Disaster Risk Reduction Policies Research Articles

The Peace Imperative for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

AbstractDisasters disproportionately affect conflict-affected regions, where approximately two billion people reside, posing significant challenges for disaster risk reduction (DRR). This reality has increasingly spurred calls for violent conflict to be included in the global DRR agenda. However, consideration of peace has been lacking, despite that challenges for peace can distinctly impact capacities to set, pursue, and achieve DRR objectives. This study investigated how the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 (SFDRR) engages with peace through a document analysis, revealing three key findings. First, the SFDRR does not mention “peace,” mirroring its lack of reference to conflict. Second, while peace-related terms appear throughout the SFDRR in themes related to partnership and all-of-society approaches, this engagement is superficial. Third, the SFDRR’s approach is fundamentally problematic for advancing peace due to its avoidance of the complex social and political dynamics inherent to disaster risk and its reduction. The SFDRR united United Nations Member States in its ambition to “leave no one behind,” but has taken approaches that smooth over diversity rather than strengthen pluralistic connections. A radical, integrated DRR-peacebuilding agenda must take conflict as the new starting point and carve new pathways toward peace including through disaster diplomacy and environmental peacebuilding. By embracing the ambiguity between war and peace and addressing the root causes of risk, societies can cultivate peaceful interactions and collectively advance safety. This study concludes with recommendations for a global DRR policy that not only implicitly relies on peace but actively contributes to peacebuilding in the world’s diverse and divided societies.

Implementation outcomes of disaster risk reduction (DRR) policy in public facilities (PFs): Aceh perspective, Indonesia

PurposeAceh province has established various infrastructure and regulations related to disaster risk and management after the Indian Ocean Tsunami (IOT) hit the province. Hence, this study investigates the implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Public Facilities (PFs) in Banda Aceh municipality using implementation outcome variables (acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, feasibility, compliance, implementation cost, coverage and sustainability).Design/methodology/approachQualitative methods, including in-depth interviews and document reviews, were applied to collect data for this study. The data were then analysed thematically using NVivo 12 software.FindingsThe lack of public communication regarding DRR in PFs to all involved stakeholders resulted in poor acceptability, adoption, coverage and compliance with the policy implementation among public facilities’ chiefs, owners or managers. Additionally, they were reluctant to implement DRR plans and activities within their facilities due to limited DRR funds.Practical implicationsThis study’s results can contribute to reviewing the policy and practices of Aceh government authorities and other involved stakeholders to improve policy implementation of DRR activities comprehensively across eight groups of public facilities in Banda municipality, other districts in Aceh province, and local areas in Indonesia. Further, the methods used in this study to assess DRR regulations’ progress towards the eight implementation outcome variables can be applied widely to other settings.Originality/valueNo research was found on examining the policy implementation of DRR in PFs in Aceh province, which motivated the author to conduct this work.

Integrated understanding of climate change and disaster risk for building resilience of cultural heritage sites

AbstractHeritage assets are vulnerable to climate change and disaster risks. However, existing literature has long been separating climate change from disaster risks, which were mainly considered as natural disasters. Recently, the framework of integrated understanding of climate change and disaster risk reduction in international policies started to be discussed in sustainable development discussion, while mentioning opportunities to build resilience of cultural heritage sites (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction 2020). But this framework is yet to be implemented and detailed in the context of heritage sites. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to analyze how the integrated understanding of climate change and disaster risk reduction policies can contribute to building climate resilience of cultural heritage sites by reviewing the key themes emerging from the literature. The question this paper answers are how can the integrated understanding of climate change and disaster risks reduction tackle barriers to the resilience of heritage sites? And what can be done to fill the gaps identified in the literature? To understand it, four elements from the literature are analyzed, including methodological contributions, temporalities, challenges and gaps, and opportunities. The findings of this review help in understanding the gap and interplay between science and policy in decision-making processes. We conclude by discussing the ways forward for the applicability of the framework in building resilience of cultural heritage sites.

