1. Making Disaster Risk Reduction Gender Sensitive
Workshop of GenCap Advisors February, 2012 Ramada Encore Hotel, La Praille, Geneva

2. Overview
What is disaster risk reduction (DRR)?
What is disaster management (DM)?
What is disaster risk management (DRM)?
What is the interface of climate change adaptation, DRR and DM?
What progress has been made and what are the challenges?
What can we to make DRR and DM gender sensitive?

3. Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (See print out)
Socio-cultural
Sustainable development context
Political
Ecosystems / Environmental
Economic
AWARENESS RAISING
for change in behavior
KNOWLEDGE
DEVELOPMENT
Information
Education & training
Research
HFA Priority 3
POLITICAL
COMMITMENT
- policy development
International, regional,
national, local levels
- legislation and codes
- organizational
development
Institutional framework
(governance)
Community actions
HFA Priority 1
RISK IDENTIFICATION &
IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Vulnerability /
capability analysis
Hazard
analysis
& monitoring
EARLY
WARNING
HFA Priority 2
REDUCE UNDERLYING RISK FACTORS
Environmental management
Networking and partnerships
- land-use/urban planning
- protection of critical facilities
Social and economic
development practices (including
poverty alleviation, livelihoods,
agriculture, etc.)
financial mechanisms, health,
Physical and technical measures
HFA Priority 4
([*] = next click)
Disaster risk reduction is everybody’s business, and the Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, developed through wide-ranging consultations, shows how the work of all sectors fits together in the worldwide effort to reduce disaster risks.
The main sections of the framework correspond to the five priority areas of the Hyogo Framework for Action – which is an international plan for reducing disaster losses, adopted by governments worldwide in 2005.
To set the scene, disaster risk reduction all takes place within the context of sustainable development work.
[*]We also start with what makes disasters. If a nation or community is more socially, economically, environmentally or physically vulnerable, its potential losses from being [*] hit by hazards like cyclones or earthquakes are higher. This means it has greater disaster risks.
Disaster risk reduction mostly focuses on what happens before disaster strikes. In the past, most people thought that being [*]prepared for disasters, and managing emergencies and recovery was the main way to deal with disasters. This work is still a priority, but disaster risk reduction goes much broader and deeper.
To actually reduce disaster risks for any community or nation [*] we need to first understand those risks, by identifying and assessing vulnerabilities and the potential impacts of hazards. Only can do we know what to do about it – like early warning, and building back better to avoiding the mistakes of the past.
[*] This means that education and awareness is a priority, so people can identify the risks they face, and change behaviour to protect themselves and their communities. This means we need more research, training and capacity development.
Beyond preparedness and good recovery, what people ultimately need to do is to [*] reduce underlying vulnerabilities. This priority covers much of what is traditionally understood as ‘development work’. Poverty reduction, land use and urban planning, natural resource management, health infrastructure, safer construction, microfinance, insurance and climate change adaptation, all reduce vulnerabilities, meaning that they reduce the impact of disasters. The benefits become clear after hazards strike, when damage is less than it could have been, and recovery is faster.
[*] To put all of this in motion at once, we need much stronger political commitment at national, international and local levels. Public awareness and advocacy for disaster risk reduction needs to target governments, decision-makers and policy-makers. Laws, policies, organizations, good governance and community implementation are needed to drive change.
As you’ve seen, disaster risk reduction includes the humanitarian, scientific, social, cultural, development, business, and political sectors – it really is everybody’s business.
EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT
PREPAREDNESS
HFA Priority 5
RECOVERY 3

5. Climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction
76% of all disaster events are climate-related, accounting for 45% of deaths and 79% of economic losses
We must reduce underlying risks and vulnerability to extreme climate events (floods, drought and storms)
The existing methods and tools of disaster risk reduction provide powerful capacities for adaptation to climate change.
Disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation are cross-cutting development issues (political, scientific, social, development, humanitarian). 5

6. Closer collaboration between DRR and CCA will result in:
Reduction of climate-related losses through more widespread implementation of DRR measures linked with adaptation
More efficient use of financial, human and natural resources
Increased effectiveness and sustainability of both adaptation and DRR approaches

7. Disaster risk management approach
Establish context What are we trying to do?
Identify risks What can happen?
Analyse risks What effects will they have?
Evaluate risks Which are most important?
Accept risk Should we spend resources on this?
Treat risk What can we do about this?
Monitor / review Has it worked? Is it still the best solution?
Communicate & consult . Has everyone been involved?

8. Children, the elderly and women are the most vulnerable
Tsunami mortality in women and men, by age, December 2004, Tamil Nadu, India
Children, the elderly and women are the most vulnerable
Courtesy Professor Deborati Guha-Sapir, Université catholique de Louvain Brussels - Belgium

9. Gender-sensitive disaster risk reduction
Current effort is spent on disaster response and recovery rather than on risk reduction
Gender perspective is largely excluded from disaster risk reduction policies and programmes
Few governments consider gender perspectives in their national reports on DRR
Both DRR and gender are cross-cutting developmental issues, which need to be addressed through a holistic approach and concerted actions in political, technical, social, developmental and humanitarian processes.

10. Progress and challenges in gender-sensitive DRR
A clear paradigm shift from gender-sensitive disaster management to gender-sensitive DRR (more proactive)
Growing interest in gender-sensitive DRR among different stakeholders, especially NGOs & CBOs
Challenges:
Lack of understanding
Lack of capacity required
Lack of financial resources
Lack of accountability

11. Making DRR or DM gender-sensitive
We need to:
Take stock of existing dynamics and challenges for gender and DRR and DM
Build partnerships with different stakeholders to mainstream gender into DRR, DM in particular
Harness existing tools and analysis to promote gender in DRR and DM
Build capacity in local organizations willing to promote the integration of gender perspectives in DRR and DM
Advocate and raise awareness on the issues at national and local levels
Use a combined bottom-up and top-down approach. 11

12. Empowerment of Women in DRR and DM
We need to:
recognize women as a resource, not just as victims
strengthen women's capacities to contribute
engage women in development and DRR processes
provide women with opportunities to participate, and raise their concerns
ensure programme officers have the ability to meet gender-based practical needs and strategic concerns
encourage women to take part in, and take charge of, the DRR processes, including disaster management.

13. increase women’s voice
We also need to:
for gender professionals and different groups of stakeholders to share information, knowledge and experience in gender mainstreaming in DRR
for more visibility of their role and contribution in the DRR process at all levels
between gender expert groups and other stakeholders, including national platforms, NGOs, the Media, private sectors and donors
by national authorities and NGOs in developing gender-sensitive and gender balanced DRR policies and programmes
on gender and DRR, with user-friendly checklists and training materials for mainstreaming gender into DRR and vice versa
provide a platform
increase women’s voice
facilitate dialogues
encourage active roles
develop policy guidelines 13

14. Making disaster management gender-sensitive
Develop a disaster contingency plan based on the results of a gender-sensitive vulnerably analysis and risk assessment to address different needs and concerns between men and women during emergencies caused by natural hazards.
Mainstream gender needs and concerns into disaster preparedness planning and storage of relief goods, especially in preparation of emergency relief goods to ensure that women’s particular needs will be met during disasters.
Include women’s participation in planning and distribution of humanitarian assistance to address existing unequal access to and benefit from relief assistance.
Secure increased women’s participation in disaster recovery and reconstruction planning and programmes to change the situation that women often do not have enough voice in the disaster recovery process. 14

15. Thank you