Lessons learned
Integrated programming (including health, safe water
provision, and prevention and mitigation actions)
provides a more holistic response to the needs of
communities. However, implementing several
components of an integrated programme
simultaneously requires human resources and
expertise in the different sectors. This can be partially
overcome by partnering with local authorities, who
can provide expertise and resources and can
implement certain components of the programme,
such as health education.
For the Red Cross Society of China, the government
and the communities concerned, the CVR
programme represents a new approach to supporting
vulnerable communities by addressing the hazardous
environments in which they live. Through the
programme, the concept of disaster preparedness has
been embraced by all stakeholders. Initially, however,
non-structural issues, such as prevention, mitigation,
hazard awareness and education, were characterized as
a “hard sell” because they produce nothing tangible.
It was therefore necessary to spend time and effort
explaining the importance of preparedness work and
motivating both the communities and the local
authorities.
Community participation is essential from the outset
in a community-based programme. Communities
may not, however, be familiar with such an approach
in a society which is traditionally top-down and
whose experience of knowledge transfer is primarily
through formal lecture-based formats. There is a
need, therefore, to introduce a grassroots
participatory approach gradually and to build it into
programme design so that staff and volunteers receive
relevant training to enable them to empower
communities to participate fully in the process.
Community participation and commitment can be
further enhanced by requesting that the community
contributes resources to the programme. In the CVR
programme, community members contributed their
labour for structural mitigation projects, such as
small-scale construction.
In all CBDP programmes, it is a challenge to maintain
focus on the disaster preparedness and risk reduction
aspects once a main priority has been addressed
through some kind of mitigation measure. For
sustainability and continued preparedness for seasonal
disasters, it is important to emphasize the need for
longer-term planning and preparedness. This can be
done through cost-free refresher activities, such as
reviewing evacuation plans or conducting further
awareness-raising in the community. In addition,
lobbying for external support for second and third
priority mitigation measures should be continued.