scholarly journals Regional disaster risk management strategies for food security: Probing Southern African Development Community channels for influencing national policy

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Happy M. Tirivangasi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Risk Management Strategies

Natural disasters and food insecurity are directly interconnected. Climate change related hazards such as floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, droughts and other risks can weaken food security and severely impact agricultural activities. Consequently, this has an impact on market access, trade, food supply, reduced income, increased food prices, decreased farm income and employment. Natural disasters create poverty, which in turn increases the prevalence of food insecurity and malnutrition. It is clear that disasters put food security at risk. The poorest people in the community are affected by food insecurity and disasters; hence, there is a need to be prepared as well as be in a position to manage disasters. Without serious efforts to address them, the risks of disasters will become an increasingly serious obstacle to sustainable development and the achievement of sustainable development goals, particularly goal number 2 ‘end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture’. In recent years, countries in southern Africa have experienced an increase in the frequency, magnitude and impact of climate change–related hazards such as droughts, veld fire, depleting water resources and flood events. This research aims to reveal Southern African Development Community disaster risk management strategies for food security to see how they an influence and shape policy at the national level in southern Africa. Sustainable Livelihood approach was adopted as the main theoretical framework for the study. The qualitative Analysis is based largely on data from databases such as national reports, regional reports and empirical findings on the disaster management–sustainable development nexus.

Assessment and Adaptation to Climate Change-Related Flood Risks

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenden Jongman ◽  
Hessel C. Winsemius ◽  
Stuart A. Fraser ◽  
Sanne Muis ◽  
Philip J. Ward
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Flood Risk ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Inundation Depth ◽  
Risk Management Strategies ◽  
Flood Losses

The flooding of rivers and coastlines is the most frequent and damaging of all natural hazards. Between 1980 and 2016, total direct damages exceeded $1.6 trillion, and at least 225,000 people lost their lives. Recent events causing major economic losses include the 2011 river flooding in Thailand ($40 billion) and the 2013 coastal floods in the United States caused by Hurricane Sandy (over $50 billion). Flooding also triggers great humanitarian challenges. The 2015 Malawi floods were the worst in the country’s history and were followed by food shortage across large parts of the country. Flood losses are increasing rapidly in some world regions, driven by economic development in floodplains and increases in the frequency of extreme precipitation events and global sea level due to climate change. The largest increase in flood losses is seen in low-income countries, where population growth is rapid and many cities are expanding quickly. At the same time, evidence shows that adaptation to flood risk is already happening, and a large proportion of losses can be contained successfully by effective risk management strategies. Such risk management strategies may include floodplain zoning, construction and maintenance of flood defenses, reforestation of land draining into rivers, and use of early warning systems. To reduce risk effectively, it is important to know the location and impact of potential floods under current and future social and environmental conditions. In a risk assessment, models can be used to map the flow of water over land after an intense rainfall event or storm surge (the hazard). Modeled for many different potential events, this provides estimates of potential inundation depth in flood-prone areas. Such maps can be constructed for various scenarios of climate change based on specific changes in rainfall, temperature, and sea level. To assess the impact of the modeled hazard (e.g., cost of damage or lives lost), the potential exposure (including buildings, population, and infrastructure) must be mapped using land-use and population density data and construction information. Population growth and urban expansion can be simulated by increasing the density or extent of the urban area in the model. The effects of floods on people and different types of buildings and infrastructure are determined using a vulnerability function. This indicates the damage expected to occur to a structure or group of people as a function of flood intensity (e.g., inundation depth and flow velocity). Potential adaptation measures such as land-use change or new flood defenses can be included in the model in order to understand how effective they may be in reducing flood risk. This way, risk assessments can demonstrate the possible approaches available to policymakers to build a less risky future.

scholarly journals The December 2004-January 2005 floods in the Garden Route region of the Southern Cape, South Africa

2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Tempelhoff ◽  
Dewald Van Niekerk ◽  
Elize Van Eeden ◽  
Ina Gouws ◽  
Karin Botha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Disaster Risk Management ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Risk Management Strategies ◽  
Infrastructure Maintenance

