Top Banner

of 32

Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

Apr 06, 2018

Download

Documents

Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    1/32

    Baic f Capacit

    Devepet fr DiaterRik Reducti

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    2/32

    2

    ACRonyms

    AAA AccraAgendaforAction

    BCPR BureauforCrisisPreventionandRecovery

    CADRI CapacityforDisasterReductionInitiative

    CDG UNDPsCapacityDevelopmentGroup

    CIDA CanadianInternationalDevelopment

    Agency

    DAC DevelopmentAssistanceCommittee

    DMTP DisasterManagementTraining

    Programme

    DRR DisasterRiskReduction

    ECDPM EuropeanCentreforDevelopmentPolicy

    Management

    GTZ Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische

    Zusammenarbeit

    HFA HyogoFrameworkforAction

    INGO InternationalNon-Governmental

    Organization

    ISDR InternationalStrategyforDisaster

    Reduction

    MDG MillenniumDevelopmentGoal

    OECD OrganizationforEconomicCooperation

    &Development

    OCHA UNOfcefortheCoordinationof

    HumanitarianAffairs

    UN UnitedNations

    UNDP UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme

    WBI WorldBankInstitute

    Photo Credit: OCHA / Irin Design: Comstone.ch

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    3/32

    3

    1. Introduction 6

    1.1 LinkingtheHyogoFrameworkforActionto CapacityDevelopment6

    1.2 ContextandScope 8

    1.3 ResourcesandReferencesforThisPaper8

    1.4 StructureofThisPaper8

    2. Some Fundamentals of Capacity and Capacity

    Development 9

    2.1 WorkingDenitionsandTerminology9

    2.2 TheThreeLevelsofCapacity9

    2.3 TypesofCapacity112.4 TheCapacityDevelopmentProcess11

    2.5 CoreCapacityDevelopmentActions13

    2.6 CapacityDevelopmentvs.CapacityBuilding14

    3. Considerations for Practice in Developing

    DRR Capacity 16

    3.1 TheProcessNeedstobeLocallyDriven16

    3.2 DevelopingCapacitiesforDRRisaSocietyWide

    Endeavour18

    3.3 ThereareManyDimensionsofCapacitythat

    NeedtobeDeveloped20

    3.4 Theenablingenvironmentisessentialfor

    translatingcapacityintoperformance23

    3.5 CapacityDevelopmentGoesBeyondTraining

    andtheClassroom24

    3.6 SummingUp27

    4. Ways ahead... 28

    5. Annotated References 29

    Contents

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    4/32

    4

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    5/32

    5

    Foreword While each State has primary responsibility for its owneconomicandsocialdevelopment,anenablinginternationalenvironmentisvitaltostimulateandcontributetodeveloping

    the knowledge, capacities and motivation needed to build

    disasterresilientnationsandcommunities.

    States and regional and international organizations should

    also support the capacities of regional mechanisms and

    organizations to develop regional plans, policies and common

    practices, as appropriate, in support of networking, advocacy,

    coordination, exchange of information and experience, scientic

    monitoring of hazards and vulnerability and institutional

    capacity development and to deal with disaster risks.

    -Paras.22and23,HyogoFrameworkforAction

    The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR)

    system, guided by the effortsof its secretariat andworking

    through its many ofcial and civil society partners and

    collaborating organizations promotes the implementation

    of the Hyogo Framework. It is hoped that this paper will

    stimulatereectionanddiscussioninthedisaster reduction

    community on the broader, more systemic implications of

    capacity development.

    Acknowledgements

    Manyindividualsandresourceshavemadeacontributionto

    this document.Thanks aredue toall thoseindividuals that

    attendedtheDMTPglobalFutureSearchmeeting,RethinkingCapacity Development for Disaster Risk Reduction: Action

    2005-2015inFebruary2006,theresultsofwhichprovided

    theimpetusforthispaper.

    Others who made signicant contributions to this paper

    throughdrafting,re-draftingand commentingare Geraldine

    Becchi,Joanne Burke, Piero Calvi-Parisetti, Jennifer Colville,

    TerryJeggle,TonyLand,ClaudiaLiebler,andKennethWestgate.

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    6/32

    6

    ChAllngs osD By DsAsRs

    Thereisnowinternationalacknowledgementthatefforts

    toreducedisasterrisksmustbesystematicallyintegra-

    tedintopolicies,plansandprogrammesforsustainable

    development and poverty reduction, and supported

    through bilateral, regional and international coopera-

    tion,includingpartnerships.Sustainabledevelopment,

    povertyreduction,goodgovernanceanddisasterriskre-

    ductionaremutuallysupportiveobjectives,andinorder

    tomeetthechallengesahead,acceleratedeffortsmustbe

    madetobuildthenecessarycapacitiesatthecommunity

    andnationallevelstomanageandreducerisk.Suchan

    approachistoberecognizedasanimportantelementfor

    theachievementofinternationallyagreeddevelopment

    goals,includingthosecontainedintheMillenniumDe-

    claration.

    Para.4HyogoFrameworkforAction

    Introduction

    1.1 liki te h Fraewrkfr Acti t CapacitDevepet

    UNISDRinits2009terminologydenesDisasterRisk

    Reductionas:

    The concept and practice of reducing disaster risks through

    systematic efforts to analyse and manage the causal factors

    of disasters, including through reduced exposure to

    hazards, lessened vulnerability of people and property, wise

    management of land and the environment, and improved

    preparedness for adverse events.1

    In 2005, 168 countries drafted and approved the Hyogo

    Framework for Action (HFA) at the World Conference

    for Disaster Reduction, Kobe, Japan. The HFA provides

    guidanceforachievingasetofoutcomesandresultsoverthe

    nextten years (2005-2015) towards reducing disaster risk,

    andunderscorestherelationshipbetweenreducingdisaster

    riskandachievingbroaderdevelopmentchallengessuchas

    the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).It mobilises

    stakeholders2atlocal,nationalandinternationalleveltopay

    increasingattentiontoDisasterRiskReduction(DRR)aspart

    oftheirwiderdevelopmentagendasandcrucially,recognises

    the centrality of capacity development to that task.

    TheHFAlaysoutadetailedten-yearstrategytointegraterisk

    reductionasanessentialcomponentofnationaldevelopment

    policiesandprogrammes.Thestrategyidentiesvepriorityareasofaction:

    1. Ensurethatdisasterriskreductionisanationaland

    localpriority.

    2. Identify,assessandmonitordisasterrisksandenhanceearlywarning.

    3. Useknowledge,innovationandeducationtobuilda

    cultureofsafetyandresilienceatalllevels.

    4. Reducetheunderlyingriskfactors,by

    mainstreamingactivitiesintomanydevelopment

    sectorsandprogrammeareas.

    5. Strengthendisasterpreparednessforeffective

    responseatalllevels.

    TheHFApresentsa challengeto allstakeholders:focuson

    developingcapacityforDRR.Indeed,noneofthevepriorities

    foractioncanbeachievedunlesscapacitydevelopmentissues

    andmeasuresaremadeanintegralpartoftheactionagenda.

    Thedevelopmentofcapacitiesinfactfeaturesprominently

    intheHFA,assuchreferencesarereferredtoatleast40times

    inthe19-pagetext,andinquitevariedcontexts.

    Theimperativesofcapacitydevelopmenttoreducingdisaster

    riskhavebeenunderlinedbytheexperiencesofrecentmajor

    disasters. Since the Indian Ocean tsunami in December

    2004,therehavebeentheotherseriousconsequencesofthe

    unprecedenteddestructioncausedbyhurricanesKatrina,Rita

    andNargis, along with recent tragic earthquakesin China,India,PakistanandHaiti.

    1 . UNISDR,Terminology on Disaster Risk Reduction,2009,page42. StakeholdersforDRRincludegovernments,non-governmentalorganisations,theprivatesector,localgovernments,communitygroups,aswellasregionalandinternational

    developmentorganisationsandspecialisedagencies.

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    7/32

    7

    3.DevelopmentagenciesinvesthugeamountsinCapacityDevelopment(CD).Evenso,itseemstohavebecomeacatch-allconceptincorporatingalmostanyformoftechnicalassistance,andisoftenpresentedasaratherneutral,value-freeformofengagement.InstituteofDevelopmentStudies,Capacity for a Change,January2008

    4. Forsomepointersforgoodpractice,see,forexample,theOECE/DACpaperThe Challenge of Capacity Development: Working Towards Good Practice,20065. AcknowledgedindiscussionsattheFutureSearchglobalmeetingon Rethinking Capacity Development for Disaster Risk Reduction: Action 2005-2015,February2006

    Repeatedlysucheventsdrivehometworealities:

    thatdisasterscanreversehard-wondevelopmentgains,illustratingtherelationshipsbetweenpovertyreduction,

    environmentaldegradationandvulnerabilitytodisasters

    that capacity or the lack thereof lies at the heart of

    reducingtheriskofdisaster.

    The emphasis now given to capacity development for

    DRR reects broader recognition of its link to sustainable

    development.Acapableandaccountablestatesupportedbyan

    effectivecivilsocietyandengagedprivatesectorisrecognised

    to be indispensable for achieving national development

    objectives.Withoutcapableandviablelocalinstitutions,there

    islittlethatexternalresourcescandoalonetotacklepoverty,

    reducedisasterriskortoreducecountrydependencyonaid.

    WithintheHFA,threecoreprinciplesareexpressedthatare

    particularlyrelevanttocapacitydevelopmentandtothispaper:

    1. Countrieshavetheleadingroleforrealizingnational

    disasterriskreduction.

    2. Regionalandinternationalactorsneedtoprovide

    supporttocountriesownefforts.

    3. Capacitydevelopmentisacross-cuttingelementfor

    disasterriskreduction.

