Takako Izumi

Chapter 3 Role of NGOs in Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction

The community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR) approach has been taken by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) as a common approach to build resilient communities in their disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts. The approach has been initially implemented in the developing world by NGOs, followed by international organizations like the International Federations of Red Cross and Red Crescent (Benson, Twigg, & Myers, 2001; Maceda, Gaillard, Stasiak, Le Masson, & Le Berre, 2009). The approach is now increasingly promoted among local governments in order to strengthen the links between the official disaster management system and community-based organizations (Kafle & Murshed, 2006). There are many case studies of DRR projects with community-based approaches by NGOs and local governments, and there are many variations as well (Heijmans, 2009).

Perspectives of Science and Technology in Disaster Risk Reduction of Asia

Science and technology innovation has always been present in Asia, but its application in disaster risk reduction (DRR) has been differential. In Asia, globally significant hotspots of disasters and economic development have emerged in which the application of science and technology in DRR has become an essential requirement for informed decision making. Science has supported establishment and implementation of major international initiatives in DRR, including the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005–2015. The more recent Sendai Framework for DRR 2015–2030 recognizes the importance of science and technology in all of its priority action areas, and subsequent global and regional forums and conferences have reconfirmed science and technology’s importance. To perceive and monitor the progress of science and technology in DRR, a qualitative assessment of different countries is made using three major attributes: (1) science-based decision making; (2) investment in science and technology; and (3) the intensity of science’s link to the public. This assessment exercise points out several strengths and weaknesses in science and technology application; the method can be employed to develop future multistakeholder and multidisciplinary science and technology plans at the country level. To implement regional and national activities, a set of 15 recommendations is put forward, which will strengthen the collective regional “science voice” in DRR.

Civil Society Organization and Disaster Risk Reduction

Civil Society and Disaster Risk Reduction: An Asian Overview.- Role of Civil Society Organizations in Policy and Advocacy in Risk Reduction.- Disaster Risk Reduction National Platform and Strategic National Action Plan in Afghanistan.- Policy and Advocacy: Role of Civil Society in Disaster Management Bill Processes in Indonesia.- CSOs and the Challenges in Risk and Vulnerability Assessment.- Risk and Vulnerability Assessment - Experience of Nepal.- Civil society and Knowledge, Education and Training in Risk Reduction.- Knowledge, Education and Training for Risk Reduction: Specific Case of Myanmar, Vietnam and Japan.- Civil Society and Cross-cutting issues for Risk Reduction: food security, health, human security, environment and microfinance.- Microfinance: Role of NGOs in DRR.- Role of NGOs & CBOs in a Decentralized Mangrove Management Regime and its Implications in Building Coastal Resilience in India.- Disability-inclusive DRR: Information, Risk and Practical-action.- Community-based Response and Recovery: Role of Civil Societies.- Community based Response and Recovery: Specific Issues.- Opportunities and Challenges of Role of Civil Societies in Risk reduction.

Development of Point-of-Care Testing for Disaster-Related Infectious Diseases

After disaster, the victims lose their safe lives and are even exposed to nature where they could suffer from animal bites and vectors followed by suffering from zoonosis or vector-born diseases. Because of the urgent need for rapid and cheap diagnosis for infectious diseases after disaster, anonymous questionnaire clarified that leptospirosis, dengue, diarrhea, and cholera were recognized as common disaster-related infections in the Philippines, while diarrhea and pneumonia were more common in Indonesia. It should also be noted that infectious disease itself such as tuberculosis associated with acquired immune deficiency syndrome in South Africa is a disaster. Thus, the possible occurrence of similar situation in Asia should be prevented. We have conducted an international collaborative research in the Philippines and Indonesia on dengue virus, leptospira and mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infectious diseases. Development of point-of-care testing for molecular diagnosis and disease severity was the principal purpose of the research. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay, which does not require a source of electricity, was developed for leptospirosis, dengue and MTB and has been proved to be useful where resource is limited. The plasma levels of matricellular proteins, including galectin-9 and osteopontin, were found to reflect the disease severities in dengue virus and MTB infection, probably because matricellular proteins are one of the most functional extracellular proteins that are associated with inflammatory edema. The study on disaster-related infectious disease facilitates the international cooperation for development of point-of-care testing for tropical infectious diseases.

Overview and Introduction of the Private Sector’s Role in Disaster Management

The importance of private sector involvement in disaster risk reduction (DRR) has been recognized for several years at the international level. The data shows that disasters could affect businesses directly and very severely. The primary incentives for the private sector in disaster management participation are ensuring business continuity during and after disasters and preparing for a wide range of disruptions before they happen. In addition, the private sector can contribute further through the development of their core business models and by exploring business opportunities. Five ways of private sector engagement were identified: Direct assistance to communities, Disaster preparedness for own business, Developing innovative products based on business, technology, and expertise, Joint project with NGOs, governments, and international organizations as implementer, and Establishment of private foundations, NGOs, and trusts. Especially, the third and fourth models require strong collaboration with stakeholders, as well as their support, therefore, to strengthen private sector involvement, other stakeholders must make efforts to invite the private sector into their projects and provide information and guidance, if necessary. The multi-stakeholder collaboration is a key for stimulating private sector engagement.