Integration of disaster risk reductionand climate change adaptation in Aceh: Progress and challenges after 20 Years of Indian Ocean Tsunamis

The Indian Ocean Tsunami (IOT) of 2004, which tragically claimed 168,000 lives and displaced about half a million people in the Aceh region of Indonesia, established Aceh's reputation as one of the most geologically volatile areas in Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, the 2004 IOT also altered some geomorphological changes, particularly land subsidence in the coastal areas of South, Southwest, and West Aceh, making these regions more susceptible to coastal floods and inundation over the last 20 years. The 2004 tsunamigenic earthquakes had been compounded by hydroclimatic hazards (and required to reduce risk beyond geological disasters) that continued to cause loss and damage, compromise communities' well-being, and reproduce vulnerabilities. This article examines the progress and challenges for integrating disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) in Aceh, with a focus on the capital city, Banda Aceh using in-depth stakeholder interviews and document reviews. Anticipating gaps in meeting Sendai Framework 2030 target, as also observed elsewhere in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, the findings suggest various key challenges for the integration, including (1) fragmented DRR and CCA policies leading shaped the gap in coordination and collaboration among actors; (2) nurturing political commitment remains a challenge at local level; (3) lack of fiscal capacity and lack of earmarked allocation hampers the potential integration; (4) and deficits in community participation delayed adaptation and integration. The study offers recommendations for policy insights and consideration.

Social learning and collective action in flood-hazard management in Manitoba, Canada

ABSTRACT Knowledge of social learning about flood hazards in the literature, especially regarding its transformation into collective action for risk reduction, is very limited. This study addresses these gaps by developing an integrated framework that describes how social learning is transformed into collective action – particularly the underlying components and processes – and then applying it to empirical case studies of two communities, (namely, St. Adolphe and St. Agathe) of the Rural Municipality of Ritchot, Manitoba, Canada. Primary data were collected during the summer months of 2022 using participatory research appraisal (PRA) tools (i.e. key informant interviews and oral histories), while secondary data were collected primarily via government and NGO sources. The findings revealed that a) the flood experience and related interactions among community members and local institutions produced unique and distinct types of social learning, and b) that local and multilevel institutions had helped to create learning platforms that facilitated the formation of strategies for collective action related to flood risk reduction. These processes resulted in single – and double-loop learning at the community level. Based on the findings of this work, we recommend that learning and reflection relating to community members’ flood experiences be integrated into disaster risk reduction and management policies.

A multi-dimensional framework for assessing disaster recovery pathways: Lessons and experiences from Germany and Nigeria

The recent global surge in extreme events is escalating, leading to intensified impacts on lives, livelihoods, and overall well-being with long-lasting effects. As a result, communities in exposed regions with limited adaptive capacity find themselves in modes of constant recovery. However, disaster recovery is often treated as a secondary concern within global disaster risk reduction policies and practices. Previous studies have primarily focused on recovering people, places, and processes, neglecting a comprehensive examination of the relationships between actors, institutions, and decision-making across different time horizons. This paper aims to address this gap by introducing the concept of disaster recovery pathways and presenting a multidimensional framework for assessing these pathways. The framework comprises four interconnected components: systems, community capacity, actors relationships, and institutions. To develop this framework, we first review existing frameworks on disaster recovery and identify their limitations. We then apply the new framework to Ahr Valley in Germany and Lagos in Nigeria through policy document analysis and in-depth interviews with stakeholders. Our findings reveal that both countries face challenges in achieving a truly sustainable and resilient recovery. Financial constraints, political polarization, and administrative factors often serve as barriers to "build back better," and immediate relief and reconstruction efforts frequently prioritize innovative and sustainable practices in the recovery process. Our findings underscore the importance of collaboration, trust, and communication among stakeholders in driving effective recovery pathways efforts. We conclude that disaster recovery pathways encompass not only the reconstruction of physical infrastructure but also social, economic, psychological, environmental, and governance dimensions.

Assessing the district-level flood vulnerability in Bihar, eastern India: an integrated socioeconomic and environmental approach.

