Duryog Nivaran: Duryog Nivaran: Networking for Disaster Risk Networking for Disaster Risk

Reduction in South Asia Reduction in South Asia

Presentation at Presentation at Preliminary Consultative MeetingPreliminary Consultative MeetingBuilding a “Global Network of NGOs” forBuilding a “Global Network of NGOs” for

Community Resilience to DisastersCommunity Resilience to Disasters

Geneva, 25-26 October, 2006Geneva, 25-26 October, 2006

--Amjad Bhatti, Regional Coordinator, Duryog Nivaran Secretariat, --Amjad Bhatti, Regional Coordinator, Duryog Nivaran Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan Islamabad, Pakistan

What Duryog Nivaran stands What Duryog Nivaran stands for?for?

• Duryog Nivaran is a Sanskrit phrase Duryog Nivaran is a Sanskrit phrase meaning disaster mitigation. meaning disaster mitigation.

• Duryog Nivaran, established in 1995, is Duryog Nivaran, established in 1995, is a network of individuals and a network of individuals and organisations from South Asia who are organisations from South Asia who are committed to promoting the ‘alternative committed to promoting the ‘alternative perspective’ on disasters and perspective’ on disasters and vulnerability as a basis for disaster vulnerability as a basis for disaster mitigation in the region. mitigation in the region.

ObjectiveObjective

• The overall aim of Duryog Nivaran is to The overall aim of Duryog Nivaran is to reduce the communities’ susceptibility reduce the communities’ susceptibility to disasters and conflicts. This is to disasters and conflicts. This is achieved by incorporating the achieved by incorporating the ‘alternative perspective’ at conceptual, ‘alternative perspective’ at conceptual, policy and implementation levels of policy and implementation levels of disaster mitigation and development disaster mitigation and development programmes in South Asian region. programmes in South Asian region.

Dominant Perspective Dominant Perspective Alternative Alternative PerspectivePerspective

• Disasters and Disasters and conflicts are conflicts are viewed as an viewed as an isolated eventisolated event

• Less analysis on Less analysis on linkages in society linkages in society during normal during normal times times

• Disasters and Disasters and conflicts are part of conflicts are part of the normal process of the normal process of development development

• Analysing linkages in Analysing linkages in society during normal society during normal times is fundamental times is fundamental to understanding to understanding disasters and disasters and conflicts conflicts

Dominant Perspective Dominant Perspective Alternative Alternative

PerspectivePerspective • Technical and law and Technical and law and

order solutions are order solutions are adhered adhered

• Centralised state Centralised state institutions dominate the institutions dominate the intervention. Less people intervention. Less people participation. People are participation. People are regarded as “victims.” regarded as “victims.”

• Emphasis is on solutions Emphasis is on solutions that change the that change the relationships and relationships and structures in society. The structures in society. The objective being to objective being to strengthen people’s strengthen people’s capacity and reduce their capacity and reduce their vulnerabilityvulnerability

• Decentralised institutions Decentralised institutions play the main role. play the main role. Participation of people is Participation of people is paramount. People are paramount. People are treated as “treated as “partnerspartners” in ” in development. development.

Dominant Perspective Dominant Perspective Alternative Alternative PerspectivePerspective

• Implementing agencies Implementing agencies are rarely accountable are rarely accountable and their processes and their processes are less transparent are less transparent

• Interventions come Interventions come after the event after the event

• The objective is to The objective is to return to the situation return to the situation prior to the event prior to the event

• Accountability and Accountability and transparency are transparency are paramount in this paramount in this strategystrategy

• Interventions aim at Interventions aim at preparing communities preparing communities and mitigating the and mitigating the impact of disastersimpact of disasters

• Disasters and conflicts Disasters and conflicts are viewed as are viewed as opportunities for social opportunities for social transformation transformation

DN ThemesDN Themes

• Understanding linkages with societyUnderstanding linkages with society

• Myths of science and technologyMyths of science and technology

• AccountabilityAccountability

• Regional cooperationRegional cooperation

• Understanding vulnerability and Understanding vulnerability and capacitycapacity

• Risk and LivelihoodsRisk and Livelihoods

Principles for Advocacy Principles for Advocacy

• Disasters should be looked at as a part of ecology and they Disasters should be looked at as a part of ecology and they should be should be managed managed rather than rather than controllecontrolled.d.

