Forum (Spotlight Weekly)

The Innovative Approach of Total Disaster Risk Management: An Introduction

By Lekh Nath Pokharel

The new concept recently introduced in disaster management system in the world is called the Total Disaster Risk Management (TDRM). This concept has been introduced to mark the last decade as the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction incorporating the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) among other related endeavors. The concept of TDRM is relatively a new one both in theory as well as in practice. The developed countries have already adopted this concept and principle in disaster management field while the developing countries are just in initial stages. The concept of TDRM promotes coordination of functions, diverse skills and disciplines and, hence, allows the communities to undertake risk management activities that have been considered to be in the domain of engineering experts.

Risk management has introduced structured and systematic processes and procedures for examining risk factors involved and for making decisions based on them. This innovative application of the basic methodology of the risk management process presents a fresh approach to understand the nature of disasters, prevent its harmful effects, as well as seek opportunities from their occurrences. It integrates existing knowledge and techniques on risk reduction and response for disaster management. Inherent to this concept is effective communication of these knowledge and techniques from community to central levels facilitating the appreciation of governments of the relevance of disaster risk management in achieving sustainable development objectives.

The TDRM concept is a purposeful viewpoint that addresses holistically and comprehensively the various concerns and gaps in the disaster management cycle. In this regard, it necessarily focuses on the underlying causes of disasters, the conditions of disaster risks and vulnerability of the community. It also emphasizes multilevel and multidisciplinary cooperation and collaboration to achieve effective disaster risk reduction and response.

It also facilitates broad-based participation in policy and program development in disaster reduction and response as they relate with other development concerns, viz. poverty reduction, land use planning, environment protection, and food security. The TDRM concept emphasizes hazard mapping and vulnerability assessment as a fundamental tool for effective decision-making and efficient sharing of disaster information. Thus, the TDRM concept promotes good decision-making and effective use of limited resources

The main objectives and strategies of the TDRM concept are as follows:

1) Address holistically and comprehensively the various concerns and gaps in the different phases of the disaster management by considering the underlying causes of disasters (i.e. the conditions of disaster risks) and the broader set of issues and contexts associated with disaster risk and its management;

2) Prevent, mitigate, prepare for, and respond effectively to the occurrence of disasters through the enhancement of local capacity and capability, especially in disaster risk management (i.e. recognizing, managing and reducing disaster risks, and ensuring good decision-making in disaster reduction and response based on reliable disaster risk information); and

3) Promote multilevel, multidimensional and multidisciplinary coordination and collaboration among stakeholders in disaster reduction and response as they ensure the participation of the community, the integration of stakeholders’ action, and the best use of limited resources.

In order to fulfill those objectives, the following implementation strategies for the TDRM are proposed:

Effective disaster risk reduction and response: Disaster problem is multidisciplinary, a single stakeholder alone cannot effectively address the problem. Cooperation and coordination in disaster risk reduction activities from government at national to NGOs/CBOs at community level is highly essential. Raising public awareness towards impact of disasters on sustainable development and on the limitations of current local capabilities allows for a common recognition among stakeholders of the need for strengthened cooperation and collaboration. Nevertheless, international level disaster risk reduction has become a fundamental component for international cooperation, sustaining and strengthening intra-regional cooperation, including networking among governments and concerned organizations would facilitate a holistic response to disaster risk issues and concerns. Networking is a mechanism that can sustain linkages and pull together organizational strengths and capacities, including resources and expertise for disaster reduction activities.

Hazard mapping and vulnerability assessment: In fact the methods and use of hazard mapping, vulnerability and risk assessment are very alien to most of the developing countries till now. It is thus important that vulnerabilities are assessed and understood in the broader context including human, socio-cultural, economic and environmental. It accords great importance to hazard mapping, vulnerability and risk assessment as a fundamental tool for generating reliable disaster information, which serves as a basis for making decisions on disaster risk reduction and response interventions.

Communication and efficient exchange of information: Disaster information and dissemination plays an important role in effective disaster risk reduction and response. The wise and timely use of information could mitigate, if not prevent, disasters. Moreover, good communication and exchange of critical information could enhance coordination and integration of stakeholders’ actions. It should be effectively linked to local early warning systems (EWSs), local authorities and the media to ensure effective use of disaster information for public awareness and education.

Policy, structure, and capacity building: Disaster risk reduction policies and measures need to be developed and institutionalized at all levels. A clear and comprehensive policy that defines the responsibilities and commitments of all structural mechanisms (including government and grassroots) to disaster risk reduction and response is of vital importance. Organizational structures and systems that facilitate and ensure coordination of stakeholders’ action and contribution should be suitably addressed. The enhancement of national and local capacity to establish and implement disaster risk reduction and response measures, especially for vulnerable sectors and communities, should be reasonably considered. The identification of resources and its provisions including funds and trained human resources are, therefore, necessary.

Implementation of the disaster risk management process: The disaster risk management process involves a procedure for good decision-making and lack of limited resources. It applies the standard principles and techniques of risk management to disaster management. The process presents a framework and systematic methods comprised of establishing disaster risk context, and then identifying, analyzing, assessing and prioritizing risks involved, followed by monitoring, reviewing and communicating the entire process.

Last but not the least, the very notion of “risk,” and “total,” together constitute management science. Its application to disaster management should be explained well in order to effectively communicate the policy makers and public alike. In this regard, the concept of “risk”, which in science connotes probability, needs to be understood adequately. Also, the concept of “total” which has been widely used in the context of total quality management needs to be developed as it relates to disaster risk management. However, these concepts have become the essential vocabulary of industrial and management professionals. Considering the fact that stages and paces of applying concepts and strategies for disaster management varies with the countries, the emergence of the TDRM requires proper strategy, impetus and forum for advocating and promoting the concept. The concept of TDRM attempts to develop the working pattern and principles for the disaster management system.

(Mr. Pokharel works at the Ministry of Home Affairs. He has seven-years long experiences in disaster management. He can be reached at lekhnathpokharel@hotmail.com)