Disaster risk reduction: a gender and livelihood perspective

This paper highlights gender as a very important factor in determining vulnerability in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). The degree of vulnerability to disaster is determined by social variables like gender, age, health status, ethnicity, religion and socio-economic status and understanding these is necessary to identify the underlying causes of disasters and thus try to prevent them. In most countries, women are particularly at risk from disasters. Subsequently, understanding why women are often vulnerable and taking appropriate steps can make a huge difference on impact.

The paper also looks at DRR in relation to livelihoods. People, especially in developing countries are particularly vulnerable to disasters as they often live in high-risk areas, have lower coping capacities, and have no form of insurance or other safety nets. Furthermore, they are heavily dependent on climate-sensitive primary industries like agriculture and fishing. A disaster can eradicate livelihoods or years of local development efforts in a very short time.

The paper explores issues such as coping with disasters, resisting disasters, recovering from disasters, protective measures to save lives and livelihoods, natural assets: land tenure and droughts, and addressing DRR through a livelihood approach.

The paper gives the following observations about engendered DRR and livelihoods:

• Funding priorities should change from disaster relief to put more focus on facilitating disaster prevention and preparedness.
  
• A coordinated and harmonised continuum combining holistic mitigation, recovery and response should be promoted.
  
• Building human capacities - livelihood resilience needs to be strengthened and inculcated with a focus on building a preventive culture within the population.
  
• In gender-sensitive DRR, stereotypes should be avoided, baseline data must be gender-aggregated, men and women should be involved in prevention and preparation, psycho-social counselling and support should be for both men and women, income-generating opportunities need to be developed for men and women
  
• Disasters are an opportunity to re-negotiate traditional gender roles and gain greater mutual respect and understanding between women and men.