World Vision EU Representation’s Post

VULNERABILITY AND CAPACITY ASSESSMENT Vulnerability and capacity assessment (VCA) is a process of participatory investigation designed to assess and address major risks affecting communities. It aims to determine people’s vulnerability to those risks, and their capacity to cope and recover from a disaster. VCA makes it possible for National Societies to work with vulnerable communities to help them understand the hazards they face and assist them in taking the necessary measures to improve the situation, based on their own skills, knowledge, and initiatives. The VCA process involves various participatory tools to gauge people's exposure to and capacity to resist natural hazards. It is an integral part of disaster preparedness and contributes to the creation of community-based disaster preparedness programs at the rural and urban grassroots level. The VCA process is not a one-time study but an iterative process that involves phased investigation, periodic review, additional studies, and assessments to update with new information, and active stakeholder communication. What are the steps involved in conducting a vulnerability and capacity assessment? The Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) process is a participatory investigation designed to assess and address major risks affecting communities. The following are the steps involved in conducting a vulnerability and capacity assessment: 1.Understanding the need to conduct a VCA by individual experts or group within the community. 2.Making preparations, including collecting secondary data. 3.Beginning work with the community. 4.Analyzing hazards, the impact of climate change, vulnerabilities, and capacities. Prioritizing risk. 5.Developing a risk reduction action plan. 6 Putting the action plan into place. 7.Decision-making and action. How can community members be involved in the vulnerability and capacity assessment process? Community members can be involved in the Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) process in various ways. The following are some ways community members can be involved in the VCA process: 1.Participating in the VCA process. 2.Conducting surveys and interviews. 3.Identifying risks and prioritizing actions. 4.Implementing the risk reduction action plan. 5.Monitoring and evaluating the VCA process. How can community members be trained to participate in the vulnerability and capacity assessment process? Community members can be trained to participate in the Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) process in various ways. 1.Conducting training sessions. 2.Providing training materials. 3.Organizing workshops. 4.Using online training platforms. 5.Providing on-the-job training. 6.Using peer-to-peer training. #ActionAid #Africare #worldvissioninnovation #societyforfamilyhealthorganization #WHO #UNAIDS 📷Scott Wilson Nepal

Yesterday I spent the morning at Canterbury University sharing humanitarian principles with disaster management students from the Utah Valley University. It was a truly an honour to discuss something I am deeply passionate about and have devoted years to studying and trying to apply both in response and life. Responding to disasters poses challenges due to limited and unreliable information, inadequate resources, geographical constraints, and unpredictable weather. Leaders often grapple with collaboration issues and duplicated efforts. Decisions made during crisis can significantly impact lives and livelihoods. Unfortunately, time constraints hinder community engagement, and prioritising short-term needs can lead to overlooking the root causes of issues. As responders, the choices we make have a lasting impact on subsequent agencies and responders who will follow. Our decisions shape the foundation for future approaches, strategies, and the overall effectiveness of responses. Our collective responsibility lies in recognising the potential consequences of our actions. Foresight, ethical decision-making, and a commitment to upholding humanitarian standards are essential to prioritise the well-being of communities and individuals in need. The principle of Humanity serves as a guiding value within the humanitarian sector, but what does it truly mean? This principle is rooted in the belief in the inherent dignity, worth, and rights of every individual, especially during times of crisis or disaster. it forms the foundation for ethical decision-making and compassionate action. Key Aspects of the Principle of Humanity: 1. Preventing and Alleviating Human Suffering: Offering discrimination-free assistance is fundamental to all humanitarian agencies. This encompasses the idea of protection, including sheltering from the elements and safeguarding individuals from various forms of harm (from attack, dangerous situations, preventing ill-treatment, and mitigating the effects of disasters) 2. Protecting Life and Health: Providing medical aid, ensuring access to clean water, sanitation, and nutrition, and addressing health-related issues. 3. Respecting the Individual: Recognizing the rights, choices, and dignity of each individual affected by a crisis - treating people with humanity, empathy, and without discrimination. The aspects embody a holistic approach to addressing the needs of communities in crisis, ensuring that assistance is provided impartially and with empathy. #Corehumanitarianstandards For a detailed analysis of the Humanitarian principles, you can refer to: ICRC Fundamental Principles Commentary on ICRC website

