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Mix of interventions
Situations and contexts differ from country to country, and even within communities. A disaster can come on suddenly, like a flood, earthquake or hurricane, or can develop slowly, like a long period of drought. As a result, disaster risk reduction measures in the real world vary widely. Some communities put a priority on early warning systems, while others see the development of long-term prospects as the most important activity. In most cases, the interventions are broad, and include disaster preparedness of organisations and communities along with relief in emergency situations. Combining a focus in CMDRR on community management and the range of different short and long-term DRR measures with the flexibility to adjust to the actual situation represents a major shift in the thinking and attitudes of stakeholders: seeking and implementing measures that contribute to resilience in the short and long term.

Long-term improvements
This approach has also proved effective in addressing the needs of communities adapting to climate change. And this, in turn, contributes to the systems for the livelihood of the communities (food, water, income) and their most vulnerable groups. All CMDRR programmes include food security interventions, such as diversification of agriculture or livestock systems to adapt them to a changing climate (drought-resistant crops and animals such as camels). In semi-arid regions, harvesting rainwater for both human and livestock consumption is a priority. These and other measures are helping households to maintain or increase their income sources. In short, structural and long term improvements are a key aspect of CMDRR.

Cordaid’s efforts in the area of disaster risk reduction began in 2004. Since then, over a hundred southern partner organisations and the communities they work with in ten countries have been introduced to the concept. As of 2011, Cordaid has extended the work in this area to 13 countries [link to same map?].

Partner organisations are strengthening communities’ capacity to manage their own disaster risk reduction. This means the capacity to speak out and negotiate with local authorities and national governments on policy and policy implementation, but there is more. Partner organisations are increasingly gaining recognition from both their governments and peer organisations for the value of the work they are doing with these communities. Cordaid-supported groups in Ethiopia and India are very successful examples of this.

By using and sharing experiences and lessons learned and by researching new approaches, Cordaid and its partner organisations are optimising efficiency and innovation. The Partners for Resilience alliance, a partnership of Cordaid with other organisations, is one example of innovation in this area. This is an international alliance that focuses on CMDRR, ecosystem restoration and management and climate change adaptation.

Publication: CMDRR, exeriences from the Horn of Africa
As incidences of disasters and number of people affected continue to rise, the poor especially in the global south have been disproportionately affected. Many decades of disaster relief has failed to address the underlying causes of vulnerability leading to perpetual aid dependency. There has been a fundamental misplaced assumption that vulnerable communities are helpless victims with very little if any to contribute towards disaster risk reduction and management. This publication, Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction: Experiences from the horn of Africa, is a book that captures lessons in three horn of Africa countries of Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. These lessons are based on implementation of Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) programmes between 2008 and 2010. The CMDRR approach has empowered communities to take own initiatives to reduce the risks associated with disasters. It evolved as the partners shifted from emergency response to a more proactive systematic approach of preventing, mitigating and preparing for drought and other hazards.

Download CMDRR, experiences from the Horn of Africa (Pdf, 4 mB)

Villages in Tamil Nadu protect themselves against periodic floodings
Kalvi Kendra, an Indian partner organization from Cordaid, recently published A tale of Two Rivers. The publication tells the story of ten Tamil Nadu village communities organizing themselves to stay safe in the face of floods. A Tale of Two Rivers shows how villagers lobby with their local self-governance institutions to build concrete roads, culverts and bridges and especially what women do to save lives and protect communities.

The name of this game is Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) — a bottom-up initiative.

Do you want to know more about Cordaid's collaboration with Kalvi Kendra and our disaster risk reduction work in Tamil Nadu? Pleas send an email to Marlou Geurts.

Download A tale of Two Rivers: and some women who save lives and livelihoods.

Projects:
Fighting against water in India

Emergency aid and reconstruction in Haiti

Emergency aid and reconstruction in Sri Lanka

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