    Challenges Related to Capacity Development

    Reviews of aid effectiveness increasingly note that the

    developmentofcapacityisinvariablyrecognisedasoneofthe

    mostcriticalissuesforbothdonorsandpartnercountries.The

    2005 Paris Declaration onAidEffectiveness and the 2008

    follow-upmeetinginAccrahighlighttheneedforsignicantly

    enhancedsupportforcountryeffortstostrengthengovernance

    andimprovedevelopmentperformanceandcalledforcapacity

    developmenttobeanexplicitobjectiveofnationaldevelopment

    andpovertyreductionstrategies.MeanwhiletheUNGeneral

    AssemblyHigh-LevelPlenaryMeetingontheFive-YearReview

    oftheMillenniumDeclarationthattookplaceinSeptember

    2005pointedtothefactthatpublicsectorcapacityislagging

    behindallotherMDGindicators,underscoringthefactthat

    capacitydevelopmentisoneofthekeychallengesfacinglow

    incomecountriesandtheirexternalpartnersalike. 3

    Whiletheimportanceofcapacityiswidelyrecognised,howit

    emerges,howtodevelopandevaluateit and how tosustain

    itisformanylessclear.Thereareanumberofexperiences,

    toolsandresourcesthatarenowavailableintheeldofdisaster

    risk reduction and relate to capacity development. Lessons

    Capacity development

    is a central strategy forreducing disaster risk

    (Words into Action, ISDR, 2007)

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    8/32

    8

    ofpastexperience,forexample,pointtomanyinappropriate

    approacheswithshort-livedimpactsonthepartofdevelopment

    cooperationpartners.4Thereishowevertheneedformanyto

    betterfamiliarisewiththelinkbetweencapacity,itsdevelopment

    and disaster risk reduction. The evidence and knowledge

    availablewithinthedisasterriskreductioncommunityonhow

    tosupportthedevelopmentofcapacityinpracticeisstillnot

    widelysystematisedandshared,althoughexamplesdoexist.5

    1.2 Ctext ad scpe

    This paper seeks to promote a common understanding of

    whatcapacitydevelopmentmeansfordisasterriskreduction,

    includingconsiderationsorhowitdevelopsinbothconceptual

    andpracticalterms.Itisintendedasareferenceforthebroader

    global community who work at the international, regional,

    nationalandsub-nationallevelsindisasterriskreduction.

    Thispaperreectsonandseekstoofferinsightsontwobroad

    questions:Whatiscapacityandcapacitydevelopmentmeanfor

    disasterriskreduction,inthecontextoftheHyogoFramework

    for Action? What can external partners do to best support

    countriesowneffortsandprocessestodeveloptheircapacity?

    Readersareencouragedtodrawuponelementsofthepaper

    thatmay beusefulto theirrespectivecontextsandwork.By

    designthepaperdoesnotfocusonanyspecicthematicarea

    fordisaster riskreductioncapacitydevelopment,nordoes it

    focusonanyspecictargetgrouportypesofcapacities.

    1.3 Reurce ad Referece fri aper

    Thepaperdrawsonmanysourcesandhasmanyreference

    points not least of which are the results of the Future

    Search meeting of 86 international disaster risk reduction

    stakeholdersfrom35countriesorganisedbyUNDP/BCPRand

    DMTPandheldinFebruary2006.Thethemeofthismeeting

    was Rethinking Capacity Development for Disaster Risk

    Reduction: Action2005-2015. Inthe meeting participants

    notedtheneedforthedisasterriskreductioncommunityto

    haveamorecommonconceptualframeworkforcapacityand

    capacitydevelopmenttoguidetheireffortsandwork.

    Otherselectedresourcesandreferencepointsthatinformthis

    paperincludetheconclusionsoftheministeriallevelHighLevel

    ForumonAidEffectivenessknownastheParisDeclarationon

    AidEffectiveness ofMarch2005 andthefollow-upmeetingresultingintheAccraAgendaforAction(AAA)inSeptember

    2008.UNDPsowncontinuingworkoncapacitydevelopment

    throughitsCapacityDevelopmentGroup(CDG)isalsoamajor

    referencepointforthispaper.Thepaperalsodrawsuponthe

    workofOECD/DAC,theCapacityCollectiveattheInstituteof

    Development Studies,UniversityofSussex, theWorldBank

    Institute(WBI)andndingsoftherecentstudyonCapacity

    andPerformance by the European Centre for Development

    PolicyManagement(ECDPM).

    1.4 structure f i aper

    Following on from this introductory chapter, chapter two

    outlines some fundamentals of capacity development

    includingthekeydenitionsused.Chapterthreepresentsve

    considerationsconcerningcapacityandcapacitydevelopment

    and offers some pointers for practice on how national

    stakeholders and their international development partners

    can support a country driven process for DRR capacity

    development.Chapterfoursuggestsanumberofactionsfor

    goingforward.

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    9/32

    9

    This section seeks to provide a conceptual framework for

    capacity and capacity development that underpin its general

    application to disaster risk reduction. It includes a short list

    of denitions and basic terminology that is followed by a short

    discussion of the three levels where capacity resides in the

    individual, in the organization and in the overall working

    environment within which individuals and organizations

    operate (the enabling environment). To complete the

    conceptual framework two types of capacities (functional and

    technical) are elaborated briey followed by a description of

    a ve-step capacity process and a short overview on types of

    capacity development actions.

    2.1 Wrki Deiti

    ad eri

    The different terminology sharessomecommon messages.One is the concept of capacity which is a countrys overall

    capabilitytomanageitsowndevelopmentprocess.Asecond

    is that developing capacity isanongoingprocess ofchange

    that needsto takeplaceovertime.Thirdisthatthecapacity

    issuesandprioritieswillverymuchdependonacountrysown

    levelandpathofdevelopmenttherearenosetformulasor

    blueprints.Fourthisthatcapacityissuesaremulti-dimensional

    andcomplexinnatureandrelateasmuchtobroadersocietal

    challenges and systemic issues as they doto training, skills

    development and technology transfer. In addition, it is

    importanttobearinmindthatoutsideactorshaveanimportantroletoplaytohelpcountriesachievetheirowndevelopment

    goalsandobjectives but the process needsto benationally

    ownedandled.

    CAACy

    UNISDRoffersthefollowingdenitionofcapacity:

    Thecombinationofallthestrengths,attributesand

    resources available within a community, society or

    organizationthatcanbeusedtoachieveagreedgoals.

    CAACy Dlomn

    UNDPsdenitionofcapacitydevelopmentisasfollows:

    Theprocessthroughwhichindividuals, organizations

    and societies obtain, strengthen and maintain the

    capabilitiestosetandachievetheirowndevelopment

    objectives over time.

    Otherdenitionsareusefulforclarication:

    OECD/DAC:Processwherebypeople,

    organizationsandsocietyasawholeunleash,

    strengthen,create,adaptandmaintaincapacity

    overtime.

    GTZ:Processofstrengtheningtheabilitiesof

    individuals,organizationsandsocietiestomake

    effectiveuseoftheresources,inordertoachieve

    theirowngoalsonasustainablebasis.

    CIDA:Activities,approaches,strategiesand

    methodologieswhichhelporganizations,groups

    andindividualstoimprovetheirperformance,

    generatedevelopmentbenetsandachievetheir

    objectives.

    UNISDR:Theprocessbywhichpeople,organizationsandsocietysystematicallystimulate

    theircapacitiesovertimetoachievesocialand

    economicgoals,includingthroughimprovement

    ofknowledge,skills,systemsandinstitutions.

    2.2 e ree leve f Capacit

    Although the language on capacity development varies,

    increasingly there is an emerging consensus that capacity

    resides at three interrelated levels and thatcapacity issues

    needtobelookedatfromthisperspective:

    The Enabling Environment pertainstothebroadersystem

    within which individuals and organizations function

    that can either facilitate or hamper their existence and

    performance. This levelof capacity isnoteasy tograsp

    tangiblybutitiscentraltotheunderstandingofcapacity

    issues.Thisleveldeterminestherulesofthegamefor

    howasocietyoperates,includingtheinteractionbetween

    andamongorganizationsandgovernmentunits,andwith

    theprivatesectorandcivilsociety.Capacitiesatthelevelof

    theenablingenvironmentrelatetosuchthingsaspolicies,legislation, institutional arrangements, leadership, political

    SomeFundamentals

    of Capacityand CapacityDevelopment

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    10/32

    0

    Country

    capacityis the key

    toDevelopmentPerformance

    Importance of Capacity Development

    Country

    Ownershipis the cornerstone

    of aid &developmenteffectiveness

    Two

    connected observations

    processes and power relations and social norms (values,

    incentives, motivation, trust, legitimacy, transparency) allof

    whichgovernthemandates,priorities,modesofoperation

    andcivilengagementacrossdifferentpartsofsociety.6

    The signicance aswellas the complexity ofthe enabling

    environment cannot be over-emphasised. It is here that

    the conditions are created that will allow for the effective

    developmentof individual andorganizationalcapacities. It

    setsthecontextforcapacitydevelopmentanddeterminesthechangesthatmaybenecessarytoensureresultswhichmay

    requireashiftinvaluesandapproaches,inpowerdynamics

    andpossiblyeveninpowerrelations.

    The UNDP denition of capacity development refers to

    societies and this is preferred by others to describe the

    enablingenvironment.ThereportfromtheCapacityCollective

    WorkshoporganisedbytheInstituteofDevelopmentStudies

    inSeptember2007identiesthe enablingenvironment as

    societalimplyingawider,systemiclevel. 7

    The Organizational Level of capacity pertains to the

    internalpolicies,systemsandstrategies,arrangements,

    proceduresandframeworksthatallowanorganizationto

    operateanddeliveronitsmandateandthatenablethe

    comingtogetherofindividualcapacitiestoworktogether

    andachievegoals.Iftheseexist,arewell-resourcedand

    well-aligned,thecapabilityofanorganizationtoperform

    willbegreaterthanthatofthesumofitsparts.Capacities

    at the levelof the organization includesuch things as

    leadership,theorganizationsabilitytoengage,toproduce

    results and to manage change, as well as to provide

    relevantrewardsandincentives,toadaptandself-renew.

    The Individual Levelpertainstotheskillsandknowledge

    thatarevestedinpeople(individuals,communities,groups,

    teams).Eachpersonisendowedwithamixofcapabilities

    thatallows themto perform,whetherat home,at work,

    orinsocietyatlarge.Capacitiesatthislevelareacquired

    through formal education,throughtraining,learningby

    doingandexperience,andincreasinglythroughcoaching

    andmentoring, networks, communities of practice and

    platformmechanisms.