States of India like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal along the Ganga River, endure natural disasters periodically, resulting in repeated trends of economic loss and damages. Especially, most of the districts of Bihar, India, are prone to floods. Based on this background, this study aims to assess the flood vulnerabilities across districts of Bihar, India, employing data from the Central Water Commission from 1953 to 2020. Further, we explore trends and patterns of loss and damage due to flood risks in Bihar. Using the flood vulnerability integrated method and the principal component analysis, the index is constructed by incorporating the three major indicators: exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. This study is unique, and advances from previous studies in using a greater number of variables in exposure indicator. The proxy variable for each indicator is identified through both inductive and deductive approaches, and the composite index is constructed using all three indicators. Also, we identify the districts with high level of education and per capita income are less likely to expose flood vulnerability. The comparison of the districts reflects wide range of variation in terms of flood vulnerability as per their adaptive capacity and sensitivity. Specifically, these findings align with Target Sustainable Development Goal 11.5. This study addresses the policy for disaster prevention, risk reduction, and mitigation measures, as well as the enhancement of the capability of adaptation to floods by the affected community.

Enhancing equity of the post-disaster recovery governance through community data generation

Climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction policy frameworks emphasize the importance of engaging vulnerable communities in data creation and utilization to enhance resilience. Yet, empirical evidence on how capacity strengthening and community data generation can improve post-disaster recovery processes remains limited. To address this gap, this article investigates the post-disaster recovery process in the El Pacífico self-built neighborhood, located at the hillslopes of the rural-urban border of Medellín, Colombia. Utilizing participatory action research and documentation analysis, we examined documents related to the response and recovery committee (called “Mesa de Atención y Recuperación”) established following a severe flooding event. Our analysis reveals a lack of clearly defined procedures for engaging affected communities in the post-disaster efforts. However, we provide evidence that initiatives promoting equitable governance through capacity strengthening and community data generation, supported by our project, have effectively empowered community members, amplifying their voices in the negotiation with municipal authorities. These findings offer valuable insights that can inform more equitable future policies and practices in disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation with increased recognition and representation of marginalized urban residents.

Vulnerability of elderly people during climate-induced disasters in Sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review

Climate-induced disasters present significant challenges to vulnerable populations, especially elderly individuals with disabilities who face unique difficulties in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from such catastrophic events. Despite growing concerns about the impact of climate-induced disasters in sub-Saharan Africa, there is a notable lack of information regarding the specific vulnerabilities experienced by elderly people with disabilities in this region. This study aims to address this gap by identifying and synthesizing the existing literature on the subject. Researchers conducted a scoping review, selecting articles from regional (Sabinet African Journals, Science Direct) and global databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, and ProQuest) using search strategies with Boolean operators, truncations, and MeSH terms. The review included primary studies (qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods) published between 2013 and 2023 that met specified inclusion and exclusion criteria, with a focus on assessing the quality of the included studies. The findings revealed that elderly people in sub-Saharan Africa face significant physical, cognitive, and socio-economic challenges due to limited access to resources, inadequate infrastructure, and social exclusion. These challenges are amplified in the sub-Saharan context, highlighting a critical gap in inclusive risk reduction strategies during disasters. The review emphasizes an urgent need for targeted research and the development of community-based intervention programmes to improve the resilience and wellbeing of elderly individuals with disabilities facing climate-induced disasters. This study not only mapped the existing literature but also underscored the scarcity of research in the field of climate-induced disasters, with only six articles focusing on the elderly. The researchers recommend the development of more inclusive disaster risk reduction strategies and policies.

