Fostering New Ways of Working: New Practices

1. Fostering New Ways of Working:New Practices Session 32

2. Session Objectives • Identify key planning principles supporting a social vulnerability approach in practice • Review common approaches in the field which are not based on this perspective • Review approaches in the field which do reflect a vulnerability reduction perspective

3. Recognize/integrate coping mechanisms of disaster survivors and local agencies Avoid arbitrary relief assistance Beware commercial exploitation Avoid relief dependency Decentralize decision-making when possible Recognize disasters as political events Recognize pre-disaster constraints Balance reform and conservation Avoid rebuilding injustice Accountability – the key issue Relocation is the worst option Maximize the transition from relief to development Principles for Realizing a Vulnerability Approach through Planning Source: Blaikie et al. 1994. At Risk.

4. Vigorously manage mitigation through structural and nonstructural means Integrate elements of mitigation, developing risk-reduction measures in sequence and eliminating gaps Capitalize on a disaster to initiate or develop mitigation Monitor and modify to suit new conditions Focus attention on protection of the most vulnerable Focus on protection of lives and livelihoods of the vulnerable Focus on active rather than passive approaches Focus on protection priority sectors such as “lifelines” but also cultural artifacts and long-term economic resources Measures must be sustainable over time Assimilate mitigation in normal practices Incorporate mitigation in specific development projects Maintain political commitment Principles for “Managing a Reduction of Vulnerability” Source: Blaikie et al. 1994. At Risk.

5. Examples of Misleading Assumptions about Vulnerable Social Groups • Seniors are needy • Disabled are dependent • Households are singular and nuclear • Households are male-headed • Men are primary earners of the household • English is the primary language

6. Most people have disposable income and control over their finances “Special populations” always need help Getting people back into their homes is the first priority People are equally impacted by damages and loss Personal attributes or lifestyle choices make people vulnerable Ethnic and racial minorities are especially vulnerable Women and men are equally vulnerable within income or age groups Most people have functioning cars Examples of Misleading Assumptions about People at Risk or Affected by Disasters

7. How ethnic institutions vary from dominant Angle norm Extent of police surveillance/harassment experienced and corresponding fear Where shelters for battered women or juveniles are located and what they do Which neighborhoods are likely to have many home-based businesses Where and how migrant agricultural laborers live Living conditions in local public housing facilities Informal health care systems providing care Support systems for the chronically ill The resources of residential shelters Where the homeless stay and how many stay there Examples of Ignorance about Social Conditions

8. Examples of Non-Inclusive, “Top Down” Planning • Community meetings held at night; no on-site child care; no public transportation • “Open” public meetings with pre-set agendas representing emergency practitioners as outside “experts” • Outreach to mainstream nonprofits included in local VOAD groups • One-way and one-time “consultation” with community members • Emergency communications in English only or at advanced literacy levels

9. Inclusive communication Reducing service barriers Local innovations Anticipating need Increasing community and family preparedness Project Impact Planning ahead to reduce cultural barriers Collaborating with community-based organizations Networking community organizations in disasters Special needs planning Governmental tools for reducing vulnerability Neighborhood initiatives Working with emergent groups Building on capacities of vulnerable people Approaches Which Reflect a Vulnerability Reduction Perspective