An Institutional Model for Collaborative Disaster Risk Management in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Region

Mmaphaka Tau,Per Becker,Dewald Van Niekerk

doi:10.1007/s13753-016-0110-9

Abstract

This article presents and argues for a collaborative model for disaster risk management in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The research employed a qualitative study through a literature review and empirical research through focus group interviews to realize its objectives. As a key theory of multinational collaboration, neoliberal institutionalism—a subset of the international relations theory—was used to develop the SADC institutional collaborative model. The model combined the theoretical, political, and technical dimensions of collaboration to enhance buy-in for the disaster risk management and reduction function of governments. The model demonstrates the need for a multidisciplinary approach to achieving disaster risk management and reduction in the SADC and elsewhere, if the developmental objectives of disaster risk reduction are to be realized without interference in the domestic affairs of the member countries. This model is therefore grounded in seeking consensus and cooperation among cooperating states in a quest to ensure national implementation of the regional framework on disaster risk reduction.

Highlights

The population of the African continent was estimated at 1.033 billion in 2013 and as growing at a rate of 2–4% per annum (WPR 2015)
The model demonstrates the need for a multidisciplinary approach to achieving disaster risk management and reduction in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and elsewhere, if the developmental objectives of disaster risk reduction are to be realized without interference in the domestic affairs of the member countries
These participants were drawn from disaster management offices of a number of SADC member states, academic institutions involved in disaster risk reduction education, training, and research, state and non-state entities within the SADC, as well as international organizations involved in disaster risk management (DRM) and reduction and related responsibilities

Summary

Introduction

The population of the African continent was estimated at 1.033 billion in 2013 and as growing at a rate of 2–4% per annum (WPR 2015). The article is a contribution to enhancing DRM and reduction in the SADC and elsewhere by outlining an institutional model for collaborative DRM within the established international relations theoretical context This is motivated by the consideration of hazards and disasters, as with development and climate change response, as phenomena that cannot be confined to national boundaries, necessitating the promotion of multinational arrangements for DRM and reduction. Associated with the liberation and democratization of the African continent, African countries collectively adopted key institutional arrangements and strategic frameworks to govern multinational collaboration on issues relating to the socioeconomic and political development of the continent Such institutional arrangements include the Organisation of Africa Unity established in 1960 and disbanded in 2002 and replaced by the African Union (AU), and the African Economic Community (AEC) established in 1991 (SADC 2003; AU 2004). Among these are the Southern African Customs Union (SACU—dating back to 1889); the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC—established in 1980), the forerunner of the SADC; the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC—established in 1982); the Common Monetary Area (CMA—established in 1986); the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA—established in 1994), the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA—established in 1995); the Eastern Africa Community (EAC—established in 2000); and the (SADC—established in 1992) (SADC 2001)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion