Capacity-Building Strategy for Creating Disaster- and Climate-Risk-Sensitive Development Plans—A Case Study of Multi-Stakeholder Engagement in Sri Lanka

Abstract

AbstractThe emphasis on disaster management sector had been on standalone disaster risk reduction or response preparedness plans for the past decades. There was a lack of an integrated approach to disaster risk reduction and development interventions at all levels. In the context of disaster-development nexus, two standalone approaches had evolved in the past: Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) without proper integration mechanisms within development projects and community development through Village Development Plans (VDP) without due consideration of risk reduction aspects. Both isolated approaches have reduced not only the aid effectiveness, but proven to be not enhancing the resilience of communities. In this context, this chapter discusses a new risk-sensitive approach to development planning piloted by DIPECHO (Disaster Preparedness project of European Commission Humanitarian Office) partners in Sri Lanka by drawing from lessons from past experiences in implementing standalone CBDRM projects and community development projects. Whilst this project addressed four priority actions of the Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction, the links were made to the local development approach at the community level to build resilient communities. The Sri Lanka Community Resilience Framework (CRF) has been the driving concept behind the risk-sensitive approach in development planning. The state officials at the sub-national (district) levels were trained as trainers on CRF and risk-sensitive development planning process. The community-level state staff officials and local government officers were then trained by district state officials through cascade training programs. This chapter details the capacity-building strategy, process, and tools for creating risk-sensitive development plans as a locally led sustainable approach. One of the key lessons from the risk-sensitive development approach identified the absence of efforts to integrate climate change adaptation measures. The lack of an integrated and holistic approach highlighted the importance of further strengthening the Linkages in Disaster Reduction, Development, and Climate Change Adaptation (LDRDCCA), aligning with three post-2015 global agendas.KeywordsClimate riskCommunity resilienceDisaster mainstreamingDisaster riskRisk-informed development