• Disasters should be treated as issues of development and Disasters should be treated as issues of development and governance; and states should be made responsive, governance; and states should be made responsive, sensitive and accountable to the demands, needs and sensitive and accountable to the demands, needs and rights of disaster-prone communities and areas.rights of disaster-prone communities and areas.

• Disaster management policies should be redirected Disaster management policies should be redirected towards poverty and vulnerability reduction instead of towards poverty and vulnerability reduction instead of mere compensation and relief response. mere compensation and relief response.

Principles for AdvocacyPrinciples for Advocacy

• Disaster management strategies should integrate Disaster management strategies should integrate structural measures (construction of embankments, structural measures (construction of embankments, dykes, resistant buildings, etc.) with non-structural dykes, resistant buildings, etc.) with non-structural measures such as enhancing the entitlements and measures such as enhancing the entitlements and negotiating power of the most vulnerable communities negotiating power of the most vulnerable communities and subordinate social groups.and subordinate social groups.

• Disaster-prone communities should be engaged equitably Disaster-prone communities should be engaged equitably into the process of disaster-related decision-making and into the process of disaster-related decision-making and development planning, implementation and monitoring. development planning, implementation and monitoring.

Highlights of DN Activities Highlights of DN Activities

• Research and publications related to disaster preparedness and Research and publications related to disaster preparedness and mitigation, regional cooperation, gender and risk and livelihoods. mitigation, regional cooperation, gender and risk and livelihoods.

• Initiate a process of building awareness of media on issues Initiate a process of building awareness of media on issues related to the alternative perspective on disasters and community related to the alternative perspective on disasters and community capacity building, and on effective disaster reporting. capacity building, and on effective disaster reporting.

• Policy discussions and debates on institutionalizing and Policy discussions and debates on institutionalizing and mainstreaming the ‘Alternative perspective’ in South Asia mainstreaming the ‘Alternative perspective’ in South Asia

• Community-based initiatives in partner countries to demonstrate Community-based initiatives in partner countries to demonstrate the ‘alternative perspective’ in practice through the Livelihood the ‘alternative perspective’ in practice through the Livelihood Options for Disaster Risk Reduction project Options for Disaster Risk Reduction project

• Developing the CBDM- Community-Based Disaster Management Developing the CBDM- Community-Based Disaster Management training methodology, and training the stakeholders in the region training methodology, and training the stakeholders in the region to apply the concepts to apply the concepts

Highlights of DN ActivitiesHighlights of DN Activities

• Conducting Localised CBDM Conducting Localised CBDM training programmes in India and training programmes in India and Sri Lanka Sri Lanka

• Art and Poster Competition in the Art and Poster Competition in the region on “Seeing Disasters region on “Seeing Disasters Differently” in 1998 and Differently” in 1998 and publishing the booklet by the publishing the booklet by the same name. same name.

• Workshops to discuss the issue Workshops to discuss the issue of better regional cooperation of better regional cooperation

• Building up a network of Building up a network of partnerships through the region, partnerships through the region, which includes governmental which includes governmental organizations, NGOs, academic organizations, NGOs, academic institutions and community institutions and community members members

Current InitiativesCurrent Initiatives

• South Asia Policy Dialogue led to the Delhi Declaration South Asia Policy Dialogue led to the Delhi Declaration • The first SAARC-level policy conference on Disaster Risk The first SAARC-level policy conference on Disaster Risk

Reduction at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on August 21-22, Reduction at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on August 21-22, 2006. 2006.

• This meeting paved the way for a Road Map for Regional This meeting paved the way for a Road Map for Regional Cooperation as part of the South Asia’s response towards Cooperation as part of the South Asia’s response towards the growing threat of natural disasters and the challenge the growing threat of natural disasters and the challenge of their management.of their management.

