External Final Evaluation: Improved Disaster Management Capacity of Afghan Red Crescent Society

As laid out in the original single form application to ECHO, the project aimed to “support the development of ARCS’ capacity to put in to operation its assigned role in the national plan for Disaster Management.” The principal objective was “to reduce the vulnerability of communities in targeted areas of Afghanistan to natural and man-made disasters” with a specific objective that “the ARCS’ capacity in disaster management is increased.” The ARCS DM Department was supported through this pilot phase project with original funding of 825, 557 EUR with 95% of this from ECHO and balance funding of 5% by DRC. Running from April 2006 until end of June 2007 the pilot project concentrated on ARCS National Head Quarters and two provinces (Kabul, Balkh) with six intended results:

1. “The ARCS has developed an overall strategy, including DM in relation to its formal roles in the National DM Plan
2. The ARCS has a disaster preparedness capacity building plan, including draft SOP
3. ARCS Disaster Response Units (10-12 persons each) in Kabul and Balkh regions are trained and equipped to provide effective assessments and response to disasters by May 2007
4. 300 ARCS staff and volunteers at national and branch levels (Balkh, Takhar, Faizabad, Samangan, Bahglan and Kabul) are trained in needs assessments and distribution; at regional level ARCS DM Officers are trained to start implementing community-based disaster preparedness
5. The new ARCS national headquarters and 10 branches strengthened in relief stock management, and 2 regional warehouses (Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif) provided relief stocks for a total of 3,000 families
6. Finance management systems in place at national headquarter, and improved volunteer/youth management capacity is in place”