vca manual for vnrc practitioners (vnrc and nlrc) en part 1

7/28/2019 VCA Manual for VNRC Practitioners (VNRC and NLRC) en Part 1

1/48


2/48


3/48

TABLE OF CONTENT

Content Page

List o Acronyms

Message rom VNRC General Secretary

Acknowledgement

Overview o the manual

PART A:WHAT IS VCA

Chapter 1: Defnition .................................................................................................................................101.1 Basic terminologies in disaster management ...........................................................................................111.2 Denition o VCA .....................................................................................................................................................................12

Chapter 2: Description o VCA ......................................................................................................................................................142.1 Key components o VCA ....................................................................................................................................................152.2 Outlines o VCA elements ................................................................................................................................................162.2.1 Vulnerability Assessment .................................................................................................................................................162.2.2 Capacity Assessment .............................................................................................................................................................202.2.3 Hazard Assessment .................................................................................................................................................................222.2.4 Risk assessment ..........................................................................................................................................................................232.2.5 Disaster Risk Reduction Measures .........................................................................................................................24

PART B: PRINCIPLES OF CONDUCTING A VCA

Chapter 3: VCA Approaches ............................................................................................................................................................263.1 Participatory Approach ......................................................................................................................................................273.2 Community Development and Capacity Building ...............................................................................283.3 Intensive Inclusion o Vulnerable Groups ......................................................................................................28

Chapter 4: Addressing Emerging Concerns in VCA ...........................................................................................364.1 Climate Change ..........................................................................................................................................................................374.2 Urbanization in Vietnam ...................................................................................................................................................39

Chapter 5: Linking VCA with development and government plans ............................................405.1 Linking Disaster Risk Reduction into Development ...........................................................................425.2 Linking VCA with local government plan or development ......................................................435.3 Advocacy or VCA ..................................................................................................................................................................... 43


4/48

4

LIST OF ACRONYMS

CBDRM Community Based Disaster Risk Management

CCFSC Central Committee or Flood and Storm Control

DRR Disaster Risk Reduction

ECHO European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department

HQ Headquarters

IFRC International Federation o Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

INGO International Non Governmental Organization

ODA Ocial Development Assistance

PC People Committee

PWD People With DisabilitiesNGO Non Governmental Organization

NLRC Netherlands Red Cross

VCA Vulnerability Capacity Assessment

VNRC Viet Nam Red Cross


5/48

5

VULNERABILITY AND CAPACITY ASSESSMENT (VCA) - Part I

MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THEVIETNAM RED CROSS SOCIETY

Vietnam is among the most disaster prone countries in the world. Natural disasters ovarious types such as typhoons, oods, ash oods, inundation, landslides, drought, salinity

intrusion etc. have a higher requency and intensity and have been causing severe impactto peoples lives and the development o the community and the country. Vietnam is alsoone o the most successul countries in the poverty reduction and hunger eradication.Poverty and hunger rate are decreasing rapidly every year as a result o the countrys Doi Moiachievements. However, poverty reduction is not yet sustainable, a group o people that arejust above the poverty line are still vulnerable and can easily all back into poverty again.

A storm or a spell o cold weather can take away their - with much efort gained -property, like their house, means o livelihood, livestock and may put them back to povertyagain. Avian u, swine u, oot-and-mouth disease also resulted in a number o armerhouseholds to become penniless. Many extreme weather events and sudden disasters makethe boundary between escaping rom poverty and re-entering to poverty aint. Besides

that it is becoming dicult to anticipate to these events. What can people do to protectthemselves rom natural disaster? How can we support them actively and eciently whendisasters occur?

Above issues are partially addressed by a method called VCA. Vulnerability and CapacityAssessment (VCA) is a participatory method designed to assess the risks that people acein their locality, their diferent levels o vulnerability to those risks, and the capacities theypossess to cope with a hazard and recover rom it when it strikes. Undertaking a VCA processallows people to prioritize what they need to do, need to have and what support they willneed. As a result, the VCA process will help local people to be more aware and more activein preparing and coping with disasters. At the same time it will help local actors such asgovernment, mass organizations, Red Cross and other to support the community timely and

efectively during and ater a disaster.

This community-based Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) manual explainsin great detail the VCA method which is applied by Vietnam Red Cross staf to acilitate theevaluation o peoples vulnerability and enhance their capacities as well as in advising localauthorities to build an active and ecient disaster preparedness plan that will result in thesmallest possible negative impact.

We would like to express our gratitude to The Netherlands Red Cross, especially TheNetherlands Red Cross in Vietnam or their partnership and strong technical support.We would like to reveal sincere thanks to the European Commission Humanitarian Aid

Department (ECHO) through its Disaster Preparedness Programme (DIPECHO) or South EastAsia or their commitment and support to this manual.

And now we have honor o presenting you the manual or Participatory Vulnerability andCapacity Assessment. We do welcome all comments and suggestions or improvement.

Hanoi, January 2010

Doan Van Thai

Vice President - Secretary General

Vietnam Red Cross


6/48

6

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the many individuals and organizationswho have contributed to this manual.

Editorial Committee:

Mr. Doan Van Thai, Vice President and General Secretary, Vietnam Red Cross-Mr. Paul van der Laan, Representative, The Netherlands Red Cross in Vietnam and-Laos.

Editorial Working team:

Dr. Le The Thin, Director o Social Work and Disaster management, Vietnam Red-Cross.Tran Tu Anh, Programme Coordinator, The Netherlands Red Cross Vietnam-

Nguyen Huu Thang, Vice Director o Social Work and Disaster management, Vietnam- Red Cross.

Development group:

VNRCs VCA Coordinators: Dang Hong Nhung, Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, Le Thanh Tri, Cao-Quang Canh.VNRCs key disaster preparedness and VCA acilitators: Tran Xuan Phat, Phan Nhu-Nghia, Nguyen Tran Quan, Le Van Quan, Bui Thi Mai, Cap Kim Liem, Vo Minh Dung,Nguyen Thi Hien, Nguyen Trong Nghia, Tran Dinh Ky, Du Hai Duong, Tran Thi Yen,Nguyen Van Hai, Le Xuan Mai, Nguyen Thi Thuy, Mai Thi Nhung, Tran Ngoc Chau, Ha

Thai Binh, Phan Dai, Nguyen Thi Anh Hieu, Nguyen Thi Anh

With the consultancy o

Asian Disaster Preparedness- Center (ADPC)

With input rom:

RC/RC Climate Centre: Rebecca McNaught and Maarten Van Aalst.-IFRC: Dang Van Tao, Nguyen Hung Ha and Sacha Bootsma.-JANI and CBDRM practitioners in Vietnam: Nguyen Van Gia, Le Bich Hang (Save-Children Vietnam), Nguyen Dang Nhat (CECI), Vu Minh Hai and Bui Viet Hien (Oxam),

Duong Van Hung, Nguyen Thi Yen, Luu Dieu Trang (CARE), Le Van Duong (WorldVision), Paul Schuttenbelt, David Brenner (Urban Solutions) and Nguyen Phuc Hoa.DG ECHO: Cecile Pichon and Thearat Touch.-NLRC: Miranda Visch, Margot Steenbergen, Bruno Haghebaert and Melanie-Miltenburg.

