Disasters triggered by hazards, such as floods, earthquakes, droughts, and cyclones, pose significant impediments to sustainable development efforts in the most vulnerable and exposed countries. Mainstreaming disaster risk is hence seen as an important global agenda as reflected in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) 2015-2030. Yet, conventional development indicators remain largely negligent of the potential setbacks that may be posed by disaster risk. This article discusses the need to reflect disaster risk in development indicators and proposes a concept disaster risk-adjusted human development index (RHDI) as an example. Globally available national-level datasets of disaster risk to public and private assets (including health, educational facilities, and private housing) is combined with an estimate of expenditure on health, education, and capital formation to construct an RHDI. The RHDI is then analyzed across various regions and HDI groups, and contrasted with other HDI variants including inequality-adjusted HDI (IHDI) and the gender-specific female HDI (FHDI) to identify groups of countries where transformational disaster risk reduction (DRR) approaches may be necessary.

Disaster risk Reduction (DRR) is well known and practiced in many nations. Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR) is a sub-component of DRR which is slowly being practiced in most at risk communities. However, there are still gaps regarding the principles and guidelines that guide the process of CBDRR. This study stipulates numerous guiding principles that govern the processes of CBDRR activities. These are: traditional knowledge, understanding of community members, capacity of community members, community participation, political will and training of community members. Furthermore the study used the guidelines to evaluate which activities by the Oshakati community members relate to the principles and guidelines of CBDRR as a way of reducing the risk of recurring floods in the community. Through focus group discussions and semi-structured individual interviews, it was found that the community members in Oshakati adhere to most principles of CBDRR such as the use of traditional knowledge, community members having the capacity to work together to solve common societal problems and to understand community structures. However, guidelines such as community participation, political will and training of community members were not adhered to due to various challenges such as the lack of institutional capacity and limited resources. The findings further stipulate that those guidelines were not adhered to due to inadequate knowledge on DRR and lack of support from the local government due to limited availability of resources. The study recommends that in order for the local government to reduce the risk of recurring floods in the community, the local government need to build capacity of its personnel working directly with DRR aspects. These can be achieved through a shift in the approach of responding to flooding to being proactive, creating awareness regarding the hazard and ensuring genuine participation of community members into local government CBDRR activities. / M Development and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Disaster risk Reduction (DRR) is well known and practiced in many nations. Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR) is a sub-component of DRR which is slowly being practiced in most at risk communities. However, there are still gaps regarding the principles and guidelines that guide the process of CBDRR. This study stipulates numerous guiding principles that govern the processes of CBDRR activities. These are: traditional knowledge, understanding of community members, capacity of community members, community participation, political will and training of community members. Furthermore the study used the guidelines to evaluate which activities by the Oshakati community members relate to the principles and guidelines of CBDRR as a way of reducing the risk of recurring floods in the community. Through focus group discussions and semi-structured individual interviews, it was found that the community members in Oshakati adhere to most principles of CBDRR such as the use of traditional knowledge, community members having the capacity to work together to solve common societal problems and to understand community structures. However, guidelines such as community participation, political will and training of community members were not adhered to due to various challenges such as the lack of institutional capacity and limited resources. The findings further stipulate that those guidelines were not adhered to due to inadequate knowledge on DRR and lack of support from the local government due to limited availability of resources. The study recommends that in order for the local government to reduce the risk of recurring floods in the community, the local government need to build capacity of its personnel working directly with DRR aspects. These can be achieved through a shift in the approach of responding to flooding to being proactive, creating awareness regarding the hazard and ensuring genuine participation of community members into local government CBDRR activities. / M Development and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The influx of youth abusing substances is a major problem. The effect of substance abuse may have far-reaching consequences for defining the vulnerability of the offending group as well as for contributing to the disaster risk faced by the community as a whole. The effects of substance abuse on young people have the potential to contribute to an increased vulnerability of this group. It becomes the responsibility of the family and community