Presented at the Resilience 2014, May 8, Montpellier. Presented by Barbara Abbentheren, Dr. Klaus H. Schreiner from GIZ.

1. Page 1
Resilience and Development
Strenghtening Resilience in
Fragile Contexts
and Experiences from the Philippines
Resilience2014 Conference Montpellier
8 May 2014
Barbara Abbentheren, Dr. Klaus H. Schreiner
Division for Security, Reconstruction and Peace

2. Page 2
 Concept claims to offer a new and different way of thinking
about both, development cooperation as well as humanitarian
assistance – and of approaching challenges and risks,
particularly in fragile contexts and situations of protracted or
recurrent crises. Changed point of view.
 Integrated / holistic approach for humanitarian and
development actors – LRRD (Linking Relief, Rehabilitation and
Development)
The Guiding Questions:
What is different in a resilience-based approach?
What is the relevance of the concept for development
actors?
Added value to development cooperation? For people and
communities in need? New label to old approaches?

3. Page 3
 affected population is insufficient prepared and unable to respond
adequately to crisis
 state institutions often not capable (or willing) to take appropriate
measures to deal with effects of crisis and to protect the population
from risks
 combination of complex stresses and low resilience can lead to
permanent vulnerability that constrains development of societies and
individuals and fosters poverty
The approach strengthening the resilience of individuals, societies and
institutions strives to break the vicious circle of emergency situations and
chronic poverty in order to enable long-term development perspectives.
Relevance in the context we work in:
Populations in fragile states are more vulnerable
to man-made crisis and extreme natural events because…

4. Page 4
Resilience is about …
Community
Regional
National
level
Identifying and addressing
causes of vulnerability
Preventing negative
coping strategies
Responding to and
coping with shocks and
stresses
Understanding the social,
economical and institutional
context
Creating favorable (political,
economical, social) frame
conditions to strengthen
resilience
Ensuring actions do not
compromise well-being of
vulnerable individuals and
groups
Strengthening absorptive
and adaptive capacities
Strengthening transfor-
mative capacities

5. Page 5
Working Definition of ‘Resilience‘
What are the parts to look for?
Resilience is…
„… the ability of states, organisations and individuals to cope
with and quickly recover from shocks or stresses resulting from
fragile contexts, crises, violent conflict and extreme natural
hazards, and to constantly adapt to changing circumstances and
transform where it is necessary to guarantee sustainable
development.
Source: GIZ – NICD, Network International Cooperation in Conflicts and Disasters, 2013
Level
Context
Capacity
Risks
GIZ | Div. 48 Security, Reconstruction and Peace

6. Page 6
Resilience plays a central role as the guiding cross-sectoral concept in the
German ‘Strategy of Transitional Development Assistance’ (BMZ):
Overarching aim of transitional development assistance is to strengthen the
resilience of people and institutions to withstand the impact and
consequences of crises, violent conflict and extreme weather events.
Resilience likewise increasingly relevant in a variety of other sectors as, for
example, Climate Change Adaptation, Rural Development and Agriculture,
Good Governance, Peace and Security.
Challenges for all actors: How to operationalize the paradigm ‘Strengthening
Resilience’ of people, communities and institutions? How to avoid just to add
the ‘Resilience label’ to project titles but to make a real difference?
The Challenge: Translating Resilience into Programming

7. Page 7
Learning with different implementing partners (NGOs, GIZ, WFP) on HOW TO
OPERATIONALIZE resilience and LRRD in five programmes
in Madagascar, Haiti and South Sudan.
Objectives:
(1) systematically share, analyse and compile lessons learnt and good practice from
project implementation through a facilitated Dialogue Platform, and
(2) integrate these experiences into existing and future concepts, projects and political
positioning.
A final learning conference, presumably in the end of 2015, is planned to summarize the
outcomes.
Key questions to be answered:
 How can ‘Strengthening Resilience’ be effectively realized in project planning and
implementation?
 How do we know, that we are successful in ‘Strengthening Resilience’? How can we
measure impact of resilience strengthening measures? How can resilience be
measured?
 Where are the limits and boundaries of the concept?
The BMZ Resilience Learning Initiative – RLI

8. Page 8
Resilience – Our Understandig
Resilience is …
 a dynamic concept
 not everywhere and any time the same
 oriented on systems
Resilience should always be development-
oriented and focus on a change of the status
quo
Resilience offers options to …
 multi-sectoral action
 multi-level approaches
 better linkage between short-, middle
and long-term measures
 a better coordination and cooperation
between programmes and donors
Everything new?
• Many programmes are already focusing on the
strengthening of resilience on different levels.
• First experiences exist, we do not start by ‚0‘.
• The approaches do not follow (yet) a concrete
resilience strategy.
More ideas and thoughts on resilience:
• Resilience means to support the ability to act.
• The ability to act is always based on the
prerequisite to take informed decisions
• To be able to take informed decisions,
mechanisms for articulation and aggregation of
opinions, options and interests do have to be
strengthened on local, regional and national
level.

