empirical aspects captured within the different studies (Tobin 1999; Adger 2000;
Pelling 2003; Buckle 2006; Janssen et al. 2006) (Chap. 7 Vol. 2). The prevalence and
use of diverse indicators and parameters to assess the resilience of vulnerable groups
have contributed significantly to conceptual and practical developments within the
disaster risk management discourse.
Reducing the vulnerability (and enhancing the resilience) of local communities to
climatic hazards and disasters is a major sustainability challenge in SSA, and
especially in its semi-arid regions (AGRA 2017). This is further complicated by a
series of factors including the prevailing deficit in resources, knowledge and infrastructure in these regions (Chap. 1 Vol. 1). A key prerequisite of resilience building
at the local scale is the wide understanding and appreciation among stakeholders
about the resilience needs and coping/adaptive conditions of communities vulnerable to climatic hazards (NASAC 2015). Community resilience assessments can help
identify gaps, raise awareness and propose potential interventions and strategies to
enhance resilience. Such studies can build on the verifiable, fact-based and consensual data on the causes, risks and potential negative impacts of climate and ecosystem changes in SSA on current and future generations.
In the context of the above, this study aims at assessing community and stakeholder perceptions of resilience to droughts and floods in selected locations of semiarid Ghana. This reflects the proliferation of strategies at the national, regional and
local levels in semi-arid Ghana over the last five decades that seek to alleviate the
effects of climate change (and associated socio-economic impacts) and build resilient communities (Songsore 2011). Even though multiple stakeholders (including
central government, international development agencies, non-governmental organizations) have attempted to provide solutions for enhancing the resilience of households and communities through poverty reduction, sustainable infrastructure
development and alternative livelihood strategies, they appear to have yielded
limited results so far (Pasteur 2011).
In line with existing studies evaluating community resilience to climatic hazards
and disasters, our study acknowledges the role of diverse elements and indicators in
mediating households’ and individuals’ sensitivity and exposure to floods and
droughts (Sect. 6.2.1). This can be a first step towards the identification, development and operationalization of reactionary and anticipatory actions for current and
future events, respectively. A central element of this study is eliciting the perceptions
of stakeholders/households/communities (Sect. 6.2.1), as such perceptions can affect
behavioural response in relation to strategies and interventions for managing hazards
and disasters linked to environmental change (Whitmarsh 2008). The study highlights the practicality and importance of an inclusive and participatory approach that
goes against purely top-down approach to resilience assessment in disaster risk
management efforts (Argon 2014).
Section 6.2 outlines the methodology by delving into the research approach,
study sites, field data collection and data analysis approaches. Section 6.3 presents
the community resilience perceptions by community, locality and age group.
Section 6.4 examines the implications of the study findings. It focuses especially
6 Perceived Community Resilience to Floods and Droughts Induced by Climate Change. . . 193
Pelling 2003; Buckle 2006; Janssen et al. 2006) (Chap. 7 Vol. 2). The prevalence and
use of diverse indicators and parameters to assess the resilience of vulnerable groups
have contributed significantly to conceptual and practical developments within the
disaster risk management discourse.
Reducing the vulnerability (and enhancing the resilience) of local communities to
climatic hazards and disasters is a major sustainability challenge in SSA, and
especially in its semi-arid regions (AGRA 2017). This is further complicated by a
series of factors including the prevailing deficit in resources, knowledge and infrastructure in these regions (Chap. 1 Vol. 1). A key prerequisite of resilience building
at the local scale is the wide understanding and appreciation among stakeholders
about the resilience needs and coping/adaptive conditions of communities vulnerable to climatic hazards (NASAC 2015). Community resilience assessments can help
identify gaps, raise awareness and propose potential interventions and strategies to
enhance resilience. Such studies can build on the verifiable, fact-based and consensual data on the causes, risks and potential negative impacts of climate and ecosystem changes in SSA on current and future generations.
In the context of the above, this study aims at assessing community and stakeholder perceptions of resilience to droughts and floods in selected locations of semiarid Ghana. This reflects the proliferation of strategies at the national, regional and
local levels in semi-arid Ghana over the last five decades that seek to alleviate the
effects of climate change (and associated socio-economic impacts) and build resilient communities (Songsore 2011). Even though multiple stakeholders (including
central government, international development agencies, non-governmental organizations) have attempted to provide solutions for enhancing the resilience of households and communities through poverty reduction, sustainable infrastructure
development and alternative livelihood strategies, they appear to have yielded
limited results so far (Pasteur 2011).
In line with existing studies evaluating community resilience to climatic hazards
and disasters, our study acknowledges the role of diverse elements and indicators in
mediating households’ and individuals’ sensitivity and exposure to floods and
droughts (Sect. 6.2.1). This can be a first step towards the identification, development and operationalization of reactionary and anticipatory actions for current and
future events, respectively. A central element of this study is eliciting the perceptions
of stakeholders/households/communities (Sect. 6.2.1), as such perceptions can affect
behavioural response in relation to strategies and interventions for managing hazards
and disasters linked to environmental change (Whitmarsh 2008). The study highlights the practicality and importance of an inclusive and participatory approach that
goes against purely top-down approach to resilience assessment in disaster risk
management efforts (Argon 2014).
Section 6.2 outlines the methodology by delving into the research approach,
study sites, field data collection and data analysis approaches. Section 6.3 presents
the community resilience perceptions by community, locality and age group.
Section 6.4 examines the implications of the study findings. It focuses especially
6 Perceived Community Resilience to Floods and Droughts Induced by Climate Change. . . 193