    Thediagrammeillustratesthatthethreelevelsofcapacityare

    notstandalonenoraretheymutuallyexclusive.Theyhavean

    interrelationship. Consequently, with capacity development

    therearenorecipesorblueprintsthecontextwillbecase-or

    countryspecicandthusitwilldiffer.Allthreelevelsneedto

    betakenintoaccountwhendeterminingwhoneedswhat

    capacitiesforwhatpurpose.Analysisofthethreelevelsof

    capacity development helps to develop an understanding

    ofthiscontext. Thereare enablingconditions that increase

    the potential for success, such as peace and economic

    developmentandthewaysinwhichpoliticsandsocietyhelpto

    institutionaliseimprovedgovernance.Whatmayatrstseem

    anindividuallevelissuemayturnintoanorganizationallevel

    concernwhenlookedatfromtheperspectiveoftheinstitutional

    arrangements within which the individual stakeholders

    operate.Organizationalarrangementsmayormaynotsupport

    effective performance or an individuals ability to effectively

    applynewlyacquiredskills,knowledgeorexperience.Atthe

    organizational and societal levels, capacitydevelopment can

    leadtochangesinrolesandresponsibilitiesandachangein

    power dynamics which in turn can affect existing vested

    interests, powerstructures,norms and values. Theseare all

    importantfactorstokeepinmind.

    6.ThethreelevelsofcapacityasunderstoodbyUNDParedescribedinCapacity Development Practice Note,October2008,pages5and67.InstituteofDevelopmentStudies,Capacity for a Change,2008,page19

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    11/32

    11

    2.3 pe f Capacit

    Closely linked to the idea that capacity resides at three

    interrelatedlevelsistherecognitionoftwotypesofcapacitythat

    areinterrelatedyetdistinct.

    Functional capacities are cross-cuttingin nature and are notassociatedwithanyoneparticularsectorortheme.Theyare

    themanagementcapacities neededtoformulate,implement

    and review policies, strategies, programmes and projects.8

    UNDP hasidentied ve categories of functional capacities

    whichallfocusongettingthingsdoneandinclude:

    Capacitytoengagestakeholderswhichrelatestheability

    to motivate andmobilizestakeholders, buildconsensus,

    createpartnershipsandnetworks,planandmanagelarge

    groupprocesses,maximizeandmanagediversity,etc.

    Capacity to assess a situation and dene a vision and

    mandatewhichincludestheabilitytoaccess,analyseand

    synthesizedifferentsetsofdataandinformation,translate

    informationintoavisionand/ormandate;

    Capacity to formulate policies and strategies that

    setobjectivesforhowavisionand/ormandatewillbe

    executed- creates relevant organizational execution

    strategies,setsobjectives,formulatessectoralandcross-

    sectoralpolicies,etc.

    Capacity to budget, manage and implement including

    managing human and nancial resources and

    procurement, managingchange,settingbenchmarksfor

    monitoringprogress,etc.

    Capacitytoevaluateincludingcodifyinglessonslearnt,

    promoting, learning, collecting feedback and adjusting

    policiesandstrategies,etc.

    Technical capacitiesarethoseassociatedwithparticularareas

    ofneedandwithparticularsectorrequirementsorthemes.In

    thecontextofdisasterriskreductionthesecapacitiescorrelate

    withtheHyogoFrameworkforAction.Section3furtherdetails

    thesetechnicalcapacitiesfordisasterriskreduction.

    Consequently, theprocess for deciding who needswhat

    capacitiesfor whatpurposeneedsto bebasedon a good

    understanding of both the functional as well as technical

    capacitydimensions,particularlyattheleveloftheindividual

    andtheorganization.Italsoopensupthepotentialthatcapacity

    development support may require a mix of interventions

    -technicaland cross-cuttingin nature.Anydecisionmaking

    oncapacitydevelopmentassistanceorsupportneedstotake

    into account what people ororganizations arealready goodatbasedonarecognitionandunderstandingofthecapacity

    that already exists towards ensuring that any new capacity

    developmentmeasureswillfurtherstrengthenorbuildupon

    thatcapacity.

    Technical Capacities

    Functional Capacities

    2.4 e Capacit Devepetrce

    Just ascapacity developmentneedsto becontext andcase-

    specic,soalsoitneedstobeviewedasaniterativeprocessof

    assessment-design-application-learning-adjustment.Theve

    stepspresentedframeUNDPsownworkandcoincidewith

    thestepsoftheprogrammingcycle.

    Caremustbe takenintheinterpretationof thesevesteps

    sincetheyarenotalwayscarriedoutinasequentialorlinear

    manner.Thelengthoftimeittakestocompleteeachstepwill

    alsovaryfromcasetocase.Agreatmanyfactorsareinvolved

    thatimpingeupontheeffectivecompletionofthisprocess.

    8 . U ND P, Capacity Development Practice Note,2008,page12

    individual

    organisational enablingenvironment

    The Three Levels of Capacity

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    12/32

    2

    already exists and will help ascertain local partners

    commitmentandconstraintstheymayfacetodrivethe

    change process needed to improve capacity. Guidance

    andtoolson undertakingcapacity assessments is also

    available from UNDP9 and through other resources.

    3. Formulate a capacity development response.Inresponse

    totheassessmentofcapacityassetsandneeds,aresponse

    needsto beformulatedwiththeactiveparticipationof

    thosewhowereengagedintheassessmentexercise.The

    responsecanbeatthegroup,community,organizational,

    regional or national level. It will likely include a mix

    of actions, probably starting with some short-term

    interventionstogeneratesomequickwinsorthatwill

    enhanceknowncapacityassetsbeforeaddressingmore

    complex or long-term capacity issues or needs. The

    response will identify evidence and indicators against

    whichprogresscanbemeasured,outcomes signifying

    thedesiredchangesincapacity.Thecapacitydevelopment

    responsealsoneedstobecostedtoestablishtherealistic

    fundingneededforimplementation.Anexitstrategyalsoneedstobedeveloped.

    1. Engage stakeholders in capacity development.Forastart,

    thereneedstocommitmenttoandsponsorshipofthe

    process among all key stakeholders local ownership

    and participation is critical. This requires a good

    understanding of the relevantactorsatdifferentlevels

    andanalysisofthecriticaltypesofstakeholdersthatneed

    tobeinvolvedoneswithneed,resources,information,

    expertise,who caninuence. Various triedand tested

    tools and methodologies for stakeholder analysis,

    mappingandengagementareavailabletosupportthis.

    2. Assess capacity assets and needs. The avoidance of a

    blueprint approach has already been mentioned. In

    each case, a thorough assessment of what capacities

    are needed,whytheyareneededandwhotheyarefor

    needstobemadebeforeanycapacitydevelopmentaction

    plancanbeset.Agoodstartingpointissomeformof

    a capacity assessment exercise, preferably undertaken

    withtheactiveengagementbytherelevantstakeholders,

    at all stages of the capacity assessment exercise.

    The assessment will help determine what capacity

    Step 1:

    Engagestakeholderson capacitydevelopment

    Step 5:Evaluatecapacity

    development

    Step 2:Access

    capacityassets and

    needs

    Step 3:Formulatea capacity

    developmentresponse

    Step 4:Implementa capacity

    developmentresponse

    CapacityDevelopment

    Process

    UnD Capacit Devepet rce

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    13/32

    13

    4. Implement a capacity development response.

    Implementation will be part of that required for an

    overall programme or project. Experience shows that

    capacitydevelopmentneedstobeembeddedinstrategy

    formulation and programme planning and not added

    in as an afterthought or as a stand-alone measure.

    To ensure sustainability, the delivery of any capacity

    development assistance is best managed through

    already-established national systems and processes

    rather than through the creation of new or parallel

    implementation units. Implementation can be a mix

    ofshort-term measuresin theform ofperformance or

    skills enhancement and more complex and long-term

    measurestoaddressmorechallengingorganizationalor

    institutional issues. Developing a monitoring planand

    respectingitallowstoassesstheimplementationofthe

    capacity development response against xed targets. It

    alsoprovidestheopportunitytomonitorwhereadvances

    are slower than expectedor faster, analyse thereasonsand implement corrective measures where needed.

    5. Evaluate capacity development. To ensure that inputs

    are being transformed into capacity development

    outputsandtosupporteffectivelearningfromdoing,

    implementationneedstobeexibleanditneedstobe

    monitored. This includes allowing processes to evolve

    and paying attention to unplanned consequences that

    maynot have been anticipated and meanshaving the

    necessary exibility to adapt to those changes. To

    ensure that outputs are translating into outcomes(capacity development) and impact (development

    goals)anevaluationframeworkshouldbeestablished

    tomeasureresults.

    2.5 Cre CapacitDevepet Acti

    WhenansweringthequestionCapacityforWhatactions

    generally fall into four domains. The four core approaches

    are complementary and mutually reinforcing. Capacity

    developmentsupportmaytaketheformofmultiplecapacity

    developmentactions beingtaken at one time or, as already

    noted, adopting a more incremental approach that includes

    mixoftechnicalandcross-cuttingmeasuresthatmaybeboth

    shortandlong-terminnature.Thesefourdomainsinclude:

    1. Institutional Strengthening and Development

    Institutional arrangements refer to thepolicies, systems

    andprocessesthatcountrieshaveinplacetoorganizeand

    managetheirnationaldevelopmentpoliciesandobjectives,includingreducingdisasterrisk.Experiencenotesthelink

    betweentheeffectiveperformanceofthepublicsectorasa

    meanstopromotegoodgovernance.Capacitydevelopment

    measuresmayinclude reform strategies,policydialogue

    forums, creation ofofces orstrategies for disaster risk

    reduction,developmentorrevisionoflegislation,support

    fordecentralizationinitiatives,developmentofanational

    capacitydevelopmentstrategyorfacility,theintroduction

    oforganizationaleffectivenessmeasures,etc.Partnership

    approaches such as twinning arrangements between

    SoutherninstitutesandbetweenSouthernandNorthern

    institutes are increasingly being used to help support

    institutional and organizational development objectives.

