Natural disasters of unprecedented magnitudes are causing children and their communities to suffer. These disasters also threaten the realisation of Plan International’s vision of a world where children can realise their full potential. Plan, as a child-centred organisation, puts children at the centre of its work. With this aim in mind, it engages children and their communities in the empowering process of disaster risk reduction. In 2010, Plan implemented a two-year child-centred disaster risk reduction programme in eastern Nepal with the support of Plan Ireland and Irish Aid under a Humanitarian Partnership Programme grant.
The objective of the program was to build the capacity of both government bodies and local communities, including children, to better respond to, prevent, and mitigate the impacts of disasters. Embracing the principles of the Hyogo Framework of Action (2005-2015) and the National Strategy of Disaster Risk Management of the government of Nepal, the project was piloted with the help of Plan’s local partner, Human Development and Environment Protection Forum, in three village development committees in Sunsari District.