How a poverty alleviation policy affected comprehensive disaster risk reduction capacity: Evidence from China's great western development policy

Although it is well established that natural disasters of all kinds give rise to poverty, and poverty deteriorates the disaster loss, few studies have empirically proposed a comprehensive framework to break down the vicious circle. Our study proposed that poverty alleviation policy with governmental accountability can give rise to socio-economic development, and can facilitate the implementation of disaster risk reduction policy. Focusing on the Great Western Development (GWD) policy, our study conducted an index of comprehensive disaster risk reduction and used regression discontinuity design to explore the effect of poverty alleviation policy on the index. Ultimately, the results of regression discontinuity design demonstrated that there was a noticeable jump effect in the index of comprehensive disaster risk reduction from non-targeted regions to policy-targeted regions, namely, anti-poverty policy had a positive effect on disaster risk reduction. Our study highlighted that the primary focus of GWD has been on considerable public investments to improve basic infrastructure, which can directly increase the comprehensive capacity of disaster risk reduction. Hence, disaster risk reduction should be a priority initiative of poverty alleviation policy to break down the vicious “poverty-natural disaster” circle.

Mainstreaming ecosystem-based approaches into disaster risk reduction policies: a comparative study of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh

Humanity faces a rising number of challenging disasters due to their increasing unpredictability and scale. While large-scale engineering solutions have been the mainstream approach, there is a growing acknowledgment that ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR) is a suitable approach in the long term due to its cost-effectiveness, social equity, and environmental sustainability. Governments worldwide are integrating Eco-DRR into policies and legislation. Here, we review the extent of integration of Eco-DRR into DRR policies and legislation in Nepal, India, and Bangladesh using content analysis based on five criteria: acknowledgment, inclusion, weighting, resources, and reflexivity. While Eco-DRR principles are acknowledged and included in the national policies of these three countries, they are not prioritized as compared to competing alternatives due to limited integration tools. Resource allocation is directed towards prevention and relief mitigation, with limited emphasis on research and capacity building, which are crucial for strengthening Eco-DRR. Notably, policy aspirations still need to be realized in legislative action. Strengthening Eco-DRR requires enhanced integration, capacity-building, and robust institutions to boost resilience.

Identification of Coastal Typology and Utilization of Geospatial Technology for Tsunami Hazard Modeling in Kulon Progo Coastal Area, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Abstract Tsunamis are natural disasters that cause material losses and cause loss of life. Tsunamis are generated by underwater earthquakes. The coastal region of Kulon Progo is prone to the risk of a tsunami disaster due to its proximity to the megathrust zone and direct exposure to the Indian Ocean. This research aims to (1) determining the typological characteristics in the Kulon Progo Coastal Area, Special Region of Yogyakarta; (2) determining the spatial distribution of tsunami hazards in the Kulon Progo Coastal Area, Special Region of Yogyakarta; (3) developing recommendations for tsunami disaster mitigation models in the coastal area of Kulon Progo, special region of Yogyakarta. The method used in this research is the Hloss calculation developed by Berryman-2006. Furthermore, the identification of coastal typology was carried out according to Shepard with field observations, which were taken based on the Identification of Coastal Geomorphology according to Khakhim-2008. The research results show that tsunami inundation modeling with scenarios of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 meters inundated the entire area with 14,462.22 hectares. It is known that the identification of the Kulon Progo coastal typology is marine deposition coast and coast built by organisms. Suitable recommendations for tsunami disaster mitigation on the Kulon Progo coast are the application of green belts around the coastline and the constructing of breakwaters. The results of this research can be used as a basis for determining tsunami disaster risk reduction policies in the coastal area of Kulon Progo, Special Region of Yogyakarta.

Climate-related Disaster and Human Capital Investment in the Global South — Household Heterogeneity and Growth

This study develops a dynamic model of climate-related disaster impacts, considering multidimensional household heterogeneity, for analyzing changes in growth and inequality in low-income countries. Focusing on human capital development, the study demonstrates the multiple impacts of disaster risk reduction (DRR) policies on human capital investment, including the effect of schooling opportunities for households constrained by the subsistence consumption constraint. Through numerical simulations performed for two economies that differ in terms of human capital, modeled after Madagascar and Fiji, it is illustrated that the possibilities of involuntary unemployment and the work-learning choice drive the diversity in macroeconomic impacts of a disaster. In an economy characterized by low levels of human capital, a disaster could cause an increase in labor supply in the immediate aftermath but interrupt human capital formation, impeding long-term growth and human capital formation. Such a result contradicts prevailing intuition by demonstrating that a disaster occurring in an economy under recession may not result in a large adverse GDP impact in the short run but may negatively impact growth in the long run. On such a path, a policy of development in DRR infrastructure with appropriate taxation could reduce human-capital gaps in the long run by supporting continued post-disaster human-capital-investment opportunities for the poor.