With the participation o:

VNRCs disaster preparedness and VCA acilitators participants o Dipecho 6-projectProvincial Red Cross chapters o Long An, Son La, Vinh Phuc, Can Tho, Quang Binh,-

Yen Bai, Dac Lac, Ca Mau and Da Nang


7/48

7


Communes: Khanh Hung, Hua Pang, Tra Noc, Canh Hoa, EaBin, Kien Thanh, Song-Doc and Hoa Lien

With the support o:

General: Do Thuy Huong, Huyen Nguyen, Le Thi Nhat and Nguyen Thi Kieu Trang- Designers: Nguyen Xuan Hai and Vietstyle Co., Tran Tu Anh-Translators/editor: Dang Anh Nguyet, Luu Dieu Trang,-Photos: Nguyen Huu Thang, Dang Hong Nhung, Nguyen Trong Nghia, Tran Tu Anh-and Du Hai Duong.


8/48

8

OVERVIEW OF THE MANUAL

The Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) Manual or Vietnam Practitioners aimsto provide a comprehensive guide, or disaster risk reduction in general and particularly or

those acilitating vulnerability and capacity assessments in the community.The manual is primarily aimed at VCA acilitators and practitioners o the Vietnam Red Cross.The manual is also a source o reerence on the VCA tools and process or Community BasedDisaster Risk Management (CBDRM) practitioners in Vietnam.

This manual has been developed to achieve the specic objective to improve VNRCsVulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) processes, tools, and ultimately output. Thereare three sections to this Manual.

The rst section: What is VCA provides conceptual inormation, key components andoutlines the main components that guide the VNRC Facilitator while undertaking the VCA

process.The second section: Principles o conducting a VCAhighlights important linkages o the VCAtool between development and disaster management. In addition, this section emphasizesdiferent approaches o conducting VCAs.

The last section: Practical Guide or conducting a VCA provides accessible and practicalinormation on diferent VCA tools and ways to conduct VCAs with the active participationo vulnerable groups. It also provides inormation on the process o acilitating a VCA in theeld. This section serves as the how to guide or the Facilitators based on the inormationprovided in the previous two sections.

The development o this manual is supported by the European Commission HumanitarianAid Department under the 6th DIPECHO Action Plan or South East Asia. This manual isdeveloped by VNRC staf at all levels and the Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC) in Vietnam andThe Netherlands. During the process, there was an active exchange o inormation withINGOs, government organizations, technical agencies and CBDRM proessionals.


9/48

PART: WHAT IS VCA


10/48

CHAPTER 1: DEFINITION


11/48

11


1.1 Basic terminologies in disaster management

Vulnerability

The extent to which an individual, community, structure, service or geographic area is likelyto be damaged or disrupted by the impact o a particular hazard.1

Capacity

The capacities o people and the communities they live in are the basic building blockso disaster preparedness and development. Capacities are the resources and skills peoplepossess, can develop, mobilize or have access to, which allow them to have more controlover shaping their own utures. Capacities are comprised o a range o assets, includingphysical assets like the ownership o land or currency and skills, like literacy. In addition,capacities may include social assets, like the existence o community organizations ornational welare systems, and nally they can be personal assets, like the will to survive orbelie in an ideology or religion.2

Hazard

A hazard is a natural or man-made phenomenon, which may cause physical damage,economic losses, or threaten human lie and well-being i it occurs in an area o humansettlement, agricultural, or industrial activity. Man-made hazards include armed conict,intimidation, hostility, etc. Hazards can also be a sort o deprivation, such as environmentaland technological deprivation, political or economic deprivation, illiteracy, etc. Hazards may

be caused by a combination o actors whereby man-made events exacerbate a naturalphenomenon, or example when deorestation increases the risk o ooding. The disruptioncaused to peoples lives can be in the orm o personal injury, malnutrition, the loss oproperty or livelihoods, or in extreme cases, the loss o lie.3

Disaster

A serious disruption o the unctioning o a society causing widespread human, materialor environmental losses which exceed the ability o the afected society to cope using onlyits own resources. Disasters may be classied according to speed o onset (sudden or slow)or according to their cause (natural or man induced, or perhaps a combination o both).

Disasters combine the elements o hazards and risks, and vulnerability.4

Disaster Risk

The potential disaster losses, in lives, health status, livelihoods, assets and services, whichcould occur to a particular community or a society over some specied uture time period.5

1 VNRC (2000) Disaster Preparedness Manual2 VNRC (2000) Disaster Preparedness Manual3 VNRC (2000) Disaster Preparedness Manual4 VNRC (2000) Disaster Preparedness Manual

5 UNISDR Terminology on Disaster Risk Reduction (2009) http://undp.org.ge/new/les/24_619_762164_UNISDR-terminology-2009-eng.pd


12/48

12

Disaster risk depends on the relationship o hazards, vulnerability and capacity o community,which is illustrated by the relationship below:

For example: Hazards to which a commune is not vulnerable, like high water in areas wherethe commune does not use the area or either living or arming will not become a disaster.Similarly, i a commune has the capacity to stop the high water rom entering, it will alsonot become a disaster. However, in case the houses and paddy elds o the commune arelocated in a ood-prone area and the commune has no capacity to prevent that (e.g. no dam)and people in that area cannot swim, the risk that the hazard o high water will develop intoa disaster will be greater.

1.2 Defnition o VCA

A Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) involves a process o collecting and analyz-ing inormation about hazards that people ace in their locality, their diferent levels o vul-nerability and their capacities to cope with these single or multiple hazards and their ability

to recover rom them when they strike.

The main purpose o a VCA is to allow the community to identiy and understand their vul-nerability, capacity and the hazards that they are acing. This helps in identiying local pri-orities to reduce their vulnerabilities and to develop their capacities. The result o such as-sessments orm the basis or the community to undertake community based disaster riskmanagement planning.

VCA is not just the process o collecting data using the most participatory tools but also auseul tool or raising community awareness. It helps identiying existing & potential vulner-

abilities and capacities o the community. Thereore, VCA is useul as a participatory evalu-ation method by the community. VNRC Facilitators could acilitate this with participation othe local authorities.

The VCA process contributes to:A greater understanding o (the nature o) existing hazards and level o risks thecommunity is acing;

The identication, estimation and ranking o community issues, concerns, problemsand resources with regards to social, economic, cultural, demographic data, etc;

An understanding o the causes and complexity o problems aced by the community

and inormation relating to how communities cope with this situation.