It was an absolute honor to receive an invitation from the State Minister of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Md. Mohibur Rahman, to participate in the 2nd Divisional Dialogue Platform on Anticipatory Humanitarian Action in #Kuakata, Patuakhali this week.      From nearly half a million deaths in the Bhola Cyclone of 1970 to zero deaths in recent cyclonic storms, Bangladesh has a remarkable journey in disaster Management. We cannot express enough gratitude to the Government of Bangladesh for its visionary policies and actions regarding disaster risk reduction, particularly in the vulnerable coastal areas.                                           Upholding The International Rescue Committees commitment to support the climate resilience of urban and rural communities to adapt, anticipate, and respond to a changing climate, IRC Bangladesh team participated at the 2nd Divisional Dialogue Organized by #MoDMR , along with stakeholders from 30+ agencies including WFP,IFRC ,BDRCS,UNRCO, different local, national and international NGOs, Academia , local government representatives and government officials from different Ministries. This governmental and non-governmental partnership is crucial for achieving sustainable development goals, notably Goal 13. We aim to illuminate anticipatory action and resilient systems to improve the lives and livelihoods of women, who are among the most vulnerable groups during disasters. Additionally, we seek to address the challenges faced by children who are unable to continue their education temporarily or who suffer from dropout rates. A viable solution lies in establishing disaster-resilient infrastructure nationwide and educating and capacitating the younger generation to actively engage in climate and disaster adaptation efforts. IRC Bangladesh, in collaboration with its partners adopts an integrated approach in coastal areas to support education for vulnerable children who have dropped out of school due to climate change-induced disasters. This initiative ensures continuity in their learning processes. Additionally, IRC Bangladesh is developing local adaptation plans in partnership with local organizations. We remain hopeful that, together with governmental and non-governmental partners and our clients, we can enhance #anticipatory action for sustainable development in Bangladesh. #IRCBangladesh #ResilientEducationSystems #InclusiveAnticipatoryAction

FINAL CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS TO NEW BOOK ENTITLED: Hazards, disasters, climate change, humanitarian crises & sexual and gender diversity. Routledge Series Studies in Hazards, Disaster Risk & Climate Change. Editors: Dale Dominey-Howes, Ashleigh Rushton, William Leonard, Marcilyn Cianfarani, Dana Greene, Haorui Wu & Lisa Overton,   We call for submissions for a new edited collection, detailing the impacts of hazards, disasters, climate change & humanitarian crises on sexual and gender diverse people.    This book, commissioned by Routledge addresses a significant gap in our understanding of the differential impacts of disaster on marginal & minority populations. While there is a growing body of research & policy addressing the impacts of disaster, humanitarian crises & climate change on marginalised populations, there is little on the impacts of disaster on sexual & gender diverse people. This collection will fill this gap. We call for submissions addressing the absence of sexual & gender diverse people in disaster management, policy, & practice; that present new & dynamic frameworks for assisting Governments, NGOs & emergency management to include sexual & gender diverse people in their work. We are seeking submissions from across the world, on all aspects of sexual & gender diverse people’s experiences of disasters.   We encourage submissions from individuals & teams working in non-government & community-based organisations, academic & research institutions, emergency management, & DRR organisations and from individuals with lived experience of disaster. The collection is necessarily interdisciplinary & welcomes a diversity of methodologies & approaches.    This collection will open a critical space to acknowledge & discuss how the disaster experiences and needs of sexual & gender diverse people differ across the world. It will also identify areas in which we can mobilise our differences & work together to ensure that the needs of sexual & gender diverse people are addressed at all levels of emergency & disaster.     Submission details: We invite TWO types of submission – classic academic chapters & more creative vignettes.   Chapters should be c.5000 words (excluding abstract, tables, figures, & references). Longer chapters (and vignettes) will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Vignettes should be no more than 2000 words (excluding abstract, tables, figures, and references). Vignettes can be creative & varied in nature, eg., poems (with text for context), personal accounts, stories, narratives, visual images, photography (with text for context)   Timeline: The VERY LAST date for first draft submissions is 1st March 2024.   If you would like any further information about this proposal &/or would like to discuss the suitability & style of a chapter/vignette you are considering submitting, please contact Dale Dominey-Howes as soon as possible at: dale.dominey-howes@sydney.edu.au  

Gender & Disaster Australia are holding training throughout March to help people in the sector learn to identify, respond to and prevent the harmful impacts of gendered expectations in disaster. With climate-related disasters increasing in frequency and ferocity, it is more critical than ever to understand the impact of gendered expectations in disasters. Now is the time to act, because disaster is no excuse for family violence. https://lnkd.in/gAauQtBt