Pathways of multi-hazard post-disaster housing reconstruction among Ivatan Indigenous households

Most disaster-affected populations face the complex task of reconstructing their dwellings with minimal or no external support. However, not much is known about the self-initiated reconstruction pathways of households, especially among Indigenous groups needing to address the competing impacts of multiple hazards. We conducted a case study analysis based in Itbayat, Batanes in the Philippines to understand the housing reconstruction trajectories of the Ivatan Indigenous households after the 2019 earthquakes that redefined their typhoon-resilient construction practices. Using interviews and focus group discussions, factors affecting the reconstruction process were elicited. Then, using concept maps, we explored the linkages of these factors leading to the adoption of the emergent housing outputs. We found that the emergence of new housing typologies that displaced the vernacular architecture was influenced by the compounded urgency to reconstruct houses, perceptions of housing safety influenced by the seismic events, the nature of aid provided alongside households’ financial capacity, and the regulatory barriers affecting traditional resource extraction. To achieve structural housing safety, this study demonstrates the need for policies that enable and guide reconstruction in emergency contexts, as well as systems to channel aid to provide equitable opportunities to build back safer. Additionally, the role of local governance is shown to leverage the use of existing indigenous construction practices salient for rebuilding. This study builds upon the heightened imperatives in the disaster risk reduction practice and policy environments to focus on the multi-hazard realities affecting communities and the use of local and indigenous knowledge to reduce disaster impacts.

Examining the Content of Disaster-Related Information Disseminated to a Migrant Population

Many local governments, especially in Japan, disseminate multilingual disaster-related information to migrants as part of their disaster education programs to make their disaster risk reduction (DRR) policies more inclusive. However, little is known about the specific content of the information disseminated through such programs and how or why that content is selected. Using an example case of Okayama Prefecture in Japan and its principal city, Okayama City, the current study identifies the content of multilingual disaster-related information, as well as the assumptions behind its selection. To this end, the content of multilingual disaster-related information disseminated by these local governments was inductively analyzed, focusing on (1) what is and is not communicated, (2) how the government views the migrant population, and (3) their goals of information dissemination targeting migrants. As a result of conducting a qualitative content analysis on information disseminated by the Okayama local governments via information booklets and a YouTube video, it was found that the content was largely concerned with calling migrants to be proactive in taking preventive and harm reduction measures, as well as acquiring prerequisite knowledge (e.g., about disasters and their management). The underlying assumptions and expectations behind this content (e.g., how a behavioral change occurs and self-sufficiency as an expectation in disaster preparedness) are discussed, as well as issues associated with these assumptions.

Mapping the exposure of tourism to weather extremes: the need for a spatially-explicit gridded dataset for disaster risk reduction

Abstract Tourism is a highly important economic sector worldwide, yet it is often less than optimally represented in terms of detailed spatial information. An accurate spatial representation of tourism can provide valuable insights into the spatial distribution of tourism vulnerabilities and exposure, allowing policymakers to make informed decisions and develop effective strategies for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation policies. Here, we stress the need for and propose a first prototype of an open-access spatially-explicit gridded database based on social media data for over 150 different tourism-related classes that depicts tourism density (supply and demand) and perceived satisfaction in Europe. We showcase the potential benefits of such database by mapping the exposure of specific tourism sectors to a range of weather extremes, including floods, windstorms, and heat stress. Based on these results, we argue that a homogeneous spatially-explicit database of tourism is essential to support efficient investments in preparedness and disaster resilience.

Health Disparities in the Aftermath of Flood Events: A Review of Physical and Mental Health Outcomes with Methodological Considerations in the USA.

