1. Collaboration with Eduardo Mondale University

Vision in collaboration with Eduardo Mondale University which has piloted over 30 projects from 2006 to 2010 about 4 years they have scaled up to 30 projects using this CBDRM method.

This introduction highlights the collaboration between an organization and Eduardo Mondale University, which has successfully implemented over 30 projects focused on Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM). It shows a dedication to enhancing local capacities to handle disaster risks effectively over a period of four years.

Imagine a community that faces frequent flooding. The partnership with the university acted like a coach training a sports team, improving their performance in upcoming games (or floods) through structured projects.

What is Gerando; Gerando is a process for supporting local capacities to identify, predict, manage hazard impacts. This process consists of 6 interrelated stages which I will explain briefly about it and which has been facilitated by a trained member of the local community.

The Gerando process is designed to empower local communities to tackle the impacts of hazards they might face. It consists of six stages, and the crucial part is that a member of the community, who is trained, facilitates these stages to ensure they are relevant and effective.

Think of a mentor guiding a student through a project step-by-step. In this analogy, the trained community member is like the mentor, helping the community navigate each stage effectively.

The first aspect is to establish a local DRM committee in each community. You have a community, and then you try to set up a DRM committee, the disaster risk management committee in each community.

The first step in the Gerando process involves creating a local Disaster Risk Management (DRM) committee. This committee serves as the backbone for addressing disaster risks, promoting organized local efforts to manage hazards effectively.

Imagine a school safety committee formed by teachers and parents to ensure children's safety. Just like that committee, a DRM committee brings community members together to strategize on disaster preparedness.

The facilitator usually the community coordinator, who then leads the committee and community through the next 5 steps. One is to set up and identify the significant shocks and stress that the committee faces, whether it's due to drought, famine, or war. They carry out a vulnerability and capacity assessment.

The community coordinator leads the committee to identify significant shocks or stresses affecting them, such as droughts or conflicts. This step is crucial because understanding these factors enables the community to assess its vulnerabilities and capacities.

Consider a health clinic conducting a survey to understand the illnesses affecting the community. Similarly, identifying shocks helps the community realize what challenges they face and how to prepare for them.

Identify scientific and traditional or indigenous early warning indicators, understanding what early warning systems we have, and how we can inform these to the community.

This step focuses on recognizing both scientific and traditional early warning signs that can alert the community about potential hazards. Recognizing these indicators helps ensure timely and effective communication to the community, maximizing preparedness.

Just like how farmers look for signs of rain such as changes in wind or animal behavior, communities should learn to recognize signs that indicate an approaching disaster.

Develop and implement mitigation plans where appropriate and draw up a community disaster preparedness plan. Once they know the shocks and vulnerabilities, they can understand and implement mitigation plans.

This chunk encourages the development of plans to minimize risks related to identified hazards. By understanding the risks and vulnerabilities of the community, members can collaboratively create a disaster preparedness plan that outlines procedures to follow in emergencies.

It’s like a family preparing for a long trip by checking their car’s condition and planning their route to avoid traffic. Similarly, communities must mitigate risks to ensure safety during disasters.

Official disaster management organizations often undervalue the potential of informal social organizations or networks, whether it be neighborhoods, families, or kinship groups.

This emphasizes the importance of recognizing that local community networks play a crucial role in disaster management. These informal groups often provide essential support and resources that may go unnoticed by official organizations.

Think of a neighborhood that comes together after a storm to help each other with repairs. Their informal network is incredibly valuable, much like how communities can support each other during disasters.

The term social capital refers to the social resources which people draw upon to pursue their objectives, including networks, connections, and relationships of trust.

The concept of social capital highlights how relationships within the community can strengthen their ability to respond to disasters. Strong networks and trust among community members can lead to more effective collaboration during crises.

Consider how friends come together to support each other during difficult times. These strong relationships and the trust formed enable quicker and more effective support in a crisis.

The 3 T’s: Transparency, Time, and Trust. Transparency requires clarity, openness, accountability, and respect for community needs. Time is essential to build meaningful relationships, leading to community ownership of the process.

This section stresses the importance of three principles—transparency, time, and trust. When community members are kept informed and involved over time, it allows relationships to grow, fostering trust and encouraging greater community investment in disaster management.

Think of creating a garden together. If everyone knows what to plant, when, and how, they’re more likely to care for it and contribute over time, which is akin to how communities work together in disaster risk management.

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