to bear the burden of its drug-afflicted members and the implications of their addiction. The study was conducted in Bekkersdal, which is a community that has a significant problem with youth abusing substances. The degree to which their abuse affects families and the broader community in terms of increasing risk has not been examined. The dissertation aims to evaluate the effect of substance abuse among the youth on the risk profile of the Bekkersdal community. According to Disaster Risk Reduction, one of the important activities of the state is to increase capacity of communities and households to minimize the risk that may occur and also most importantly, monitoring the likelihood of and the state of alertness to disasters that may occur. A qualitative, explorative research design was employed and data gathered using structured interviews involving 30 adults namely School Principals, Teachers, Community Social workers, Community Leaders, Religious Leaders, Disaster managers and a Nurse from the area. The interviews were analysed by means of themes. The research indicated that substance-abusing youth create conditions which undermine human, physical and social capital and hence contribute to instability in the livelihood-based system. It was also evident to this research that it encourages the importance of engaging community members in discussions about aspects that concern them which is an empowerment process in itself. As they become more involved, they also have hope that things will work better for them by actively rebuilding their own lives and communities. All the information gathered revealed the link between the negative impacts of substance abuse and its risk profile in the Bekkersdal community. / M Development and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The need for the focus for inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) into policy is largely informed by a globalisation process that is characterised by increased knowledge sharing of different cultural and lingual groups. Indigenous knowledge has been an essential survival tool for humans since time immemorial and there is a connection between IK and disaster risk reduction (DRR). Increasingly indigenous knowledge is being valued internationally as a useful resource for dealing with modern problems. The thesis made a case of effectively including IK into DRR policy in Zimbabwe. Focus group discussion, transect walks, document analysis and participatory interviewing methods involving more than 138 participants were employed to gain insights of IK practices and measures used for DRR in four districts (Mangwe, Hwedza, Lupane and Guruve) in Zimbabwe. There are no easy answers for advocating for the inclusion of IK into DRR policy for obtaining IK from participants take time and there is need for patience. However, the main categories of IK emerging from this study contribute to the emerging IK/DRR practices body of knowledge, spanning social science disciplines. The research found that the most used IK domains for components of DRR identified are individual inherited knowledge and knowledge known to the community. Other IK domains used are knowledge practiced by individuals if known to individuals, acquired the skill to practice it faithfully without modification, individual rights to use the modified and unmodified knowledge according to same rules and acquired the skill to practice it faithfully with modification. Communities that have inherited IK, have abilities to observe their surroundings using plants (environmental ethic) and animals (ecological ethic) to develop indicators that can be used to predict disaster risk. There are many IK experts in rural communities for human and animal health. IK use in DRR is about agency, notwithstanding political and economic context. Rural communities’ agency are continuously reviving and becoming more innovative in developing IK technologies for DRR. The inclusion of IK into DRR policy becomes very relevant in that IK categories identified can be used for DRR. Finally, on the basis of the findings suggestions and road map for the inclusion of IK through a broader education strategy has been provided. The suggestion for the inclusion of IK into DRR is either through decentralisation, partnership or devolution. With decentralisation, responsibilities can be delegated with limited authority to dispersed units of hierarchical jurisdiction while in devolution there is a creation of some realms of authority that have autonomy. The thesis recommended that IK requires institutional linkages reinforcement between DRR and rural sectors (local government, village assemblies, traditional leaders, IK experts) and improving quality of education, and incorporating IK for DRR in the education curriculum from primary schools to university level. / PhD (Development and Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The influx of youth abusing substances is a major problem. The effect of substance abuse may have far-reaching consequences for defining the vulnerability of the offending group as well as for contributing to the disaster risk faced by the community as a whole. The effects of substance abuse on young people have the potential to contribute to an increased vulnerability of this group. It becomes the responsibility of the family and community to bear the burden of its drug-afflicted members and the implications of their addiction. The study was conducted in Bekkersdal, which is a community that has a significant problem with youth abusing substances. The degree to which their abuse affects families and the broader community in terms of increasing risk has not been examined. The dissertation aims to evaluate the effect of substance abuse among the youth on the risk profile of the Bekkersdal