Nahda Makers Implements “Ma’an Aqwa” Project to Enhance Disaster Risk Management in Abyan

With funding from #CRS, Nahda Makers (NMO) implemented the project “Ma’an Aqwa: Disaster Risk Management in Khanfar District - Abyan”, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the resilience of local communities affected by climate change and to reduce the risks and impacts of disasters.

The project targeted Khanfar District in Abyan Governorate, where a diverse package of activities was implemented across several areas of the district. These activities included four specialized training workshops, a series of community meetings, and the implementation of community-based infrastructure projects aimed at reducing risks caused by floods and torrential rains.

The project benefited 313 households, with a total of 1,723 direct and indirect beneficiaries.

At its initial stage, the project focused on direct field interventions to mitigate flood risks and protect agricultural lands. This included the construction of a of a spillway weir (gabion) in Al-Kalbah area, aimed at protecting soil, regulating and diverting floodwaters, retaining water, and channeling it to nearby farms for agricultural irrigation. This intervention contributes to utilizing floodwaters instead of allowing them to damage agricultural lands in the area.

The field interventions also included:

·        Rehabilitation of the damaged earthwork maintaining the electricity tower protection wall along with improvement of  the valley’s course Sakin Al-Lahouj area.

·        Rehabilitation of Saed ubar Al Sharqiya, along with the cleaning of the valley’s course in its three parts ALsharqiah area.   

·        Installation of the control gates of Al-Hayjah Dam, along with cleaning the basin and the main conveying channel - Jabal Lahboush area.

In addition, the project implemented a series of community meetings with Disaster Risk Management groups in the district to identify key risks and disasters facing local communities, raise community awareness on prevention and response mechanisms, and engage communities in identifying priorities and appropriate solutions.

The project also delivered four specialized training workshops, which included:

• A workshop on Disaster Risk Management, planning, and budgeting.
• A training workshop on Disaster Risk Management and early warning for floods and droughts.
• A workshop on training community committees to implement projects using the Community Contracting approach.
• A workshop on experience sharing and lessons learned in Disaster Risk Management and early warning systems.

Overall, the project aims to enhance the capacity of climate-affected communities in Khanfar District to adapt to the impacts of climate change, through community capacity building, improvement of preventive infrastructure, and strengthening community partnerships in disaster risk management.