2.6. Evaluation

The word resilience has become an important dimension of the DRR and this is what the DFID defines as the department for international development of UK. It says the ability of countries, communities, and households to manage change, by maintaining or transforming living standards in the face of shocks or stresses such as earthquakes, droughts or violent conflict without compromising their long-term prospects.

Resilience refers to the capacity of individuals and communities to withstand and recover from various adversities or shocks, such as natural disasters or conflicts. This definition emphasizes not just surviving an upheaval but thriving in its aftermath. It’s about adapting to changes while ensuring that their future well-being and quality of life are not sacrificed. Essentially, resilience enables societies to build back better after a crisis while maintaining their core functions.

Think of resilience like a rubber band. When you stretch it, it takes on a new shape, but once you let go, it returns to its original form without losing its elasticity. Similarly, communities affected by disasters may change in the short term, but through resilience, they can come back stronger and maintain their long-term growth.

There are few more frameworks which I let us go through; one is the sustainable livelihoods framework. This has been developed again by the DFID in 1999. And you can see that it talks about the capital because they are referred as an asset framework as well and how the individual or a community, how they use, they construct their livelihoods.

The Sustainable Livelihoods Framework helps us understand how different types of capital (like human, natural, social, physical, and financial) contribute to the livelihoods of individuals and communities. The framework emphasizes that people do not rely on a single resource but use a mix of assets to secure their living. The better they can leverage these resources, the more sustainable their livelihoods become, even in the face of challenges.

Imagine a small village that relies on farming. If they only grow one type of crop (say, corn), a drought could decimate their food supply. However, if they grow corn, beans, and have livestock, they can ensure their survival even if one crop fails. This illustrates the concept of different 'assets' working together to create a more resilient livelihood.

So then as we discussed in the vulnerability context, how it also have a give and take aspect of this influencing these abilities you know because these are the how he manages, I mean the community manages to access these resources.

The vulnerability context refers to the various factors that can hinder or inhibit a community’s ability to access resources necessary for their livelihoods. This includes issues like poverty, governance, and infrastructure. Understanding this context is crucial to identifying how communities can better access the resources they need to build resilience.

Think of a community trying to build a new school. If the area lacks roads, they may struggle to transport materials. Similarly, political instability can prevent funds from being allocated effectively. In this way, the 'vulnerability context' shapes how easily or effectively a community can respond to their challenges.

Here we call about DFIDs resilience framework, so one is the first part which talks about the context and where the context talks about the whole system and the processes and that is where when the context where the vulnerability context...

DFID’s resilience framework involves understanding the broader systems that affect a community's resilience. This includes the political, social, and geographic contexts that impact vulnerability and capacity to respond to challenges. By looking at these contexts, we can better appreciate how communities adapt to and mitigate shocks, which can inform better strategies for support and intervention.

Consider a city that experiences frequent flooding. If a community leader understands not only the physical layout of the city but also the socioeconomic aspects (like income levels and access to services), they can create more effective flood management plans. This holistic understanding illustrates how various contexts shape resilience.

And they also list out the government roles in DRR. So it plays a number of roles, one is as providers of DRR goods and services...

Governments play several crucial roles in disaster risk reduction (DRR). They provide essential services such as early warning systems and emergency responses. They also set regulations to protect public infrastructure from environmental hazards and strive to coordinate actions among various stakeholders involved in disaster management. All these roles ensure that communities are better prepared for disasters.

Think of the government as a coach in a sports team. Just like a coach provides the team with strategies, training, and resources, the government equips communities with the tools they need to respond effectively to disasters, ensuring everyone is prepared for the 'big game' of disaster response.

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