🌍💪 Announcing "Community Disaster Resilience in Serbia" Monograph! In the face of natural disasters, communities are often the first line of defence, bearing the brunt of devastation while also displaying remarkable resilience in their aftermath. The ability of societies to withstand, adapt to, and recover from such disasters is a testament to the strength and resourcefulness inherent in human communities. 📘🔍 Overview: This monograph, titled "Community Disaster Resilience in Serbia," represents a concerted effort to delve into the underlying dynamics that shape a community's capacity to cope with natural disasters. Focusing on Serbia, a country with a rich tapestry of social, economic, and demographic complexities, this research endeavors to unravel the intricate interplay between various socio-economic and demographic factors and community resilience. 📊📈 Methodology: The research methodology employed in this study is grounded in a comprehensive quantitative approach, leveraging rigorous statistical analyses to explore the multifaceted dimensions of community disaster resilience. Through the administration of a carefully crafted questionnaire to 321 participants in January 2024, we sought to capture diverse perspectives and experiences, enriching our understanding of the complex socio-economic and demographic landscape of Serbia. 🔍🔗 Key Findings: A notable aspect of our methodology is the utilization of the snowball sampling method, which facilitated the organic expansion of our participant pool. By harnessing the networks and connections within communities, we were able to access a diverse array of voices, enriching our dataset and ensuring the robustness of our findings. 🎯💡 Implications: Central to our inquiry is the exploration of how age, education, and gender intersect with broader social structures, capital, mechanisms, equity, diversity, and beliefs to shape community disaster resilience in Serbia. By elucidating these relationships, we aim to provide insights that can inform targeted interventions and policy initiatives aimed at bolstering community resilience across the country. 📚🌐 Significance: This monograph holds significant importance in the field of disaster resilience research and practice for several reasons. Firstly, it fills a crucial gap in the existing literature by providing comprehensive insights into the impacts of demographic and socioeconomic factors on community disaster resilience, particularly within the context of Serbia. Secondly, the findings of this research offer practical implications for policymakers, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and community leaders involved in disaster management and resilience-building initiatives. #CommunityResilience #DisasterManagement #Research #Serbia 🇷🇸📝 https://lnkd.in/dGbnBk56

Severe floods in the Northeastern U.S., Malawi, and Pakistan; earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria; and Typhoon Mocha in Myanmar — all serve as painful reminders of nature’s power. Prompted by the ever more frequent onslaught of extreme weather, Zoe Elena Trohanis, at the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), administered at the The World Bank, has blogged with our Founder and Executive Director, Susan Blaustein, to share practical guidance to promote inclusion in disaster risk management, #DRM, plans. To build resilience in the face of climate change and natural hazards, we must ensure that women, persons with disabilities, the elderly, Indigenous Peoples, and other marginalized groups are active participants in DRM planning. We simply must access their unique knowledge, which can help save lives and livelihoods. Read our 5 tips for governments and development experts on how to strengthen inclusivity in disaster risk management planning in our new blog, here: https://lnkd.in/eMe_ze4R Mirtha Liliana Escobar, Melina Fleury Franco Yoko Kobayashi Ar. Lincoln Lewis William Beloe

📢 Early warning systems #EWS safeguard lives and livelihoods. They reduce disaster-related losses by $35 billion annually at a global implementation cost of about $1 billion. 📈 Nevertheless, about 1/3 of the global population do not have access to #EWS, a gap significantly widened in #FCV settings. This blog co-authored by Karima Ben Bih, Lara Loussert, Vladimir Tsirkunov, and Anna-Maria Bogdanova highlight the need to develop customized solutions, promote community involvement, and leverage innovative technologies, to improve #EWS capabilities and resilience, particularly in high-risk areas. https://lnkd.in/e7bApYyu #DisasterFCV #DiasterFCVNexus Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR)

Disasters cost billions - Natural and technological disasters significantly burden citizens, businesses and governments. According to Public Safety Canada, disaster response actions and associated recovery assistance funds have cost approximately $5.75 billion over the past 10 years. https://bityl.co/O3Be

How can we explain and prevent fire disasters in Kenya's informal settlements? Discover profound insights from Beatrice Hati Gitundu in her latest ISS blog post. Beatrice Hati is specializing in people-centered urbanism and resilience. She currently pursues a doctoral degree in multilevel disaster governance at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam while simultaneously serving as an urban development and research associate at the International Centre for Frugal Innovation (Kenya Hub). Her research on fire ontologies is linked to the Urban Nairobi Hub, which is co-financed by Vital Cities and Citizens. In 2011, a major pipeline fire in Nairobi, Kenya, exposed socio-political dynamics, systemic failures, and disaster biases, urging a reevaluation of disaster management strategies. Beatrice delves into how fire ontologies shape disaster responses, revealing the exploitation of vulnerable communities and the need for effective fire safety measures. Her analysis calls for enhanced community resilience and inclusive governance to tackle urban fire disasters comprehensively. Read the full blog and Beatrice’s insights: https://bit.ly/3VGF96S #DisasterGovernance #Kenya #CommunityResilience #FireSafety #UrbanDevelopment #SocialJustice #PublicPolicy