Civil Society and Disaster Risk Reduction: An Asian Overview

Civil society has different role in over time in different countries. There has been strong debate on expected role of civil society among social scientists. Civil society is often termed as NGO, NPO, voluntary organizations, community based organizations etc. All of them play important roles in disaster risk reduction. An analysis of Asian countries shows that the civil society has been differentially active in south Asia and southeast Asia. However, the common element is that the entry point of civil society is through post disaster relief, rescue, eventually turning to short, medium and long-term recovery. Some organizations turned those opportunities into long term development and risk reduction (in terms of pre-disaster preparedness) activities. Although there are sporadic successes of civil society role in stand-alone risk reduction activities, the post disaster scenario has changed the landscape of civil society movement in many countries, by facilitating their entry to serve the needs of the local communities. This chapter also summarizes the book outline, which is designed on the role of civil society as per the HFA (Hyogo Framework for Action) five priority areas.

Chapter 13 Roles of Civil Society in Climate and Disaster Resilience of Cities and Local Governments

During the period of 2000–2009, a record 402 climate-related disasters occurred in the Southeast Asia region, and the number of geophysical disasters was 61 according to the International Disaster Database by Center for Research on the Epidemiology (CRED). The number of climate-related disasters is much higher than that of geophysical disasters, but due to small or medium scale of the events, attention and assistance to most of them have been limited. Although many people are affected by these disasters every year, in many cases, they do not have sufficient idea and knowledge on preparedness and disaster risk reduction (DRR).

Challenges and Potentials of Private Sectors in Disaster Management

Private sectors, depending on the size and nature of business are differentially involved in the disaster management issues. There are different roles of private sector in response, recovery and preparedness. While Business Continuity Plan [BCP] becomes the key during response phase, innovations in risk reduction becomes important in recovery phase, and development investment is the key to the preparedness activities. To enhance private sector participation, a balanced approach of legislation, incentive mechanism and engagement process are required. Corporate Social Responsibility [CSR], BCP [Business Continuity Plan], and PPP [Public Private Partnership] become important for legislation issues, while business development becomes the key incentive mechanism, and roles of other stakeholders [like civil society, academia, media] becomes important in the engagement process. As the approaches, private sector as a major group can play an important advocacy role in the international level for framework development; can influence policy and legislation development at the national level through participating in the national platform, and can influence in the local decision making through urban related work [on business continuity or safety standards] and rural development businesses.

Disaster Management and Private Sectors

Overview and Introduction of the Private Sectors Role in Disaster Management.- Global Overview on the Role of the Private Sector in Disaster Risk Reduction: Scopes, Challenges and Potentials.- Experience of APEC in Disaster Management: Importance of BCP.- Role of Regional Organizations for Enhancing Private Sector Involvement in Disaster Risk Reduction in Developing Asia.- Experiences of private sector involvement in DRR in Europe: Focus on insurance.- Experiences of Africa: Status and Potentials.- Elements to enhance Private Sector Engagement in Disaster Risk Reduction in Central America.- The Role of Micro Enterprises in Disaster Risk Reduction in India.- Role of Private sectors and BCP in Japan.- District Continuity Intensification by Supporting a BCP for Construction Companies: A New Development Model in Japan.- Cross-sector Partnerships in Managing Disasters: Experiences from the United States.- Public Private Partnership: Emerging Role of the Private Sector in Strengthening Indias Disaster Resilience.- Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies of Japanese Private Sector in Danang City.- Thailand Floods and Impact on Private Sector.- Experience of Bangladesh: Focus on Innovative Models of Private Sector Engagement in Risk Reduction.- Malaysian Experiences: the Private Sector and NGO Collaboration in Risk Reduction.- Indonesian Experiences of Private Sector Involvement: Focus on Partnership.- Experience of Nepal: Implication to Risk Reduction.- Malaysian Experiences: Public-Private Partnership involvement in Disaster Reduction Risk in Community Resilience in Malaysia.- Challenges and Potentials of Private Sectors in Disaster Management.

Role of Civil Society Organizations in Policy and Advocacy in Risk Reduction

There were major development in policy and advocacy in disaster risk reduction (DRR) at international, regional and national levels in the last decade. The Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) was adopted in 2005 at the UN Conference on Disaster Reduction and the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergencies Response (AADMER) was ratified in 2009. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) made a great contribution to advocating the gaps in implementation of the HFA between national and local levels on the Views from the Frontline (VFL) report and to bringing up these grassroots voices by the Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network (ADRRN) to the higher level through the international and regional events. In such circumstance, the role and expectation on national and local CSOs in policy making process and its advocacy is increased, and the opportunity for them to bring up their voices and highlight their concerns is expanded.