Hazard X Vulnerability

Capacity

Disaster Risk =


13/48

13


The identication o the most afected and the most vulnerable in relation to theve components o vulnerabilities: livelihoods, well-being, sel-protection, socialprotection and governance;

An understanding o how disasters will afect diferent groups within the community

and particularly the vulnerable groups such as children, women, elderly, disabledand ethnic monitories;

The identication o the capacities within a community and an idea o what shouldbe strengthened;

The identication o adequate and successul community-based empowermentmeasures;

The knowledge o which initiatives should be undertaken to address identiedvulnerabilities while maximizing existing capacities;

The process o determining indicators that help to track changes in peoplesinvolvement in good local governance through continuous communityassessment;

Raising awareness in the community in order to become more resilient;

The identication o specic inormation on constraints and opportunities or localdevelopment activities.

Khanh Hung commune, Vinh Hung, Long An


14/48

CHAPTER 2: DESCRIPTION OF VCA


15/48

15


2.1 Key components o VCA

Why do VCA?

The key to all Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) programs is to reduce vulnerability and to

increase the communitys capacity. With a reduced vulnerability and increased capacity,a commune can work towards preventing disasters, prepare or disaster response andmitigate the impact o disasters. VCA is a method to work with the commune so that theycan develop a clear understanding o their own Vulnerabilities, Capacity, relevant Hazardsand the relationship between these elements. VCA is one o the main assessment methodsused in DRR and CBDRM. It also helps to connect with underlying issues. Because o the VCA,the commune can identiy areas that they need to develop so that they can become saer.

Who

The community is the main implementer o the VCA. The VCA Facilitators have the role to

acilitate the whole process. The VCA Facilitators could mobilize community ocal persons/catalysts to work with the community and arrange or the VCA to take place.

When

The VCA could be conducted all year round. However, it is advisable to take into accountthe working calendar and estivals at the commune level. It could be relevant to do theVCA beore the disaster season or beore composing the Social Development Plan o thecommune. The VCA could be done annually depending on the situation in the commune.

Where

In principle, the VCA could be carried out in all communes in Vietnam. However, in practiceonly disaster prone communes should be selected as VCA consumes time and resources.

How

Undertaking a VCA requires time and resources depending on the conditions in thecommunity. It is important to have a clear objective agreed by all people involvedin the process beore entering the community as well as preparation steps such aswho, what etc.

VCA tools are participatory methods or data collection and analysis. These include:direct observation, hazard mapping, transect walk, seasonal calendar, historicalprole, historical projection and visualization, Venn Diagram, problem tree, etc.

The overall VCA process is briey presented below:

Preparation:- identiying objectives, resources, selecting location, time rameand manpowerPlanning and feld pre-assessment work :- Preparation o action plan,assessment team, logistics, appropriate acilities and proceduresAdvocating- to local government on maximizing participation o grassrootspeople and ollowing-up o VCA resultsCollecting inormation- via Secondary data via research in the communityusing VCA tools


16/48

16

An- alysing hazards, vulnerability, capacity to diagnose risksVeriying/validating- inormation with the community (village and communelevel)Planning and Advocacy or Transormation- o vulnerability to capacity

Reporting- Following up (integration into local development plan andimplementation o the identied DRR measures).

What are expected outputs o VCA?

The VCA outputs are used as inputs or community preparedness, risk reduction plans andalso to improve the local development plans. The expected outputs rom the VCA processare as ollows:

Community understands its own environment in relation to hazards and disasterrisk;Community realizes its own capacities to cope with the hazards and risks;Community and local authority agree on actions needed to prevent or reduce theefects o disaster;Relevant measures on disaster risk reduction are implemented and evaluated:mitigation, prevention, preparedness;Baseline assessment inormation becomes available. This can become the reerencepoint to an emergency and disaster preparedness needs assessment, ollowingdisaster;Commune People Committee can use the VCA report to attract unds rom highergovernments and other donors.

The VCA results will be utilized more broadly at national and international levels. For example,it will provide a chance or community voices to be heard in the development o certainpolicies (like strategies to deal with climate change).

2.2 Outlines o VCA elements

Chapter 1 has outlined the denitions o Vulnerability, Capacity, Hazard, Disaster Risk andDisasters. It also provided an overview o the link between these elements. This chapterprovides an overview on how to assess these various elements.

2.2.1 Vulnerability Assessment

A Vulnerability Assessment is the process to dene the risk actors o each kind o hazardand analyze the reasons that cause such risks. In addition, it describes a set o prevailingconditions or constraints o an economic, social, physical or geographic nature, which limitthe ability o the people to mitigate, prepare or and cope with the impact o hazards.6

Vulnerability has been dened in relation to ve components that embody most aspectso peoples exposure to a given natural hazard. Once a VCA has been linked to the diferentcomponents o vulnerability and the relationships between them are understood, it

6based on UNISDR Terminology on Disaster Risk Reduction (2009) http://undp.org.ge/new/les/24_619_762164_UNISDR-terminology-2009-eng.pd


17/48

17


becomes much easier to identiy the related capacities that need to be strengthened.7 Theseve components8 are:

Livelihood and its resilience- determine well-being and concerns income-

generation, which in turn dictates whether people can live in a sae house andlocation (sel-protection). Although poverty reduction and asset protection are notspecic areas o Red Cross Red Crescent activity, many VCAs show that in order toreduce peoples vulnerability, one must protect and strengthen their livelihoods.Tracing, or example, can have a positive efect on livelihoods, by assisting inreturning much-needed labour to a household or enabling better access to lostassets (as well as raising morale and mental well-being).

Peoples well-being- in terms o (mental) health and nutrition, is crucial to theirresilience, especially in the case o disasters that result in reduced ood intake and

health risks (e.g. rom contaminated water). It relates to Red Cross Red Crescentactivities in vaccination and other aspects o preventive medicine (including HIV/AIDS programs), ood security and nutrition, rst aid, and water and sanitationprograms.

Sel-protection- is linked to having an adequate livelihood, to aford the protectiono home and assets. The capacity to build a house that will withstand local hazards(e.g. earthquakes and hurricanes) depends partially on an adequate income.However, cultural and behavioural actors can also afect the priority given to theprotection rom inrequent hazards. Assistance is oten needed in terms o necessary

skills and techniques, and to encourage compliance with protective measures.Social protection- is generally provided by local institutions (e.g. sel-help groups,local government, NGOs, etc.) and involves precautions that people cannot manageon their own, such as ood protection, or ensuring compliance with building codes.This is reected in Red Cross Red Crescent activities such as hazard mitigation (e.g.cyclone shelters in Bangladesh, community ood precautions in Nepal and theSolomon Islands).