    Motivationisimportanttosustaininstitutionalreformsas

    isanoverallsupportiveenvironmentofferingpublicsafety,

    basicservicesandtheruleof law.Addressingcorruption

    isastrongmotivatorforinstitutionalreformwhilesalary

    reformwillhelptoattractandretaingoodemployees.10

    2. Leadership

    Inthiscontext,leadershipisnotnecessarilysynonymous

    withhavingapositionofauthority,nordoesitonlyapply

    toindividuals.Leadershipcanbeformalorinformal,and

    candemonstrateitselfinmanywaysatmultiplelevels

    centered around the elements of vision, competence

    andintegrity.Capacitydevelopmentstrategies canseek

    to target individuals, groups, communities and even

    organizationstoenhancetheirleadershipcapacity.This

    canbeprovidedthroughtargetedleadershipdevelopment

    programmes, brokering partnerships, supportingindividualswhocanchampionandprovideleadership

    for advancing key themes and messages, or building

    broadbasedmulti-stakeholdercoalitionsthatcanactas

    changeagentsinsupportingreform,advancinganissue.

    9.UNDP,Capacity Assessment Practice Note,200810.UNDP,Supporting Capacity Development: the UNDP Approach,

    January2009,page3

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    14/32

    4

    3. Knowledge

    Knowledge refers to capacity development measures

    for knowledge creation and enhancement purposes,

    througheducation,classroombasedtraining,informalor

    on-the job learning, coachingandmentoring. Capacitydevelopmentactionsareoften at theindividual level but

    canalsostimulatedattheleveloftheorganizationtomake

    betteruse ofknowledgeandinformation,e.g.knowledge

    management system. Actions may also be stimulated

    betweenorganizationsthroughnetworks,communitiesof

    practice,multi-agencyinformationandlearningplatforms

    thatbringtogethercivilsocietyorganizations,donorsand

    governmentagencies.Intraining,itisimportantforittobe

    targetedtotheneedsoftheorganizationandtoensurethat

    thereisadequatesupportorresourcesforindividualsand

    groupstoapplywhattheylearnedinthecontextoftheirownjobororganization.

    11.Ibidpage5

    4. Accountability

    Accountability refers totheways inwhich rights holders

    anddutybearersdeliverontheirobligations.Itisimportant

    becauseitallowsorganizationsandindividualstomonitor,

    learnandself-regulateandadjusttheiractionsaccordingly

    with those towhom theyare accountable.Accountability

    between the state and communities promotes mutual

    engagementandshouldbemadeapriority.Accountability

    isalsoneededbetweendonorsandcountriesinrespectof

    developmentnanceandwillbeenhancedbythesustained

    participationofcivilsociety.11Capacitydevelopmentactions

    tostrengthen accountabilitycanrange fromthe creation

    orstrengtheningofpublicsectoroversightandarbitration

    bodies(audit,nance,andparliament)tocreatingcoalitions

    andnetworks,publicinformationcampaignsandtownhall

    meetingstoaddressspecicissues.

    2.6 Capacit Devepetv. Capacit Buidi

    Therearefundamentalconceptualdifferencesbetweencapacity

    building and capacity development and UNDP and others

    prefer to use the latter as capacity development is generally

    considered to be more comprehensive and is about change

    andtransformationfromtheinside.Capacitybuildingismore

    associated with mechanical processes and with technical

    cooperation,suggestingthatcapacitydonotexistinitiallyandsohastobebuilt:

    CAACy BUlDng CAACy Dlomn

    Narrowerscopecapacitydevelopmentasameansto

    anend

    Focuses more on the initial stages of building or

    creatingcapacities

    Oftenconcerned with what outsiders will dotohelp

    buildcapacityandthecontributiontheycanmake Linked more to technical cooperationand toskills

    development,training,technologytransfer

    Oneofforshorterterminterventions

    Broader scope capacity is both the means and the

    intendedoutcomeinitself

    Includesbothcreatingandbuilding(orenhancement)

    aswellasthe(subsequent)use,management,retention

    andsustainabilityofcapabilities

    Seeks tocapitalizeonexistingnationalcapacitiesasastartingpoint

    Understands that capacity development is nationally

    ownedandled,withoutsideactorsprovidingsupportto

    countryledprocesses

    Includesamixofapproachesandmeasures,technical

    andlesstangible,formalandinformal

    Longer-termperspective

    Capacity development

    is about changeand transformation

    from the inside.

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    15/32

    15

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    16/32

    6

    Considerationsfor Practice

    in DevelopingDRR Capacity

    As noted in section 2, lessons from past experiences have

    demonstratedthat thedevelopment ofcapacity isa farmore

    complexprocessthanpreviously thought. Theimportanceof

    local ownershipandpolitical leadershiphasbeenunderscored.

    It has also been recognised that capacity development goes

    beyondtrainingorthetransferoftechnology,whichhavebeen

    thetraditionalrealmsofsupport,primarilybasedonthetransfer

    of know-how from North to South. It is now increasingly

    recognizedthatcapacitydevelopmentmayrequireengagement

    insometimescomplexchangeprocesseswithinorganizationsandsocietymoregenerally.

    Development cooperation partners increasingly acknowledge

    thattheirprincipalroleistoaccompanyandhelpstimulateand

    supportlocallydrivenprocesses,allthetimetakingcarenotto

    underminelocalinitiativeortoleadparallelprocesses.In2005,

    delegatesattheParisHigh-LevelForumonAidEffectiveness

    further challenged low-income countries to create effective

    and accountable institutions to drive national development

    efforts, and called on donors to harmonise and align their

    supportaroundcountry-drivenagendas,withintheframework

    of partnership. Support for country-drivenagendas was also

    reinforcedatthe3rdHighLevelForumonAidEffectiveness

    held in Accra, Ghana, in September 2008. The Accra

    Agenda for Action stressedthe importance of strengthening

    country ownership of development, building more inclusive

    partnershipsfordevelopment anddelivering andaccounting

    fordevelopmentresults.

    What implications do these wider trends have for the

    development of capacity for disaster risk reduction? What

    are the implications for external partners seeking to support

    countries to enhance their capacity to reduce disaster risk?

    Drawingbothonemerginggoodpracticesfromdevelopment

    cooperation as well as specic experiences from the realm

    of disaster risk reduction, this section presents ve key

    considerations forpractice intheimplementationofcapacity

    development for disaster risk reduction, providing practical

    illustrationsandpointersforpracticedrawnfromthedisaster

    riskreduction community. This section alsoprovidessome

    examples on ways that outside partners support capacity

    development in thecontext of countryprocessesfor disaster

    riskreduction.Intheinterestofbrevitythedocumentprovides

    alimitednumberofgoodpracticeexamples.

    Theveconsiderationsforpracticeare:

    Theprocessneedstobelocallydriven

    Developing capacities for disaster risk reduction is a

    society-wide endeavour that requires multi-stakeholder

    engagementandparticipation

    There are many levels and dimensions of capacity that

    needtobedeveloped The enabling environment is essential for translating

    capacityintoperformance

    Capacity development goes beyond training and the

    classroom

    3.1 e rce need t be lca

    Drive

    TheHFAoffersabroaderframeworkagainstwhichcountriescanjudgeprogressmadeintheimplementationofnational

    strategies against internationally agreed targets. The ve

    prioritiesoftheHFAofferamedium-termplanninghorizon

    andassuchareintendedtoguidecountriesinthepreparation

    of national strategies for disaster risk reduction. The HFA

    encouragescountriestodevelop national disaster risk reduction

    strategies as a way to establish a national framework, set

    prioritiesandtomobilisepoliticalsupport,aswellasnancial

    andtechnicalresourcesamonglocal,nationalandinternational

    stakeholders. A national strategy provides important and

    consistentguidanceforthemanypartiesinvolved.Itiscrucial

    thatanoverallvisionbeexpressedclearlyattheoutset,butwith

    acommonunderstandingthatresultingplansalsoneedtobe

    exible,benetingfromadjustmentsborneoflaterexperience.

    Nationalstrategiesoffera point ofreferencefordeveloping

    sub-national, sub-sector and eventually community action

    plansthattranslatebroadobjectivesintoactionableactivities

    ontheground.

    National strategies can serve as the basis for identifying

    capacity assets and for developing capacity enhancement

    objectives that support the achievement of national

    strategies. Such frameworks can also assist a country indeterminingthespecictypesofsupportthatitneedsfrom

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    17/32

    17

    itsoutsidepartners andto help address issues related to

    harmonisation andalignmentof externalsupport around

    countrydrivenagendas.

    Someformofnational coordination mechanism isdesirable

    to oversee the strategy formulation, implementationand monitoring process. Signatories to the HFA have

    committed themselves to designate an appropriate

    coordination mechanism for implementation and follow-

    up on the ve priority actions. This becomes important

    as the number of stakeholders increases and the eld

    becomesmorecomplex.Aneedalsodevelopsforgreater

    coherenceandrequirementsthatcanprovideopportunities

    for more exchange amongst the various agencies and

    interestsinvolved.Thedesignationofnationalfocalpoints

    for reducing disaster risks is an important commitment

    toimplementationandisarststeptowardsasystematic

    mobilisation and enhancement of national disaster

    risk reduction capacities. Countries and regions have

    understandably adopted a wide range of institutional

    mechanisms, arrangements, strategies and policies to

    manage and reduce disasterrisk, based on their existing

    capacityandtheirownperceivednationalpriorities.

    Experiencehas demonstratedthe verycloselinkbetween

    ownership, commitment and sustainable capacity

    development. The success of any national disaster risk

    reduction strategy will necessarily depend on political

    support from the highest levels of ofce. Leadership isrequiredtogalvaniseinterestandmobilisethesupportand

    engagementofconcernedgroups.Nationalownershipand

    leadership for disaster risk reduction is contingent on a

    numberoffactors.Thesecapacityelementswillvaryand

    cannotthereforebeassumedortakenforgranted.Thereis

    aparticularneedto mobilise supportacrossdevelopment

    sectors and various professional disciplines, and to ndwaysof overcoming resistance to change. It is crucial to

    buildpartnershipsandcreatenetworks,exploringnewways

    ofworkingtogether.

    External partners can play an important role in giving

    legitimacy to nationally led initiatives and processes, by

    engaging in or supporting strategy development and

    planning processes, providing support for establishing

    andstrengtheningnationalcoordinationmechanisms,and

    contributingtotheidenticationofneedsandprioritiesor

    inparticularcircumstancesmediatingdifferences.

