Fostering New Ways of Working: New Practices Session 32

2 Session Objectives  Identify key planning principles supporting a social vulnerability approach in practice  Review common approaches in the field which are not based on this perspective  Review approaches in the field which do reflect a vulnerability reduction perspective

Session 323 Principles for Realizing a Vulnerability Approach through Planning 1. Recognize/integrate coping mechanisms of disaster survivors and local agencies 2. Avoid arbitrary relief assistance 3. Beware commercial exploitation 4. Avoid relief dependency 5. Decentralize decision- making when possible 6. Recognize disasters as political events 7. Recognize pre-disaster constraints 8. Balance reform and conservation 9. Avoid rebuilding injustice 10. Accountability – the key issue 11. Relocation is the worst option 12. Maximize the transition from relief to development Source: Blaikie et al At Risk.

Session 324 Principles for “Managing a Reduction of Vulnerability” 1. Vigorously manage mitigation through structural and nonstructural means 2. Integrate elements of mitigation, developing risk- reduction measures in sequence and eliminating gaps 3. Capitalize on a disaster to initiate or develop mitigation 4. Monitor and modify to suit new conditions 5. Focus attention on protection of the most vulnerable 6. Focus on protection of lives and livelihoods of the vulnerable 7. Focus on active rather than passive approaches 8. Focus on protection priority sectors such as “lifelines” but also cultural artifacts and long-term economic resources 9. Measures must be sustainable over time 10. Assimilate mitigation in normal practices 11. Incorporate mitigation in specific development projects 12. Maintain political commitment Source: Blaikie et al At Risk.

Session 325 Examples of Misleading Assumptions about Vulnerable Social Groups  Seniors are needy  Disabled are dependent  Households are singular and nuclear  Households are male-headed  Men are primary earners of the household  English is the primary language

Session 326 Examples of Misleading Assumptions about People at Risk or Affected by Disasters  Most people have disposable income and control over their finances  “Special populations” always need help  Getting people back into their homes is the first priority  People are equally impacted by damages and loss  Personal attributes or lifestyle choices make people vulnerable  Ethnic and racial minorities are especially vulnerable  Women and men are equally vulnerable within income or age groups  Most people have functioning cars

Session 327 Examples of Ignorance about Social Conditions  How ethnic institutions vary from dominant Angle norm  Extent of police surveillance/harassment experienced and corresponding fear  Where shelters for battered women or juveniles are located and what they do  Which neighborhoods are likely to have many home- based businesses  Where and how migrant agricultural laborers live  Living conditions in local public housing facilities  Informal health care systems providing care  Support systems for the chronically ill  The resources of residential shelters  Where the homeless stay and how many stay there

Session 328 Examples of Non-Inclusive, “Top Down” Planning  Community meetings held at night; no on-site child care; no public transportation  “Open” public meetings with pre-set agendas representing emergency practitioners as outside “experts”  Outreach to mainstream nonprofits included in local VOAD groups  One-way and one-time “consultation” with community members  Emergency communications in English only or at advanced literacy levels

Session 329 Approaches Which Reflect a Vulnerability Reduction Perspective 1. Inclusive communication 2. Reducing service barriers 3. Local innovations 4. Anticipating need 5. Increasing community and family preparedness 6. Project Impact 7. Planning ahead to reduce cultural barriers 8. Collaborating with community-based organizations 9. Networking community organizations in disasters 10. Special needs planning 11. Governmental tools for reducing vulnerability 12. Neighborhood initiatives 13. Working with emergent groups 14. Building on capacities of vulnerable people