2010年-世界发展银行全球_Improving_the_Resilience_of_Livelihoods_to_Natural_Disasters_16页_734kb

EAP DRM KnowledgeNotes Summary

Core Content

This working paper explores the resilience of livelihoods in the East Asia and the Pacific region in the face of natural disasters. It emphasizes the importance of ex ante (before the disaster) strategies to reduce vulnerability and improve preparedness, rather than relying solely on post-disaster relief. The document highlights the disproportionate impact of natural disasters on low and middle-income countries, where economic and social systems are less equipped to absorb the shock of such events.

Main Points

• Disaster Impact Disparity: Natural disasters have a more severe impact on low and middle-income countries due to limited insurance coverage, weaker infrastructure, and lower economic capacity. For instance, the Maldives lost 66% of its GDP in a single tsunami, whereas Hurricane Andrew in the US caused only 0.3% of GDP loss.

• Definitions:

  • Risk: The effect of a disaster.
  • Hazard: The external cause, such as natural phenomena like floods.
  • Vulnerability: The internal factors that increase susceptibility to harm, such as poor infrastructure, lack of education, and limited access to resources.

• Vulnerable Groups:

  • Gender: Women are disproportionately affected by natural disasters.
  • Age: Elderly people face greater health risks, isolation, and reduced mobility.
  • Children: Especially poor children, are more vulnerable due to nutritional deficiencies and lack of education.
  • Persons with disabilities: Lack of services and information exacerbates their vulnerability.

• Ex Ante Strategies:

  • Prevention and Risk Reduction: Relocating from high-risk areas, using disaster-resistant construction.
  • Risk Exposure and Sensitivity Reduction: Diversifying livelihoods and assets.
  • Risk Compensation: Formal and informal insurance, savings, and social networks.

• Adaptation Strategies:

  • Resilient Crops and Farming Practices: Using drought- or flood-resistant seeds, crop diversification, and water conservation.
  • Diversification of Livelihoods: Moving income sources away from agriculture to non-farm sectors like businesses, wage labor, or migration.
  • Migration and Remittances: Migrant remittances act as a safety net, especially in disaster-affected areas.

• Financial Risk Mitigation:

  • Micro Finance Institutions (MFI): Provide accessible credit to the poor, though face liquidity challenges during disasters.
  • Insurance Mechanisms: Micro insurance and index-based insurance help protect against disaster losses, with the latter being more efficient in reducing transaction costs and moral hazard.

Key Strategies for Resilience

Resilient Crops and Farming Practices

• Advantages: Reduces risk and ensures income post-disaster.
• Requirements: Support in knowledge, technology, and financial resources.
• What Needs to Be Done: Government and development agencies should support diversification and adaptation strategies, including training, awareness, and access to infrastructure.

Diversification of Livelihoods

• Advantages: Provides secure income streams, helps avoid debt, and supports asset retention.
• Requirements: Access to information, market opportunities, and financial resources.
• What Needs to Be Done: Encourage a multi-sectoral approach involving local governments, NGOs, and development organizations to support livelihood diversification.

Migration and Remittances

• Advantages: Remittances act as a financial safety net, reduce reliance on selling productive assets, and improve living standards.
• Requirements: Reliable remittance channels and support for migration.
• What Needs to Be Done: Promote remittance-based coping mechanisms and ensure access to financial services for migrant families.

Financial Risk Mitigation

• Micro Finance Institutions:

  • Advantages: Flexible, accessible, and lower interest rate lending.
  • Requirements: Adequate coverage, focus on the poor, and efficient database systems.
  • What Needs to Be Done: Governments and donors should provide emergency funding, simplify procedures, and support insurance schemes.

• Insurance:

  • Micro Insurance: Offers affordable coverage for the poor, with support from development organizations.
  • Index-Based Insurance: Uses publicly observable indices (e.g., rainfall, livestock mortality) to trigger payouts, reducing transaction costs and moral hazard.
  • What Needs to Be Done: Expand index-based insurance in vulnerable areas, improve database management, and ensure timely claim reimbursements.

Case Studies

• Bangladesh and Myanmar: Bangladesh’s cyclone shelters reduced casualties, while Myanmar’s lack of preparedness led to higher fatalities. This shows that disaster preparedness is crucial even for non-poor populations.

• India: Diamond Cutting and Polishing: Non-agricultural livelihoods like diamond processing offer alternative income sources for drought-affected communities.

• Emergency Liquidity Facility (ELF): A fund in Latin America that provides quick emergency loans to MFIs, enabling them to support disaster-affected clients.

• Mongolia: Micro Finance Development Fund (MFDF): Supports rural poverty alleviation through micro finance and links to other programs like livestock insurance.

• Index-Based Insurance in Mongolia and India: Mongolia uses a hybrid system of social, self, and market-based insurance, while India's BASIX has successfully implemented weather-based crop insurance.

Conclusion

Natural disasters disproportionately affect low and middle-income countries, especially vulnerable populations. Effective disaster risk management requires a focus on ex ante strategies, including resilient agriculture, livelihood diversification, remittances, and financial instruments like micro and index-based insurance. These strategies need to be tailored to local contexts and supported by governments, development organizations, and financial institutions to ensure long-term resilience.