community. According to Disaster Risk Reduction, one of the important activities of the state is to increase capacity of communities and households to minimize the risk that may occur and also most importantly, monitoring the likelihood of and the state of alertness to disasters that may occur. A qualitative, explorative research design was employed and data gathered using structured interviews involving 30 adults namely School Principals, Teachers, Community Social workers, Community Leaders, Religious Leaders, Disaster managers and a Nurse from the area. The interviews were analysed by means of themes. The research indicated that substance-abusing youth create conditions which undermine human, physical and social capital and hence contribute to instability in the livelihood-based system. It was also evident to this research that it encourages the importance of engaging community members in discussions about aspects that concern them which is an empowerment process in itself. As they become more involved, they also have hope that things will work better for them by actively rebuilding their own lives and communities. All the information gathered revealed the link between the negative impacts of substance abuse and its risk profile in the Bekkersdal community. / M Development and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The need for the focus for inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) into policy is largely informed by a globalisation process that is characterised by increased knowledge sharing of different cultural and lingual groups. Indigenous knowledge has been an essential survival tool for humans since time immemorial and there is a connection between IK and disaster risk reduction (DRR). Increasingly indigenous knowledge is being valued internationally as a useful resource for dealing with modern problems. The thesis made a case of effectively including IK into DRR policy in Zimbabwe. Focus group discussion, transect walks, document analysis and participatory interviewing methods involving more than 138 participants were employed to gain insights of IK practices and measures used for DRR in four districts (Mangwe, Hwedza, Lupane and Guruve) in Zimbabwe. There are no easy answers for advocating for the inclusion of IK into DRR policy for obtaining IK from participants take time and there is need for patience. However, the main categories of IK emerging from this study contribute to the emerging IK/DRR practices body of knowledge, spanning social science disciplines. The research found that the most used IK domains for components of DRR identified are individual inherited knowledge and knowledge known to the community. Other IK domains used are knowledge practiced by individuals if known to individuals, acquired the skill to practice it faithfully without modification, individual rights to use the modified and unmodified knowledge according to same rules and acquired the skill to practice it faithfully with modification. Communities that have inherited IK, have abilities to observe their surroundings using plants (environmental ethic) and animals (ecological ethic) to develop indicators that can be used to predict disaster risk. There are many IK experts in rural communities for human and animal health. IK use in DRR is about agency, notwithstanding political and economic context. Rural communities’ agency are continuously reviving and becoming more innovative in developing IK technologies for DRR. The inclusion of IK into DRR policy becomes very relevant in that IK categories identified can be used for DRR. Finally, on the basis of the findings suggestions and road map for the inclusion of IK through a broader education strategy has been provided. The suggestion for the inclusion of IK into DRR is either through decentralisation, partnership or devolution. With decentralisation, responsibilities can be delegated with limited authority to dispersed units of hierarchical jurisdiction while in devolution there is a creation of some realms of authority that have autonomy. The thesis recommended that IK requires institutional linkages reinforcement between DRR and rural sectors (local government, village assemblies, traditional leaders, IK experts) and improving quality of education, and incorporating IK for DRR in the education curriculum from primary schools to university level. / PhD (Development and Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The increasing impacts of climate change bear new challenges for the international community. The exacerbation of natural disasters in frequency and scope also confronts the national governments with newly arising problems. Disaster-induced displacement isan increasing phenomenon occurring the last years, which particularly vulnerable regions with a high exposure to national hazards are affected by. The present study addresses the inclusion of disaster IDPs in Disaster Risk Reduction frameworks on international and national level and argues that there is a need to recognize disaster-induced displacement as an increasing issue that should explicitly be addressed and included in policy frameworks on both levels. This was addressed through analyzing international and national key strategies in Disaster-Risk-Reduction. A case comparison of the earthquake in Haiti in 2010 and the yearly recurring floods in Mozambique since 2000 illustrates the implementation of these frameworks in regard to the issue of displacement. Although efforts have been made on both levels to improve the situation of IDPs in the response and recovery phase, it is argued that an inclusion through a community-based approach is needed in all the phases of disaster management to appropriately address the needs of disaster IDPs in the pre-and post-disaster phases.