The December 2004-January 2005 floods in the Garden Route region of the Southern Cape in South Africa have had a significant impact on local development and economic activities, tourism products andlocal institutions. This article aims to capture the dynamism between a number of related fields within the context of transdisciplinary research. Qualitative research methods were used to target a representative sample of the affected population. This article considers the history of the flooding events of December 2004/January 2005 along the Garden Route, as well as the manner in which emergency/disaster management personnel responded to the crisis. The effect of the floods on the tourism sector along the Garden Route was researched in general and the effects of the floods on tourists, local residents, and particularly communities in disadvantaged areas were specifically determined. The research reflects on the disaster risk management strategies that were in place at the time of the floods to determine what local authorities could have done to cope with the potential conditions of crisis. The research found that although some tourism products were severely affected, the 2004/2005 floods did not have a significant impact on the number of tourists frequenting the area. In terms of disaster risk management, concerns remain regarding the lack of the following factors: capacity, adequate early warning systems, proper infrastructure maintenance, local institutions, and an in-depth understanding of the disaster risk profile of the area.

scholarly journals Adaptive Capacities for Diversified Flood Risk Management Strategies: Learning from Pilot Projects

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2643
Author(s):  
Flavia Simona Cosoveanu ◽  
Jean-Marie Buijs ◽  
Marloes Bakker ◽  
Teun Terpstra
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
Flood Risk ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Flood Risk Management ◽  
Pilot Projects ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Climate Change Effects ◽  
Risk Management Strategies

Diversification of flood risk management strategies (FRMS) in response to climate change relies on the adaptive capacities of institutions. Although adaptive capacities enable flexibility and adjustment, more empirical research is needed to better grasp the role of adaptive capacities to accommodate expected climate change effects. This paper presents an analytical framework based on the Adaptive Capacity Wheel (ACW) and Triple-loop Learning. The framework is applied to evaluate the adaptive capacities that were missing, employed, and developed throughout the ‘Alblasserwaard-Vijfheerenlanden’ (The Netherlands) and the ‘Wesermarsch’ (Germany) pilot projects. Evaluations were performed using questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups. From the 22 capacities of ACW, three capacities were identified important for diversifying the current FRMS; the capacity to develop a greater variety of solutions, continuous access to information about diversified FRMS, and collaborative leadership. Hardly any capacities related to ‘learning’ and ‘governance’ were mentioned by the stakeholders. From a further reflection on the data, we inferred that the pilot projects performed single-loop learning (incremental learning: ‘are we doing what we do right?’), rather than double-loop learning (reframing: ‘are we doing the right things?’). As the development of the framework is part of ongoing research, some directions for improvement are highlighted.

Smart and Resilient Cities: Best Practices from Disaster Risk Management Strategies

2021 ◽  
pp. 183-200
Author(s):  
Hiroko Kudo ◽  
Antonio D’Andreamatteo ◽  
Massimo Sargiacomo ◽  
Carlo Vermiglio ◽  
Vincenzo Zarone
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Disaster Risk Management ◽  
Risk Management Strategies

scholarly journals HAZAGORA: will you survive the next disaster? – a serious game to raise awareness about geohazards and disaster risk reduction

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (9) ◽  
pp. 5209-5245
Author(s):  
S. Mossoux ◽  
A. Delcamp ◽  
S. Poppe ◽  
C. Michellier ◽  
F. Canters ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Disaster Risk Reduction ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
African Countries ◽  
School Students ◽  
Risk Management Strategies ◽  
Reduction Strategies ◽  
Risk Managers

Abstract. Natural disasters are too often presented as resulting from extreme natural phenomena affecting helpless populations, with people being insufficiently aware of the factors leading to disasters and of the existing strategies to mitigate their impacts. We developed a board game aimed at raising awareness about geohazards and disaster risk reduction strategies. The target groups are (1) secondary school students and citizens, and (2) scientists and stakeholders involved in risk management activities. For the first group, the aim is to induce a better understanding of geohazards and disasters they are confronted with in the media or in their daily life; for the second, the objective is to generate discussion about risk management strategies. The game was tested with students in Belgium and with citizens, earth scientists and risk managers in several African countries. Based on the game strategies analysis, the players' reactions during the game and their answers to a short questionnaire, we analyzed the main learning outcomes conveyed by this game. The Hazagora game appears to positively enhance the players' insight in processes involved in disasters. As such, the game is an effective playful learning tool to introduce participants to the concept of geohazard and disaster and to generate discussion.

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