Disaster risk reduction: mitigation and preparedness in development and emergency programming

This paper presents the process of planning and implementing risk reduction initiatives, using case studies to give guidelines on a range of diverse practical approaches to disaster risk reduction. It notes that disasters triggered by natural hazards are a major threat to life and to sustainable development, especially in developing countries as the weaker groups in society suffer most. It further argues that the human and economic cost of disasters is rising, mainly because societies are becoming more vulnerable to hazards.

The report notes that when planning a programme or project of any kind, there are two important points to consider. Firstly, planning and policy decisions are never made in isolation from the wider context of events, societies and institutions. Secondly, the nature of the organisation planning the programme influences the way in which it approaches disaster reduction. It argues that disasters are complex phenomena that can only be addressed by deploying a wide range of knowledge, skills, methods and resources through multi-disciplinary partnerships. On managing risk, the report notes that people in hazard-prone areas have acquired considerable knowledge and technical expertise for managing risk. They have their own diverse coping strategies comprised of economic, technological, social and cultural elements.

The paper notes that disaster preparedness comprises several elements: forecasting and warning, taking precautionary measures, and organising effective rescue and relief. Establishing a disaster preparedness system involves addressing a range of technical and institutional issues. Relief and rehabilitation requires earlier intervention, more emphasis on rebuilding livelihoods and encouraging positive socio-economic change. It laments that most post-disaster assistance projects come to an end to soon and too suddenly, partly due to restrictions from donors which this should not be the case. On Monitoring and evaluation (M&E), the report notes that M&E is important in making agencies accountable, demonstrating that risk reduction works and improving understanding of how it works.

It gives the following recommendations:

• institutions such as schools and nurseries should be used to provide a range of mitigation activities benefiting both children and the community as a whole
• all forms of knowledge (indigenous and external) should be considered and used to identify the most suitable approaches for each situation
• all disaster reduction programmes should include communications and awareness-raising as central components, and should have a clear communications plan
• every country should have an appropriate national policy, legislative framework and administrative structures for risk reduction
• early-warning systems of all kinds need to stimulate appropriate action early enough to prevent destitution and starvation
• disaster preparedness planning should be based on thorough and realistic analysis, should ensure coordination by all groups concerned and should be ‘owned’ by them
• M&E should be approached as a mutual learning process for all involved
• M&E findings must be shared and published to improve agencies’ performance through acquisition of knowledge about success and failure.