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National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology

Past Project
NAPA-II Project

Project Title: “Addressing the Risk of Climate-Induced Disaster through Enhanced National and Local Capacity for Effective Actions”
Budget and donor: USD 4.12 Million funded by LCDF-GEF through UNDP Bhutan
Timeline: July 2014- Oct 2018
This project has been conceived with the objective to enhance national, local and community capacity to prepare for and respond to climate-induced multi-hazards to reduce potential losses of human lives, national economic infrastructure, livelihoods and livelihood assets. The project has been designed to address the immediate and urgent climate change adaptation needs prioritized through the update of the NAPA undertaken in 2011, involving review and updating of the earlier NAPA produced in 2006. It has three broad outcomes.
The first outcome will focus on demonstrating effective practical measures to reduce flood and landslide risks in Phuentsholing and the adjoining industrial estate of Pasakha, which are the economic and industrial hubs of the country as well as among the most critical areas that are recurrently besieged by floods and landslides. This outcome will also be devoted to systematic assessment and mapping of geo-hazard risks in four other critical flood- and landslide-prone areas in the country in order to build the information base for planning flood and landslide risk mitigation in those areas, as well as in other areas that are vulnerable to similar risks.
The second outcome is aimed at enhancing community resilience to climate-induced risks. This will include designing and building or rehabilitating systems for water harvesting, storage and distribution in selected villages and towns which face water scarcity, community-level water resources inventory to create the information base for water resource management, and strengthening disaster management institutions at national and local levels with training and development of community-based disaster management plans. The third outcome is dedicated to improving the quality, analysis and dissemination of climate information across climate-sensitive development sectors on a timely and reliable basis to aid climate change adaptation planning and to enhance preparedness and response to extreme weather events. This will involve expanding and upgrading the network of meteorological stations for real-time weather observation and forecasting, and strengthening the National Weather and Flood Forecasting and Warning Center with the capacity to analyze, manage and disseminate climate information in a timely manner.
The third outcome (Output 3.1 and Output 3.2) is implemented by NCHM.
Outcome 3: Relevant information about climate-related risks and threats shared across
climate-sensitive sectors on a timely and reliable basis.
Output 3.1: Enhanced quality, availability and transfer of real-time climate data in all
dzongkhags.
132. The DHMS will upgrade and expand the existing hydro-met network as well as the
NWFFWC. DHMS will establish a network with national coverage of real-time automated
weather stations, automated flood warning stations, as well as of snow gauge measurement equipment to monitor climate change impact on high altitude snow coverage essential for Bhutan’s ecosystems and economic development, all linked to the NWFFWC.

Key activities to achieve output 3.1.
3.1.1 Based on the strategic design support from JICA and World bank, finalize systems
design, equipment requirements and technical specifications for the expansion of the
hydro-met network and NWFFWC. Tender and procure equipment and components
for installation/ upgrading of the real-time automated weather stations, water level
stations, and early warning stations, including operation and maintenance support and
supplier provided capacity development of key staff;
3.1.2 Install and test the integrated system with various equipment and components and
develop whole hydro-met network, early warning system and NWFFWC;
3.1.3 Develop operation and maintenance guidelines and manuals and provide technical
capacity development of operators and other staff;
3.1.4 Conduct an external technical evaluation of the overall hydromet network and
NWFFWC systems in regard to its technical functioning and its performance/ability
towards achieving the agreed objectives of providing climate data for DDM’s early
warning system as well as making climate data accessible for local development. This

evaluation will be conducted towards the end of the installation and testing phase (first
quarter of year 3);

Output 3.2: Increased effectiveness of NWFFWC through improved capacity to analyze,
manage and disseminate climate information in a timely manner
133. Building upon the investments under output 3.1, DHMS in close collaboration with JICA
and World Bank, will strengthen its capacity to operate and manage the systems and to generate
improved weather forecasting, early warning and climate related information for increased
climate resilience.

Key activities to achieve output 3.2.
3.2.1 Develop data analysis and presentation standards based on data collection streams and
information demand, develop thresholds and communication protocols with specific
roles and responsibilities within and beyond DHMS for disaster warning and
emergency response, in close alignment with the landslide monitoring research
conducted under Outcome 1 by DGM as well as the community-level disaster
contingency plan development and implementation by DDM supported under
Outcome 2.Develop communication protocols for weather forecasting information;
3.2.2 Conduct collaborative research on climate change related trends and projection,
including on snow and glacier behaviour under climate change conditions and on river
basin modelling;
3.2.3 Conduct market research to determine weather and climate (change) data demand and develop sustainability strategy for demand delivery and cost-recovery of
investments/maintenance of the network of hydrological and meteorological stations.
Develop a collaboration plan with climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture,
hydropower, travel and tourism for climate information service, develop and
implement a system of producing and disseminating daily/weekly/monthly/annual
weather bulletins and reports. Capacity development for all stakeholders on analysis of
climate data and providing relevant information to various climate-sensitive sectors;

3.2.4 Strengthen weather content development and reporting in broadcast (TV and radio) and print media by providing more detailed and localized analysis of climate data for public weather and climate information. Development and operation of an internet-
based national weather and climate information portal for the general public with
relevant climate content;
3.2.5 Organize national/sub-national trainings targeting at least 100 officers from climate-sensitive sectors and sub-national administrations on climate information
interpretation.

OUTPUT of NAPA-II Project 
1) Installed 60 Automatic Weather Stations across Bhutan
2) Installed 32 Automatic Water Level Stations across Bhutan
3) Installed 3 Automatic River Discharge System
4) Installed 4 bank operated cable-way systems 
5) Capacity development completed for 44 officials (36 male and 6 female) of NCHM
(Excountry training)
6) Capacity development completed for 130 officials at National level on using NCHM data and services
7) Strengthened infrastructures  of weather forecasting, data storage and cryosphere services
8) Setting up of data back up server at Regional Office in Bhutan completed
9) Developed NCHM website for data, information and services dissemination  
10) Produced awareness program about NCHM and conducted education & awareness program about NCHM at schools