9. Page 9
Why Caraga?
 Request from the Philippine Government to
the German Government to get involved in
Mindanao (2007)
 Vast natural resources (forest, minerals),
but high rank on Poverty Index
 Multi-faceted conflict situation
 Weak presence of donor organizations,
particularly in the field of conflict
transformation.
COSERAM supports an integrated approach of poverty reduction and peace building in the
region of Caraga, Philippines since January 2011. COSERAM is a joint undertaking of the
Governments of the Philippines and Germany implemented by local institutions with the
support of GIZ and KfW (German Development Bank).
The ‘Conflict Sensitive Resource and Asset Management’ (COSERAM)
GIZ | Div. 48 Security, Reconstruction and Peace

10. Page 10
From understanding to action: grasping the context
GIZ | Div. 48 Security, Reconstruction and Peace
A thorough and comprehensive analysis of the environment and context of the proposed
project was essential for the design of the programme. A 18-month preparatory programme
provide the space for it.

11. Page 11
Indigenous Practices for
the Conservation of
Biodiversity
in Agusan Marsh
Objective:
In selected areas of Caraga region governance of natural
resources is ensured in a peaceful and sustainable manner,
benefiting the community.
TC-module 2
(07/2012 – 12/2014)
COMPONENT 1
Resource Management:
Sustainable Management of land
and natural resources in selected
areas of Caraga region is
improved
COMPONENT 2
Human Security:
Peace building needs of
selected local communities
are addressed
TC-module 1
(01/2011 – 12/2014)
 Local Conflict Transformation
and Legal Aid
 Human Security of
Communities
 Support for ‘Livelihoods’
 Harmonization of land uses
 Strengthen regulation and
enforcement processes
 Equitable and sustainable
management & use of natural
resources
 Documentation of indigenous
practices
 Strengthen conflict sensitive protected
area management
 Improvement of actual biodiversity
status in area
Objective:
Indigenous knowledge, methods and practices
are used for the conservation of biodiversity
and a conflict sensitive and sustainable
management of natural resources in Agusan
Marsh.
COSERAM: Objectives & Contributions
GIZ | Div. 48 Security, Reconstruction and Peace

12. Page 12
Key factors for strengthening resilience
GIZ | Div. 48 Security, Reconstruction and Peace
COSERAM not designed with a resilience objective in mind, however the interaction and
interrelations of components and activities resulted in strengthening the resilience of
individuals, communities and institutions.
In the project’s design and implementation:
 Working at and linking of different levels (local, provincial, national – micro, meso,
macro)
 Managing competing interests: indigenous people, women, environmental groups,
government, companies/ investors
 Embedding programme into local government structures
 Developing capacities in the different dimensions (individual, institution, system)
 Applying a political economy perspective
 Addressing governance issues
 Sequencing of objectives and related activities
 Component 1  absorptive and adaptive capacities /
Component 2 & Component 3  transformative capacities
 Ensuring actions do not compromise well-being of vulnerable individuals
 Informed decisions on trade-offs

13. Page 13
COSERAM – Some Achievements
GIZ | Div. 48 Security, Reconstruction and Peace
from a resilience perspective
 Enhanced security of tenure empowers local communities and claimants.
Obtaining clear land titles and support of titling claims helps (indigenous)
communities and individuals to define and pursue their own development
objectives before they are overrun by externally steered processes.
 Increasing government awareness
… of peace and development needs and urgency to be reflected in
development plans and budgets
… to understand and address concerns of indigenous people.
 Emphasizing empowerment, ownership, and participation while focusing
on disadvantaged groups contributes to empowering the society to make
the best possible choices with special regard to conflict and resource
management.

14. Page 14
Key lessons drawn from GIZ‘s work
GIZ | Div. 48 Security, Reconstruction and Peace
• Trivial but fundamental: comprehensive understanding of the context: actors, frame
conditions, policies, interrelated and interdependent factors and effects etc.
Thorough analysis as cornerstone for sound design and implementation of
programme.
• Abandon compartimentalised technical approach in favour of holistic and systemic
attitude. Plan synergies: Analyse gaps and enforce linkages between levels and
sectors to create and enhance impact.
• Linking policies, government institutions, and local actors.
 Understanding inter-linkages of risks; integration into planning and operations helps
to build resilience of communities, individuals, as well as the state and its
institutions.
 Acceptance that there are no quick solutions and a need for long-term constructive
engagement in order to create sustainable and inclusive (economic) development.