January 2006

As part of the GTZ-MRC-ADPC "Flood Emergency Management Strengthening (FEMS)" project activities, a study on Institutional Role Analysis and Improvement Identification was carried out in An Giang province and the two target districts of Chau Thanh and Tan Chau, from middle of December 2005 to 25 January 2006 . The study was conducted by Mekong Development Research Institute (MDI), Cantho University in partnership with ADPC and highlighted the existing flood planning processes practiced by Provincial and District Committees for Flood and Storm Control (PCFSC and DCFSC). It also identified the gaps and needs of the PCFSC and DCFSC especially in the area of planning and coordination. The findings of the study were shared with PCFSC and DCFSC on 14 February at the "Institutional Role Analysis Workshop" organized in Long Xuyen city, An Giang province. MDI presented the findings and recommendations for improvements, which will serve as the basis for implementation of flood preparedness planning activities under FEMS in Vietnam.

ADPC under the MRC-ADPC-ECHO Phase II project organized three training programs on "Planning and Implementation of Flood Preparedness Programmeat Province and District Levels" in the provinces of Kampong Cham in Cambodia from 9-12 January, Champassak in Lao PDR from 24-27 January and Tien Giang Province of Vietnam from 13-16 February. The main focus of each training was to enhance the capacity of the members of Provincial and District levels Committee for Disaster Management in flood preparedness planning.

Under the GTZ-MRC-ADPC "Flood Emergency Management Strengthening (FEMS)" project, the process on Kandal provincial flood preparedness programme development was initiated on 27 January. A one-day consultative meeting was held in Kandal to review the draft provincial flood preparedness plan developed by Kandal Provincial Committee on Disaster Management (PCDM) in collaboration with ADPC and National Committee on Disaster Management (NCDM-Cambodia). The plan was revised based on inputs received at the meeting and presented to a wider audience on 21-22 February at the "Consultative Workshop onDevelopment of Provincial Flood Preparedness Programme", held at Kandal provincial hall. Representatives from Kandal PCDM secretariat, member line departments of Kandal PCDM, District Committee on Disaster Management (DCDM) of Leuk Dek and Lovea Em districts, NCDM-Cambodia, Cambodia National Mekong Committee (CNMC) and partner NGOs including Seila program in Kandal attended the meeting. The major outcomes of the workshop include endorsement of the Kandal Provincial Flood Preparedness Plan by all its member agencies and the initiation of resource mobilization strategy development for implementation of the Plan