Tearfund Disaster Management Key Learning
Disaster Risk Reduction
Last Updated: 15 November 2009
Specific actionable recommendations and relevant background information
1
Include earthquake resilience in building design in any locations
vulnerable to seismic activity
Location:
Indonesia, India, Pakistan, DRC, Other
Background Information:
In countries such as Indonesia, India, Pakistan and DRC, we learnt that more could have been
done in the early stages of the construction projects to include seismic resilience within the design
of buildings. It is important to agree the specifications that are appropriate. It may be that
construction laws and codes exist which need to be followed or exceeded, but in their absence,
any project needs to consider what is the best technical design, considering strength, cost,
appropriateness for culture/climate, etc. It is a simple way to incorporate Disaster Risk Reduction
thinking into construction projects.
2
Develop skills in the community which are useful between as well as in
emergencies
Location:
Kashmir / Pakistan
Background Information:
In designing a set of preparedness measures to help a community respond effectively to a future
disaster, it is important to consider what resources or skills will be most often used and will stay
fresh and relevant in the community. In the Pakistan/Kashmir DRR programme, first aid training
was particularly positively received and stayed fresh, because it was something that communities
valued and needed on a day to day basis, as well as in the event of a future earthquake. When
designing a disaster preparedness project, consider what types of training and activities have this
kind of day to day benefit, as well as being important in the event of a large scale disaster.
3
Budget for actual project activities in follow up to any Participatory
Assessment of Disaster Risk (PADR) training that is carried out
Location:
Sahel, Afghanistan, Other
Background Information:
PADR workshops should be carried out with partners and operational staff as soon as possible in
the set up of a new project or partnership in a disaster-prone area. In addition to the Workshop,
set aside funding for the participants to implement actual DRR activities (e.g. rainwater retention
structures, tree planting or flood defences), so that practical results can be seen. Insist also upon
some community contribution. Opportunities for feedback on these activities should be made
available so that people can know if they are being effective. Without such funding, we have
learnt that levels of motivation may drop if participants are unable to put their learning into
practice. The principle applies both for staff training, and for implementing the PADR process in
the villages.
4
Plan and coordinate DRR activities with governmental bodies
responsible for DM
Location:
Various
Background Information:
We have learnt that planning and design of DRR activities needs to be done in conjunction with
the local governmental bodies responsible for Disaster Management. This will help ensure that
the government is involved from the start of the project and then supported to take ownership of
any ongoing work in the longer term.
5
Make a priority of working with communities to undertake their own
participatory assessment of disaster risk (PADR) process
Location:
Sahel / West Africa
Background Information:
In the experience of the Sahel response to drought, the concept of PADR was new; communities
were introduced to the process of identifying their own capacities and designing actions they can
take without reliance on outside organizations. The approach had a significant impact, but
required close monitoring and support.
6
Consider advocacy at national level as one way of addressing local
vulnerabilities, using a targeted approach on key issues, with agreed
outcomes. Appoint dedicated and appropriately skilled staff for this
level of advocacy and consider strategic alliances.
Location:
Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh & Malawi
Background Information:
In a DRR project across 4 countries, we learnt the importance of advocacy. At community level,
advocacy was a strong success in promoting rights and entitlements, alongside facilitating
communities to engage with local authorities. At the macro level, the project has engaged
successfully with policy development for both donors and institutions. However, at the national
level, there were initial failures to engage in relation to national government issues.
The limited focus was due to a lack of dedicated policy staff within partner organisations and
difficulties in gaining senior management support for advocacy activity. These recommendations
also reflect the difficulty in mainstreaming DRR across ministries and policies. To ensure
effective influence upon DRR policy, it is vital that competent NGOs with specific grassroots
experience and skills are available to engage at a national level. It is usually necessary to develop
strategic alliances with like-minded organisations. There is also the need to seek places for
dialogue and interaction with national government that is pitched at the right level, for example,
the vehicle of DRR National Platforms or sub-committees of DM Ministries.
7
Ensure your relief departments and development departments work
and share together in order to undertake holistic DRR initiatives which
draw upon the skills and experience of both.
Location:
Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh & Malawi
Background Information:
Many partners have a background in humanitarian response leading to a DRR skills set based
upon disaster relief and perhaps preparedness. Often, these organisations have other
departments with skills in areas such as livelihood development or micro credit, but they have
been funded through different channels. Partners have recognised this and made a conscious
effort to encourage their own organisational learning, developing ways of sharing between
departments. In this way, community mobilisation skills, and expertise in training and awareness
raising, can be drawn into the DRR work.
8
If cyclone shelters are a preferred way of ensuring safety in areas
prone to cyclones & tidal surges, then they need to have adequate
funding, longevity and durability, watsan facilities and take account of
climate change.
Location:
India and Bangladesh, within DFID DRR project
Background Information:
Some partners had been reluctant to budget for high value items such as flood or cyclone
shelters, as often they reach smaller numbers of beneficiaries. Often they had preferred to
stretch resources to cover more communities in risk assessment, awareness and education.
After discussion, some budgets were reshaped to support larger value construction but budgeting
should also take account of ongoing maintenance needs. Tearfund has also designed tools to
support decision making and identify the full breadth of risks posed by climate variability.
9
Ensure the use and maintenance of cyclone shelters between disasters
is agreed so that it does not fall into disrepair
Location:
India and Bangladesh
Background Information:
Some cyclone shelters have been built in places where they are not regularly used by the
community, and routine maintenance has been lacking. In saline, coastal areas, any metal fittings
or exposed re-enforcing rods will be rapidly corroded. If buildings are designed for use as, for
example, schools, then care and maintenance are more likely to be carried out – but budget has
to be allocated for this.
10 Design of watsan infrastructure in support of recovery from a disaster
should take account of future disaster risks in that area
Location:
Pakistan (Kashmir) and Indonesia
Background Information:
During the Kashmir project, water pipelines were in some cases run across small rivers supported
by pillars, without adequate risk assessment. During heavy rains, flash-flooding occurred, with
movement of rocks and other debris down the rivers, which damaged the pipelines. In remedial
work, pipes were buried in the bed of the river, which gave them more protection. Other
underground pipelines were exposed by erosion. This can be avoided by careful routing of pipes
and burying them at sufficient depth.
In Indonesia, all watsan installations, in particular, elevated water tanks and underground sceptic
tanks, were designed with sufficient strength to withstand moderate earthquakes.
11 Food or cash-for-work projects should be chosen in a way that longterm vulnerabilities are reduced as well as short-term food and/or cash
demands being met
Location:
Malawi, Ethiopia and Bangladesh
Background Information:
We have learnt the dangers of undertaking work projects which provide much needed food or
cash for the workers, but the actual project has limited value (e.g. general clear-up after a
cyclone). With careful thought and consultation with the community, it is usually possible to
identify projects with some long-term, risk-reducing benefits – flood protection dyke, irrigation
channel, pond excavation, cross-dam, water retaining “demi-loons”, terracing slopes, etc, etc.
Appropriate technical input should be obtained to ensure that structures are appropriate, safe and
long-lasting.