Women and DRR in urban slums – building resilience through development

Abstract

Rapid, unplanned growth of urban areas in South Asia and an increase in absolute poverty have led to the phenomenon of “urbanisation of poverty”, resulting in a massive increase in slums across all major cities in countries like Pakistan. This has compounded the vulnerability and exposure ofresidents in these slums to disasters, especially as an outcome of exposure to hazards. Amongst the most vulnerable are women, typically lying near the bottom of not just the poverty or wealth index, but in nearly every index of human development, giving rise to “feminisation of poverty”. An increased frequency of disasters, coupled with multidimensional vulnerabilities, high probability of exposure and compromised capacities places the women highest in the risk profile for disasters also.The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) has shifted focus from disaster management to disaster risk management (DRM) by setting goals for both, preventing new and reducing existing disaster risks, by strengthening community resilience through socio-economic and other development measures. Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) aim to leave no one behind in enhancing capacities of individuals and communities through development. In this context, understanding the vulnerabilities and associated risks for women, especially those who are in urban slums which have so far been treated by policy makers as an amorphous mass within the greater urban world, becomes critical. Gender vulnerability in a disaster-risk context directly links to pre-existing vulnerabilities within the society as being outcomes of skewed development processes, poverty, construed status of women and rapid urbanisation. In order to empower these women effectively, it is critical to understand the pre-existing vulnerabilities, or “vulnerability bundles”, and address them by focusing on reducing the risks they generate with reference to the four priority areas of the SFDRR. An analysis using five dimensions of vulnerability that has been recognised through research over the years, substantiates that women in urban slums are more susceptible to being affected by disasters as an outcome of the daily challenges that they face. Some of these challenges include patriarchal society, sociocultural and religious beliefs, gender stereotyping, insecure livelihoods, non-availability of services such as WASH, health and education, sexual abuse and violence, and a lack of legal identity.Disaster risk reduction measures for women living in slums should aim to minimise risks for them, while enhancing their resilience by reducing vulnerabilities and increasing capacities, by working through the socioeconomic systems within their circumstances. Therefore, emphasis has to be on “un-skewing” development by making it risk-based, inclusive and comprehensive towards reducing vulnerabilities of the women in urban slums. There should also be efforts towards enhancing their coping capacities, which, like vulnerability, needs management through the development portfolio. Increasing resilience can be incremental through radical policies and targeted development through the portfolio of SDGs, leading to greater investment in slums through public works.