13 Capacity-Building Strategy for Creating Disaster …
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to look for opportunities on how development planning can be influenced through
the CBDRM approach. CBDRM implementation in Sri Lanka had many limitations
and challenges (DMC 2015):
(a) The number of casualities is decreasing, the impact on the economy and livelihoods of the communities affected by disasters is escalating. The CBDRM,
whilst it functions as a tool to develop community preparedness capacities, has
so far failed to look into development needs in general.
(b) Community participation and local leadership in making decisions and sharing
outcomes jointly has to arise through an organically grown system. The projectoriented CBDRM approach typically consists of preconceived activities without
adequate room for changes or adaptation based on local risk perspectives.
(c) Lack of or limited government and multi-stakeholder participation. The disaster
management activities/processes are seen as limited to the Disaster Management
Centre, not the business of other departments involved in development planning
and implementation.
(d) Since disaster management is not a subject devolved to the local governance
system, local authorities do not allocate adequate financial and physical
resources required for the implementation of DRR activities. Further, most local
authorities fail to consider DRM activities and programs as their priorities, and
often expecting external support through international agencies.
13.3.4 Concept of Community Resilience and Risk-Sensitive
Development
The community or village is the first affected level in a disaster and must use coping
and survival strategies to face the situation before outside help arrives. Communities facing simultaneous or repeated shocks are better supported when humanitarian
action also addresses the underlying vulnerabilities and builds capacities to better
cope (DMC 2015). The community-based approach complements the defects of the
top-down approach in development planning and disaster management which fails
to address local needs, ignores the potential of indigenous resources and capacities,
and may even increase people’s vulnerabilities.
CBDRM covers a broad range of interventions to reduce disaster risks designed
by people in at-risk localities and are based on their urgent needs and capacities.
However, with the paradigm shift from emergency management to disaster risk reduction, there is more stress on proactive pre-disaster interventions (such as prevention,
mitigation and preparedness). These sectors are not in the control of the community
themselves and often beyond their scope. Similarly, most disasters by nature are transboundary and need higher level interventions in addressing risk factors. Thus, a more
comprehensive community-centred approach is required to address the limitations
of the CBDRM framework, which enables risk-sensitive development including the
principles of CBDRM. Risk assessments and reduction strategies must be integrated
237
to look for opportunities on how development planning can be influenced through
the CBDRM approach. CBDRM implementation in Sri Lanka had many limitations
and challenges (DMC 2015):
(a) The number of casualities is decreasing, the impact on the economy and livelihoods of the communities affected by disasters is escalating. The CBDRM,
whilst it functions as a tool to develop community preparedness capacities, has
so far failed to look into development needs in general.
(b) Community participation and local leadership in making decisions and sharing
outcomes jointly has to arise through an organically grown system. The projectoriented CBDRM approach typically consists of preconceived activities without
adequate room for changes or adaptation based on local risk perspectives.
(c) Lack of or limited government and multi-stakeholder participation. The disaster
management activities/processes are seen as limited to the Disaster Management
Centre, not the business of other departments involved in development planning
and implementation.
(d) Since disaster management is not a subject devolved to the local governance
system, local authorities do not allocate adequate financial and physical
resources required for the implementation of DRR activities. Further, most local
authorities fail to consider DRM activities and programs as their priorities, and
often expecting external support through international agencies.
13.3.4 Concept of Community Resilience and Risk-Sensitive
Development
The community or village is the first affected level in a disaster and must use coping
and survival strategies to face the situation before outside help arrives. Communities facing simultaneous or repeated shocks are better supported when humanitarian
action also addresses the underlying vulnerabilities and builds capacities to better
cope (DMC 2015). The community-based approach complements the defects of the
top-down approach in development planning and disaster management which fails
to address local needs, ignores the potential of indigenous resources and capacities,
and may even increase people’s vulnerabilities.
CBDRM covers a broad range of interventions to reduce disaster risks designed
by people in at-risk localities and are based on their urgent needs and capacities.
However, with the paradigm shift from emergency management to disaster risk reduction, there is more stress on proactive pre-disaster interventions (such as prevention,
mitigation and preparedness). These sectors are not in the control of the community
themselves and often beyond their scope. Similarly, most disasters by nature are transboundary and need higher level interventions in addressing risk factors. Thus, a more
comprehensive community-centred approach is required to address the limitations
of the CBDRM framework, which enables risk-sensitive development including the
principles of CBDRM. Risk assessments and reduction strategies must be integrated