Moving from 2015 to 2030: challenges and opportunities for higher education in developing resilience to disasters

In recent years, the higher education community has played an increasingly important role in moving disaster science from a responsive, primarily technical discipline, to a broad, multi-disciplinary movement that seeks to build societal resilience to disaster. This study sets out some of the key challenges and op-portunities for higher education towards tackling the challenges set out in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 - 2030, which was adopted by 187 UN member states in March 2015. The study brings together existing literature in the field, as well as the results of various analysis and study projects undertaken by a European network project. Five key areas of focus are identified in working towards 2030: Link research, education and action; Integrate all hazards, stakeholders and disciplines; Collaborate regionally and globally; Facilitate policy dialogue, knowledge sharing and capacity development; Develop flexible and customisable education programmes

Minimising flood risk accumulation through effective private and public sector engagement

Flooding is a global problem affecting both developing and developed countries. Academics and practitioners in climate science frequently argue that changing climatic conditions are likely to worsen the length and severity of these flood events, which will have catastrophic consequences to economies and social lives of communities world over. Whilst the overall consequences affecting many regions have been established, effective and efficient strategies to cope with the effects of flooding and building up resilience strategies have not properly evolved. This paper examines this issue by exploring effective strategies undertaken in partnerships between private and public stakeholders. The paper details two case studies conducted in a developed and a developing country to investigate what global strategies for coping and resilience to flooding have worked in practice. The two case studies: Cockermouth in Cumbria, UK and Patuakhali in Bangladesh provide interesting insights on how some of the strategies work within the chosen developed and developing country contexts. The case study findings are mapped against UNISDR’s ten-point checklist under the “Making Cities Resilient Campaign”. In conclusion the paper examines how these findings can be incorporated within city development plans to develop stakeholder capacity and capability and eventually build up resilient cities

Flash Flood Assessment for Wadi Mousa City-Jordan

This paper aims to assess risks due to potential Flash Floods hazards in Wadi Mousa and to determine the magnitude of flows for flash flood hazards and construct Floodplain Zone maps for the selected flood return periods of 25, 50, 75 and 100 years. Wadi Mousa is considered an ephemeral wadi with intermittent flash flood of flows that can exceed the 298 m3/s threshold. Its floods, however, do not flow every year. Nevertheless, at certain years the extent of flood can be huge. The surface drainage may be broadly divided into sub-catchments according to drainage namely; Wadi Als-Sader, Wadi Jelwakh with Wadi Khaleel, Wadi Al-Maghir. Wadi Zarraba is the confluence of the three sub- catchments. The study covers an area of 53.3 km2 and comprises a high semi -arid infrequent flash floods generated by heavy rainstorm over the catchment and flows to Wadi Araba. Average annual rainfall of Wadi Mousa was calculated of 178 mm, and average annual evapotranspiration is 1300 mm per year. The runoff analysis indicates that only rainfall events exceeding 22 mm within the 24 hour period would generate runoff

Capacity gaps in post disaster construction & demolition waste management

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on the identification of the existing capacities of post disaster C & D waste management in developing countries, with a special emphasis on Sri Lanka to determine the capacity gaps and related influencing factors. Design/methodology/approach – Multiple case studies and expert interviews were conducted to gather primary information on the existing capacities of disaster C & D waste management. Three case studies, including 15 individuals and six experts representing government, non-government institutions and others, were selected. Findings – The results revealed the existing capacities, capacity gaps and influencing factors for post disaster C & D waste management in the areas of skills and confidence building, links and collaborations, continuity and sustainability, research and development, communication and coordination, organisational implementation and investment in infrastructure. Research limitations/implications – This study limited disaster C & D waste to debris generated from totally or partially damaged buildings and infrastructure as a direct impact of natural disasters or from demolished buildings and infrastructure at rehabilitation or at early recovery stages. Originality/value – The research enabled an analysis of existing capacities and identified capacity gaps in post disaster C & D waste management with influencing factors developing countries

Resource capability for local government in mainstreaming gender into disaster risk reduction: evidence from Indonesia

Understanding how local government responds to gender vulnerability and gender capacity is important to make cities safer both for women and for men. However, little is known on how local government is empowered in terms of provision of capacity, resources and abilities to mainstreaming gender into disaster risk reduction and community resilience. The case of Indonesia pinpoints district government capability is vital to promote gender equality within local disaster risk reduction and resilience. The district government capability means the ability of local government to organise resources, competence and knowledge to meet the needs and concerns of women and men within disaster risk reduction process. This capability has been transformed into their ability in institutional and human resources policy and for providing financial, technical and leadership capabilities to promote gender equality into local disaster risk reduction and resilience. Experience of Bantul earthquake reconstruction shows a significant achievement has been made by this district in terms of local capability in mainstreaming gender. Among the most important factors related to district capability are women leadership, support from non-government organisations, women participation, financial resources and capacity of local gender institutions

Resource capability for local government in mainstreaming gender into sustainable post disaster reconstruction : Evidence from Bantul Indonesia

Understanding how local government responds to gender vulnerability and gender capacity is important to make cities safer both for women and for men. However, little is known on how local government is empowered in terms of provision of capacity, resources and abilities to mainstreaming gender into disaster risk reduction and community resilience. The case of Bantul post-earthquake reconstruction Indonesia pinpoints district government capability is vital to promote gender equality within local disaster risk reduction and resilience. The district government capability means the ability of local government to organise resources, competence and knowledge to meet the needs and concerns of women and men within disaster risk reduction process. This capability has been transformed into their ability in institutional and human resources policy and for providing financial, technical and leadership capabilities to promote gender equality into local disaster risk reduction and resilience. Experience of Bantul earthquake reconstruction shows an achievement has been made by this district in terms of local capability in mainstreaming gender. Among the most important factors related to district capability are women leadership, support from non-government organisations, women participation, financial resources and capacity of local gender institutions. The findings highlight the value of mainstreaming gender for disaster risk reduction, but policymakers should aware key resources capabilities that are needed to achieve effective implementation