The final (4th) workshops under WP6 were conducted during January 24th-29th 2022 at Laem-Talumphuk Subdistrict and Koh-Phet Subdistrict, Nakhon Si Thammarat; and Klongprasong Subdistrict and Saladaan Subdistrict, Krabi. These subdistricts are the same sites where the 3rd workshops were done in 2021. The primary aim of the workshops has been to build community awareness on risks and vulnerabilities of the coastal areas, and the importance of disaster management plan and preparation of the community.
The participants in each sub-district included representatives from the Subdistrict Administrative Office and others local governmental organisations, community leaders, local civil society groups or networks, general working-age population, and high-school students.
The workshops started with a sharing session with the participants about the key findings and discussion summary from the World Café activity of the previous, 3rd, workshop.
(Café 1) disaster calendar, frequency and impact level perceived by the locals
(Café 2) coastal erosion and other hydrological disasters (if any) as well as their impacts on livelihood, high-risk areas and vulnerable groups
(Café 3) current actions and additional support needed by the community in preparing for or dealing with disaster
(Café 4) disaster management plan and activities implemented by the local government
(Café 5) prioritized well-being, possible actions to be taken in the future in preparing for or dealing with disaster by the locals
After that, the participants were organised into 5 groups and assigned a small group discussion to draft a community action plan for disaster/risk management or preparation. This action plan presents ideas of the group about identified risk or vulnerability of the community to be managed or planned for, possible actions that could be taken or implemented by people in the community, specific purpose and strategy of the plan, and outlined idea of the plan (including key actions and activities, key actors and stakeholders, timeframe of the activities, budget and sources, success indicators, monitoring and evaluation plan).
In each sub-district within the two project study sites, a range of risks and priorities were identified. In Nakhon Si Thammarat Province: participants in Laem-Talumphuk Subdistrict were aware and drafted the plans for quite a variety of risks faced by the community during monsoon season (e.g. coastal erosion, storm and floods); at Koh-Phet Subdistrict, the community awareness and plan were mainly on coastal erosion and beach volume problems. In Krabi Province: at Saladaan Subdistrict, the plans focussed on coastal erosion problems and impacts, tsunami risk, and fresh water management; at Klongprasong, the plans focussed were on coastal erosion and sea level rise and associated flood problems.