Community-based Disaster Management Session 2 World Bank Institute Krishna S. Vatsa Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Framework The Role of Local Actors 1 1 1

A Social View of Disasters A disaster is an interaction between a hazard event and a vulnerable human group Hazard (nature, severity and frequency) is a trigger event; vulnerability explains the impact of a hazard event on people Since 1970s, a disaster is explained more in terms of vulnerability (socio-economic processes) rather than a hazard event Such a view established social causality of disasters replacing an engineering / technical approach Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Framework The Role of Local Actors

Understanding Vulnerability Refers to negative outcomes of major ecological or economic shocks on the well-being of households or communities Vulnerability is measured against a minimum level of welfare Vulnerability has two sides: external and internal External side refers to natural hazard and its characteristics (severity, frequency) Internal side refers to resilience: the community’s capacity to resist and recover from the adverse impact of a disaster Vulnerability embodies both the risk and capacity of households to respond to shocks Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Framework The Role of Local Actors

Reducing Vulnerability Vulnerability refers to characteristics of individuals and group: income, class, race, caste, gender, age Low-income groups, women, elderly, racial / ethnic minorities, and certain rural and urban segments more vulnerable than others Even non-poor are vulnerable; as a result of shock they can be pushed into poverty Vulnerability is reduced by access to resources and asset-building: financial and non-financial assets Requires strategies and interventions which focuses on reducing vulnerability at community- and household-level Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Framework The Role of Local Actors

Community-based Approach to Disaster Management Requires social consciousness and organization for disaster risk reduction Aimed at reducing socio-economic vulnerability rather than engineering approaches to mitigation Adopts Inter-sectoral / inter-disciplinary approach Applies local knowledge, skills, and capacities Seeks community as active participants and decision-makers Addresses different stages of disaster cycle: prevention, preparedness and mitigation, and response and recovery Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Framework The Role of Local Actors

Participatory Risk Assessment Analyzing hazard: its nature, frequency, and probable impact Assessing Vulnerability: Underlying socio-economic vulnerability, civic Infrastructure vulnerability, and identification of vulnerable groups Assessing community’s capability / resources at the level of households, social organization, informal networks, etc. Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Framework The Role of Local Actors

Community-managed Disaster Management System Early Warning System for Communities: specific risk, appropriate medium, simple language and direct message Community Response Plan: Roles and responsibilities, hazard-specific checklist, S & R functions, evacuation, transit shelter, and relief Community-level Mitigation Programs: Structural and non-structural measures Connecting disaster risk reduction with development: Watershed management, livelihood, gender programs Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Framework The Role of Local Actors

Access to Resources for Asset-building Financial Resources: credit, savings and insurance Livelihood strategy: diversify income-generating activities, training, and public works programs Social Protection: Food programs, subsidies Housing: Public and private resources for housing, disaster-resistant construction Community networks: social support for mitigation initiatives Information-sharing: Sharing of knowledge and information on different aspects of disaster preparedness and mitigation Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Framework The Role of Local Actors

Programs / Instruments for Community-based Measures Government’s Fiscal Support Disaster Funds Insurance Microfinance Social Funds Public Works Program Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Framework The Role of Local Actors

Community Education in Disaster Management Educate all the concerned agencies: NGOs, local institutions such as municipal and fire service, hospitals Raise community awareness about local hazards, preparedness and response through simple messages Provide information upon cheap and simple mitigation measures to communities Select the medium and prepare content of message carefully: negative disaster images to be avoided, and family well-being to be promoted Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Framework The Role of Local Actors