Nicolai STEEN, Belen CAMACHO, Belen PALEY DARA International, Spain, Kingdom of

1. Risk Reduction Index
Methodology and
Preliminary Findings-
Phase II (West Africa)
28 August 2012, IDRC Davos

2. Risk Reduction Index
Risk Reduction Index - Analysis of the
Capacities and Conditions for Disaster Risk
Reduction (RRI)
What is it?
 Action-oriented research programme that aims to shed light on how
to improve risk management within most vulnerable countries across
different regions of the world.
Why the RRI?
Support evidence to strengthen focus on underlying risk factors –
HFA Priority for Action #4. In line with findings from GAR 2009 & 2011
Findings from DARA’s evaluations underline this need
What we provide?
Gathers, analyses and discusses field evidence – enabling actors to
identify ways to address underlying risk factors

3. DARA and DRR
Principal DRR evaluations in recent years:
 Tsunami Evaluation Coalition (TEC, 2005)
 DIPECHO in Central America (2007)
 IASC RTE humanitarian response to floods in Mozambique
(2007)
 Lessons Learnt from UN response to floods in Mexico (2008)
 IASC RTE international response to typhoons and floods in
Philippines (2009) and floods in Pakistan (2010)
 Humanitarian Response Index (HRI) project, with missions
related to the earthquakes in Pakistan (2007), China (2009), and
Haiti (2010), and cyclones in Bangladesh and Myanmar (2009)
Global Evaluation on FAO’s Role in Disaster Risk Reduction
(2012)

4. Methodology Summary
Mixed method
Perceptions-based
Data sampling: ratings (scale 1-5) and qualitative judgements
Analytical Dimension - Risk drivers:
1. Environment and natural resources;
2. Socioeconomic conditions;
3. Land use and the built environment; and
4. Governance.
Representative Territorial Units (RTU): geographically defined area -
subject to certain hazards and patterns of vulnerability - representative
of other areas. RTUs can exceed political divisions - boundaries are
defined in terms of risk type.
Participatory and Multi-sector
- National and local governmental institutions, civil society, NGOs and
private sector
- At least 48 informants per RTU

5. Risk Reduction Index
The RRI:
• in-depth local level analysis - bottom-up/participatory;
• focus on stakeholders’ perceptions of ‘underlying risk drivers’
• enabling conditions and capacities for effective risk management
• connects local and central level risk management processes;
• multi-stakeholder validation workshops;
• define actions that address the key challenges identitied;
• enhances more integrated risk management;
• promotes more resilience through multi-sector focus;

6. RRI- Global Project - Three Phases
PHASE III:
ASIA
• Countries TBD
PHASE I:
CENTRAL
AMERICA (2009-
10)
•Costa Rica PHASE II: WEST
•El Salvador AFRICA (2011-
•Guatemala 12)
•Honduras •Cape Verde
•Nicaragua • The Gambia
•Panama •Ghana
•Dominican Republic •Guinea
•Niger
•Senegal

7. Partnerships and Regional Scope
West Africa under the FOREWARN initiative:
Facilitating Enhanced Organisational Responsiveness
for Effective West African Risk Reduction
FOREWARN ‘s purpose: generate knowledge in the region
that helps sub-national administrations, national
governments, and ECOWAS (regional body) to improve
regional risk management
FOREWARN partners:
 Humanitarian Futures Programme (HFP) – King’s College
 African Leadership Centre – King’s College
 ECOWAS (Abuja)
 UNISDR
 Funded by AusAid and AECID

8. Ghana-Preliminary Findings
Ghana’s Three RTUs: FLOOD
•Accra (Sub-urban)
EPIDEMIC
•Bolgatanga (North – arid rural)
•East Coast (Coastal semi-urban area) WILDFIRE
DROUGHT
INSECT INFESTATION
CYCLONE
TORNADO
LANDSLIDES
EARTHQUAKE
VOLCANO
TSUNAMI

