Living with Risk. A global review of disaster reduction initiatives

Policy and public commitment: the foundation of disaster risk reduction
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Table: Sample criteria for accomplished disaster reduction. AUDMP
Basic Principles
Factor Components
Level of
Impact
Description
Enactment and Modification
of Disaster Reduction
Policies
National Level
High
• The programmes has directly or indirectly influenced national
level policies in more than ten countries of Asia.
• Policy modified or established to facilitate action: at least four
City Municipal Level
Medium
• At least eight municipal plans written or revised during the programme
period
• Municipal bylaws modified
• Municipality level Disaster Management Units established
Community Level
High
• The Cambodian project under AUDMP (Flood hazard mitigation
programme) is basically a community-based programme. It
also influenced the community level. Several community-based
initiatives were implemented (e.g., DMC ward No. 34 in Kathmandu
Metropolitan City)
Assistance in Integrating
Disaster Risk Reduction
in Governance
Disaster Reduction incorporated
in national plan and policies
Medium
• Background work done for incorporation in several countries
• Municipalities in the process of incorporating disaster reduction
in their agenda
Poverty Alleviation and Disaster
Reduction
Low
• Background works done for incorporation in several
countries
State Commitments for Disaster
Free Environment
Low
• Active participation in AUDMP national project by national and
municipal governments
• Indirect commitment expressed by government ministers, secretaries
• National Committee for Earthquake Safety Day established in
Nepal
• Additional investment of 5% of AUDMP budget from non-
AUDMP sources
• In-kind contribution additional
Enactment of Regulations for
Disaster Reduction
Medium
• This is found to be a slow and complex process. AUDMP,
together with other programmes, has influenced the process in
some of the partnering countries
Creation of Implementation
Mechanisms
Medium
• This is found to be a slow and complex process. AUDMP,
together with other programmes, has influenced the process in
some of the partnering countries
Awareness-Raising
Awareness-raising programmes
High
• Disaster Reduction Days established in Sri Lanka and
Bangladesh
• Several thousand people made aware
• Assessment, scenario and action planning found as a great tool
for awareness raising
Awareness-raising materials
High
• Posters, pamphlets, handbooks, fliers prepared and distributed in
project cities
• Other materials in the process of being prepared
Institutionalization of Awarenessraising
programmes
High
• Earthquake Safety Day observed in Nepal on an annual basis
since 1999.
• Disaster reduction days observed annually in Sri Lanka and
Bangladesh
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