BHAKARI MONTHLY UPDATE MARCH 2021

Key highlights of the reporting period include the completion of 123 inception meetings at the community level, 18 at the municipal level, and 2 at the district level. These meetings served as a platform to introduce the BHAKARI program to stakeholders and strengthen networking with stakeholders. The program has also made progress in establishing an Early Warning System (EWS) and conducting a needs assessment to identify gaps and requirements. A field-level FGDs and KII have been completed, and a final report will be submitted by April 2021. The EWS and weather information interventions will be implemented based on the findings. In addition, the program has selected consultants for the Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan (DPRP) and has initiated the tender process for master service agreements with service providers. The program has also conducted training sessions for BHAKARI staff on Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and has formed farmer groups, with 86 groups established to date. The program has also made progress in household registration, with 20,181 households (88% of the target) registered. A quick survey was conducted to understand communities' preferred feedback channels, and three major channels were identified. The program has also finalized Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for cash distribution and has initiated the tender process for master service agreements with service providers. Furthermore, the program has conducted orientation sessions on revised agriculture strategies and has provided capacity-building training for sub-engineers and irrigation officers. The program has also finalized vulnerable communities and water project selection criteria and indicators, and has completed feasibility studies in 7 communities in Surkhet, 12 in Dailekh, 6 in Achham, 4 in Jumla, and 2 in Mugu. The program has also made progress in Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC), conducting the first SBCC workshop and deploying key messages through the ICT partner Viamo's 321 platform. The program has also integrated key components into the messages, including COVID, nutrition, and GESI. A draft SBCC strategy has been prepared, and feedback and discussions will be incorporated before finalizing the strategy.