9. Ghana- Preliminary Findings

11. Accra- Water Contamination
In which way is water contamination affecting Accra?
HEALTH HAZARDS (EPIDEMICS, CHOLERA, WATER BORNE DISEASES…)
DESTROYS MICRO-ORGANISMS WHICH ASSIST FLORA AND FAUNA IN THE RIVERS.
FLOODING
POLLUTION
WATER SCARCITY FOR DRINKING/HOUSEHOLDS
What types of interventions are being developed to address the issue?
AWARENESS CREATION & EDUCATION & SENSIBILIZATION
ACTION AGAINST SURFACE MINING AND RELEASE OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE
WATER PROJECTS
ENACTING OF BY-LAWS
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES ESTABLISHED AND OF WATER RESOURCES
IMPLEMENTATION OF PLANNING CONTROLS
WATER MONITORING
By whom? And how effective are the interventions?
COMMUNITY ORGS (3.00)
INTERNATIONAL ORGS (3.50)
LOCAL/REG GOVT (2.73)
NATIONAL GOVT (2.95)

12. Bolgatanga- Deforestation
CAUSES DESERTIFICATION, DROUGHT, SOIL EROSION and INCIDENCE OF WILDFIRES
BARE LAND AIDS WINDSTORMS AND FLOODS THAT ALSO AFFECTS ROOFS OF BUILDINGS
BROUGHT ABOUT RAINFALL PATTERNs WHICH CAUSED DESTRUCTION TO THE FOREST
IT REDUCES RAINFALL PATTERN WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO FOOD INSECURITY
INCREASES DISEASES, REDUCES MEDICINAL PLANTS
In which way is deforestation affecting Bolgatanga?
AFFORESTATION AND REFORESTATION
EDUCATION
ENACTMENT OF BY-LAWS
SANCTIONS AND ARRESTS
PLANTING
SENSIBILIZATION
What types of interventions are being developed to address the
issue?
NATIONAL GOVT (3.45)
COMMUNITY ORGS (3.17)
LOCAL/REG GOVT (3.03)
INTERNATIONAL ORGS (2.83)
By whom? And how effective are the interventions?

13. East Coast- Soil Erosion
ALLOWS FLOODS, WAVES, SEA LEVEL RISE
CAUSES LOSS OF LIVELIHOOD ENHANCING MATERIALS AND DESTROYS BUILDINGS
COASTAL DWELLERS
COSTS LIVES
TAKES THE LAND
In which way is coastal erosion affecting East Coast?
CONSTRUCTION OF SEA DEFENSE WALL AND THE CREATION OF SANDBAR CLIFFS
EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS
PREPARATION OF RELOCATION PLAN
TREE PLANTING
What types of interventions are being developed to address the
issue?
INTERNATIONAL ORGS (3.50)
LOCAL/REG GOVT (4.00)
NATIONAL GOVT (3.79)
By whom? And how effective are the interventions?

14. Example Findings Driver 1:
Environmental and Natural Resources
ACCRA BOLGATANGA EAST COAST
DRIVER 1 5. Soil erosion
6. Water Contamination
2. Coastal Erosion 2. Coastal Erosion
3. Deforestation
7. Water Scarcity
4. Desertification

15. Ghana - Preliminary Findings
Main challenge in three RTUs:
• Environment and natural resource management main challenge
• Governance least challenging area
• Soil erosion and water contamination main challenge across RTUs
• Accra generally rated higher than other areas
• Coastal Erosion issue in both coastal RTUs
• Some local organisations rated lower than governmental institutions
• Relevance of focusing on underlying risk factors – not only addressing
the ‘traditional’ natural hazards

16. Risk Reduction Index
Next Steps:
West Africa:
Finalise data analysis in Cape Verde, Ghana and Senegal
Conduct workshops and define RTU action plans (with local
stakeholders)
Fit findings into existing national plans (partner importance)
Start data collection in Niger, The Gambia and Guinea
Publication and Dissemination of Findings (RTU and national
workshops; regional level – ECOWAS and Global Platform 2013)
RRI in Asia - third phase
Advance on partner identification
Selection of countries
Fundraising
Contribute to the 2013 Global Assessment Report