DUSHANBE, November 25, 2014 Asia-Plus — The European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department (ECHO) under the auspices of its Disaster Preparedness Program (DIPECHO) and Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) United Kingdom signed an agreement to implement the eighth DIPECHO Project in Central Asia.
According to the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) in Tajikistan and Mountain Societies Development Support Programme (MSDSP) in Kyrgyzstan will implement the project, Fostering Disaster Resilient Communities in Isolated Mountain Environments. The project seeks to enable local communities and institutions to better prepare for, mitigate and respond to natural disasters.
Within the framework of the project, FOCUS and MSDSP KG will implement a comprehensive set of community-based disaster risk management interventions in at-risk communities of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) of Tajikistan with Osh and Naryn of Kyrgyzstan. Furthermore, FOCUS and MSDSP KG will partner with the Tajik and Kyrgyz departments of Emergency Situations and other relevant government and non-government agencies to strengthen the capacity of local institutions and specialists in disaster risk reduction.
For more than 10 years ECHO and AKF/FOCUS have partnered to foster disaster resiliency whereby seeking to improve the quality of life of people in Central Asia.
The European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) is one of the biggest donors for humanitarian aid worldwide. With its funding nearly 20 million victims of natural or man – made disasters are helped each year in about 70 countries. The aid is distributed through 200 partner organizations (Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, specialized UN agencies, and European NGOs) impartially to those who need it most.
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is a non-denominational, international development agency established in 1967 by His Highness the Aga Khan. Its mission is to develop and promote creative Solutions to problems that impede social development, primarily in Asia and East Africa. Created as a private, non-profit foundation under Swiss law, it has branches and independent affiliates in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Canada, India, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mozambique, Pakistan, Portugal, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Uganda, the United States of America and the United Kingdom.
The Aga Khan Foundation United Kingdom (AKF UK) is committed to supporting disadvantaged and vulnerable communities irrespective of gender, ethnicity, religion or language. It aims to promote creative and effective solutions to problems that impede social development, primarily in Asia and East Africa. AKF has responded to the needs of vulnerable communities in various ways including provision of humanitarian assistance, disaster preparedness and resilience. This is accomplished by building capacity, increasing awareness and advocacy within communities in partnership with other international donors. AKF has over five years of experience managing disaster preparedness and emergency response partnerships implemented by its affiliate agency FOCUS. These have included 20 partnerships worth £6 million with ECHO covering actions in Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Tajikistan.
The Mountain Societies Development Support Programme, Kyrgyz Republic (MSDSP KG) is a locally registered public foundation initiated by the Aga Khan Foundation in 2003. It employs a development approach where interventions in education, health, income generation, and natural resource management converge in villages and are implemented in collaboration with community-based groups. It is currently active in Kyrgyzstan’s Osh and Naryn provinces.
Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) is an international disaster management and emergency response agency providing relief and support services during natural and man-made disasters, primarily in the developing world. It is established in Europe, North America, Central and South Asia and helps people in need reduce their dependence on humanitarian aid. Additionally, it facilitates community transition to sustainable, self-reliant, long-term development. FOCUS is an affiliate of the Aga Khan Development Network, a group of institutions working to improve opportunities and living conditions for people of all faiths and origins in specific regions of the developing world.