Governance- reects the way in which power operates to determine how resourcesand incomes are allocated and whether a civil society exists and is active (e.g. in

open media discussions about risks and/or the existence o organizations that canpress or adequate social protection or vulnerable people). This is one o the RedCross Red Crescents roles in advocacy and in its auxiliary role to the government.

7 IFRC, How to do a VCA, page 15 (date)8 All denitions o the 5 components derived rom IFRC, What is VCA, page 38


18/48

18

The ve components are interlinked. For example, a households livelihood determines thewell-being o the amily, including their ood, health and morale. This is an important actorto cope with and recover rom any disaster. In case the well-being o a amily is secured, thisamily will be more resilient towards disasters. Similarly, livelihood security is crucial or a

amily that is solely dependent on shing. I the shing boat and nets are washed away, it isunlikely that the household can easily recover.

Livelihood - an important actor inuencing vulnerability and capacity

o individuals/households


19/48

19


For each component, Vulnerabilities can be categorized into three areas. Table 1 shows thesecategories, with examples.

Types o Vulnerability Examples

1. Material/Physical Location o community houses, armlands at hazardprone locationsDesign and construction materials o houses andbuildingsLack o basic inrastructure (road, dykes, etc) basicservices (health, schools, sanitation etc)Insecure and risky (single) sources o livelihood

2. Organizational/social Lack o leadership and initiative to solve problems orconictsExclusion o certain groups rom decision-makingabout community lie or unequal participation incommunity afairsAbsence or weak community organizations

3. Attitudinal/motivational Negative attitude towards change

Passivity, atalism, hopelessness, dependency

Lack o initiative or ghting spiritDependence on external support

Table 1: Vulnerability analysis

Gathering Inormation on Vulnerability

We should recognize that the assessment o vulnerability depends on location, sector, andinterest group and is also linked with poverty. For the VNRC acilitators, remember that the

ollowing inormation is required to be collected or a Vulnerability AssessmentWho are at risks when a disaster happens?

What are the requent losses?

What are the livelihood means and are they vulnerable to natural hazards?

How many poor/undernourished households are present? How many o thehouseholds depend on unstable jobs? How many on seasonal jobs?

What is the situation o arm land/resources uses such as shing?

What are the living standards, health and nutrition status o people?


20/48

20

Which knowledge/skills are present in the community or sel protection?

Do social organizations have enough capacity to support people? Is there anydissidence, separation within community organizations and clans?

How many women, pregnant women, old people are present? How many children?How many disabled people? Are they cared or by the community and/or localauthority? Are (some) groups subject to discrimination?

What is the role o the school?

Is there a language and/or culture barrier? How many people are literate?

What is the attitude o local people towards imperative problems?

Is there access to early warning systems? Are they utilized? Understood ?

Inormation can be gathered by using the VCA tools that will be later discussed in this manual.A clear overview which tools can be used to asses vulnerability will also be presented.

2.2.2 Capacity Assessment

A Capacity Assessment is done to nd out the abilities and opportunities, including resources,means, and skills, motivations that exist in individuals, households and communities. Thiscapacity can enable them to anticipate and prepare or disasters, to cope with it, resist it andrecover rom its impacts. A Capacity Assessment is conducted in relation to a VulnerabilityAssessment since both elements are interlinked.9

Capacities are assessed alongside vulnerabilities and are specic to time, place, particularhazards and groups o people. Capacity is a key element in understanding and reducingvulnerability o people and VCA methodologies should be designed to consider this. EachVCA should thereore be planned according to its purpose and based on the situation o thelocality.

VCA considers a wide range o pressures that are main component o vulnerability oindividual or community: Livelihoods, Well-Being, Sel-protection, Social protection,and Governance. Similar to the Vulnerability Assessment, Capacity can also be categorizedinto these components (see Table 2).

9 Based on UNISDR Terminology on Disaster Risk Reduction (2009) http://undp.org.ge/new/les/24_619_762164_UNISDR-terminology-2009-eng.pd


21/48

21


Type Vulnerabilities Capacities

LivelihoodsOne crop agricultureLow income

Limited option or livelihoods

IndebtednessRelie/welare dependency

Secure livelihoodsFinancial reserves

Diversied agriculture and

economy

Well-being High Density PopulationHigh-density occupation osites and buildingsLack o mobilityLow perceptions o risk

among communityVulnerable groups andindividualsLack o educationPovertyPoor nutrition

Good health care acilitiesHigh literacyGood inrastructure oelectricity and roadsEthical standards

Sel protection

and Social

protection

Unsae Houses-located nearhazard prone areaUnsae inrastructure (Road,

Dyke, electricity)Unsae critical acilities(Health, Schools,Transportation, Drainage etc)Rapid urbanizationHabit to collect collapsedtrees, wood or uel duringstorm

Coping mechanismsMemory o past disastersResilient buildings and well

developed inrastructure thatcope disastersMaintenance mechanism oexisting inrastructure andacilitiesCommunity solidarity

GovernanceLack o systemized planning

o disaster preparedness andresponsePoor management andleadershipPoor land managementprocedures

Local leadership

Good governanceActive mass-organizationPresence o VNRC VolunteersLocal non-governmentalorganizationsWell-developed communelevel plans or ood andstorm control preparednessand responseResponsible natural resource

management

Table 2: Capacity Analysis


22/48

22

Inormation can be gathered by using the VCA tools that will be later discussed in thismanual. A clear overview which tools can be used to asses capacity will also be presented.

2.2.3 Hazard Assessment

A Hazard Assessment is a process that community members undertake to collectinormation and interpret inormation on hazards and threats that can have an impact onthe community.

Purpose o Hazard Assessments:

Understanding general situation o community

Identication, investigation and monitoring o any hazard to determine its potential,origin, characteristics and behaviours

Raising awareness on hazards, disasters, its causes and efects based on disaster thathappened in the past, requency and types o disaster

Diagnosing/raising community awareness on trends in hazards (e.g. climate) and theimpact o hazards on the community

Inormation to be collected:

Source or the root o the hazard (actors)

Warning signals

Time rom when warning is issued to when the hazard happens

Strength and scope o the hazard (losses)

Frequency

Duration (how long the hazard takes)

What kind o disaster

Level o impact and losses

Need to emphasize the collection o inormation and what inormation needscollecting

Inormation can be gathered by using the VCA tools that will be later discussed in thismanual. A clear overview which tools can be used to asses hazards will also be presented.

Suggested questions

What kind o natural hazards oten occur in the area? Moreover, what is the biggestimpact?

What are the warning signals?

In which months do the hazards occur?

How many times a year do the hazards occur?

Are there oods? How long do they last (one or two days)?

What did you do when hearing, eeling and seeing warning signals?

Which o the ollowing are applicable to your situation? Social problems/imperative

hazards: injuries accident, hunger-poverty, debt, illiteracy and unemployment,conict.


