Gehendra Gurung

Livelihood Approach to Disaster Risk Reduction

Strengthening Climate Resilience – SA Regional Consultation14 – 16 June 2010, Delhi

Gehendra B. Gurung

Gehendra Gurung

Structure of presentation

• Understanding DRR

• Livelihood improvement activities for DRR

• Some evidences - livelihood improvement leads to DRR

• Conclusion

– Needs for integration of SLD, DRR and CCA

– Needs for scaling up of the approach

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Understanding disaster

Disaster = A condition of social and economic destitute

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Disaster

Disaster = Hazard X Vulnerability

Vulnerability

Environmental conditionConditions of physical facilitiesHuman capacityEconomic statusSocial and Institutional strengthPrevailing Policies

Hazard

FloodLandslideDiseaseFireEarthquakeEpidemicConflict

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Unmanaged irrigation channel

FLOODAffected

community

Shifting cultivation/ deforestation

Open grazing system

Fragile geology

Steep slope

Heavy rainfall

Land cutting

Crop destroyed

Damage road

Destroyed irrigation channel and water

pipe

Lost of livestock, houses, human beings

Effect

EffectCauses

Hazard

Hazard

Causes

Inappropriate collection of stone and sand

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Frequency of flood increased and return year shortened

Annual flood and landslide frequency in Kalena, Doti, Nepal

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1950 1963 1979 1984 1996 2002 2004 2007

flo

od

/la

nd

slid

e f

req

ue

nc

y

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

retu

rn y

ea

r

annual flood/landslide flood/landslide return year

Annual flood and its return year in Thapapur, Kailali, Nepal

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1950 1957 1961 1969 1976 1983 1992 1996 2003 2005 2008

Fre

qu

en

cy

of

flo

od

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Flo

od

retu

rn y

ear

Annual flood flood return year

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New Risks: Local people’s perception to change in seasons

Village Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Jumla snowfall season                             before

snowfall is erratic now                                

Salyan winter - before                          

winter - now                                    

Lumle         summer - before                    

        summer - now                

 Khudi           summer - before              

  summer - now            

 Dolakha                           winter - before

                  winter- now

 Nawalparasi             summer starts here - before                      

          summer starts here - now                        

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Livelihood approach to DRR

Improve the livelihood strategies – assets and options(social, institutional, economic, environmental, human,

physical resources)

Reduce the vulnerability and increase the capacity(preparedness, resilient, coping, recovering, etc)

Disaster risk reduction1. Avoid (prevention) or limit (mitigation and preparedness)

the adverse impacts of hazards – protection of assets2. Strengthen the ability to cope, recover and adapt

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Livelihood improvement leads to DRR

Strengthening the livelihood assets

– Physical assets

– Financial resources

– Natural assets

– Human resources

– Social / institutional assets

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Strengthening Physical Infrastructure

rescue bridges, irrigation facilities, emergency shelters, etc

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Strengthening Economic StatusEnhance agriculture production, vegetable production, goat

raising, bee keeping, skill development, etc

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Conserving and Managing the Natural Resources

Forest conservation, soil conservation, water resource management

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Strengthening Human Resources

Institutional management, technical capacity

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Strengthening Social / Institutional Capacity

• Development of local capacity• Mainstreaming DRR into development planning

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Some evidences – livelihood improvement leads to DRR

Group Saving Investment Balance

1.Simal, Patihani 2,498 2,400 98

2.Prakop, Patihani 18,725 18,500 225

3.Srijana, Meghouli 4,605 4,600 5

4.Prakop sahara 6,786 6,700 86

5.Prakop uddar 6,652 6,600 52

6.Milijuli 22,010 21,100 910

7.Kumal 28,869 28,800 69

8.Kamana 24,069 23,700 369

9.Lagansil 22,608 22,500 108

Total 136,822 134,900 1,922

Accumulation of financial resources in the communities (NRs)

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Some evidences – livelihood improvement leads to DRR

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Conclusion

A need for integrating between SLD, DRR and CCA

DRR, SLD and CCA require– Protection and building of livelihood assets from the hazards– Strengthening and diversifying livelihood options/strategies– Increasing awareness and capacity to understand risks– Therefore DRR requires an integrated approach

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Need to scaling up of the integration

- Through wider sharing, dissemination and influencing others

- Through mainstreaming DRR and CCA into SLD at local and national planning process

- Through formulation of national policies in line with HYOGO Framework of Actions that integrate DRR and SLD which needs to be integrated with Climate Change Adaptation now

- Through effective and adequate support for implementing such integrated National Policies

Challenge– Additionally

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Thank you