    Externalpartnerscanalsoseektolinkorbasetheirdisasterrisk

    reduction assistance(funding, technicalor process expertise,

    advocacy, information/knowledge, advisory services) with

    national strategies. In countries where the commitment to

    disasterriskreductionappearstobeweakorthereisaperceived

    lackofacoherentstrategyinsupportoftheHFA,outsidepartners

    needtoassesscarefullyhowbesttoengageproductivelyinthe

    process.Insuchasituationamoreselectiveapproachmaybe

    warranted,characterised by smaller or more complementary

    effortsthatbuildonandfurtherleadtoemergingopportunities

    andthatcan help tomobilize political support andgeneratewiderinterest.

    The Government of Sri Lanka has taken signicant

    steptowards strengthening legislative and institutional

    arrangements for disaster risk management. This has

    includedthe:

    Creation of the Ministry of Disaster Management

    (MoDM)andtheDisastermanagementCentre(DMC)to

    actastheleadagency fordisasterriskmanagementin

    thecountry.

    Additionally,acomprehensivedisasterriskmanagement

    framework for Sri Lanka was developed through a

    consultative, multi-stakeholder dialogue process, that

    wassupportedbyUNDP.Theframeworkidentiesand

    coordinates multi-stakeholder efforts in the next ten

    yearsthroughaholisticstrategyorroadmaptowards

    buildingasaferSriLank.Theroadmapfocusesonseventhematiccomponentsthatinclude:Policy,Institutional

    Mandates and Institutional Development; Hazards,

    Vulnerability and Risk Assessment; Multi-hazard

    Early Warning System; Preparedness and Response

    Plans;MitigationandtheIntegrationofDisasterRisk

    Reduction into Development Planning; Community-

    basedDisaster RiskManagement; Public Awareness,

    EducationandTraining.Thisprocessofwaspreceded

    byaveryintensivegroundworkwhichadoptedavery

    consultativeapproach.

    EstablishmentofaParliamentarySelectCommitteeon

    NaturalDisasters.

    The adoption of Sri Lanka Disaster Management

    ActNo.13of2005,whichprovidesthelegalbasisfor

    institutingaDisasterRiskManagement(DRM)system

    inthecountry.

    Creation of the National Council for Disaster

    Management(NCDM),ahighlevelbodychairedbytheH.E.thePresidentthatprovidesdirectiontoDRMin

    thecountry.

    RoAD mA Dlomn RCs sR lAnA

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    18/32

    8

    The Government of Indonesia has taken some

    extremelyimportantstepstoputinplacethenecessary

    policy, regulatory and institutional environmentthat is beginning to form the foundation required

    for communities to begin to invest government

    development budgets in their own safety by making

    disaster risk reduction a part of their development

    planningprocess.Thisstartedwiththepassingofanew,

    forward-lookingNationalDisasterManagementLawand

    the initiation of an intergovernmental, public/private

    dialogue at national, provincial and local levels from

    whichthecurrentIndonesianNationalActionPlanfor

    DisasterRiskReduction(NAP-DRR)wasprepared.Itis

    organizedbasedontheframeworkoftheGovernmentofIndonesiaadoptedUNHyogoFrameworkforActionon

    DRR.Recently,thenewlyestablishedNationalDisaster

    Management Agency (BNPB) initiated the process

    toestablisha NationalPlatformon DRRconsisting of

    government, public and private stakeholders that will

    usetheIndonesianNAP-DRRas atoolforidentifying

    DRRneedsandgaps.

    Correspondingly, a number of Indonesias local

    governmentssuchas disasterproneAceh,CentralJava,

    andYogyakartahavebeguntoprepare theirown Local

    (Provincial) Action Plans for Disaster Risk Reduction

    (LAP-DRR) and have started to set up Provincial

    PlatformsonDRRthatsimilarlywillusetheirLAP-DRR

    asatoolforidentifyingprovincialDRRgapsandneeds.

    In recent years, Annual National Government Work

    Planspreparedby theNationalDevelopmentPlanning

    Agency(BAPPENAS)haveincludedsubstantialbudgets

    for pre-disaster risk reduction programmes based on

    theNAP-DRR. TheProvincialDevelopment Planning

    Agency(BAPPEDA)in Aceh has beguntofollow this

    trendanditishopedthatthiswillberepeatedinother

    provincesaswell.

    3.2 Devepi Capacitie fr DRRi a sciet Wide deavur

    Linked to the consideration that countries need to lead the

    processforadvancingdisasterriskreductionistheincreasing

    recognition that the development of disaster risk reduction

    capacity is the concern of an entire societyratherthanofany

    single agency, area of professional discipline or stakeholder

    group. It requires the active participation and engagement

    of ofcial institutions, political institutions and multiple

    stakeholdersfromcivilsocietytoacademiaandtheprivateor

    commercial sector all contributing their respective part to

    achieve a commonendstate. Experiencedemonstratesthat

    this requires countries and external partners to go beyond

    their traditional relationships with emergency and disaster

    management actors, e.g. meteorology, civil defence, police,

    re and rescue to forge new forms of collaboration and

    partnerships. A wide range of perspectives and skills areneededtogainasenseofthewhole,todeterminethevarious

    requirements and related capacities and to meet identied

    needs.Thisincludesrepresentativesofaffectedorvulnerable

    communities, governmental entities as well as specialised

    development, disaster and civil society entities that offer

    relevantexpertiseinparticularelds.

    nStakeholder mapping and analysisisausefulprocessto

    helptoidentifythemanydifferentgroupsandorganizations

    thatare,oroughttobe,involvedinanydisasterriskreduction

    capacity development process. Such mapping can help todetermine appropriate roles and responsibilities and the

    potentialforcooperationandnewrelationships.Itcanalsobe

    usedtoascertainwherecapacitystrengthsandweaknesseslie,

    andto identifyareas wherethereis potentialfragmentation

    andduplicationofefforts.Itisespeciallyusefulinidentifying

    existingcapacitiesand forexploringpossibilities tomobilise

    or strengthen these capacities to tackle common problems

    through dynamic and expanding relationships. Frequently

    participants become surprised at the extent of information,

    knowledge,skillsorabilitiesthattheytogetheralreadypossess,

    oncetheyarelinkedtoacommonunderstandingorpurpose.

    n Multi-stakeholder fora and participatory planning

    processesoffervaluableopportunitiesforgalvanisingdiverse

    interests and mobilising capacities around disaster risk

    reduction.Theyareparticularlysuitedtoaddressingcomplex

    problemsandissues thatrequire innovativesolutionsand

    broadengagementandparticipation.Participatorydialogue

    processes convene different stakeholders to share their

    respective perspectives and to build consensus on: what

    needs to be done, who needs to be involved and how to

    goforward. Such processes specically allow for different

    positionsandviewpointstobesharedonthebasisthatdiverseperspectivesholdthepotentialforinnovativesolutions.This

    An ngRAD AnD ARCAoRy ARoACh

    o DRR ACon lAnnng AnD BUDgng:

    nDonsA

    A wide range of

    perspectives and skillsare needed to gain

    a sense of the whole.

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    19/32

    19

    Under the framework of UNDP project Strengthening

    of National Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction

    Capacities, the Local Level Risk Management (LLRM)

    module was piloted in the Ararat region of Armenia.

    The project addressed risk, vulnerability and capacity

    assessments,trainedandaroseawarenessofcommunities

    and local authorities on disaster preparedness and risk

    reduction, and promoted small scale mitigation projects.

    The activities targeted communities that often face the

    consequences of regional and global trendsthat have animpactontheirenvironmentandincreasetheirvulnerability

    todisasters.Theimportanceoftheactiveparticipationofthe

    local population was widely recognized and efforts were

    donetosystematicallystrengthenlocalcapacitiesfordisaster

    preparednessandresponse.

    Duringtherstyearofimplementation(2008)theLLRM

    moduleincludedaddressingrisk,vulnerabilityandcapacity

    assessmentswhichservedasastartingpointforreducing

    disaster risk. Five main activities were carried out in

    2008/9:a.ConductariskassessmentintheAraratregion;

    b.ConductaVulnerability&CapacityAssessment(VCA)

    intheAraratregionusingtheInternationalFederationof

    theRedCross/RedCrescentmethodologyforVulnerability

    &CapacityAssessment(VCA);c.Producepublicawareness

    materials;d.Conducttrainings/workshopsforcommunity

    members and local authorities aimed at increasing

    awareness on disaster risk reduction and preparedness

    and elaborating disaster response plans; e. Organise a

    trainingoftrainers(TOT)indisasterpreparednessand

    riskreductionin20communities(2009);f.Identifyand

    supportsmall-scaledisastermitigationprojectsbasedonthe

    VCArecommendationsandincloseconsultationwiththeregionalGovernorsofceandlocalcommunities.

    Twoassessmentswereusedtoidentifythemostvulnerable

    communitiestodisastersandtoidentifysmall-scaledisaster

    mitigation projects with the extensive participation of

    communities andlocalauthorities.Inparallel,a series of

    trainingswereorganizedin15mostvulnerablecommunities

    ondisaster preparedness andrisk reduction. This raised

    thelevelofawarenessandhelpedcommunitiestodevelop

    disaster preparedness plans that were tested during the

    second roundof workshops inNovember 2008. Small-

    scaledisastermitigationworks (clearingdrainagesystem)witha potentialforsubstantiallyreduce impendingrisks,

    resultedintangibleoutcomes,andcommunitiesfeltmore

    ownership over such initiatives. These in turn increased

    understanding of the importance of focused disaster-

    preventionactivities.

    Additionally,apilotmethodologicalmanualwasdeveloped

    bytheCrisesManagementStateAcademyspecialistsand

    publishedfortheTOTcourse.Themanualsweredistributed

    toall the TOT participants. The manualwereconsidered

    extremelyusefulandtheArmenianRescueServicedecided

    todistributetwocopiesofthemanualtoeachRescueService

    andEducationDepartmentinallregionsofthecountry.

    Among thelessons,the project showed howthe interest,

    ownership and commitment of local population grows

    over disaster risk reduction initiatives which make

    their livelihoods safer. In the beginning community

    representatives seemed somewhat hesitant to cooperate

    but gradually this barrier was avoided and a very fruitful

    cooperationestablished.