23/48

23


Which environmental and health problems (e.g. pollution, diseases) are present?

Which changes o tendency o the above hazards (increases/reductions over a timeperiod) may be noted?

What are the impacts o those hazards to the lives o the people in the community?

What are the changes o peoples knowledge and attitude towards above hazards?

2.2.4 Risk assessment

As mentioned earlier, the relationship o hazards, vulnerability and capacity o a communityis linked with disaster risk. A Risk Assessment determines the nature and extent o risk byanalyzing potential hazards and evaluating existing conditions o vulnerability that couldpose a potential threat or harm to people, property, services, livelihoods and the environmenton which they depend.10

One example o a method to list the relationship between hazard, vulnerability, capacity and

risk is provided in Table 3:

Hazard Vulnerability Capacity Risk

Floods 98 households are livingin unsae houses near thecoast (6 disabled people,50 children under 12)

50 amilies living in low

areas

The malunctioningloudspeaker system,can only reach 4 out o 6villages

3 villages have no rescueteams

50% road is soil and weak

Rice crop is mature at thetime o ooding.

Strong communerapid responseteam (20 persons)

4 good rescueboats

Good-unctioninghealth post:personnel,materials, stock omedicine

3 rice tradingamiliescommitted to loanrice.

2 private trucks

can be mobilized.

Human saetyin 3 coastalvillages and 2ood-pronevillages(especiallychildren anddisable)

People looseresidence:Housescollapsed anddamaged

Loss crops andlater hunger

or 50% opopulation.

Table 3:Vulnerability, Capacity and Risk towards ood

Inormation to be collected in order to understand the peoples perception o risk:According to the people in the community, which hazards may cause most damageto them?What are their highest risks? Ask people to measure and rank the disaster risks.Which risk should be reduced rst or what should be protected rst? Which risks areacceptable?Which element(s) at risk need to be protected? Which are the highest priorities?

10 based on UNISDR Terminology on Disaster Risk Reduction (2009) http://undp.org.ge/new/les/24_619_762164_UNISDR-terminology-2009-eng.pd


24/48

24

2.2.5 Disaster Risk Reduction Measures

Disaster Risk Reduction Measures identication should be based on the inormationgathered through the VCA process. The VCA results should take the orm o improvement toproject design and implementation o local disaster risk reduction measures that increase

community resilience. In addition, the VCA results can also be used or long term planningwithin broader risk reduction initiatives by the local authorities. Specic actions resultingrom VCAs might include:

A shit o emphasis to diferent economic and livelihood activities, or a diferentmixture o such activities;

The introduction o economic support mechanisms (e.g., micro-credit, cash or work)and social support systems to increase the resilience o vulnerable communities;

The repair, strengthening or redesign o vulnerable inrastructure and acilities;

The relocation o vulnerable communities and acilities;

New land use, planning or building regulations;

The preparation o disaster mitigation and preparedness plans;

The strengthening o institutions and communities to enable them to implement therecommended actions and provide a basis or initiating uture actions;

Formal contributions to policy debates, especially regarding the broader, underlyingpressures contributing to vulnerability in the project area.

What are potential risks o this community?


25/48

PART B: PRINCIPLES OF VCA


26/48

CHAPTER 3: VCA APPROACHES


27/48

27


As stated in the previous chapter, a VCA should be led by the community itsel. Thereore, tomaximize the efectiveness o the process and its outcomes, a VCA needs to ollow:

- Participatory approach

- Community development & capacity building- Intensive inclusion o vulnerable groups

3.1 Participatory approach

A participatory approach is based on the notion o participation: the extent to which peopleare involved in decision making and related activities that have an impact on their lives andliving conditions. Participation can range rom people simply participating in an activity topeople being the principal actors and decision makers in a complex process.

In the VCA process, communities should be ully engaged because:

They themselves understand the local opportunities and constraints best;

They have the greatest share in ensuring their own survival and well-being, giventheir own interest in the development o their community; and

They have a good understanding o local realities, negotiation options and strategiesto be adopted and should be at the oreront o empowered action to manage andreduce risk.

Thereore, participation o all sectors, particularly vulnerable groups is central to the success

o VCA.Based on Grassroots Democracy Principles11 and ollowing the our onsite motto,12 thatbecame the Government principle in disaster management the ollowing key actors oparticipation must be considered during the VCA process.

Participation involves the active engagement o grassroots people. Those whohave no power, who are vulnerable, underprivileged etc. should be paid the highestattention to be mobilized or VCA;

Participation does not mean just being present and providing inormation. It shouldbe contributing with ideas and knowledge during the process. Such ideas and

knowledge should be acknowledged and appreciated;Participation o local authorities (people committees, local government, mass-organizations such as Women Union, Fatherland Organization, etc.) rom the starto the VCA process is a pre-condition or an efective VCA, and the implementationo actions based on VCA ndings;

The local government should also allow the VCA to be executed ully and unhinderedin order to ensure the most complete participation o community members.

11The Vietnamese government promulgated the Regulations on the exercise o democracy in communes in conjunction with Decree No. 29/1998/ND CP as o

15 May 1998 http://www.un.org.vn/.../vie02007/Downloads/PPO/Laws/Grassroots_democracy/D_29-1998-ND-CP-Grassroots_Democracy.doc12 On-spot orces, On-spot command, On-spot logistics, On-spot materials/equipment - CCFSC


28/48

28

Key Messages or Community Development through VCA

Focus attention on the long-term impact o VCA that includes a communityscapacity to deal with their day-to-day problem.While the role o government and non-government agencies is important, theprimary requirement or grassroots development is local leadership and localresponsibility.The communities must be helped to help themselves, and emphasis shouldbe placed on building on their own coping and survival mechanisms. This willhelp in developing their capacity to deal with the situation.

3.2 Community Development and Capacity Building

Both community capacity building and community development are essential ways to buildsaer communities. A good VCA should consider these two issues, as it should create anenabling environment where peoples knowledge and skills are improved to analyze theirown situation and to identiy and develop urther solutions. The results o a VCA should behelpul to improve the general development o the community. Thereore, a VCA should notonly ocus on Disaster Risk Reduction, as many o the underlying causes o vulnerability arelinked to the overall development o a commune. Addressing root causes o vulnerabilitysuch as lack o livelihoods, poverty and local level governance allow communities tounderstand the problems and the risk associated with it in an overall perspective.

A community ocused and participatory VCA contributes to the capacity building o thecommune in terms o awareness raising, grassroots participation and commune planning.The strong involvement o the commune inhabitants themselves (e.g. the commune catalyst)in conducting the VCA tools and analysis and making the plan to reduce vulnerabilities andincrease capacities will motivate the commune inhabitants to work on that together and bethe owner o this plan. A better understanding o the situation o the vulnerable groups, abetter understanding o the responsibilities o the government and mass-organizations willcontribute to a more active tackling o commune issues with their own resources.