• The main organizers are, National Institute of Disaster The main organizers are, National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) in New Delhi, Practical Action South Management (NIDM) in New Delhi, Practical Action South Asia Programme based in Colombo Sri Lanka and Duryog Asia Programme based in Colombo Sri Lanka and Duryog Nivaran - the South Asian network for disaster mitigation Nivaran - the South Asian network for disaster mitigation with its secretariat in Islamabad, Pakistan.with its secretariat in Islamabad, Pakistan.

South Asia Disaster News South Asia Disaster News ServiceService (SADNS) (SADNS) • South Asia Disaster News Service (SADNS) is South Asia Disaster News Service (SADNS) is

an information pool on disaster risk related an information pool on disaster risk related news, views, comments, analysis, interviews, news, views, comments, analysis, interviews, articles, editorials, reportorial and case studies articles, editorials, reportorial and case studies from across South Asia. The core objective of from across South Asia. The core objective of SADNS is to track pre-disaster risk, report SADNS is to track pre-disaster risk, report occurrences and subsequent responses in occurrences and subsequent responses in member countries. Moreover, SADNS aims to member countries. Moreover, SADNS aims to serve as a ready reference on disaster risk serve as a ready reference on disaster risk reduction in South Asia. SADNS can be reduction in South Asia. SADNS can be accessed at accessed at www.duryognivaran.orgwww.duryognivaran.org

South Asia Disaster Report South Asia Disaster Report 20052005: : Tackling with Tides and Tackling with Tides and Tremors Tremors

• This is the first report on disasters on South Asia This is the first report on disasters on South Asia by by Duryog NivaranDuryog Nivaran. The report contests the . The report contests the stereotyping of disaster at policy, planning and stereotyping of disaster at policy, planning and implementation level and seeks to understand,implementation level and seeks to understand,

• How hazards turn into disasters;How hazards turn into disasters;• What were the consequences of the Indian Ocean What were the consequences of the Indian Ocean

Tsunami (December 2004), the Himalaya Tsunami (December 2004), the Himalaya earthquake (October 2005); and Mumbai floods earthquake (October 2005); and Mumbai floods (July 2005) on people, infrastructure, and (July 2005) on people, infrastructure, and development;development;

• How did state and non state actors including local How did state and non state actors including local and international communities respond to these and international communities respond to these major natural disasters;major natural disasters;

Continued…Continued…

• Why some disasters are reported prominently Why some disasters are reported prominently and some remain invisible;and some remain invisible;

• What are the existing institutional What are the existing institutional arrangements addressing complex arrangements addressing complex emergencies in South Asia; andemergencies in South Asia; and

• What could be an alternative framework for What could be an alternative framework for effective disaster risk reduction in the region?effective disaster risk reduction in the region?

Disaster DispatchDisaster Dispatch – An – An Occasional NewsmagazineOccasional Newsmagazine

Disaster Dispatch is a Newsletter aimed at Disaster Dispatch is a Newsletter aimed at collecting, indexing, and disseminating news, collecting, indexing, and disseminating news, views and research updates on natural disasters views and research updates on natural disasters and social conflicts in South Asia . It intends to and social conflicts in South Asia . It intends to serve as a backgrounder for policy, media and serve as a backgrounder for policy, media and disaster related organizations in the region. disaster related organizations in the region. Previous copies of Disaster Dispatch can be Previous copies of Disaster Dispatch can be accessed at accessed at http//www.duryognivaran.orghttp//www.duryognivaran.org and and http/http/www.syberwurx/jrcwww.syberwurx/jrc

DN Book Shelf DN Book Shelf

• Gender Dimensions in Disaster Management: A Guide for South Gender Dimensions in Disaster Management: A Guide for South Asia (2003) Asia (2003)

• Livelihood-Centered Approaches to Disaster Management: A Policy Livelihood-Centered Approaches to Disaster Management: A Policy Framework for South Asia Framework for South Asia

• Disaster Communication- A Resource Kit for Media (2002)Disaster Communication- A Resource Kit for Media (2002)• Traditional Wisdom of Rainwater Harvesting: An Overview from Traditional Wisdom of Rainwater Harvesting: An Overview from

