An initiative by Practical Action and Village Education Resource Center (VERC) in Bangladesh to train local volunteers to bridge the gap between rural communities and local government for flood resilience
Map
Local Resilience Agents (LRAs)
General Information
Local Resilience Agents (LRAs) are community members trained in disaster risk reduction, first aid, and search and rescue to supplement local government capacity and disseminate early warnings.
In Bangladesh, Union Disaster Management Committees (UDMCs) often lack the capacity, training, and budget to effectively manage flood risks in rural areas.
Hazard Type
Geographical Scope - Nuts
Geographical Scope
Population Size
Population Density
Needs Addressed
Limited local government capacity to reach vulnerable communities with early warnings and relief, particularly in remote areas.
Focus on remote "char" communities and the "most vulnerable" individuals who lack access to traditional early warning systems.
LRAs act as links between the community and the Union Disaster Management Committees (UDMCs).
LRAs supplement UDMCs in relief distribution, beneficiary listing, and early action.
Use of digital weather boards and mobile apps (Disaster Alert App) to manage information.
To empower communities to take risk-informed anticipatory action and to provide a voice for citizens' rights.
Community consultations, household visits, and demonstration of digital tools.
LRAs often become members of UDMCs and Union Parishads, allowing them to influence local government resource distribution.
LRAs gain skills in first aid and rescue while developing the leadership confidence to advocate for women's rights and community needs.
Vulnerable Groups
Governance
Emergency Preparedness
Infrastructure Readiness
Engagement Level
Empowerment Level
Implementation
The use of "trusted voices" from within the community to bridge the "last mile" of early warning dissemination.
English, Bengali
Practical Action and Village Education Resource Center (VERC).
Practical Action has years of documented impact (2018-2023) in localized flood early warning systems.
Local community members (LRAs), Union Disaster Management Committees (UDMC), and Union Parishads.
- Identify community volunteers.
- Conduct 15-day initial training.
- Provide equipment (First aid/rescue).
- Integrate LRAs into local government structures (UDMCs).
Funding from the Z Zurich Foundation, complemented by local volunteer willingness and government institutionalization.
15-day identification and training phase followed by ongoing community engagement and periodic refresher training.
Experience of the Implementing Organisation in DRM
Target Audience
Resources Required
Timeframe & Phases
Participation Results
Ongoing training is essential to maintain engagement; institutionalization within government plans is necessary for long-term sustainability.
Lack of UDMC capacity and budget is addressed by using trained community volunteers to perform essential disaster management tasks.
Uses the Flood Resilience Measurement for Communities (FRMC) to identify specific risks and track resilience improvements.
Risk & Mitigation Plan
Scalability and Sustainability
The Bangladesh government plans to replicate the model by developing a pool of 50,000 flood preparedness volunteers.
Highly replicable; successful in remote areas and adaptable to any community with a willingness to volunteer and proper training.
Utilization of the Climate Resilience Measurement for Communities (CRMC) web-based tool and mobile app.
Initial training: US$53/person; First aid kit: US$50-100; Rescue equipment: US$20 (2024).
Refresher training: US$36/person (2024).
Developing agency in vulnerable groups delivers broader social benefits, such as promoting women's rights and entrepreneurship.