International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development Kathmandu, Nepal Role of ICT for effective reconstruction and rehabilitation Sushil Pandey, ICIMOD

Presentation Structure From Response … to Reconstruction How can ICTs support the process of reconstruction and rehabilitation (RR) How ICT can be more effective, including key ICT actors role to support RR How can our ICT (infrastructure particularly) better prepare for future disasters

Role played during Response ICT in general showed how they played an increasingly relevant role in earthquake disaster response Mapping of affected areas Crowdsourced incident reports Restoring family links Demonstrated very clearly the critical role of telecommunications, Internet to keep people connected and informed.

Role expected in Reconstruction In reconstruction and rehabilitation, the aim is to reconstruct people’s lives on a more permanent basis and includes the rebuilding of infrastructure and people’s livelihoods. The scope is much enlarged Attention must be given to various factors and process Collaboration from various stakeholders and local communities/beneficiaries is needed, including key ICT actors

Information is a key factor Basis for informed decision making not only debris from damage infrastructure but also debris of overwhelming information to manage Range of Information –social, demographic, economic data at local (VDC/Municipality), district and national levels; –critical infrastructure inventory (schools/hospitals/roads etc.) –Landuse plan –Cultural asset information – construction technique/material, cultural significance –Hazard

ICT can support Information collection, planning, monitoring of reconstruction by effective information management Data/Information collection –Mobile devices – GPS, QR codes, Cusotmizable survey forms, online and offline Planning –Use of Geographical Information System (GIS), e.g. suitable location selection for constructing a school (landuse planning) –Spatial patterns and visualization Web based national information systems or Management Information System (MIS) on reconstruction is created – –open standards for data, are used and followed –Transparency among agencies involved in reconstruction and recipient community

Supporting Monitoring process Monitoring –ICT can be used to aggregate information from multiple sources to facilitate reporting –GIS/Image processing – change detection/Before/After –general public can use social media to assess and monitor reconstruction outcomes at their location –Telecentres/Call centres can be effective for relay/dispatch/record information on reconstruction from public. Like “Hello Sarkar” is a proven model for relay of information, registering issues and grievances National Planning Commission - key role on information management

Within Nepal DRR Portal –Nepal Earthquake 2015 – disaster relief platform – –Provides profiles of relief information at different Administrative levels

DRR Portal –Uses many ICT tools to manage and integrate information (Database/GIS/Mobile App/Social Media/Visualization/Info-Graphics)

Web portal approach –Collaboration between Ministry of Home Affairs, (DRR/NEOC) and ICIMOD –Customization of International Knowledge as experienced in similar case of disaster –Our Experience: “the nerve centre” to track what is happening, where, and how “Knock on effect” on other sectors (catalytic role)

How ICT can be more effective to bring positive contribution to Reconstruction Some key tasks –Technical –Policy –New initiatives on ICTs to support reconstruction –Implementation of planned programme on ICT –Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) – Key ICT actors to lead

How Our ICTs can be more effective to bring positive contribution to Reconstruction Firstly, and most obviously, the hard hit areas by earthquake needs to receive both telecommunications and Internet access on a priority basis. including displaced/relocated helps to rebuild national cohesion, restoring connections between urban and rural areas and family members Telecom Operators and ISPs

How ICT can be more effective to bring positive contribution to Reconstruction Improved Infrastructure –Leveraging developmental value out of reconstruction (public services delivery, access to finance, ICT linking to Development programmes) from ICTs requires very good infrastructure –Broadband infrastructure – wireless broadband –MoIC and NTA could prioritize communications infrastructure in reconstruction programme

How ICT can be more effective to bring positive contribution to Reconstruction Engage the Youth –Bring out government scheme on ICT capacity building of youth through practical trainings and other means, including support with funds to get started with a small business –would create opportunities for small-scale intermediary activity in the ICT sector itself, reducing unemployment

How ICT can be more effective to bring positive contribution to Reconstruction Earthquake has affected two social sectors most – health and education –build on the potential of ICTs to enhance public services on two affected sectors –Health sector telemedicine facility, coordinating vaccinations, providing patients and the public with health advisory in affected districts (could be SMS based too) –Education sector use of ICT to support teacher training through distance education, availing open educational resources for students, either online or offline

How ICT can be more effective to bring positive contribution to Reconstruction Enabling Environment -legal frameworks which encourage competition -regulatory rules where risks are reduced (for expansion and bringing in investment from private sector) –sharing of infrastructure - mobile phone towers, Sharing of Fiber link –accelerate the process of unlocking the spectrum (for rolling out wifi broadband) MoIC, NTA, Telecom Operators, ISPAN has very important roles

How ICT can be more effective to bring positive contribution to Reconstruction Other ICT programmes chalked out need to be implemented so that reconstruction and rehabilitation could fully benefit as well National ID programme Rural Telecommunications Development Fund.

How do we better prepare for the future ? The reconstruction goal for ICT is also to rebuild and reposition to better resilient standards ICT Infrastructure – telecom and Internet Periodic consultations should be conducted with telecom operators and ISPs to assess the resilience of their networks prescribe building standards for hosting telecommunication infrastructure, such as tower redundancy requirements are built in compulsorily

How do we better prepare for the future ? The reconstruction goal for ICT is also to rebuild and reposition to better resilient standards insurance is done of the equipment and infrastructure. NTA could devise incentive scheme in collaboration with telecom operators and Internet service providers Special attention should be paid to developing redundant solutions for power supplies to critical ICT infrastructure

How do we better prepare for the future ? The reconstruction goal for ICT is also to rebuild and reposition to better resilient standards Implementation of Emergency Telecommunication Network that NTA had done a study can be helpful, if it had been proved feasible. Disaster recovery plan and often referred to as also Business Continuity Plan for ICT Services needs to be in place.

Summary ICT plays a critical role in the aftermath of a disaster and more so during the reconstruction phase by ensuring proper management of large volume and diverse information It also has a great significance in the planning and monitoring reconstruction process aided by various ICT enabled integrating and visualization tools. Some requirements on ICTs to make it more effective to support reconstruction It is important to make ICT communication network particularly resilient, as ICT services and communication relies on it ICIMOD, would be happy to collaborate in this effort and leverage our strengths particularly on information management for reconstruction, integrating along with GIS, Mobile and other visualization tools

Conclusion ICTs are critical to effective management of post disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation… …this awareness needs to be translated into practice with practical solutions and procedures Conclusion

Thank you