Flood protection

Plan International is part of the Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance (ZFRA) and implements projects to protect against flooding in various regions of the world.

project regions

• Nepal: 2015 - 2017
• El Salvador: 2 municipalities each in the departments of Chalatenango and La Libertad (2018-2024)
• Nicaragua: 4 municipalities in the department of Chinandega (2018-2024)
• Vietnam: 18 municipalities in the province of Quang Tri (2021-2024)
• The Philippines: 6 municipalities in the cities of Navotas and Manilla (2021-2024)

Duration 

• Phase 1: August 2015-August 2017 (Nepal)
• Phase 2: July 2018-December 2024 (El Salvador; Nicaragua; Vietnam; Philippines)

what measures are being taken?

The second phase of the project began in July 2018, initially in El Salvador and Nicaragua. From January 2021, the project was expanded to include Vietnam and the Philippines. During the first phase, Plan International Switzerland was active in two communities in Nepal (2016-2017). The following measures, for example, are being implemented in the project countries:

• Various training programmes on disaster prevention and first aid, especially for girls and children.
• Setting up early warning systems and regular drills for emergencies.
• Simple search and rescue training.
• Simple infrastructure measures such as community shelters, better water drainage facilities to improve the route to school for children.
• Reinforcement of embankments and mangroves.
• Setting up and supporting disaster prevention committees with the participation of women and children.
• Distribution of relief supplies for vulnerable families particularly affected by COVID-19.
• Promoting menstrual hygiene in crisis situations through demystification and education, safe spaces and hygiene products.

Thanks to the newly established disaster prevention committees, the communities are better prepared to respond to hazards in good time. This can sustainably strengthen resilience in the communities not only to floods, but also to other hazards such as a pandemic.

Our project goals

With this project, we ensure that the population, especially children and girls, take various measures in cooperation with Plan International and local governments to visibly improve their resilience (resistance) to flooding.

What we do to ensure project success

Plan International Switzerland works in partnership with eight different organisations worldwide to strengthen the resilience of different communities to flood risk. We work at global, regional, national and local levels to prevent disasters in advance. We do this, for example, by 

• Sharing good practices to show how community resilience can be strengthened
• Informing communities, governments and other stakeholders
• Supporting legislative and policy decisions
• Increased funding in the area of resilience

Study results from two communities in el salvador (May-June 2020): 

Colima community (PDF) / Spanish version (PDF)
El Majahual community (PDF) / Spanish version (PDF)