scholarly journals Policies and Institutions for Disaster Risk Management in Nepal: A Review

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 1-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pashupati Nepal ◽  
Narendra Raj Khanal ◽  
Bishnu Prasad Pangali Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Disaster Management ◽  
Local Level ◽  
National Level ◽  
Positive Outcome ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Disaster Risk Management ◽  
The Government ◽  
Set Up

This paper is a review of policies for disaster risk management in Nepal and discusses the strengths, gaps and constraints of the same. Institutional and Legislative Systems (ILS) approach has been adopted focusing on three aspects: i) legal and regulatory frameworks, ii) policies and programs, and iii) organizational/institutional set-up. This paper concludes that newly endorsed Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act (2017) can be a milestone in disaster management of Nepal not only because it has replaced about 40 years old Natural Calamity (Relief) Act, 1982 but also for the first time, it saw disaster risk management as an process focusing on different stages of disaster management cycles, preparedness, response and rehabilitation and mitigation. The provision of well-structured functional institutional set-up from the centre to local level can have positive outcome in disaster management. However, it overlooks significant aspect, such as the declaration of disaster-prone zones limiting the right of provincial disaster management committee only for recommendation to the Government of Nepal. Most of policies, strategies and legislations focused on some specific disasters such as flood, landslide, earthquake and GLOF/avalanches at national level paying less emphasis to the local level. Even now, most of the policy interventions towards different cycles of disaster risk management have laid emphasis on preparedness and response rather than to rehabilitation and mitigation. The conflicting provisions in Acts such as Water Resource Act (1992) and Building Act (1998) with Local Government Operation Act (2017) have made overlapping of their roles and responsibilities. So, the policy formulation and institutional set-up needs to be complemented by the ability and competence to operationalize the intent of the relevant acts and policies at all levels of government.The Geographical Journal of NepalVol. 11: 1-24, 2018 

scholarly journals Prerequisites for Community-based Disaster Risk Management in Iran

2021 ◽  
pp. 187-192
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Disaster Management ◽  
National Level ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Disaster Risk Management ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Statistical Population ◽  
Management Organization ◽  
National Disaster

INTRODUCTION: Natural disasters disrupt people's lives, bringing about serious economic and social losses. Disaster risk management is a set of measures, including planning, decision-making, accountability, and operational activities at all levels. Moreover, it is of considerable significance to take advantage of social capacities and community participation before, during, and after disasters. The present study aimed to explain the prerequisites of community-based disaster risk management in Iran in 2020. METHODS: This data-driven qualitative study was conducted using Strauss and Corbin's systematic approach. The statistical population included all disaster management experts and non-governmental organizations in universities, the National Disaster Management Organization, the provincial disaster management departments, and senior managers of the Red Crescent Society. Out of this population, 22 subjects were purposefully selected via snowball sampling taking into account the geographical, climatic, cultural, social, and religious diversity of different regions of the country. The data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analysed using open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. FINDINGS: Based on the obtained results, the prerequisites of community-based disaster risk management include: "legal obligation", "public sensitization", "strategic planning", "public participation", "social capacity building", " building cohesion and empathy ", "action (prevention, preparedness, needs assessment, planning, and response", "formation and development of expert teams", "logistics forecasting and equipment", "preparation", and attention to geographical conditions"." CONCLUSION: As evidenced by the obtained results, the required measures for the successful implementation of community-based disaster risk management can be assigned to two categories: The first one encompasses the measures that require structural changes and law reform and are taken at the national level and National Disaster Management Organization of the country. The second type of measure must be implemented at the local and operational management levels

scholarly journals Kapasitas Pemerintah Kabupaten Kepulauan Mentawai Dalam Penanggulangan Bencana Gempa dan Tsunami

2020 ◽  
pp. 51-72
Author(s):  
Afdal Rizki ◽  
Roni Ekha Putera ◽  
Ilham Adelano Azre
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Disaster Management ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Disaster Risk Management ◽  
Budget Constraints ◽  
Mentawai Islands ◽  
The Government

Disaster risk management sector has become a serious concern for the government due to various disasters that have occurred in recent years followed by many issues came up.This study aims to describe and analyze the capacity of Local Government of Mentawai Islands in organizing disaster affairs in the region. This study is motivated by the vulnerability of Mentawai Islands to earthquakes and tsunamis because the islands are just above the subduction zone.The study applied a qualitative approach with descriptive design by data collection through interviews, observations, and documents.The study concluded that the capacity of Local Government of Mentawai Islands Regency in the implementation of disaster management still needs improvements. It can be proven that there are still some programs that haven’t run optimally. In general, the biggest obstacles are budget constraints, limited supporting infrastructure for disaster management in the regions, and geographical conditions of Mentawai Islands.

