Baliyo Ghar
With the core funding support from United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Baliyo Ghar program is a five-year (October 2015–September 2020) Cooperative Agreement for Housing Reconstruction Technical Assistance implemented by National Society For Earthquake Technology-Nepal. The program is being implemented in 4 districts (Kathmandu, Dolakha, Dhading and Nuwakot) out of the 14 quake-most-affected districts.
Goal
» In shorter-term, the program aims at ensuring earthquake safer construction of all houses being reconstructed;
» For longer-term, the program aims to establish a system of disaster-resilient construction to achieve the goal of disaster-resilient communities in Nepal.
The goals will be achieved by providing technical assistance for reconstruction, and in future, for disaster-resilient housing designs and construction, and by improving the Government of Nepal's ability to achieve long-term disaster resilience.
This project will not fund housing reconstruction, but will provide technical assistance necessary for owner-driven reconstruction.
TARGET GROUP
The project targets mainly following five groups of beneficiaries at various levels:
1. Construction workers
2. Social mobilizers
3. Technical professionals
4. Common people
5. Policy and decision makers
How it works?
The technical assistance will be provided to the people through trained masons, trained engineers, and other trained professionals. NSET is establishing training and technical support teams at Reconstruction Technology Centers (RTCs) at different levels: a central RTC (NRTC in Kathmandu), three district RTCs (DRTC), three sub-district level RTCs (LRTC), many Mobile Teams (MT) to be fanned to help with earthquake-resistant reconstruction to the last miles – households affected by the earthquakes even in the remote wards and villages.
BaliyoGhar alone doesn't carry out the activities of reconstruction rather under the guidance and coordination with National Reconstruction Authority, Ministry's and departments involved in reconstruction, it collaborates with other Partner Organisations (POs).
Coordination Mechanism
There has been efforts among various government organizations, national and international technical support organizations (such as the World Bank, UN Habitat, IOM, Save the Children, Habitat for Humanity, CARE, Helvetas to name a few) and BaliyoGhar, under the ongoing existing coordination system such as the Shelter Cluster, to formulate framework and mechanism for providing supports to the people and government organizations in delivering the above needed assistance and services. BaliyoGhar will work fully in consonance with the agreed framework and mechanism for the technical assistance.
Where and how trainings are conducted?
The trainings are being conducted at central level, District level and at local levels. LRTCs or resource centers are established in different cluster area of the districts. BaliyoGhar is conducting trainings in every program VDC & Municipality of BaliyoGhar program implemented districts.
A large number of skilled labors: masons, carpenters, bar-benders, contractors etc. are required to complete the reconstruction in a reasonable duration say 3-5 years. Existing available numbers cover less than 50% of the total need (PDNA report). Even the existing ones need skill enhancement trainings on safer construction practices. Therefore, two-pronged strategy are being followed to develop the required skilled human resources.
» Training for skill enhancement of existing masons
» Training for development of new masons
The Mason Training Course with focus on one of the stone, brick or reinforced concrete is of 7 days duration. BaliyoGhar plans to develop approximately 25-30 new masons in each VDC through the on-the-job training process.
