Synthesis of good practices in disaster risk reduction mainstreaming and

implementation

It was expected that by November 2008, the pro-gramme would have supported about 60,000com-munity members living in high-risk areas.

The programme was implemented nationwide in Mozambique. InWEnt (Capacity Building International), a German organization focusing on capacity-building, provides support to the INGC in six districts of the three northern prov-inces of Nampula, Cabo Delgado and Niassa. The six districts – Moma, Mecufi, Nacala, Lago, Aldeia Sassalane, and Metanculo – were identified as very poor and particularly vulnerable to disasters such as cyclones, floods and earthquakes. The programme is implemented by the INGC with as-sistance from InWEnt and financial support from the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A number of the country’s most vulnerable com-munities were identified and encouraged to form local disaster management committees compris-ing 20 to 25 members. Members have specific

roles and were trained in different fields of disas-ter reduction. Some members ensure that crucial early warning information reaches the right com-munities, authorities and relief agencies. Others were trained in evacuation, first aid, shelter and relief. Simulation exercises are carried out on how to prepare for and respond to floods, cyclones and earthquakes.

The programme also included identifying evacu-ation routes, developing risk maps, and designing community emergency plans and approaches that educate community members to better understand and respond to specific threats. A partnership with the Mozambican Ministry of Education and Human Development was estab-lished to integrate disaster risk reduction into school lessons and school infrastructure.

After a preparatory period, the first activities were rolled out in June 2007 with a series of consulta-tive workshops with authorities, community lead-Box 10: Definition and criteria for selection of good practices

A “good practice” for the purposes of this report may be a tool, methodology, set of guidelines, approach, policy, plan, programme or other intervention that is an example of how to effectively assess vulnerability or mainstream and/or implement disaster risk reduction and management interventions that that deserves to be showcased for the attention and interest of other policymakers or practitioners. Good practices were selected based on how they met the following attributes:

i) Recognize and address the root causes of vulnerabilities that result into disasters.

ii) Ensure the participation of and ownership by key stakeholders, particularly the affected communities, of disaster risk reduction and management interventions.

iii) Focus on and attain outcomes and impacts, including the translation of policies and programmes into tangible results on the ground, especially with regard to ensuring resilient livelihoods.

iv) Ensure social inclusion that recognizes the diverse categories of affected communities including women, men, and marginalized and other disadvantaged groups.

v) Embody integrated approaches that are multi-stakeholder in nature and take into account social, economic and environmental dimensions of disaster risk reduction and management.

vi) Entail development and strengthening of effective partnerships for disaster risk reduction and management. Such partnerships may be between affected communities, local and national governments, civil society organizations or donor organizations.

vii) Ensure sustainability including by addressing current and future risks and ensuring sound environment management.

viii) Be adequately backed by a sound statistical and information base, as applicable.

ix) Ensure effective institutional arrangements for disaster risk reduction.

x) Have a high potential for replication resources and capacity.

ers and other key community members. Thirty-four disaster management committees have been established and trained so far. The plan was to en-sure that all communities exposed to disaster risk are covered by the programme.

Outcome: Prior to these programme interventions, the targeted communities had never received in-formation and training on disaster risk reduction.

Approximately 50 people were trained in each of the three provinces in disaster risk reduction, awareness-raising and the development of lo-cal warning and response systems. Support from InWEnt was guaranteed until November 2008, af-ter which there would be an assessment, and a project extension would be considered.

Overall, the project helped to build stronger com-munity cohesion and increased self-confidence. It also assisted local populations to become hands-on activists to protect their communities, in ad-dition to improving disaster preparedness and reducing loss of life, property and livelihoods.

Strategies were put in place to form local disaster management committees and develop a warn-ing system to guide the population and inform authorities and relief agencies. These initiatives are building the capacity of local populations and empowering them to play a proactive role in en-suring the security of their families and livelihoods.

Also, a participatory approach has been adopt-ed, which not only minimizes disaster risk and vulnerability but also addresses poverty risks. It builds upon best practices learned from other successful interventions in flood-affected areas in Mozambique, which have been adapted and en-hanced for maximum effectiveness. The stronger community cohesion and increased self-confi-dence resulting from the project is assisting local populations to play an active role in the protec-tion of their communities. This sense of activism

and confidence also benefits community life be-yond the specifics of disaster mitigation.

The results of this long-term approach have now become visible, as communities in Mozambique have become more prepared to respond to sub-sequent floods, and cyclone.

Good practice: The project is an example of good practice because it uses a participatory approach to build upon the capacity of local populations, and empowers them to play a proactive role in ensuring the security of their families and live-lihoods. The benefits of the approach are eas-ily demonstrated to participants, encouraging

‘buy-in’. It is cost-effective and has been adapted from other effective interventions elsewhere in Mozambique. Furthermore, it is easily transferable and can be adapted to other regions and coun-tries. The project is also an example of a good practice of mainstreaming of disaster risk reduc-tion in nareduc-tional frameworks that has been trans-lated into action and implemented at the national level.

