Agenda About the event The Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) have collaborated to strengthen and localise flood early warning systems in select municipalities of Nepal’s Lumbini and Sudurpashchim provinces. We organised a training on the use of SERVIR-HKH’s science application from 17-19 April 2023 for disaster preparedness in Nepal at Nepalgunj. We are now organising a one-day residential refresher training on using SERVIR-HKH’s science applications for disaster preparedness in Nepal. During the training, we will gather feedback on the science applications and gather information related to gender dynamics and SERVIR tools. We will also introduce a newly developed ‘Prakop Alert’ mobile app. Objectives Strengthen partnerships with provincial and local governments to improve and localise flood early warning systems in the provinces Provide refresher training to SERVIR-HKH flood and weather forecasting applications and introduce the ‘Prakop Alert’ App Conduct an awareness-raising presentation session among DRR Focal points about integrating Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) into the Early Warning System (EWS) for a more inclusive and effective Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) effort Conduct Key Informant Interviews (KII) with participants to identify GESI dynamics and data gaps related to the use, management, & adoption of SERVIR information services Gather feedback on the applications for further customisation and enhancement Expected outcomes Upon completing the training, the participants will better understand SERVIR-HKH science applications and their use during disasters like floods, high-impact winds, lightning strikes, heavy rainfall, hail, and other weather events. Participants will also be informed about GESI in the Early Warning System (EWS). We also expect the participants to be able to transfer the acquired knowledge to other users/partners as required. Expected participants Participants from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), and designated disaster risk reduction (DRR) focal persons and NRCS staff from 12 municipalities in the Lumbini and Sudurpashchim provinces will attend the training. Participation requisites Each participant should have a laptop with Windows 10 or higher operating system and an android supported mobile phone for the training. A good understanding 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. Resource persons ICIMOD Bikram Shakya, Geospatial Application Development Analyst Manish Shrestha, Hydrologist Pritee Hamal, Consultant- GESI Gender Equality & Social Inclusion Rajesh Shrestha, Programme Associate Danish Red Cross Niru Pradhan, Program Coordinator 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, our SERVIR-HKH Initiative collaborates with the SERVIR Applied Sciences Team to develop science applications that assist in forecasting high-impact weather events, flash floods, and riverine floods in river networks in the HKH region. These applications provide information that significantly improves current deterministic forecasting systems and is more reliable and actionable. 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. We are working with NRCS on establishing a collaborative mechanism to leverage the strengths of both institutions and connect our satellite- and model-based forecasts with NRCS, which has a local presence and networks among vulnerable communities. NRCS could help disseminate the forecasts through its existing networks, using its local presence to reach vulnerable communities and ensure that they are aware of potential risks and can take appropriate actions. NRCS is implementing the STRONG programme to strengthen the capacity of the Government of Nepal and humanitarian stakeholders to implement forecast-based action and shock-responsive social protection in Bardiya, Kailali, and Kanchanpur districts. NRCS has built a replicable mechanism for anticipatory action based on on-ground experiences and field-tested evidence. This mechanism integrates anticipatory action and shock responsiveness to Nepal’s social security allowance programme. The two-year programme is a follow-on project to the Forecast-based Action and Shock Responsive Social Protection (FbA-SRSP) project supported financially by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, and technically supported by the Danish Red Cross, Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, and Handicap International.