doi: 10.3850/S17939240201200107X

Eight Components of Integrated Community based Risk Reduction: A Risk Identification Application in the Maldives

Bob Alexander¹ and Jessica Mercer^{2 1}Rural Livelihood Risk Management Consulting, P.O. Box 1251, Honolulu, HI, 96807, USA. bfootbob@hotmail.com ²Independent Consultant, 33 Gravel Close, Downton, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK, SP5 3JQ. Jessica-mercer@hotmail.com

ABSTRACT

A number of scholars and practitioners have identified a need to embed climate change adaptation (CCA) approaches within disaster risk reduction (DRR) in a more integrated approach to community risk reduction, and subsequently sustainable development. At the national and international level these issues continue to be addressed in isolation. At the community level anumber of tool kits and frameworks have been developed to address the need for a more integrated approach to risk reduction. One such framework - the Process Framework - has been developed for addressing community vulnerability through integrating local and scientific knowledge for DRR and CCA. The steps include community engagement, identification of vulnerability factors and identification of local and scientific knowledge followed by the development of an integrated strategy to address vulnerability incorporating both knowledge bases. While the integration of knowledge for risk reduction is important, seven other essential components are identified in the literature as necessary for effective identification, analysis, and assessment of community risk. This paper improves the identification of vulnerability factors in the Process Framework through integration of all eight components. Practical application of the revised framework is then discussed using the Maldives as a case example. Analysis of this case study and further discussion reveal some inherent difficulties with implementation of the integration components. Recommendations for overcoming these for sustainable risk reductionare provided. Outcomes should be valuable to researchers, government, and non-government organizations interested in further development of integrated community based risk reduction processes that assist with effective risk reduction, adaptation and development decision-making.

Keywords: Risk, Vulnerability, Integrated, Community, CBDRR, Identification, Assessment, Mainstreaming, Disaster, Climate change, Indigenous knowledge.

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