the Nepal Red Cross Society.

Participation requisites

Each participant should have a laptop with a Windows 10 or higher operating system for the training. They should have a basic understanding of GIS, QGIS installed, forecasting and data analyses. A good knowledge of English is also required as all resource materials will be in the English medium. We will deliver most of the training lectures in Nepali but may need to use English for some specific terms.

Completing the following training is highly recommended:

  1. AA manual – forecasting in Nepal (Preliminary)
  2. Crisis Anticipation and Action
  3. Anticipatory Action: A Proactive Approach to Disaster Risk Management

Resource persons

FOREWARN

  • Niroj Sapkota, Technical Specialist, SFN (FOREWARN)
  • Suraj Gautam, Executive Director, Institute for Himalayan Risk Reduction (IHRR)
  • Pradip Khatiwada, Executive Director, Youth Innovation Lab (YIL)
  • Saroj Thakur, Senior FBA officer, Finnish Red Cross
  • Metereologist (TBD), DHM

 

ICIMOD

  • Bikram Shakya, Geospatial Application Development Analyst
  • Manish Shrestha, Hydrologist
  • Sarthak Shrestha, Remote Sensing and Geo-Information Associate

Background

Effective disaster risk reduction and resilience strategies ensure that relevant actors can anticipate adverse events before they occur and take proactive actions to alleviate consequences. Recognising the need to enhance such capability in the region, the SERVIR-HKH Initiative collaborates with the SERVIR Applied Sciences Team to develop science applications that assist in forecasting high-impact weather events, flash floods, riverine floods, and drought in the HKH region. These applications provide information that significantly improves current deterministic forecasting systems and is more reliable and actionable. SFN has also developed several tools capable of forecasting landslides and extreme temperatures. These applications are maintained on an open-access web portal for public use and feedback, and we regularly engage relevant stakeholders in capacity development activities.

ICIMOD is working with SFN to establish a collaborative mechanism to leverage the strengths of both institutions to use our model-based forecasting tools for anticipatory action. Through FOREWARN, SFN aims to mainstream the use of forecast-based anticipatory and early actions to reach at-risk communities rapidly and in a dignified manner. SFN could help disseminate the forecasts through its existing networks, using its local presence to reach vulnerable communities and ensure they are aware of potential risks and can take appropriate actions.