DPNet and SPCSN provides recommendations for Strengthening Nepal’s SRSP Standards
The Disaster Preparedness Network (DPNet) and the Social Protection Civil Society Network (SPCSN) jointly submitted a set of recommendations on the Draft Shock Responsive Social Protection (SRSP) Management and Grant Distribution Standard 2081 to the Executive Chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), Mr. Anil Pokhrel, on November 24, 2024. Presented by a team led by Dr. Raju Thapa, Chairperson of DPNet, these suggestions aim to improve the draft's alignment with international standards, such as those of WHO, UNHCR, and the Sphere Guidelines, ensuring inclusivity and practical implementation.
Dr. Thapa highlighted key technical concerns, including the provision on minimum kilocalorie intake per person per day. The current draft standard sets this at 2,236 kilocalories, exceeding the globally recognized Sphere standard of 2,100 kilocalories. He emphasized that aligning with the Sphere standard would enhance the credibility of Nepal’s disaster response framework, ensuring consistency with international humanitarian principles while promoting adequacy and equity in assistance distribution. Other recommendations included defining clear roles across local, provincial, and national levels to avoid overlap and improve coordination during disaster response and recovery.
The recommendations also called for a proactive approach to disaster preparedness, such as pre-stocking essential supplies in strategically located warehouses and integrating disaster management efforts with social protection systems. Temporary eligibility criteria, based on socio-economic indicators, were proposed to address delays in identifying economically disadvantaged households through poor household identification survey process. Moreover, the recomendations advocated for public communication materials to be accessible in local languages and braille formats suitable for diverse audiences, including those with disabilities, to ensure inclusivity.
In response, Mr. Pokhrel expressed his commitment to reviewing the recommendations, particularly technical aspects such as the kilocalorie threshold as per sphere standard, which he noted would be reassessed before finalization. However, he clarified that certain aspects, such as the composition of the SRSP Committee, had already been finalized and would not be revisited. He assured that the draft would undergo further refinement based on relevant inputs and be forwarded to the ministerial cabinet for approval.