3.3 Intensive inclusion o Vulnerable Groups

The community is always segmented and represents a heterogeneous group o peoplebased on social/economic status, physical ability, age or psychological characteristics. In theevent o a disaster, they are afected diferently and the impact on each o them is varying.Such groups as women, children, elderly people, and people with disabilities, the poor,ethnic minorities, people with HIV/AIDS are identied as vulnerable groups. Those groupsare always afected the most by disasters, while having the lowest resilience capacity. As

such, it is very important that they participate in the VCA process themselves. Each o these


29/48

29


vulnerable groups requires special attention in any planning that is community centred. Forthe VCA process to succeed, a ocus on vulnerable groups while using VCA tools as well astheir participation in the process is the most important.

The vulnerable groups are oten underrepresented. Furthermore, not enough attentionis given to address their specic situation due to unequal power relations within thecommunity. While conducting a VCA the ollowing key consideration should be taken intoaccount with regard to vulnerable groups:

Adopt procedures to ensure the representation o relevant vulnerable groups inthe assessment. Further on in the manual we will give advice on how to engage thevulnerable groups in VCA tools;

Be very sensitive about gender issues during the whole process by assuring the highestparticipation o women, especially those who are in dicult circumstances (single

mothers and women who are responsible or the income o the whole amily);Be aware o cultural sensitivities and elements, which may over-emphasize or under-emphasize (e.g. hide) certain groups in the assessment;

Analyze existing social conditions and relationships interacting amongst diferentgroups;

Conduct an impact assessment o disaster and relie activities with these vulnerablegroups (i applicable).

Village meeting in Ear Bin commune, Lac district, Dac Lac


30/48

30

The ollowing tables provide guidance on some o the points to consider and the associatedpractical considerations to conduct a VCA that includes the vulnerable groups.

CHILDREN

FACTORS CONTRIBUTINGTO VULNERABILITY

CAPACITIES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VCA

Do not havephysical strength ascompared to olderpeople

Curiosity can lead torisky situations

Do not haveexperientialknowledge that olderpeople may have

Less able to controltheir emotions andmay experiencepsychological efectsdue to distressingsituations

Can playsignicantroles inassisting theiramilies andcommunitiesduring theinitial impactsand in theatermath odisaster

Olderchildren canlook ateryoungerchildren

Supportnetwork orpeers

Can organizevolunteergroups topromoteprotection/ saety ochildren inschool and

communitiesAbility tolearn ast

Naturally,they are moreexible tothink outsidethe boxcompared toadults.

Get inormation on the total numbero children according to age groupand gender (Children have specicneeds at specic ages, and specicneeds dependent on gender).

Children see things rom a diferent

perspective to adults given thediferent ways they interact withtheir environment, nature o socialnetworks. Thereore, VCA activitieswith children are likely to yieldadditional inormation.

VCA with children should be agespecic. Young children may needa more directed exercise such asdrawing, whereas teenagers canengage in ocus group discussion oreven lead a workshop investigatingvulnerabilities and capacities.

Mapping is a particularly useul toolto use with children as they will otenspend more time in some areas o thelocality more than adults (particularlyin urban settings).

Focus group discussion with childrenmay oten provide inormationon social issues that may not be

perceived as such by adultsChildren, adolescents and youngadults are going to experience themost change out o anyone in thecommunity during their lietimes.It is important that you gather notonly inormation rom them but alsoensure that they participate both indiscussions about change and thechosen strategies to deal with it.


31/48

31


WOMEN



Physical actors:pregnancy, strength,clothing

Reproductive healthneeds (pregnancy,childbirth)

Cultural devaluationo women / girls in

some regions

Social exclusion owomen on theirown (e.g. widows,household heads)

Diferentemploymentopportunities andlower pay than men.

Less opportunity andexperience to raisetheir concerns

Womensurvivorsare vital rstresponders andrebuilders, notpassive victims

Women-ledhouseholds arenot necessarilythe poorest ormost vulnerable

Women arenot economicdependentsbut producers,communityworkers, earners

Women

hold uniquegenderedknowledge thatis important todecision making

Engage women and men in VCAprocess equally

Focus group discussions withwomen in the community withwomen acilitators are encouraged

Collect gender-specic data (totalnumber o women, include alsodata on pregnancy and lactating

women)Identiy and assess gender-specicneeds

Identiy and support womenscontributions to inormal earlywarning systems, school andhome preparedness, communitysolidarity, community awareness,CBFA etc.

Assess the short and long termimpacts o programs on women/men o all disaster initiatives


32/48

32

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES (PWDs)



Lack o access toresources / support

Social exclusion

Limited livelihoodoptions

Limited access toevacuation (andinormation) in

disaster.Comparative poverty

Unaware o theirrights (and part othe society is also notaware o the rights othe handicapped)

Can be involvedin awarenessraising anddissemination oinormation

Play vital rolesduring disasterresponse andrelie operation

(Such as Clericalstaf etc.)

Maintainingsocial networks

People withDisabilitiesexperiencescan be drawnon whenplanning saer

communities(an inclusivecommunityis saer or allinhabitants)

There are diferent types anddegrees o disability (physical,hearing/speech, visual, intellectual,mental illness). This hasimplications or conduct o VCA

People with Disabilities areoten hidden away in manycommunities. It is important tomake eforts to nd and involve

these people in VCAFocus group discussions withpeople with disabilities shouldbe held to ensure they have theopportunity to get their views andideas heard

People with disabilities shouldparticipate in mapping (areidentied evacuation routesaccessible to all?)

Speak directly with people withdisabilities as they are the bestsource o inormation regardingtheir needs

Ensure that all your messages arecommunicated using multipleormats

Prepare to conduct assessmentswith alternative means o

communications (drawings,symbols, body language, etc.)


33/48

33


ELDERLY



Physically weak

Poor health

Financially insecure

May not want toleave their homes

Lack o access to

inormationDo not want to bea burden to theirchildren and so theymay not easily accepttheir childrens help

Experience ohow to explaindisaster

Traditionand olklorereectingexperiences

Respected andinuential inthe community(important orrole in VCA)

Understandingthe history

The elderly have a particularlyvaluable role to play when usingHistorical Prole and HistoricalVisualization and Projection

Historical knowledge o the elderlyalso could make identicationo uture trends more accurate(particularly the impact o climate

change)The use o these tools alsoprovides a useul opportunityto share historical inormationwith younger members o thecommunity

Elderly actively participate in VCA process


34/48


35/48

35


ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS



Lack o accessto education,inormation and skills

Oten live inremote, isolatedareas (potentiallydangerous).

Less developedinrastructure inremote areas.