    12.AstheparticipantsintheglobalFutureSearchmeetingnoted,thereisaprevalenttendencytothinkaboutthesubjectfromamuchnarrowerstandpointandinspecictechnicalterms.Oftenitisconsideredinonlyabasicsenseofwhoneedswhatabilitiestoaccomplishtheirspecictasksorresponsibility.

    mAng h DRR lAnDsCA, h CAs oF nAl

    TheUNISDRsecretariatfacilitatedamappingoftheDRR

    landscapeinNepalbetweenSeptember2008andJanuary

    2009.The mapping looked at thebroad DRRenabling

    environment, including the DRR policy environment,

    theexistinginstitutionalmechanismsandconductinga

    stakeholders assessment. The mapping was conducted

    through a desk review, eld practitioners surveys, and

    face-to-face interviews. Government ofcials as well as

    internationalorganisationsmembersandrepresentatives

    ofthecivilsocietyandtheprivatesectorwerepartofthis

    exercise.

    The report included the analysis of the current status

    of DRR in Nepal, the progress achieved against the 5

    priorities of actionof the HFA and the challenges and

    gapsinfurtheringtheDRRagendainthecountry.The

    report was shared with the Government, international

    organisationsandcivilsociety.

    The aim of the mapping exercise was that, through

    the DRR landscape mapping, all relevant national and

    internationalDRRstakeholders(theGovernment,World

    Bank,AsianDevelopmentBank,UNagencies,etc.)would

    dialogue and initiate the foundations for developing a

    jointworkprogramming.

    loCAl ll Rs mAnAgmn n h ARARA Rgon oF ARmnA

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    20/32

    0

    WhA h hFA sAys ABoU CAACy

    TheoverallguidanceprovidedbytheHyogoFramework

    givesanindicationofthetypesofcapacitiesrequiredto

    addressthevariousoutcomesandresultsthatrelateto

    the ve prioritiesagenda. Whilethese offer aninsight

    intothekindsofcapacitiesrequiredforDRR,theyshould

    onlybeconsideredindicative,aseverycountrysituation

    isdifferent.Thefollowingbroadcategoriesareidentied:

    Developing policy and related implementation

    frameworks, legislation, national strategies and

    platforms, etc. (especially related to improving

    resilienceofdevelopingcountries).

    The availability and use of data being crucial to

    hazard, vulnerability and comprehensive risk

    assessments, with particular emphasis given to

    boththetechnicalandhumanaspectsofmonitoringdisasterriskfactorsandearlywarningactivities.

    Development of human resources through

    knowledge,education,trainingandthetransferof

    experience by means of information, networking

    andadvocacy.

    Specic technical applications such as those

    identiedwiththedevelopmentanduseofbuilding

    codes,protectionofhealthfacilities,theparticular

    requirements of small island developing states,

    disasterrecoveryinitiatives,andotherexamplesof

    specic technical abilities or development subjectinterests.

    Improved disaster response, including specic

    areasoftechnicalexpertise such asurbansearch

    and rescue, the incorporation of risk-reduction

    approaches into response management and

    recoveryplanning,locallevelpartnerships,etc.

    allhelpstocontributetocreatingtheopportunityfornational

    dialoguethatinvitestheinvolvementofpublicparticipation

    in addition to expert opinion provided from government,

    professionaland commercialsourcesandexternalpartners

    thatcanserveasastrongmotivationtobuildownershipand

    commitmenttoapply,strengthenordevelopcapacitiesfor

    reducing disaster risk,withina community or throughout

    asociety.Theextenttowhichsuchaprocesscanbecome

    closely associated with the directionof a national strategy

    forimplementingtheprioritiesandtargetsfordisasterrisk

    reduction will contribute to a more dynamic and organic

    process that will allow new capacities to emerge. Such

    dialogue processes need to identify incentives that can

    assist andthose that mayconstrain progress, drawing on

    and mobilising existing expertise, sharing knowledge and

    experiences andcreating new networks andnew working

    relationshipsandpartnerships.

    Varioustoolsandforconveninglargegroupsandformulti-stakeholder dialogue and consensus building are widely

    available.Theycanbeappliedcontextuallyandatmultiple

    levels.Thesearebestorganizedwithamulti-agencyplanning

    group,meetingfacilitationsupportandwithaclearsponsor

    tocoordinatefollow-up.Externalpartnerscanencourageand

    support countriesto utilize participatory, multi-stakeholder

    dialogue processes for disaster risk reduction strategy

    formulation and action planning purposes, as well as for

    monitoringprogress.Externalpartnerscanalsosupportthe

    implementationoftheactionsandsolutionsthatemergefor

    disasterriskreductionasaresultofthesedialogueprocesses.

    3.3 ere are ma Dieif Capacit tat needt be Deveped

    Thinking beyond technical capacities: When thinking

    about disaster risk reduction, it canbe tempting to focus

    on developing the technical capacities associated with

    professionaldisciplinesorfunctionssuchasenvironmental

    management, landuse management, planningandpublic

    investment, engineering and public health, among others.

    Some of these are quite specialised, such as climate

    modelling and forecasting, conducting risk assessments

    oroperatingearlywarningsystems.12 Yetthe development

    of such technical capacities needs to be combined with

    othertypesofcapacitydevelopmentactionsthatincludethe

    promotion of leadership and other managerial capacities

    andperformanceenhancingmeasures.Theseareimportant

    in both organizations and communities. It is important,

    therefore,tolookbeyondthetechnicalcapacities,important

    thoughtheyare,tothevecross-cuttingfunctionalcapacitiesthatarerelevantnotjusttooneparticularsectorortheme.

    There are numerous examples of how such capacities, at

    the individual, organizational and enabling environment

    levels,havebeeninstrumentalinmobilisingcommunitiesto

    worktogetherinextraordinaryeffortsduringtimesofcrisis

    orimpendingdisasters.Itisespeciallyatnationallevelsof

    responsibility where efforts to galvanise political will are

    criticaltomobilizehumanandmaterialresourcesarounda

    sharedandcomprehensivedisasterriskreductionstrategy.

    Withinthedisasterriskreductioncontext,itisthetechnical

    capacitiesthat fornow appear to be thebest understood

    andforwhichthereisgreaterconsensusontheircomposition.

    There is less evidence of practice across the disaster risk

    reductioncommunityonhowtomaintaincapacitiesorhowtoincorporateleadershipandlesstangiblefunctionalcapacities

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    21/32

    21

    nDAs nAonAl hUmAn RsoURC Dlomn lAn FoR DRR

    The Human Resource (HR) Development Plan is the

    outcomeofafeltneedatthenationalleveltoundertake

    planned human resource development to meet the

    challenges of disaster management. The Plan aims to

    enhance the capacity and quality of human resources

    available within key government departments in India,

    mainlyatStatelevel,formoreefcientandeffectivedisaster

    management.Theseidentiedsectorsincludethepolice,

    revenue, health, agriculture, rural development, animal

    husbandry, publicworks,publichealthand engineering,

    power,waterandfoodandcivilsupplies.

    All thesesectorshavecriticalrolestoplayin theeventof

    a natural or human-made disaster in varying ways and

    degrees.Functionariesworkinginthesedepartmentsneed

    tobeawareoftheirrespectiverolesandresponsibilitiesinthefaceofdisastersofdifferentkindsandintensityonthe

    onehandandrequirehavingnecessaryknowledge,skills

    andattitudetoperformtheirroleswithdesiredefciency

    andeffectivenessontheother.TheHRstrategyincludes:

    Creatingacriticalmassoftrainersatthevillage,

    block,districtandstatelevels

    Impartingstrategicinputstoawiderangeof

    governmentandnon-governmentfunctionaries

    Reachingtheun-reachedgovernmentandnon-

    governmentfunctionariesatthecuttingedge

    Buildingawarenessandenhancingthecoping

    capacityofcommunitiesatrisk

    Developingcapacityatthepolicyplanninglevel

    Creatingreliablenetworksofcommunicationwith

    thehelpofgrassrootsorganisationssuchasPRIs,

    NGOsandCBOs

    intothematic and technically oriented capacitydevelopment

    strategies.Constraintsattheleveloftheenablingenvironment

    tendtobeoverlookedorifrecognised,areconsideredbeyond

    the scope of intervention. Nevertheless, because of these

    shortcomings,agreaterfocusonfunctionalcapacitiesneeds

    tobe promotedin anyprogrammeofcapacity development

    supporttodisasterriskreduction.

    A capacity assessment is a useful entry point that can help

    distinguish between the different dimensions of the three

    capacitylevelsandthetwotypesofcapacity,aswellastoshow

    howeachcontributesto thedevelopment ofnationaldisaster

    risk reduction capacity. It can be used to determine those

    dimensionsthatdeservepriorityattentionaswellas howbest

    tosequenceactivities. For example,in a situation where the

    regulatory framework is sound, and where organizational

    mandatesarewelldened,itmaybesufcienttofocusonthe

    development of technical skills or management training. In

    otherrespects,acapacityassessmentmayrevealthatthemain

    constraintmaynot actuallybealackof capacitybutrathera

    lackofpoliticalvisionorpoormobilisationofexistingcapacities

    aroundacommongoal.

    Capacityassessmentscanalsoservetoengagestakeholders-

    whetherinacommunityorintheworkplaceinadiscussion

    about theirexistingrespective capacitiesand gaps.Thiscan

    contribute to better understanding about the factors that

    inuencewhattheycanandcannotdoandtopromotelocal

    engagementforbringingaboutchangeincapacity.Italsohelps

    toraisethediscussionabovesweepingstatementsaboutlack

    ofcapacityorgeneralcommitmentstobuildingcapacity.

    External partners can promote the regular use of capacity

    assessments within the context of their own programming

    andaspartoftheirassistancetocountriesandorganizations

    foradvancingdisasterriskreduction.Thereisawiderangeof

    triedandtestedtoolsandprocessesavailableforthesepurposes

    that can be adapted or applied to disaster risk reduction

    themes and contexts. UNDPs Practice Note on Capacity

    Assessment(2008)providesacomprehensivediscussiononcapacity assessment, including the presentation of UNDPs

    capacity development methodology and a rangeof different

    examples. Asnoted insection 2,capacity assessments can

    support countries and external partners to jointly identify

    prioritycapacityenhancementinterventionsthatwillbemost

    benecialandforwhichexternalpartnerscanprovidesupport.