Both Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) aim at reducing the vulnerabilities and enhancing the capacities of men and women when facing natural hazards and climate change. Despite conceptual bridges existing between both sectors, the literature suggests a lack of practical integration of objectives and approaches in the design and implementation of climate change-related and DRR initiatives as well as a lack of attention to gender issues. In parallel, studies repeatedly stress the necessity to (i) provide more empirical studies that re-contextualise climate change as just one of many issues faced on a daily basis by local communities, and (ii) emphasise the gender dimension of vulnerability to understand differences between men’s and women’s realities in relation to disasters and climate change. This research explores the local dimension of the (lack of) integration of DRR and CCA through using gender as a lens. It uses the case study of the Himalayan province of Ladakh in India where the predicted impacts of climate change could seriously undermine inhabitants’ access to water. Embedded within the theoretical frames of DRR and feminist political ecology, this research draws on concepts of gender, marginalisation, vulnerability and capacity in order to understand the local impacts of environmental degradation and the implications for policies and development projects. When analysing the ways in which Ladakhi communities experience climate change and natural hazards in relation to their everyday risks, the vulnerability and capacity assessment conducted in this research shows that men and women face different everyday constraints which shape their views of their environment. The gender sensitive methodology and analysis also contribute to focus the attention away from hazards to emphasise the way people’s vulnerabilities are inherently linked to unsustainable development which stresses the importance of designing integrated responses. Yet, when examining current interventions to tackle disaster risk and climate change in relation to Ladakhi communities’ contexts, priorities and needs, a focus on gender and DRR highlights the gap between theories, policies and practices. Evidence from Ladakh contributes to show the dichotomy between the ineffectiveness of top-down interventions targeting climate change and disasters, and the gendered experiences of local communities in the face of a multitude of everyday risks that extend beyond climate change and natural hazards. Current DRR and CCA policies and projects reproduce a dominant focus on hazards and do not challenge established development models that are male-dominated and which promote people’s (and disproportionately women’s) vulnerability. However, development interventions, in the context of Ladakh, appear more adequate to improve people’s livelihoods with greater scope for inputs from the community level, which contribute to enhancing their capacities. Therefore, this thesis argues that emphasis should be placed on sustainable development practices in order to better address disaster risk and climate change as well as communities’ everyday risks. It finally underscores the need to recognise and assess the interconnection of different structures and their impacts on people’s daily lives at the onset of development strategies and to ensure that these are part of a sustainable, holistic and integrated approach to reducing vulnerability.

Problem If current trends in disasters are anything to go by, we can expect more complex disasters in the future as a population, perhaps already weakened by conflict, climate or disease, is hit by a natural disaster.  This then requires a multifaceted and complex intervention of humanitarian actors. Therefore, the adaptations increasingly require identification of themes to mitigate the complex vulnerabilities that come with these challenges like reforms, collaboration and specialization of tasks between humanitarian organizations inter alia. Purpose The purpose of this thesis is to identify the underlying factors that lead to global and humanitarian challenges in order to suggest effective adaptations to address them in the preparedness phase. Methodology The paper takes a qualitative approach, adopting a phenomenological research. In depth interviews are used to identify the most outstanding themes and patterns in sync with the humanitarian challenges and adaptations identifies in the AlertNet Poll (2011) and DARA humanitarian response index (2011). The themes are used to narrate solutions to the research questions Findings The results suggest that the adaptations identified in the reports regulate humanitarian and global challenges. The humanitarian challenges effective adaptations to overcome these challenges have been identified but not limited to collaboration of humanitarian logistics actors, emphasis on preparedness and disaster risk reduction and the unification of relief and developmental policies and frameworks to ensure long term planning and assessment of disasters Conclusion The research concludes that disaster risk reduction and preparedness, humanitarian logistics reforms and collaboration in all humanitarian aspects are the most effective adaptation to the global and humanitarian challenges. If current trends in disasters are anything to go by, we can expect more complex disasters in the future as a population, perhaps already weakened by conflict, climate or disease, is hit by a natural disaster. This then requires a multifaceted and complex intervention of humanitarian actors. Therefore, the adaptations increasingly require identification of themes to mitigate the complex vulnerabilities that come with these challenges like reforms, collaboration and specialization of tasks between humanitarian organizations inter alia. Purpose The purpose of this thesis is to identify the underlying factors that lead to global and humanitarian challenges in order to suggest effective adaptations to address them in the preparedness phase. Methodology The paper takes a qualitative approach, adopting a phenomenological research. In depth interviews are used to identify the most outstanding themes and patterns in sync with the humanitarian challenges and adaptations identifies in the AlertNet Poll (2011) and DARA humanitarian response index (2011). The themes are used to narrate solutions to the research questions Findings The results suggest that the adaptations identified in the reports regulate humanitarian and global challenges. The humanitarian challenges effective adaptations to overcome these challenges have been identified but not limited to collaboration of humanitarian logistics actors, emphasis on preparedness and disaster risk reduction and the unification of relief and developmental policies and frameworks to ensure long term planning and assessment of disasters Conclusion The research concludes that disaster risk reduction and preparedness, humanitarian logistics reforms and collaboration in all humanitarian aspects are the most effective adaptation to the global and humanitarian challenges.