South Asia (2001)South Asia (2001)• Assessing Participation (1996)Assessing Participation (1996)• South Asian Women: Facing Disasters, Securing Life (1997) South Asian Women: Facing Disasters, Securing Life (1997) • Understanding Vulnerability South Asian Perspectives (1998) Understanding Vulnerability South Asian Perspectives (1998)

DN Book Shelf DN Book Shelf

• Defeating Disasters: Ideas for Action (1999)Defeating Disasters: Ideas for Action (1999)• Seeing Disaster Differently: Visions and Suggestions Seeing Disaster Differently: Visions and Suggestions

(1999)(1999)• South Asian Series on Vulnerability Reduction: No.2 South Asian Series on Vulnerability Reduction: No.2

Food Security Strategies Under Drought Hazard: A Case StFood Security Strategies Under Drought Hazard: A Case Study of udy of MilamperumawaMilamperumawa (1997) (1997)

• South Asian Series on Vulnerability Reduction: South Asian Series on Vulnerability Reduction: Impact of Drought on Livelihood and Food Security of FarImpact of Drought on Livelihood and Food Security of Farmers in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka: The Case of Vegetable mers in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka: The Case of Vegetable Farmers in Farmers in YodakandiyYodakandiy (1998) (1998)

DN Book Shelf DN Book Shelf

• Nine booklets on Food and Water Security: South Asia Case Study Nine booklets on Food and Water Security: South Asia Case Study Series. Series.

• Craft in the Aftermath of Disaster: Generating Independence as Craft in the Aftermath of Disaster: Generating Independence as well as Incomes, India. well as Incomes, India.

• Harvesting Rainwater: A Means of Water Security in Rural Sri Harvesting Rainwater: A Means of Water Security in Rural Sri Lanka. Lanka.

• Fallows and Village food security in rain fed areas, a case study Fallows and Village food security in rain fed areas, a case study from India. from India.

• Food and water security in times of malaria emergency, case Food and water security in times of malaria emergency, case study from Gujarat. study from Gujarat.

• Floods and desserts - a case study from Rajastan , India Floods and desserts - a case study from Rajastan , India • The Vulnerability of invisible workers, India. The Vulnerability of invisible workers, India. • Strengthening vulnerable communities from natural disaster Strengthening vulnerable communities from natural disaster

reduction, India.reduction, India.• Technical briefs on tsunami and earthquake recovery and Technical briefs on tsunami and earthquake recovery and

rehabilitation rehabilitation

Way Forward Way Forward

• Recently established disaster management cell by SAARC and Recently established disaster management cell by SAARC and hosted by National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) India hosted by National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) India has engaged DN in advisory capacity to develop a roadmap for has engaged DN in advisory capacity to develop a roadmap for regional disaster risk reduction in South Asia.regional disaster risk reduction in South Asia.

• Keeping in view the wealth of knowledge and experience pooled Keeping in view the wealth of knowledge and experience pooled by the DN members, it is timely to develop and deploy and by the DN members, it is timely to develop and deploy and expand DN’s resources and learning with an aim to inform, expand DN’s resources and learning with an aim to inform, influence, strengthen and streamline ongoing initiative on influence, strengthen and streamline ongoing initiative on national and regional disaster management in South Asian national and regional disaster management in South Asian countries. These initiatives can also be taken as a strategic countries. These initiatives can also be taken as a strategic reference point to the Hyogo Declaration issued at the World reference point to the Hyogo Declaration issued at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction held in January 2005 in Kobe, Conference on Disaster Reduction held in January 2005 in Kobe, Japan. The Hyogo Declaration underscores the importance of Japan. The Hyogo Declaration underscores the importance of strengthening cooperative and synergistic interactions among strengthening cooperative and synergistic interactions among various stakeholders and promoting voluntary partnership for various stakeholders and promoting voluntary partnership for disaster risk reduction. disaster risk reduction.

Struggle Struggle continues…continues…

Thank you! Thank you!