Success factors and lessons learned: A key success factor of this initiative was the direct involvement of lo-cal populations, which are best placed to identify multiple disaster risks. Coupled with the tangible benefits brought to the communities by effec-tive disaster response, this resulted in a highly motivated target group of beneficiaries. Selected participatory approaches ensured that provincial, district and community actors were all actively involved in the development of the programme.

Furthermore, more training, refresher courses and simulation exercises will be conducted to ensure continuity and the sustainability of the knowl-edge gained.

Key lessons learned from the project are that:

• Communities need to be mobilized to ac-cept and own mitigation activities.

• Involvement and integration of local gov-ernment officials, elders and community leaders into the process and in the devel-opment of risk reduction plans is essential.

• The community itself is a key agent of dis-aster preparedness. Once involved, people are highly motivated to protect themselves.

Challenges:

The major challenges for this project were:

• Complex local dynamics.

• Lack of resources. Sustainability means long-term investment and training, which can be costly.

• Poor infrastructure undermines access to and supervision of remote areas.

• Competing priorities within the Mozambican Government’s development agenda placed a squeeze on both techni-cal/administrative capacity and on access to resources.

Potential for Replication: The programme can be easily transferred and adapted to other countries with disaster risks. Similar examples already exist in Bangladesh, Costa Rica and Honduras.

Replicating the programme in another context requires the involvement of community work-ers trained in disaster risk reduction as well as in the use of appropriate materials (such as mega-phones, radios, and first-aid kits) depending on the given context. Moreover, political commit-ment is needed at the national level, as well as at the provincial and district levels, to mobilize the population to take care of themselves as much as possible.

5.2.2 Disaster preparedness to reduce poverty in drought-prone area:

Community-based rock rainwater harvesting and storage in Kenya (UNISDR 2008)

Context: Poor communities in Kitui District in east-ern Kenya have no choice but to try to survive in their dry and drought-prone areas, where they are burdened by chronic malnutrition and lack of re-sources. In 2006, an increase in drought frequency and severity triggered a downward spiral in terms of disaster vulnerability and poverty.

Project objectives and approach: In this context, a community-based rock rainwater harvesting and storage project was initiated in October 2006 by Welthungerhilfe, after more than a year of inten-sive baseline data collection on the ground, includ-ing many community interviews, discussions with stakeholders and reviews of secondary data. The project was funded by the European Commission Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection and was carried out from October 2006 to 31 December 2007 in Mutha and Ikutha divisions of what was then known as Kitui District, Eastern Province, Kenya.

The project targeted over 36,000 men, women and children from water-poor communities that were highly vulnerable to the effects of drought.

The aim of the project was to increase the capac-ity of the most vulnerable communities to with-stand recurring droughts. The drought prepared-ness initiative aimed to improve the availability of drinking water and access to it, even in dry peri-ods, in order to improve public health.

The 14-month project was implemented in close collaboration with other initiatives in relevant sec-tors aimed at reducing poverty. Access to clean drinking water was the top priority in the tar-geted areas, and solving this particular problem was seen as a way to address many other

prob-lems. Drought preparedness, focusing on access to and availability of drinking water, was the best way to begin enabling and supporting poverty reduction. It was implemented with the involve-ment of drought-affected communities, their chiefs and elders, other relief and development agencies operating in the area, as well as relevant government ministries.

The strategies adopted by the project were as follows:

• Strategic positioning of water access points to ensure easy maintenance and sustain-ability, with great emphasis on rainwater collection and storage in areas with low groundwater potential (any area with sea-sonal rains of 150 mm or more is suitable for rainwater collection).

• Intensive and highly participatory commu-nity involvement throughout the project.

• Community capacity-building.

• Intensive training, including on hygiene and contingency water management.

Outcomes: Drought-affected water-poor com-munities had at least 3 litres of safe drinking wa-ter per person per day, available for at least 90 days of each dry season within walking distance from their homes, at a maximum of 4 km- thus enabling them to bridge the worst period when surface water surfaces have dried up. The benefi-ciaries’ health improved, particularly where water-borne diseases are concerned. This was a result of improved water access and availability, and improved sanitation and hygiene practices. The beneficiaries’ drought coping and management capacities have been strengthened.

Good practice: This project can be considered a good practice because it deals with rock catchments,

which are a key to the sustainable development of rural community water supply in drought-prone areas. It was multisectoral in nature and im-plemented with the participation of drought-af-fected communities. Its broad experience reveals that rainwater harvesting and storage, particularly via rock catchments is:

• Vastly underused in spite of its high potential.

• An advantageous option for supporting community water supplies, especially in arid and semi-arid areas with limited rainy seasons and long dry spells.

• An appropriate low-tech and cost-effective technology.

• Yields an enormous potential for providing a decentralized supply of drinking water.

Success factors and lessons learned: Key success fac-tors in the project include: intensive and genuine community participation from the assessment stage onwards; close monitoring and assistance by technically knowledgeable staff; and the de-ployment of local skilled artisans to remain with the beneficiary communities and guide them throughout their work.