MFF and Red Cross Society in Seychelles assists three districts in disaster risk reduction and resilience

The project recognizes that disaster risk reduction, beyond an emergency response to natural disasters, is a management response that increases a community's resilience, or its ability to cope with a changing environment. The Red Cross Society of Seychelles (RCSS), the project implementer, is the national society mandated to mobilize citizens and communities for disaster risk reduction activities.

One of the key outputs of the project is a community-led Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments (VCA), the results of which are used in drafting disaster risk reduction plans in the three districts. Recently, a VCA training module was developed and used in a training for RCSS volunteers and district community leaders.

The project encourages a multi-stakeholder participatory approach by bringing national, district, and local community stakeholders together. For example, the Ministry of Local Government provide supports as the meeting facilitator between district authorities and residents in communities. The country's Department of Risk and Disaster Management (DRDM) participates in the project by providing national data for project analysis, as well as in overseeing the VCA for all three districts. The results of the project, in particular the community VCA, will directly contribute to DRDM's national data and assist in national implementation of its activities.

Based on the preliminary findings of the VCA, the respective district authorities have drafted a preliminary disaster risk reduction plan for their communities. The district of Anse Boileau identified itself as the pilot implementation site for food and water security activities, such as home gardening. The district of Roche Caiman chose to carry out coastal area restoration activities, such as coastal clean-ups and tree planting. The district of  Ile Perseverance selected disaster response and preparedness activities, such as designating evacuation points and carrying out first aid training for residents. Through their respective action plans, the districts are understanding the connection between a well-managed ecosystem and a well-informed disaster risk reduction response.

At the end of the project, RCSS hopes that communities will have an increased awareness about disaster risk reduction and enable them to cope better with a changing environment.