During trainings, workshops, orientations, inter-communityvisits, and study visits, the issue of gender and socialinclusion for DRR was discussed and awareness about thefundamental rights of vulnerable groups to participate and tobe included in DRR interventions was raised.The needs of the most vulnerable groups were taken intoconsideration when designing and constructing evacuationroutes, shelters and raised water sources.
16/ Community Based Disaster Risk ReductionGood Practicemembers to implement them. One communityelected a femalebhalmansaand another includeda widow and PwD as members. This simpleinitiative has had a great impact: the confidence ofthe vulnerable groups has clearly been enhanced,their capacities have been built and their voicesheard.The beneficiaries of the project are 91 percentTharus and five percent Dalits.Women, who were once largely neglected in alldevelopment endeavors, are now in the front, well-represented in decision-making committees.Theirparticipation, as well as that of previouslymarginalized Dalits and Tharus, was a priority inall interventions, from trainings and meetings tostudy tours and inter-community visits. IECmaterials were also designed with inclusivenessin mind to increase participation of women, buildknowledge and promote confidence.Overall,participants in project endeavors are 41 percentfemale and 59 percent male.PwDs are among the most vulnerable groups insociety: disaster responses frequently do not meettheir needs or rights and often exclude themaltogether. There is much more need to raiseawareness among DRR stakeholders about PwDs,especially given that some were refused assistanceforevacuation and relief during the September 2008flood. As a first step, the project, in partnershipwith Handicap International, constructed twomulti-purpose shelters (to be used as evacuationshelters, DPC offices, community meeting halls,and for education purposes) with access ramps,toilets and water on the same level as the shelterand hand railings around the buildings and in thetoilets to serve PwDs and the elderly.Both sheltersare raised above the 2008 flood level.In general,community response to the 2008 floodsdemonstrated that an inclusive approach has beeninternalized, so much so, in fact, that some membershave begun to advocate for support for thevulnerable people in non-target communities.Experience demonstrated that women and socially-marginalized groups do have the capacity to bekey actors in DRR interventions, but also that aconcerted effort is required to ensure theirinvolvement equals that of men at all levels. Onlyif all groups are involved in planning will thespecific needs and priorities of a community berevealed and progress towards building safer andmore resilient households and communities made.
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Term
Spring
Professor
VickieS.Connors
Tags
DRR