Low understandingby others o customsand traditions osome ethnic groups

High levels opoverty

Income dependon weather andenvironmentconditions

Lack o

understanding themajorities languages

Good level oassistance toeach other

Good naturalshelter

Culture andtradition handedrom generationto generation

Knowledge ohow to use localmaterials

Mobilizestrengths ocommunity

IndigenousKnowledge oncoping with

natural disasters

Find out about indigenous copingcapacities or disasters

May provide substantialinormation on the impact ochanging climate when doinghistorical prole and historicalvisualization and projection

Prepare or a diferent languagewith engaging a translator

Table 4: Involving Vulnerable groups

Sharing indigenous knowledge in Hua Pang commune, Moc Chau district, Son La


36/48

36

CHAPTER 4: ADDRESSING EMERGING

CONCERNS IN VCA


37/48

37


While addressingnatural hazards, its underlying risks and impact in a VCA, it is importantto take into account the actors changing the nature o such hazards and the way this isafecting people. The nature o oods, storms, typhoons, drought and other disasters haschanged over recent decades and is afecting communities diferently than beore. The

vulnerabilities o people have increased due to such unpredictable behavior. In recent times,additional threats such as Avian Inuenza, epidemics, pollution and even the economic crisishave led to ever-increasing vulnerabilities within communities.

It is important or the Facilitators to understand those emerging trends while conductingthe VCA. Addressing the risk o a commune is aimed at the uture, thereore looking at thepast is no longer sucient. Facilitators should look at risks constantly changing and equipthe community to deal with those risks.

The tools used or VCA must take into account issues like climate change and urbanizationso that the overall vulnerability and capacity are a true representation o the problems aced

by the community. In this manual, climate change and urbanization are discussed to give ageneral idea on its impact on vulnerability and capacity.

4.1 Climate Change

Climate change and extreme weather present a high potential to set back developmenteforts. Vietnam is one o the ten countries worst afected by sea level rise and more intenseand requent extreme weather.13 Along with increased risk o more intense typhoons, salt-water intrusion, oods and droughts, climate change can also bring longer- term efects on

temperature and seasons.Some o the direct impacts o climate change are related to agricultural production, sheries,orestry, human health, coastal zones and water resources. These have certainly increasedthe vulnerability o poor people and the attention results in an enhanced programmaticapproach or disaster risk reduction. Obviously, climate change and its impact at the locallevel means that VCA needs to cover these emerging trends: during the collection andanalysis o secondary data; while discussing hazards with the community; and during theanalysis o such inormation. How this can be done will be explained later in this manualwhen the process and VCA tools will be discussed.

The objective o introducing climate change to the community when we are discussingdisaster preparedness is because communities will ace a uture that might not be similar totheir experiences rom the past, and thereore they need to be prepared to cope with thesenew and potentially exacerbated risks.

13 World Bank News Release, 12 February 2007 http://econ.worldbank.org


38/48

38

Efect o climate change on occurrence o disasters in Vietnam

FloodsRainall in all parts o Vietnam is becoming less predictable and alling at dierent

times o the year as the rainy season shits towards September November. In the

Mekong Delta, the annual Mekong ooding has been aected with a higher duration

o inundation. Provinces o An Giang and Dong Thap has seen a dierent pattern o

rainy season in recent years. This has aected the rice cultivation and fsheries.

Drought

Due to rainall concentrating more in the rainy season, combined with higher

temperatures and increased evapotranspiration, droughts are expected to occur

more requently in Vietnam. Vietnams recent history counts several drought periods.Most recently, in 2004/2005 Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Dac Nong, Dac Lac and Gia Lai

provinces experienced severe drought. Drought aects communities in many ways,

rom hampering livelihood activities (e.g. eects on agriculture) to social disruption and

increasing risks o amine and diseases due to lack o sae water. While other hazards

like typhoons and oods have a high impact due to their sudden onset, drought is slow-

onset, but has a long-term impact. Its duration may range rom months to years and

the area aected is oten very large.

Typhoons

The occurrence o typhoons in Vietnam is said to have shited to later in the year, andwill make land all urther south. This means that people in these areas are unamiliar

with this hazard which exposes them. For example this was the case in December 2006,

when typhoon Durian hit the Mekong area and caused a lot o casualties and damage

because people were not prepared and experienced.

Sea level rise

During the past 30 years, the sea level has increased by fve cm in Vietnam. It is predicted

to rise urther with about 9 cm in 2010, 33 cm in 2050, 45 cm in 2070 and 1 m in 2100.

Vietnam is very vulnerable to sea level rise, as low-lying areas such as the Mekong

delta and the Red River delta are densely populated. It is thereore predicted that anestimated 10.8 percent o the nations population would be displaced with one -meter

sea level rise. Sea level rise is not the only concern. Coupled with intense storms and/or

typhoons it potentially means storm surges can reach urther in land, aecting more

people and larger areas.

Source: World Bank (2007) working paper, The impact o sea level rise on developingcountries: a comparative analysis; Susmita Dasgupta, Benoit Laplante, Craig Meisner,David Wheeler, and Jianping Yan.


39/48

39


4.2 Urbanization in Vietnam

Like many South East Asian countries,Vietnam has a growing population and

experiences more urbanization. Althoughthis is an inevitable part o economicgrowth, urban society is experiencingserious internal breakdowns due toincreasing inequalities, because o extremeincome disparities. The interactionbetween urbanization based on rapidindustrialization on the one hand led tointernal population migration resultingin dicult living conditions. For most o

the people who live in urban settings andwho migrated to urban areas, making aliving is the main concern. This has alreadyled to increased vulnerability due to strainon the existing inrastructure, growth oimprovised settlements and other social issues. Vietnam has seen such changes in the lastcouple o decades as more industrialization is happening and people are moving to urbansettings in search o better opportunities.

Assessing vulnerability and capacity in urban settings is a dicult task and using VCA

methods that originally ocus on rural areas do not always yield proper results. As saidbeore, or people living in urban areas, livelihood and survival is the main issue so theremay be less attention to existing or uture hazards. In addition, the community approachis not really accepted by such populations, given that there are oten no historic and socialconnections amongst people and that these populations are more transient than those inrural areas. Networks are oten complex and vary signicantly depending on the individualcircumstances. In addition, disaster preparedness in urban areas receives less attentionthan disaster preparedness in rural areas, while the potential risks in urban areas may beeven higher. On the other hand, in urban areas it may be easier or the government andsocial organizations to act efectively, due to the population density and the relatively good

inrastructure.

To include urban settings in disaster risk reduction interventions, proper evaluation ovulnerability and potential risk should be conducted by creating awareness in the community.It is important to conduct awareness programs to bridge the gap between the communityperception and the emerging risk in urban settings.

