The GIRRL program: A human rights based approach to disaster risk reduction intervention in Southern Africa

This paper explores the link between human rights and disaster risk reduction. We revisit the notion of a human rights-based approach in the context of natural disasters, analyzing how this concept may contribute to greater accountability and empowerment of those involved in disaster risk reduction. To better understand the processes of empowering rights holders and holding duty bearers into account we adopt legal analytical lenses. By doing so we review four country case studies and their main regulations on disaster risk reduction, taking into account the extent to which they adopt a human rights-based approach. We argue that countries whose legal frameworks allow for community engagement point towards greater community empowerment. Similarly, countries whose legal provisions make possible for holding States accountable for their underperformance in disaster situations suggest greater levels of accountability. We also consider key international human rights instruments binding the four case studies in order to analyze whether and to what extent international human rights obligations may support advocacy and accountability in disaster risk reduction. Based on the analysis of these case studies we consider that empowerment and accountability processes in drr can reinforce each other, and that human rights may contribute to progress in these areas.

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Human Rights for Disaster Risk Reduction Including Climate Change Adaptation

The Routledge Handbook of Disaster Risk Reduction Including Climate Change Adaptation ◽

10.4324/9781315684260-14 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 140-149

Author(s):

Jean Connolly Carmalt

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Human Rights ◽

Risk Reduction ◽

Climate Change Adaptation ◽

Disaster Risk Reduction ◽

Disaster Risk

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The contribution of indigenous knowledge to disaster risk reduction activities in Zimbabwe: A big call to practitioners

Jàmbá Journal of Disaster Risk Studies ◽

10.4102/jamba.v10i1.493 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Ernest Dube ◽

Edson Munsaka

Keyword(s):

Indigenous Knowledge ◽

Risk Reduction ◽

Disaster Risk Reduction ◽

Disaster Risk ◽

Local Communities ◽

Potential Contribution ◽

Weather Patterns ◽

Local Resources ◽

Risk Reduction Intervention

This article examined the contribution of indigenous knowledge to disaster risk reduction activities in Zimbabwe. The current discourse underrates the use of indigenous knowledge of communities by practitioners when dealing with disasters’, as the knowledge is often viewed as outdated and primitive. This study, which was conducted in 2016, sought to examine this problem through analysing the potential contribution of indigenous knowledge as a useful disaster risk reduction intervention. Tsholotsho district in Matabeleland, North province of Zimbabwe, which frequently experiences perennial devastating floods, was used as a case study. Interviews and researcher observations were used to gather data from 40 research participants. The findings were that communities understand weather patterns and could predict imminent flooding after studying trees and clouds, and the behaviours of certain animal species. Local communities also use available local resources to put structural measures in place as part of disaster risk reduction interventions. Despite this important potential, the study found that the indigenous knowledge of disaster risk reduction of the communities is often shunned by practitioners. The practitioners claim that indigenous knowledge lacks documentation, it is not found in all generational classes, it is contextualised to particular communities and the knowledge cannot be scientifically validated. The study concluded that both local communities and disaster risk reduction practitioners can benefit from the indigenous knowledge of communities. This research has the potential to benefit communities, policymakers and disaster risk reduction practitioners.

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Tools to improve the management of transboundary river basins for disaster risk reduction

Water Science & Technology Water Supply ◽

10.2166/ws.2014.023 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 698-707

Author(s):

Anna Rubert ◽

Philip Beetlestone

Keyword(s):

Risk Reduction ◽

Southern Africa ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Disaster Risk Reduction ◽

Water Resource Management ◽

Stakeholder Participation ◽

Disaster Risk ◽

Transboundary River Basins ◽

Management Plans ◽

International River

This paper firstly presents a brief overview of the complex environment of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region in the context of disaster risk reduction (DRR), analyzing characteristics of the major hazards and actors involved. Secondly, it argues that the SADC Water Division and International River Basin Organizations (RBOs) in Southern Africa can play a crucial role in DRR in the water sector, providing a platform where agreements on data and information sharing are reached, best practices are exchanged, policies harmonized, new collaboration mechanisms are discussed, and coordinated interventions are decided upon. Moreover, RBOs can facilitate the adoption of basin-wide Integrated Water Resource Management plans, building on the pillars of economic efficiency, social equity and environmental sustainability with the result of reducing hazards and increasing resilience. RBOs can represent the shared interests of riparian states from a basin perspective to other international actors. To achieve these goals, RBOs in Southern Africa face significant challenges: broadening stakeholder participation, gaining buy-in from Member States on their representation and facilitation of specific matters. Possible approaches to overcome these challenges will be suggested in this paper.

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