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    22/32

    2

    CAACy Assssmn RCs, h Aml oF DomnCAn RUBlC

    ThePrograma Prevencion y Preparacion a Desastres(Disaster

    Prevention andPreparednessProgramme - PPPD) inthe

    DominicanRepublicisadisasterriskreductionprogramme

    involvingatleast5separateorganizations,bothgovernmental

    andNGO.PPPDrequestedthattheUNDPCountryOfce

    and the Regional Capacity Development Cluster perform

    a capacity assessment on work plan updates, strategicplans,andsustainablemaintenanceofachievements.After

    comprehensive preparationandprogrammereview, based

    on client requirements, the Capacity Development team

    and the programme teams together developed a capacity

    assessmentquestionnaire.Responseshighlightedaneedfor

    capacitydevelopmentinplanningandevaluation;therefore

    eachteamformulatedprioritizedworkplans.TheRegional

    CapacityDevelopmentClusterranacapacityassessmentto

    identifywherethedifcultieswere, andcombinedit with

    trainingonresultsbasedmanagementandaworkshopthat

    utilizedtheassessmentndingstocreateprioritizedplansofaction for each organization inthe larger programme.

    Theresultsincludedexpandedcapacitiesinworkplanning,

    prioritization, monitoring & evaluation, as well as, an

    improvedunderstandingofresultsbasedmanagement.

    CAACy Assssmn RCs, h Aml oF lAos

    InDecember2007,acapacityassessmentoftheNationalDisaster Management Ofce (NDMO) of Lao PDR took

    placewiththesupportoftheCapacityDevelopmentteam

    oftheUNDPRegionalCentreinBangkok.Theobjectiveof

    thecapacityassessmentexercisewastoassesstheNDMOs

    strengths and areas for improvement, as related to its

    mandateinDRRanddisastermanagement.Italsoaimedat

    recommendingcapacitydevelopmentstrategiestoaddress

    capacityneedsandimproveitseffectiveness.TheNDMO

    decidedtoadopttheUNDPcapacityassessmenttooland

    tailorandadaptitforthisexercise.

    Thecapacityassessmentteamidentiedthreekeyfunctions

    assessedagainstsix coreissuesto beassessedduringthe

    capacityassessmentexercise:

    Preparedness,PublicAwareness,EmergencyResponse

    Leadership, Human Resources, Physical Resources,

    Financial Resources, Multi-stakeholder Engagement,

    KnowledgeManagement

    Theassessmenttookplacethroughfoursteps:

    1. Apre-missiondeskresearchwhichincludedidentifying

    allstakeholdersandbecomingfamiliarwiththerelevant

    documentsandliterature.

    2. Keyinformantinterviews.Thistookplacethroughbilateraland small group meetings with stakeholders(including

    representatives from several government ministries,

    INGOs,UNagencies,Inter-AgencyStandingCommittee

    members, etc.) andaimed at triangulating information.

    3. The NDMO assessment with primary stakeholders.

    Two discussion groups were organized in a workshop

    style modality. Primary stakeholders included

    ministerial representatives, NDMO staff members,

    INGOs, and members of the Inter-Agency Standing

    Committee. The exercise focused on one hand on

    assessing tangible relational capacities and also

    softer issues of perception of the NDMO, including

    credibility and inuence as they affect the NDMOs

    ability to effectively carry out mandated activities

    4. The NDMO internal assessment. The methodology

    chosen to carry out the internal assessment was as

    wellthoughaworkshopmodalityanditfocusedonthe

    NDMOs internal capacities. The one-on-one with key

    NDMOstaffencouragedfrankfeedbackonstrengthsand

    areasforimprovement.

    Seek active engagement by

    the relevant stakeholdersat all stages of the capacity

    assessment exercise.

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    23/32

    23

    strengtheningcapacitiesperse.Indeed,acapacityassessment

    mightwellrevealthatcapacityisadequate.Bycontrast,what

    may emerge isthat the pre-conditions formobilisingand

    using capacities are needed. It is essential, therefore, to

    relatethedevelopmentofcapacitiestotheinterplayofthe

    social, economic,politicalandcultural contexts thatshape

    boththepublicandofcialperceptionsofdisasterrisks.It

    mightbeconcludedthatattentionbere-focussedonissues

    of governance, or on creating more effective systems of

    accountability. This may particularly apply in post-conict

    countriesorso-calledfragilestateswherecoreinstitutions

    maybeineffectiveorwheretheremaybesignicantlapses

    intheruleoflaw.A good understanding of contextis therefore

    fundamental,andvarioustoolssuchasDrivers of Changeor

    power analysis13 canbeusedtobetterunderstandthevarious

    positiveincentivesornegativeconstraintstotheengagement

    ofpeopleandperformanceoforganizations.

    Insuchcircumstances,thecontributionsthatexternalpartnerorganizations can play may be very different from those

    associatedwiththemoreconventionaltoolboxofhuman

    resource development activities or even organizational

    strengtheningwork.Afocusoncreatingtheconditionsfor

    disaster risk reduction capacity development may warrant

    explicitsupportinpolicydialogueandadvocacy,determining

    operational priorities,building interdisciplinary consensus

    and cross-sector partnerships that create more favourable

    conditions for capacity to translate into performance that

    achieves specic disaster risk reduction results. It may

    equally require temporary practical support to ensure thatessentialfunctionsofgovernmentcontinuetooperateuntil

    suchtimeaslocalcapacitycanberestored.Suchgap-lling

    rolescanbejustiedprovidedthereisaclearstrategyinplace

    totransferresponsibilitytolocalinstitutionsattheearliest

    possibletime.14

    Itisdesirabletohaveplanningandprogrammingframeworks

    thatassureconsistentsupportto capacitydevelopmentover

    themediumandlong-termandthatincludeamixofdifferent

    typesof capacitydevelopment actions. Strategiesneedto be

    sufcientlyexibletoallowforadaptationtochangingneeds

    andpriorities andthat take into account the variationsand

    unplanned factors that may directly impact the translation

    of capacity inputs into improved performance and results.

    In instances where countries have a well-dened national

    strategy or plan, outsidepartners want toensurethat their

    support aligns with stated priorities and there is a shared

    consensusontheresultstobeachieved.Incountrieswhere

    governance structures are weaker and where commitment

    toadisasterriskreductionstrategymaybelesswelldened,

    externalpartnerscanstayengagedbypromotingdialoguewith

    national stakeholders,supporting promising local initiatives

    thathavethepotentialtobescaledup,andmaintainingafocusonachievingcapacitydevelopmentoutcomes.

    13.Theseareexamplesofpolitical-economystudies.In2005,theDAC/Govnetpreparedadocument(roomdocumentno.5)entitled:LessonslearnedontheuseofPowerandDriversofChangeAnalysisinDevelopmentCooperationwhichwasdiscussedatthe7thmeetingoftheGovnet.

    14.SeeInstituteofDevelopmentStudies,CapacityforaChange,2008,page9

    3.4 e eabi eviret ieetia fr traati capacitit perfrace

    A supportive enabling environment creates the incentives to

    translate capacities into better performance. Countries are

    morelikelytodevelopandmakeuseofavailablecapacities

    whenthereis strong politicalownership andcommitment

    at the highest levels of authority, extensive participation,

    transparencyand clearpublicaccountability.Organizations

    whichcancountonasupportingpolicyandlegalframework,

    and whose clients or users demand accountability are

    more likely to deliver to the standards expected of them.

    Communitiesthatenjoythesupportoftheirlocalauthorities

    arebetterabletoorganise,takeactionandbecomeself-reliant.

    Staffthatreceivesadequatepayandworkinanenvironment

    whereachievementisacknowledgedandrewarded-whether

    nanciallyorotherwise-ismorelikelytoperformtoahighstandard.

    There is a strong relationship between capacity and the

    performance of country systems for disaster risk reduction.

    However, lessons learnt from capacity development

    effectiveness thathave examined the relationship between

    capacity, results and performance, highlight that the

    relationship is not always straightforward. One does

    necessarilyleadtotheother,suggestingthatmorecapacity

    mayor maynotdirectlyleadto improvedperformance or

    betterresultsintermsofthedeliveryofgoodsandservices.Thetaskofdevelopingandsustainingcapacityfordisaster

    risk reduction must be viewed as an iterative and long-

    termventure.Growthand change alwaysoccur overtime,

    so organizations and systems alsodevelop their capacities

    incrementallythroughrepeatedcyclesofexposure,learning,

    experimentationandrespondingtonewchallenges.Periods

    ofrapidgainsmaybefollowedbyperiodsofconsolidationor

    eveninertia,resultinginthelossoforthediminishmentof

    capacityandconsequentlyreducedperformance.Signicant

    improvements may follow from unforeseen events or

    unanticipated consequences, rather than from carefully

    plannedandsequencedinterventions.

    Someaspectsofcapacitycanbeimprovedrelativelyquickly,

    particular those that involve technological inputs such

    as enhanced communications, resulting from access to

    mobile phones or the Internet. Other areas that depend

    on behavioural change, including shifting of mindsets or

    attitudes or that related to policy or institutional reform

    processesmaytakemuchmoretime.

    Enabling change over time and the role of external partners

    in supporting an enabling environment for DRR. Thus,thechallengeofcapacitydevelopmentdoesnotsolelyliein

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    24/32

    4

    ADDRssng h nABlng nRonmn FoR CD n ngRA

    AnumberofprogrammereviewsundertakenbyDFIDin

    Nigeriabetween2000and2003suggestedthattheimpact

    of technical, transfer-basedCD was less substantial than

    anticipated. DFID set out todiscover what factors were

    dilutingtheimpactofthisassistance.ADriversofChange

    analysisrevealedthatapparentlysignicantchangesinthe

    formalinstitutionalenvironment suchas thetransition

    from military tocivilianrule had had less impactthan

    expectedonkeyproblemsblockingNigeriasdevelopment:

    themismanagementofrevenuefromoil,theweaknessof

    formalaccountabilitymechanismsandtheslownessofnon-

    oileconomicgrowth.Aswellashighlightingthelackofwill

    for pro-poorpolitical reform, the analysis led toa greater

    appreciation of the role of quasi-structural constraints

    onthebehaviourof individualagents within andoutside

    government. Informal institutional arrangements forbothprivate (including business) and public transactions

    were more powerful and pervasive than their formal

    counterparts. These factors have combined to act as a

    signicantbarriertoreform.

