Kathmandu, May 19

The European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department has extended its support to the ACT Alliance to launch Shelter Support to the Earthquake Affected Communities of Nepal.

The ACT Alliance consortium members, namely DanChurch Aid, ICCO Cooperation and Lutheran World Relief today launched the project SEACON at a function organised in Chitwan.

A joint press statement issued by the non-profit organisations in the capital today said the project is funded by ECHO and co-financed by the consortium members themselves.

It said that of the total budget of 1.1 million euros, ECHO has provided 850,000 euros and 250,000 euros is co-financed by the consortium members. SEACON aims to provide safe and resilient shelter to 2,200 households in five VDCs and one municipality each in Dhading, Makwanpur and Lamjung districts, it said.

According to the statement, the project will also ensure training of local masons and carpenters or welders to enhance their skills and knowledge. Additionally, the project will also provide shelter orientation to the local communities in their respective working areas.

Also, the consortium will provide capacity building support to institutionalise Disaster Risk Reduction at the VDC level.

“The project will focus on addressing the prevailing and vital recovery needs of adequate shelter,” the statement read, adding, “It will also incorporate Build Back Better principles by providing technical skills in correct building methods, proper construction materials and cash support allowing the targeted households to build resilient shelter as well as improving the capacity of communities to manage current and future disaster.”

It further said that SEACON project will run from May, 2016 to April 30, 2017 through local partners based in each district in close coordination with district and national authorities and humanitarian actors to avoid overlaps and gaps.

It will establish a baseline and continuously monitor its progress by using innovative mobile phone based technologies like the AKVO and Really Simple Reporting apps for assessing performance and gaps.