Fostering New Ways of Working:

New Practices

Session 32

Session 32 2

Session Objectives

Identify key planning principles supporting a social vulnerability approach in practice

Review common approaches in the field which are not based on this perspective

Review approaches in the field which do reflect a vulnerability reduction perspective

Session 32 3

Principles for Realizing a Vulnerability Approach through Planning

1. Recognize/integrate coping mechanisms of disaster survivors and local agencies

2. Avoid arbitrary relief assistance

3. Beware commercial exploitation

4. Avoid relief dependency

5. Decentralize decision-making when possible

6. Recognize disasters as political events

7. Recognize pre-disaster constraints

8. Balance reform and conservation

9. Avoid rebuilding injustice

10. Accountability – the key issue

11. Relocation is the worst option

12. Maximize the transition from relief to development

Source: Blaikie et al. 1994. At Risk.

Session 32 4

Principles for “Managing a Reduction of Vulnerability”

1. Vigorously manage mitigation through structural and nonstructural means

2. Integrate elements of mitigation, developing risk-reduction measures in sequence and eliminating gaps

3. Capitalize on a disaster to initiate or develop mitigation

4. Monitor and modify to suit new conditions

5. Focus attention on protection of the most vulnerable

6. Focus on protection of lives and livelihoods of the vulnerable

7. Focus on active rather than passive approaches

8. Focus on protection priority sectors such as “lifelines” but also cultural artifacts and long-term economic resources

9. Measures must be sustainable over time

10. Assimilate mitigation in normal practices

11. Incorporate mitigation in specific development projects

12. Maintain political commitment

Source: Blaikie et al. 1994. At Risk.

Session 32 5

Examples of Misleading Assumptions about Vulnerable Social Groups

Seniors are needy

Disabled are dependent

Households are singular and nuclear

Households are male-headed

Men are primary earners of the household

English is the primary language

Session 32 6

Examples of Misleading Assumptions about People at Risk or Affected by Disasters Most people have

disposable income and control over their finances

“Special populations” always need help

Getting people back into their homes is the first priority

People are equally impacted by damages and loss

Personal attributes or lifestyle choices make people vulnerable

Ethnic and racial minorities are especially vulnerable

Women and men are equally vulnerable within income or age groups

Most people have functioning cars

Session 32 7

Examples of Ignorance about Social Conditions

How ethnic institutions vary from dominant Angle norm

Extent of police surveillance/harassment experienced and corresponding fear

Where shelters for battered women or juveniles are located and what they do

Which neighborhoods are likely to have many home-based businesses

Where and how migrant agricultural laborers live

Living conditions in local public housing facilities

Informal health care systems providing care

Support systems for the chronically ill

The resources of residential shelters

Where the homeless stay and how many stay there

Session 32 8

Examples of Non-Inclusive, “Top Down” Planning

Community meetings held at night; no on-site child care; no public transportation

“Open” public meetings with pre-set agendas representing emergency practitioners as outside “experts”

Outreach to mainstream nonprofits included in local VOAD groups

One-way and one-time “consultation” with community members

Emergency communications in English only or at advanced literacy levels

Session 32 9

Approaches Which Reflect a Vulnerability Reduction Perspective

1. Inclusive communication

2. Reducing service barriers

3. Local innovations4. Anticipating need5. Increasing community

and family preparedness

6. Project Impact7. Planning ahead to

reduce cultural barriers

8. Collaborating with community-based organizations

9. Networking community organizations in disasters

10. Special needs planning11. Governmental tools for

reducing vulnerability12. Neighborhood initiatives13. Working with emergent

groups14. Building on capacities of

vulnerable people