    DFID concluded that in Nigeria, as in many developing

    countries,pro-poorchangerequireselementsofthestatus

    quo, and the apparatus ofgovernment that defends it, to

    be changed. Therefore, engagement of the government

    in isolation from the broader political context would not

    be productive. Change tends to happen when broad

    alliances across civil society, often supported by media

    attention and the private sector, and linked into reform

    elementswithingovernment, coalescearound anissue of

    politicalimportanceandexertpressureforeffectivechange.

    Recognisingthisreality,DFIDisnowtakinganissues-based

    approachinNigeria,aimingtocontributetotheinstitutional

    changesneededtomakesuccessfulCD apossibilityinthe

    longerterm. Theapproach focusesonissuesratherthan

    organisations. Itis non-prescriptiveaboutboth theissues

    andtheorganisationsitengageswith.

    OEDC/DAC, The Challenge of Capacity Development:

    Working Towards Good Practice, 2006, page 21, citing

    DFID(2004)

    3.5 Capacit Devepetge Bed raiiad te Car

    Training is one tool for capacity development, probably best

    for targeting the individual level. Trainingwillcontinuetobe

    anintegralstrategyforcapacitydevelopmentfordisasterrisk

    reduction,onitsownor,preferably,asanintegralcomponent

    ofa broadercapacity development strategy fordisaster risk

    reduction.Training isrecognized tobeparticularlyrelevant

    forenhancingthecapacityofindividualsandgroupsforskills

    acquisition andknowledge enhancementpurposes, relevant

    tobothfunctionalandtechnicaltypesofcapacity.Experience

    demonstrates that a training needs assessment, asa stand-

    aloneactivityorlinkedtoabroadercapacityassessmentisa

    usefulmeans toidentifyperformance gaps andtoascertain

    if,infact,trainingistherelevantsolution.Needsassessments

    canalsoservetoidentifyotheractionsthatmayberequiredin

    orderforthetrainingtobeeffectivelyutilizedand/orapplied

    andcanhelptoensurethatthemostappropriateparticipants

    willbetargetedfortraining.

    Inconsideringtrainingatthe organizationallevel, itis best

    ifinitiativesgrowoutofconsciouseffortsandorganizational

    commitments to enquire what is actually involved inimproving performance and changing systems, with an

    understandingandappreciationoftheimportanceofnancial

    and non-nancial incentives. Any initiative designed to

    improve individual or group skills or an organizationsoverallabilitiesneedstobeframedwithinanunderstanding

    of the organizational or institutional contexts in which

    the competencies are valued, if they are to be transferred

    effectively.Thisnecessitatesanunderstandingoftheformal

    and informal organizational structures, and the rules and

    normsthatinuencetheorganizationandthebroaderexternal

    environment.

    Capacity development methodologies go well beyond

    classroom training. While theterm training continues to

    be used widely, expanded concepts of learning are gaining

    widercurrencyinmanyprofessionsandthroughoutsocieties.

    Increasingly, learning reects any number of ongoing

    activities,not necessarilyconned toclassroomsor specic

    jobtasks.Learningalsoreectsanexpandedrangeandsource

    of information, less likely conveyed from a knowledgeable

    teacherorexperttoalessaccomplishedstudent,incontrast

    tothemoreformalisedapproachestotraining.

    Learning is ongoing and makes use of new and established

    methods and technology. Informationand communications

    technology affords considerably more opportunities to

    acquire,disseminateandshareknowledgebutitalsorequiresthatpeoplehavetheskillsandhardwaretousethetechnology.

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    25/32

    25

    h mAC oF RAnng - DnC FRom h

    WoRlD BAn

    One of the most common tools used for capacity

    development is that of training. But for training to

    contributetothecapacityofdevelopingworldinstitutions

    it is not enough that training results in participant

    learning.Learningmustberelevanttotheneedsand

    goals of target organisations and trainees must have

    the resources and incentives toapply what they have

    learnedonthejob.ArecentWorldBankIndependent

    EvaluationGroup(2008)studyoftrainingefcacyfound

    that while in most cases former training participants

    had demonstrably learned, this resulted in workplace

    behaviour change and, subsequently, organisational

    impact,onlyabouthalfthetime.Wheretrainingdidnot

    contributetosustainableorganisationalcapacity,thetwo

    primary causeswere insufcienttargetingof trainingto organisational needs and insufcient resources or

    managerialsupportfortraineestoapplywhattheyhad

    learnedonthejob.Thisndingreinforcesagrowing

    body of evidence that in order to enhance training

    efcacy,considerablymoreattentionandresourcesmust

    be devoted to focusing training programmes on the

    specicneedsoftargetorganisationsthroughthorough

    needsassessmentandtosupportingimplementationof

    learningintheworkplace.

    FromInstituteofDevelopmentStudies,Capacity for aChange,2008,page19,quotingAlizaInbal,Capacity

    Collective Independent Evaluation Group,2008;World

    Bank,Using Training to Build Capacity for Development,

    WashingtonDC,2008;Brinkerhoff,R.O.andApking,

    A. M., High Impact Learning, Perseus Publishing,

    Cambridge,MA,2007.

    Those designing training programmes need to take into

    account the different purposes, locations and contexts

    inwhich thisform of learning can bestwork the various

    applicationspossible,anditsrelativecost-effectiveness.The

    ease of exchanging information globally has also elevated

    networking,inbothelectronicandinstitutionalterms,to

    newlevelsoflearningendeavour.

    Learning can take place through informal mechanisms as

    well as more formal means. Networks and communities

    of practice provide alternatives to the more traditional

    knowledgetransferandworkshoporclassroomapproach

    to learning. In these forms of exchange, learning occurs

    through mutual and peer learning, often in a virtual,globalized dimension, through south-south exchanges.

    Otherformsof informal learningare increasinglyvaluedas

    relevantmeansofknowledgeandperformanceenhancement

    includingonthejobtraining,actionlearning,coaching,and

    mentoring,exercisesandsimulationswhichcanallserveto

    build technical skills, expand critical thinking and sharpen

    problemsolvingcapacitiesbyputtinglearnersinthedrivers

    seatforwhattheyneedtoenhanceorchange.Allofthese

    opportunitiesbuildindividualself-condenceastheyopenup

    additionalpersonalopportunitiesatthesametimethatthey

    collectivelycontributetoincreasedorganizationalcapabilities.

    As such, they equally offer considerable and promising

    potentialsfordevelopingcapacitiesfordisasterriskreduction.

    Researchshowsthatmostorganizationsusingcommunities

    ofpracticehavenotcultivatedthemtotheirfullpotentialand

    hencereapedtheirbenetswhicharenumerous.

    Learningalsotakes placeinformallythroughtheday today

    interactionsandexperiencesofcommunitymembers,many

    of whom may never have the opportunity to participate informallearningactivities.Forruralcommunitiesinparticular,

    talkingand sharing with neighbours onsubstantialissues/

    currentevents,listeningtocommentariesonradio,havingthe

    opportunitytoreadnewspapers,orparticipateincommunity

    meetingsandsocialgatheringscontributetothedevelopment

    ofcapacity.Communitybaseddisasterriskreductionactivities

    thataregroundedinparticipatoryprocessesandspecically

    seektodrawuponlocalknowledgeandresourceshelpensure

    that learning draws upon the collective experience of the

    communityandaddresstheirneeds,astheyperceivethem.

    Externalpartnersareanimportantsourceoftrainingsupport

    fordisasterriskreduction.Theycanexertapositiveinuence

    on how training is conceived and delivered and ensuring

    that knowledge exchange enhancement approaches result

    inenhancedcapacity.Externalpartnersneedtopromotethe

    inclusionoftrainingandlearningelementsaspartofbroader

    capacity development strategies and capacity assessment

    exercises and avoid stand-alone or one-off exercises and

    activities. Additionally, external partners can systematically

    promotetheuseofknown,soundtrainingpracticessuchasthe

    following:trainingneedsassessmentthatincludeananalysis

    oforganizational factorsthat willsupportor underminethe

    transfer of learning and training;the inclusion of follow-up

    measures to support trainees to help participants andtheir

    organizations to apply new insights and skills; partnering

    with national capacity development practitioners and with

    national and regional training organizations; monitoring

    andevaluationoftheimpactofknowledgeenhancementand

    exchangeinitiatives;documentationoflessonslearntandgood

    practices;ensuringthatthereisagoodtbetweensupply

    anddemandfactors;moreemphasisontheuseofapproaches

    thatpromotepeerlearningandsouth-southexchange.

  • 8/3/2019 Basics of Capacity Development for Disaster Reduction

    26/32

    6

    Dlong moWRng RAnng ACAgs

    TheCapacityforDisasterReductionInitiative(CADRI)has

    developed two training packages with the perspective of

    empoweringtheusersinleadingtheworkshop.

    Theaimoftherstoneistoprovideabasicorientationonwhatdisasterriskisandhowitcanbemanagedinthe

    contextofsustainabledevelopment.Thetargetaudienceis

    relevantdifferentgovernmentministriesandinstitutions,

    internationalorganizations,civilsocietyincludingNGOs,

    scientic and academic communities, the media, Red

    CrossandRedCrescentsocieties,andtheprivatesector.

    Whenexisting,ittargetsthemembersofacoordination

    mechanism, e.g. National Platforms, National Disaster

    Management Committees or Focal Points, including

    members of civil society, academia, media, or NGO

    disaster network, etc. The originality of this workshoppackageisthatitappliesaveryparticipatorymethodology.

    Presentationsbythefacilitatorsarefewandveryshortand

    theknowledgepresentintheroomisusedtostrengthen

    thegroupsunderstandingofDRRinthenationalcontext.

    To facilitate its use, the workshop package contains a

    facilitatorsguidancewhichhelpsorganiserstounderstand

    which arethe requirements toset upthe workshop, the

    needed tailoringof theworkshoppackage tothenational

    contextandprovidesadditionalinformationontheexercisesandtemplatestobeused.

    CADRI also supported the Disaster Preparedness and

    PreventionInitiativeofSouthEasternEurope(DPPISEE),

    which brings together 12 National Disaster Management

    Agencies, through a two years capacity development

    project forDRR,designed forDPPIin collaborationwith

    Romania, Croatia, Macedonia and MSB (Swedish Civil

    ContingenciesAgency).Theprojectaimsat strengthening

    theunderstandingofDRRamongmembersofthenational

    disaster management agencies, line ministries and theirpartners. The project includes training courses and a