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- Permanent Link:
- http://dpanther.fiu.edu/dpService/dpPurlService/purl/FI13042643/00001
Notes
- Summary:
- The purpose of this report is to outline strategies and measures that strengthen the capacity of communities and local governments in Latin America and the Caribbean to implement comprehensive disaster risk management (DRM). Historically within Latin America and the Caribbean, disasters were understood as phenomena to be managed by centralized agencies of the national government. More recently, policymakers are beginning to view disasters as events to be prevented or mitigated through comprehensive DRM incorporating stakeholders from various levels of government and sectors of society. This document focuses on the critical role that decentralization, specifically the strengthening of local capacity for DRM, has in reducing the likelihood of disaster throughout the region. The report analyzes four dimensions of this process: 1) institutional structure, 2) capacity building, 3) financing, along with 4) indicators and instruments involved in DRM at the local level. It is worth noting not only the process of strengthening local capacity for DRM but also the importance of complementing national DRM strategy. Local capacity to engage in DRM is deeply dependent on political, legal, and institutional frameworks at the national level. This study undertakes a comparative assessment of three case-studies in local DRM; two developing countries (Bolivia and Colombia), and one developed country (Germany), that have taken steps to decentralize their national disaster management systems in the last years, empowering sub-national and municipal governments to carryout DRM. Colombia adopted a national Disaster Prevention and Management System in 1989 (decentralizing disaster-management functions and assigning more responsibility to municipalities/departments). In 2000 Bolivia enacted the Risk Reduction and Disaster Response Law which created the national Risk Reduction, Emergency and Disaster Response System. Germany transferred its national authority for civil defense to the states, now responsible for fire protection and disaster management enforcement. The findings of the report show that insurance coverage for natural disasters is still low both in developing and developed countries. The recommendations aim at strengthening the international system of disaster assistance for reconstruction in the affected communities. And lastly, the study calls for greater emphasis on the use of instruments such as employment programs, social funds, and social insurance at the local level to complement DRM efforts.
- Subject:
- General Risk Management
- Subject:
- Politics
- Citation/Reference:
- Bollin, C., Cárdenas, C., Hahn, H., Vatsa, K.S. (2003). Disaster risk management by communities and local governments. Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ).
Record Information
- Source Institution:
- Florida International University
- Rights Management:
- Refer to main document/publisher for use rights.
- Resource Identifier:
- FI13042643
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