In urban areas, coordination among all stakeholders and mobilizing the support or buildinga saety culture is one o the main aspects beore conducting the VCA process. Communitymobilization is an essential unction o the capacity building process. Advocacy within thecommunity as well as with the city government authorities or disaster risk reduction as parto an urban development process would be very helpul.

Factors contributing to

vulnerabilities in urban settings

Migrated population rom rural areas(poverty is getting migrated to cities)in most cases

Living in inormal settlements

Vulnerable housing and inrastructure,

Poor health and sanitation acilities

No regular income sources

Mostly located in areas prone tovarious hazards


40/48

CHAPTER 5: LINKING VCAWITH DEVELOPMENT AND

GOVERNMENT PLANS


41/48

41


There should be a strong link between DRR and social economic development in general andbetween DRR and the local development plan in particular. Obviously, i a commune wantsto work on poverty alleviation they should take into account the consequences o disasters

and impact o disaster management programs to prevent and mitigate these disasters.For example, the initial goal o a Mangrove plantation program is to reduce the impact odisasters such as typhoons. At the same time, it helps to build eeding and breeding habitatsor sh, which in returns provides livelihood options and ood security or the communities.The construction o inrastructure (e.g. a road or dam) sometimes negatively inuencesthe vulnerability o a commune, as it could lead to oodings. Building ood protectionschemes in certain village could similarly transer the risk to other communities. As a result,development can in certain cases contribute to an increase in vulnerability.

The VCA conducted by the VNRC Facilitators should not be limited to initiate communitydisaster risk reduction programs but should also deliver valuable inputs to local governmentplans and programs on disaster risk reduction and development. The VCA outputs shouldbe taken into consideration while developing the commune plans as it provides good andparticipatory inormation on communities problems and solutions. There are three reasonswhy there is a need to integrate VCA results into development & disaster managementprograms.

To guarantee that the design o development programs and projects take intoaccount potential disaster risks in the local community;

To ascertain that all the development programs and projects do not urther increase

vulnerability to disaster in all thematic areas: social, physical, and economic andenvironmental;

To ascertain that all the disaster relie and rehabilitation programs and projects aredesigned to contribute to reducing uture disaster risk in the community.

Activities related to linking & using the ndings o VCA could be planned based on theresults o the institutional and social network analysis (Venn diagram). This is a useul tool toassess the relations o the community with local, district and national government bodiesand identiy opportunities or engagement with local government entities.


42/48

42

5.1 Linking Disaster Risk Reduction into Development

Disaster reduction is linked with development or the ollowing reasons:

The underlying causes o poverty, unsustainable development and disasters are otenthe same;Disasters can put development at risk and make it unsustainable. Hence, efectivedisaster risk reduction contributes to sustainable development;Development can cause or reduce disaster risks. Failed development contributes topoverty and vulnerability. In contrast, sustainable development strengthens the securityo populations so that disaster reduction interventions can efectively help them toalleviate or avoid disaster risks to themselves and the supporting physical, economic,and social bases o their livelihoods.

Some recent practical examples rom Vietnam:

Link between disasters

and developmentSituation in Vietnam

Inrastructure can

Increase Vulnerability

Construction o dams (and roads) leads to ooding onearby communities

In Mekong River Delta the government have re-housedpeople in saer location but this has other negative

impacts on livelihoods (i.e. locally available options suchas shing in a nearby canal may no longer be available)

Disaster can set back

Development

Ater Typhoon Linda in 1997, thousands o shing boatswere damaged, causing the loss o livelihoods

In 2006, a commune (Ben Tre province) was hit bya storm, many people went bankrupt (27 out o 50became indebted)13

Development can

reduce vulnerability

People that have more money are able to build theirhouses better (and typhoon proo )Stable income will lead to less dangerous livelihoodsBetter education helps people to understand theirvulnerability and make a plan to improve their capacity

Table 5: Examples o link between disaster and development in Vietnam

13 Theo thng tin ca ng Nguyn Trng Ngha, Hi Ch thp Bn Tre, da trn y ban Nhn dn a phng


43/48

43


5.2 Linking VCA with local government plan or development

Each year, the People Committees o the communes prepare an annual local developmental

plan and submit this to the district and provincial authorities to request support orimplementation. Each Province, district and commune that is prone to storms and oodsin Vietnam is also required by the government to produce an annual disaster preparednessplan. However, these plans are oten developed in a top-down method and oten based onpredicted budget allocations. Ideally, the results o VCA should eed into the communesdisaster preparedness plans and into the DRR part o the development plans. These planswill be shared with the district People Committee by the Commune People Committee. Withthis, the results o VCA at commune level will inuence the government planning at a higherlevel.

VNRC Facilitators in their Disaster Preparedness programs have conducted a large number oVCAs in diferent communes nationwide. From these communes, the People Committee usedthe result o the VCAs or their annual Disaster Preparedness plan.14 During these projectsthe VNRC submitted the VCA report to the governments, advocated or the acceptance othis report and advised to adopt the analyses in their DP plan.

Most recently the VCA acilitated by the VNRC addresses a broader scope o the communelie, with taking into account the underlying actors o vulnerability (e.g. livelihood, health).The results o the VCA are now also intended to be integrated in the Social Economic Plano the commune. In order to reach this, the VNRC involves all stakeholders in the process tointegrate the result into the sectoral plan and the overall commune plan.

5.3 Advocacy or VCA

Advocacy is a powerul tool to create and strengthen the linkage o VCAs with thedevelopment and the local government development plan. Advocacy entails actions directedat inuencing people, policies, structures and systems in order to bring about change. It isabout inuencing those who make policy decisions.15 Advocacy is an important step in theVCA process. We need to do advocacy to convince the local government such as the hamletheads, commune leaders etc. to support the VCA process itsel and to accept the VCA report

or guidance in designing commune actions. Once the local government understands thatthe VCA results are not limited to a particular situation but could have a long-term impact tothe lives o the people, it will maximize participation o community members.

14 In the past the purpose o the VCA by VNRC was to help the commune to help to prepare the DP plan only, with a main ocus on protective measures.15 based on UNISDR Terminology on Disaster Risk Reduction (2009) http://undp.org.ge/new/les/24_619_762164_UNISDR-terminology-2009-eng.pd


44/48

44

For the Facilitators it is good to realize that not many local level authorities know about VCAand its potential benet or overall commune development. As a result this is not necessarilyan easy task, however it is crucial or the VCA process and its application to have a goodadvocacy result. The Facilitators should remember that the decision to undertake a VCA

process in a particular commune is made ater careul assessment o the problems that thecommunity ace. Subsequently the VCA should help the Commune PC to make decisionsbased on the VCA results in planning or their own developmental work.

Voice o children in VCA process


45/48

45


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


46/48

46

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


47/48


48/48

vca manual for vnrc practitioners (vnrc and nlrc) en part 1

Documents