The Economics of Disaster Risk Management in Nepal

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Uma Shankar Prasad
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Local Level ◽  
National Development ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Disaster Risk Management ◽  
Government Organizations ◽  
The Government

Nepal is highly vulnerable to many disasters and substantially increasing every year. It has been creating an adverse impact on human lives, livelihoods, and infrastructures. The primary objective of this study is to state the human causalities and economic loss from disasters in Nepal and suggest institutional and system reforms for effective disaster risk management in the country. This is an analytical study based on secondary data. Data published from various government and non-government organizations are used to analyse the situation. Although the findings of the study reveal that the Government of Nepal has been continuously carrying out many efforts for fighting against various levels of disasters in the country, it concludes that additional efforts are needed from the federal to the local level at all phases of disaster management including preparedness, response, and recovery. It is also important to integrate disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation policies, plans and programmes into national development.

Community-based Disaster Management and Its Salient Features: A Policy Approach to People-centred Risk Reduction in Bangladesh

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Abul Kalam Azad ◽  
M. Salim Uddin ◽  
Sabrina Zaman ◽  
Mirza Ali Ashraf
Keyword(s):  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Disaster Management ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Community Resilience ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Management Policy ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Community Based ◽  
The Government

The discourse of disaster management has undergone significant change in recent years, shifting from relief and response to disaster risk reduction (DRR) and community-based management. Organisations and vulnerable countries engaged in DRR have moved from a reactive, top-down mode to proactive, community-focused disaster management. In this article, we focus on how national disaster management policy initiatives in Bangladesh are implementing community-based approaches at the local level and developing cross-scale partnerships to reduce disaster risk and vulnerability, thus enhancing community resilience to disasters. We relied chiefly on secondary data, employing content analysis for reviewing documents, which were supplemented by primary data from two coastal communities in Kalapara Upazila in Patuakhali District. Our findings revealed that to address the country’s vulnerabilities to natural disasters, the Government of Bangladesh has developed and implemented numerous national measures and policies over the years with the aim of strengthening community-focused risk reduction, decentralising disaster management, developing cross-scale partnerships and enhancing community resilience. Communities are working together to achieve an all-hazard management goal, accepting ownership to reduce vulnerability and actively participating in risk-reduction strategies at multiple levels. Community-based disaster preparedness activities are playing a critical role in developing their adaptive capacity and resilience to disasters. Further policy and research are required for a closer examination of the dynamics of community-based disaster management, the role of local-level institutions and community organisations in partnerships and resilience building for successful disaster management.

scholarly journals The role of traditional leadership in disaster management and disaster risk governance: A case of Ugu District Municipality by-laws

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nonhlanhla A. Zamisa ◽  
Sybert Mutereko
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Disaster Management ◽  
Disaster Risk Reduction ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Disaster Risk Management ◽  
Risk Governance ◽  
Traditional Leaders ◽  
Traditional Leadership

Section 151(2) of the Constitution empowers municipalities in South Africa to pass disaster management-related by-laws. Such by-laws should be specific on the role of traditional leaders, owing to their authority and proximity to the people coupled with their constitutional mandate to preserve customs and traditions. However, their role is often not maximised because of vague and inadequate policies. There has been little or no scholarly attention to the role of traditional leadership and the policy and legal framework that guide their participation in disaster risk management. Employing a comprehensive content analysis of Ugu District Municipality Disaster Management By-law, this article assesses the adequacy of these by-laws on disaster risk governance in the context of collaboration disaster risk reduction. While the Ugu District Municipality Disaster Management By-law provides for the participation of traditional leadership, this study reveals that it is fraught with ambiguities and seemingly vague clauses. For instance, although in Article 5.1.1 the word ‘authorities’ is used, it is not clear whether this refers to traditional leadership or other entities at the local level. In addition, the composition of the Disaster Management Advisory Forum in Ugu does not explicitly include AmaKhosi. While these results add to the rapidly expanding field of disaster risk management, they also suggest several courses of action for policymakers at local government. Such actions might include, but not limited to, a review of the by-laws to address the lack of collaborative essence relative to traditional leaders for optimal disaster risk reduction initiatives targeting traditional communities.

