This project boosts flood resilience in Nepal’s Chaudhar Basin by turning communities into first responders. Centered in Bedkot Municipality, it blends citizen science, low-cost sensors, and smart digital tools to power real-time flood alerts. By linking early warning with early action, it builds a locally driven, tech-enabled safety net.
The SMART project (Scaling Digital and Spatial Technologies for Anticipatory Action) is an innovative disaster preparedness initiative designed to enhance flood resilience in the Chaudhar River Basin, with a primary focus on Bedkot Municipality, and downstream extension to Belauri and Beldandi in Kanchanpur district, Western Nepal. This region faces recurring flash floods and climate-induced hazards, with limited early warning systems and preparedness mechanisms. SMART builds on DCA’s long-term experience in multi-hazard response, leveraging citizen science, low-cost hydrometeorological monitoring, and digital tools to turn early warnings into timely early actions.
At the heart of the project is DASTAA (Digital and Spatial Technologies for Anticipatory Action), an integrated digital platform that analyzes real-time data and automatically categorizes risk zones (red/yellow/green) to support community-led decisions for anticipatory action. The project fosters inclusive, localized, and sustainable disaster resilience by empowering communities with tools, knowledge, and institutional support.
Details in Bullet:( its about plan of the project)
Citizen Science Network:
● Mobilize trained local volunteers to collect rainfall and river level data using mobile apps and repurposed rain gauges.
● Engage communities in generating localized, real-time flood data.
Real-Time Monitoring & DASTAA Deployment:
● Install IoT-enabled water level sensors in flood-prone zones.
● Operate a centralized, open-access data visualization platform for local governments and disaster actors.
Digital Early Warning & Risk Mapping:
● DASTAA categorizes vulnerability based on live data, providing user-friendly insights for flood preparedness and early response.
Capacity Building & Early Action Protocols (EAP):
● Train community members, local officials, and institutions in early warning interpretation and early action planning.
● Conduct awareness programs led by citizen scientists to strengthen community preparedness.
Knowledge Exchange & Replication:
● Establish a regional platform to share learning and replicate the model across the Chaudhar Basin.
Multi-Stakeholder Coordination:
· Coordinate closely with key stakeholder DHM (Department of Hydrology and Meteorology) and NDRRMA (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority) to ensure government align and support.
● Collaborate with IFRC, IHRR, NNSWA, private tech partners, and municipalities for sustainability and scalability.
Climate Equity Focus:
● Ensure inclusive participation through multilingual alerts, digital literacy training, and community tech hubs.
The project is implemented by:
It is implemented in collaboration with Bedkot Municipality, local communities, DHM, NDRRMA, NNSWA, IFRC, civil society organizations, and technology partners to strengthen community-based flood monitoring, anticipatory action, and digital early warning.