scholarly journals Testing Interscience in Understanding and Tackling Disaster Risk

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bosco Bwambale ◽  
Matthieu Kervyn
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Science Policy ◽  
Disaster Risk Reduction ◽  
Knowledge Integration ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Stakeholder Groups ◽  
Western Uganda ◽  
Over Time

Efforts in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) are widely geared towards integrating indigenous knowledge and science. Several conceptual frameworks have thus evolved towards co-creating knowledge and co-designing DRR measures from the standpoint of the communities-at-risk. This is claimed to foster optimization and sustainability of measures. This study tests the effectiveness of this standpoint argument based on the case of floods in the Rwenzori, western Uganda, where a mismatch is noted between research, policy, and action. A protocol was developed to stimulate dialogue on knowledge co-creation and co-designing of DRR measures among participants from three stakeholder groups: scientists, policymakers, and communities-at-risk. Beyond convergence on some measures among participants, equitable deliberations were observed among the different stakeholders. This enabled three processes: coalescing some of the proposed measures, the emergence of hybrid worldviews, and co-design of alternative options. The co-designed options fall within the contemporary conceptualization of nature-based solutions and sustainability. This meant that they are adoptable and optimizable over time by communities-at-risk. This constructive knowledge integration and co-design of DRR options were favored by three attributes: coalescing overlaps in theorizations of processes, embracing diversity in ontological values, and self-critiques among policymakers. Lessons are drawn on how these attributes facilitate bridging gaps between science, policy, and action in DRR.

Indigenous knowledge and disaster risk reduction

Geography ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilan Kelman ◽  
Jessica Mercer ◽  
Jc Gaillard
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Disaster Risk Reduction ◽  
Disaster Risk

scholarly journals Disaster risk reduction in Iraq

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa T.M. Al-Shamsi
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
International Society ◽  
Disaster Risk Reduction ◽  
Positive Attitude ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Multiple Hazards ◽  
The Government ◽  
First Time ◽  
Acute Crisis

Iraq is at risk of multiple hazards including both natural and man-made calamities. Little effort had been made before 2003 to address the disaster risk; even though many legislations enacted to provide a relief in the event of the acute crisis, they were mainly focused on the reactive response to the calamities without taking into consideration the prevention, preparedness and mitigation approach. The recent years have witnessed some positive attitude from the government and international society to develop strategies for disaster risk reduction in Iraq. Iraq for the first time has drafted a law that is distinctive for the disasters. The purpose of this article is to review the possibilities and challenges of disaster risk reduction in Iraq.

scholarly journals Indigenous knowledge for disaster risk reduction: An African perspective

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nnamdi G. Iloka
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Disaster Risk Reduction ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Local People ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Future Challenges

Indigenous knowledge is valuable knowledge that has helped local communities all over the world survive for generations. This knowledge originates from the interaction between members of the community and the environment in which they live. Although much has been written about indigenous knowledge, its documentation in the area of disaster risk reduction and climate change in Africa has been very limited. The wealth of this knowledge has not been well-recognised in the disaster risk reduction field, as policy-makers still rely on mitigation strategies based on scientific knowledge. Colonialism and lack of proper documentation of indigenous knowledge are some of the contributing factors to this. Ignoring the importance of understanding adaptive strategies of the local people has led to failed projects. Understanding how local people in Africa have managed to survive and adapt for generations, before the arrival of Western education, may be the key to developing sustainable policies to mitigate future challenges. Literature used in this article, obtained from the books, papers and publications of various experts in the fields of disaster risk reduction, climate change, indigenous knowledge and adaptation, highlight the need for more interest to be shown in indigenous knowledge, especially in the developing country context. This would lead to better strategies which originate from the community level but would aim for overall sustainable development in Africa.

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

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
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.

scholarly journals Governance of disaster risk reduction in Cameroon: The need to empower local government

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry N. Bang
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Disaster Risk Reduction ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Reduction Strategies ◽  
Risk Reduction Strategies ◽  
The Impact

The impact of natural hazards and/or disasters in Cameroon continues to hit local communities hardest, but local government lacks the ability to manage disaster risks adequately. This is partly due to the fact that the necessity to mainstream disaster risk reduction into local governance and development practices is not yet an underlying principle of Cameroon’s disaster management framework. Using empirical and secondary data, this paper analyses the governance of disaster risks in Cameroon with particular focus on the challenges local government faces in implementing disaster risk reduction strategies. The hypothesis is that the governance of disaster risks is too centralised at the national level, with huge implications for the effective governance of disaster risks at the local level. Although Cameroon has reinvigorated efforts to address growing disaster risks in a proactive way, it is argued that the practical actions are more reactive than proactive in nature. The overall aim is to explore the challenges and opportunities that local government has in the governance of disaster risks. Based on the findings from this research, policy recommendations are suggested on ways to mainstream disaster risk reduction strategies into local governance, and advance understanding and practice in the local governance of disaster risks in the country.

scholarly journals The Integration of Indigenous Knowledge for Disaster Risk Reduction Practices through Scientific Knowledge: Cases from Mentawai Islands, Indonesia

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Zulfadrim Zulfadrim ◽  
Yusuke Toyoda ◽  
Hidehiko Kanegae
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Disaster Risk Reduction ◽  
Modern Science ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Mentawai Islands

This study explores the importance of indigenous knowledge for everyday practices of disaster risk reduction and response. Many existing studies have highlighted the need to integrate such knowledge with modern science. Based on ethnographic research in indigenous communities in the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia, this study explores the categorization of indigenous knowledge in the integration process. To that end, primary data were collected through in-depth interviews while secondary data were collected from relevant documents, including books, articles, websites and government and NGO reports. The findings indicate that indigenous knowledge is acquired through long observation and interaction with disasters. Although some of this knowledge is based on successes in other localities, some indigenous knowledge is completely local, homogenous and shared among community members. It was also established that indigenous knowledge can be meaningfully organized into a number of categories, and that indigenous knowledge of a technical nature is more likely to be integrated with scientific knowledge. The research was exploratory and approached indigenous knowledge issues from the point of view of indigenous communities themselves. This approach should be replicated and expanded in other indigenous communities.

scholarly journals How Development Affects News Media Coverage of Earthquakes: Implications for Disaster Risk Reduction in Observing Communities

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Jamieson ◽  
Douglas Van Belle
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
News Media ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Disaster Risk Reduction ◽  
News Coverage ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Policy Learning ◽  
Original Dataset ◽  
Risk Communities

Previous research suggests that lesson-drawing news coverage of disasters can create windows of opportunity for policy learning in the observing communities. This is especially important for cities facing similar vulnerabilities to disaster-affected communities, where they can learn from their events to pursue disaster risk reduction policies to mitigate against those risks at home. However, little is known about the conditions under which newspapers in at-risk communities provide the type of news coverage necessary for policy learning. Using logistic regression to analyze an original dataset produced from a content analysis of five newspapers’ coverage of five earthquakes, we demonstrate that the level of development of the disaster-stricken community systematically influences the nature of news coverage in at-risk communities. These results have important implications for the understanding of urban disaster risk reduction, suggesting that the conditions for bottom-up policy learning are more likely to occur following disasters in wealthier countries.

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