Considering socio-cultural factors of disaster risk management

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 464-477 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Oliver Kasdan
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
National Level ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Disaster Risk Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Emergency Managers ◽  
Research Scholarship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between factors of socio-cultural contexts and disaster risk. Recent efforts by international organizations and research scholarship have emphasized that applying contextual understandings of human behavior can improve the effectiveness of disaster risk management (DRM). Design/methodology/approach – The research employs multiple correlation analysis to find significant relationships between two sources of socio-cultural data and the World Risk Index scores. Findings – There are interesting relationships between various measures of socio-cultural context and disaster risk, such as correlations with levels of individualism, self-expression, and secular-rational values. Research limitations/implications – While using the broadest sample available with the data sources, generalizations about the relationships must be tempered as inherently anecdotal and needing greater depth of study. The national level of analysis is controversial. Practical implications – Emergency managers can extend the knowledge about socio-cultural influences on disaster risk to tailor policy for effective practices. Social implications – Societies may recognize their behaviors as being conducive or obstructive to DRM based on their socio-cultural characteristics; governments may operationalize the findings into policy responses for more nuanced mitigation efforts. Originality/value – This research adds to the momentum for considering non-technical approaches to DRM and expands the potential for social science derived variables in DRM.

Pathways for Transformation: Disaster Risk Management to Enhance Resilience to Extreme Events

2016 ◽  
Vol 03 (01) ◽  
pp. 1671002 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. D. Gibson ◽  
M. Pelling ◽  
A. Ghosh ◽  
D. Matyas ◽  
A. Siddiqi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Extreme Events ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Disaster Risk Management ◽  
System Level ◽  
Management Policy ◽  
Level Change ◽  
Development Trajectories

Disaster risk from extreme events and development are intimately linked. Disaster risk management influences and is affected by local development strategies. Trade-offs made in policy and implementation determine winners and losers on the basis of unequal capacity, susceptibility and hazard exposure. Transformation has been introduced as a concept opening new policy space for fundamental shifts in development trajectories. Though policy neutral, when combined with normative frameworks such as the Sustainable development goals it can open up leverage points for determining development trajectories. There is limited empirical evidence on which to base understanding of transformative disaster risk management policy though some work has been done in sister domains such as climate change mitigation and adaptation. This study asks whether transformation pathways for disaster risk management can be observed, offering an initial qualitative analysis to inform policy development. It is based on five case studies drawn from diverse locations exposed to a range of extreme events, examined through a conceptual framework offering five indicators of transformation to aid analysis: intense interaction between actors; the intervention of external actors; system level change extending beyond efficiency to governance and goals; behavior beyond established coping strategies; and behavior extending beyond established institutions. Core characteristics of transformative pathways for disaster risk reduction are identified, including pathway competition, pathway experimentation, pathway scale effects and pathway lock-in. These characteristics are seen to determine the extent to which the disruption consequent on extreme events leads to either transformatory change or relative stasis. The study concludes that transformative disaster risk management, both intentional and incidental can be observed. It is seen that transformations occur primarily at local level. Where policy level change occurs this generally played out at local level too. The particular insight of the study is to suggest that most often the burden of transformation is carried at the local level through the behavior of individuals, populations and civil society. This observation raises an important question for further work: How can the burden of undertaking transformation be shared across scales?

scholarly journals DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES FROM THE PERSEPCTIVE OF AGENCIES

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noraini Omar Chong ◽  
Khairul Hisyam Kamarudin
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Disaster Management ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Disaster Risk Management ◽  
Management Planning ◽  
Loss Of Life ◽  
Physical Elements ◽  
Disaster Management Planning

Disaster is a major threat that could jeopardise the development of economic, social and physical elements of a nation as well as the well-being of its people. The damage and loss of property and life caused by disasters are overwhelming and least desired by any country. Review of literature as presented in this research indicated that by having a good disaster risk management (DRM) plan and well-coordinated efforts and commitment among related disaster management agencies at all levels and local stakeholders, would potentially lead to disaster risk reductions, increase preparedness and response, and reduction of damage to assets and loss of life. With a long list of agencies and aid bodies that are currently involved in various stages of DRM, putting the idea into reality has proven to be highly challenging particularly on establishing good coordination between agencies and with other stakeholders for a more effective DRM process. This paper identified three major issues and challenges in DRM in Malaysia, particularly from the perspective of agencies. These issues and challenges include (1) disaster management planning imbalanced between top-down and bottom-up approaches, (2) lack of coordination in disaster management cycle, with greater focus only on the disaster emergency response stage and, (3) lack of planning of long-term recovery (post-disaster) process, which resulted in low level community and stakeholders’ resilience to disasters.

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