This review applies an environmental justice perspective to synthesize knowledge of flood-related health disparities across demographic groups in the USA. The primary aim is to examine differential impacts on physical and mental health outcomes while also assessing methodological considerations such as flood exposure metrics, baseline health metrics, and community engagement. In our review (n = 27), 65% and 72% of studies identified racial, ethnic, or socio-economic disparities in physical and mental health outcomes post-flooding, respectively. The majority of racial/ethnic disparities were based on Black race, while most socio-economic disparities were based on lower household income. Forty-two percent of studies lacked flood exposure metrics, but often identified disparities. Common flood exposure metrics included self-reported flooding, flood risk models, and satellite-based observations. Seventy percent of studies lacked baseline health measurements or suitable alternatives, and only 19% incorporated community engagement into their research design. The literature consistently finds that both physical and mental health burdens following flooding are unequally shared across racial, ethnic, and socio-economic groups. These findings emphasize the need for disaster risk reduction policies that address underlying vulnerabilities to flooding, unequal exposure to flooding, and progressive funding for recovery efforts. Findings also underscore the importance of methodological enhancements to facilitate precise assessments of flood exposure and health outcomes.

Bridging gaps between disaster risk reduction and drowning prevention

Drowning is a form of silent and neglected disaster. Hundreds of thousands die every year from drowning, with cumulated fatalities surpassing that of large-scale disasters. However, research on drowning is largely absent from disaster studies and global and national disaster risk reduction policy frameworks rarely mention drowning risk and the related strategies for strengthening water safety. Drowning is mainly framed as a public health issue being studied predominantly by scholars from injury prevention, public health, and medicine. This paper argues that both disaster studies and disaster risk reduction policies have a critical role to play in progressing drowning prevention. It reviews the existing drowning literature and highlights trends, challenges, and opportunities to bridge gaps in knowledge, policy, and practice for reducing drowning risk. The article highlights the strong conceptual underpinnings that characterize both the disaster risk and drowning fields, the need for data sharing, the potential for community-approaches to drowning risk reduction, and ultimately recommends a more systematic integration of drowning in disaster risk reduction initiatives. The paper ends by underlining some of the barriers and requirements to foster collaboration between the disaster risk domains and drowning prevention.

Women in Disaster Policy: A Bibliometric Mapping of the Research Literature 2015-2023

The research regarding women in disaster policy discourse received attention from scholars and policymakers as the current leading international disaster policy had a shortfall in mentioning women’s rights. Although many studies have deliberated how women engage with disaster, research that systematically maps how the literature regarding women in disaster policy develops has not yet been conducted. Per the result through the bibliometric mapping, the 58 pieces of literature included by the PRISMA (Preferred Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) framework are clustered into health, environment, economic, and socio-political contexts. The discourse discussion revolves around women’s vulnerability, capacity and capability, and strategy and policy initiatives. The study contributes to the literature by mapping the research trajectory regarding women in the disaster risk reduction policy framework following the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 establishment. A recommendation model of the disaster policy framework and prospective research agenda is developed through the study.

Prioritizing Strategies for Building the Resilience of Public Health Systems to Disasters Across Multiple Communities and Countries

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need to strengthen public health systems. In response, the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Public Health System Resilience Scorecard (Scorecard) was applied in workshops across multiple countries. The aim of our research was to explore the workshop findings to develop priority strategies for strengthening public health system resilience. We conducted a workshop from 14 to 16 March 2023, at the UNDRR Global Education and Training Institute in Incheon, Republic of Korea. A sequential modified Delphi method was utilized to develop a set of prioritized resilience strategies. These were drawn from 70 strategies identified from 13 distinct workshops in eight countries. After two surveys, 23 strategies were finalized. Ten received ratings of “High” or “Very High” from 89% of participants. These related to the inclusion of public health risks in emergency plans, integrating multidisciplinary teams into public health, enabling local transport mechanisms, and improving the ability to manage an influx of patients. The Scorecard provides an adaptable framework to identify and prioritize strategies for strengthening public health system resilience. By leveraging this methodology, our study demonstrated how resilience strategies could inform disaster risk reduction funding, policies, and actions.