Author details
Author Masahiro Watanabe |
Available document(s)


Institutionalising Disaster Risk Management: Latin America’s systems approach
Watanabe Masahiro - ELLA, 2013How are Latin American countries mainstreaming decentralised, democratic and participatory strategies to disaster risk management across public policy?
Through a systems approach, the region is making important advances. Against a backdrop of inadequate disaster preparedness and repeated humanitarian aid interventions, Latin American countries have driven forward the institutionalisation and mainstreaming of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) in public policy. Based on a systems approach, Latin American governments are establishing coherent policy and regulatory frameworks for DRM f ...
![]()
Available online: http://ella.practicalaction.org/sites/default/files/130220_ENV_DisRisManCit_BRIE [...]
Published by: ELLA ; 2013
How are Latin American countries mainstreaming decentralised, democratic and participatory strategies to disaster risk management across public policy?
Through a systems approach, the region is making important advances. Against a backdrop of inadequate disaster preparedness and repeated humanitarian aid interventions, Latin American countries have driven forward the institutionalisation and mainstreaming of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) in public policy. Based on a systems approach, Latin American governments are establishing coherent policy and regulatory frameworks for DRM focused on improving coordination between public institutions, harnessing and building expertise, modernising investment systems and securing commitment and participation from multiple stakeholders.
This Brief begins by describing how approaches to DRM in Latin America have evolved from purely responsive actions to broad institutional reforms aimed at mainstreaming disaster prevention and mitigating risk. It then provides an analysis of the main characteristics of this systems approach, describing how it has facilitated the institutionalisation of DRM into public policy in Latin America and providing key examples from across the region. Finally, the Brief describes the major contextual factors that have facilitated these processes, identifies on-going challenges and offers lessons learned that may be useful for other countries and regions.Language(s): English
Format: Digital (Free)Tags: Climate ; Climate change ; Adaptation ; Latin America ; Region IV - North America, Central America and the Caribbean ; Region V - South-West Pacific
Add tag
No review, please log in to add yours !
Pushing Through Reform: Lima's Disaster Risk Management Strategy | ELLA
Watanabe Masahiro - ELLA, 2013In recent years, there have been a number of important actions at the institutional level for promoting disaster risk management (DRM) in developing countries. Yet securing a city-level political commitment that ensures the required investment and specific action plans in big cities has remained a pending challenge. This Brief describes how the Municipality of Lima designed and implemented its Disaster Risk Management Strategy, in particular analysing how disaster risk management was successfully positioned through advocacy and communications efforts. This case highlights some particularly int ...
![]()
Available online: http://ella.practicalaction.org/sites/default/files/130404_ENV_DisRisManCit_BRIE [...]
Published by: ELLA ; 2013
In recent years, there have been a number of important actions at the institutional level for promoting disaster risk management (DRM) in developing countries. Yet securing a city-level political commitment that ensures the required investment and specific action plans in big cities has remained a pending challenge. This Brief describes how the Municipality of Lima designed and implemented its Disaster Risk Management Strategy, in particular analysing how disaster risk management was successfully positioned through advocacy and communications efforts. This case highlights some particularly interesting DRM issues in cities: the relationship between city and national level governments; the use of communications to convince citizens to want to prioritise DRM public works and the resulting political will this builds; and finally, the context of the integrated, systems-approach to disaster risk management strategies that is becoming increasingly characteristic of the region. In telling the story of Lima's strategy, the Brief also highlights the role of key actors, initial results achieved, the contextual factors enabling the process, and some interesting lessons that could prove useful for city-level DRM efforts in other contexts.
Language(s): English
Format: Digital (Free)Tags: Natural hazards ; Disaster Risk Management (DRM) ; Climate change ; Adaptation ; Case/ Case study ; Latin America ; Region IV - North America, Central America and the Caribbean ; Region III - South America
Add tag
No review, please log in to add yours !
Latin American experience in combining Disaster Risk Management with poverty reduction
Watanabe Masahiro - ELLA, 2013Extreme weather events have a direct impact on households' welfare, and in particular, the poorest, most socially excluded populations. Increasing frequency and intensity of disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and flooding, is closely linked to the growing vulnerability of households and communities. Thus, the impacts of extreme events on poverty, income, consumption, health and education present a serious challenge to the well-being of these populations, and also produce negative long-term consequences for economic and social development across the region. In order to reduce the impact ...
![]()
Available online: http://ella.practicalaction.org/sites/default/files/130218_ENV_DisRisManCit_BRIE [...]
Published by: ELLA ; 2013
Extreme weather events have a direct impact on households' welfare, and in particular, the poorest, most socially excluded populations. Increasing frequency and intensity of disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and flooding, is closely linked to the growing vulnerability of households and communities. Thus, the impacts of extreme events on poverty, income, consumption, health and education present a serious challenge to the well-being of these populations, and also produce negative long-term consequences for economic and social development across the region. In order to reduce the impacts of disasters on existing economic and social disparities, Latin American countries are implementing a range of initiatives that combine Disaster Risk Management (DRM) approaches with poverty reduction measures, social inclusion and the creation of jobs and productive activities. This Brief presents some key experiences from across the region, with a focus on urban governance, public investment systems and innovative insurance mechanisms. The Brief then describes the main contextual factors that explain why Latin American countries have made progress in these areas, as well as on-going challenges and key lessons that may be useful for other regions.
Language(s): English
Format: Digital (Free)Tags: Natural hazards ; Disaster Risk Management (DRM) ; Poverty and Poverty reduction ; Case/ Case study ; Latin America ; Region IV - North America, Central America and the Caribbean ; Region III - South America
Add tag
No review, please log in to add yours !