In 1995, the Duryog Nivaran network was established to fill a void in cross border dialogue and experience sharing among organizations, governmental or otherwise, working in the worlds most disaster-prone region. More....

WHY NETWORK

To build a platform for regional dialogue and interaction in the sphere of disaster mitigation. More....

The overall aim of Duryog Nivaran is to reduce the communities susceptibility to disasters and conflicts. This is achieved by incorporating the Five Policy Principles at conceptual, policy and implementation levels of disaster mitigation and development programmes in South Asian region. More....

The common idea is to view a disaster as an isolated event, which requires emergency response. But disasters are part and parcel of normal development of societies, as unresolved problems of development. More....

THEME

• Duryog Nivaran activities are organized on the following themes,Understanding linkages with society. More....

INTRODUCTION

• In 1995, the Duryog Nivaran network was established to fill avoid in cross border dialogue and experience sharing among organizations,governmental or otherwise, working in the world’s most disaster-prone region

• Duryog Nivaran promotes an alternate perspective towards disasters- be they natural or man-made. This perspective points out that people affected by disasters are more mere victims but partners in their future development and well-being.

• The network’s activities are information sharing, building a concerned media, research and grassroots community action

Duryog Nivaran emphasizes much on the media and its importance in fighting the stereotypical view that disaster-prone communities are helpless victims who cannot change their circumstances. The media is a key target for many network activities.

The network possesses some of the best examples of community-involved disaster management practices in the South Asian region. The experience of making these flood, drought, earthquake mitigation efforts work has been invaluable to both academics and field workers.

In 2006 Duryog Nivaran drafted a South Asia Policy Document on disaster risk and its effect on people’s livelihood which later on formed the basis for the South Asian Policy Dialogue.

It also published the first South Asian Disaster Report and is currently in the process of preparing the next issue. Top

WHY NETWORK

To build a platform for regional dialogue and interaction in the sphere of disaster mitigation.

To facilitate information dissemination, effective regional cooperation and create more awareness on the alternative perspective of disasters.

To share information and to fill the obvious gaps in communication and coordination within the region by effective advocacy.

The terrible human impact of floods, drought, cyclone, war and earthquake in South Asia, the inadequacy of the coping systems, the lack of community awareness, forgotten indigenous knowledge and the gap in information/experience sharing among organizations working in disaster mitigation all point to the need to have some common platform to exchange views, ideas, knowledge and best practices. Top

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The overall aim of Duryog Nivaran is to reduce the communities’ susceptibility to disasters and conflicts. This is achieved by incorporating the Five Policy Principles at conceptual, policy and implementation levels of disaster mitigation and development programmes in South Asian region.

We hope to get disaster mitigation guidelines included in countries’ development plans (just as gender and environment issues have been incorporated) as an immediate and significant goal.

We will work towards creating better understanding of the alternative perspective through research, advocacy and networking in the region. We hope to convince both grassroots organizations and government department working on disaster management and research institutions the need to look at disasters differently. This will be achieved through demonstration projects and research.

The media is another focus. Often media precipitates the existing social order and reinforces prejudices that hamper communities’ ability to change their situation with regard to disasters. Attitude change among the media personnel that would reflect in a change in the way disasters are commonly reported throughout the region is another goal of the network.

To achieve these, Duryog Nivaran will:

Provide an opportunity for national and regional organizations in South Asia to strengthen their capacity and carry out effective disaster mitigation and development activities by sharing information, learning from each other’s experiences and providing support to each others’ activities.
 
Make the case for the alternative perspective by analyzing existing interventions and demonstrating, through research and action, other approaches that challenge the existing paradigm
 
Carry out specific activities to influence decision makers in government, donor and non-government agencies. Top

Our achievements 1995-2006

Initiated South Asia Annual Disaster Report as part of networks campaign to track policies, process and performance in tsunami and earthquake response in South Asia

Initiated a follow up of provisions related to disaster management highlighted in Dhaka Deceleration of 13th SAARC Summit 2005.

Produced technical briefs, information sheets, special issue of Disaster Dispatch, Disaster Alert, newsletters in the aftermath of tsunami and earthquake in Sri Lanka and Pakistan respectively. In Pakistan a fortnightly radio programme- Disaster Watch- was also initiated by one of the Duryog Nivaran’s member organization.
Research and publications related to disaster preparedness and mitigation,regional cooperation, gender and risk and livelihoods

Initiate a process of building awareness of media on issues related to the alternative perspective on disasters and community capacity building, and on effective disaster reporting.

Policy discussions and debates on institutionalizing and mainstreaming the‘Alternative perspective’ in South Asia

Community-based initiatives in partner countries to demonstrate the‘alternative perspective’ in practice through the Livelihood Options for Disaster Risk Reduction project

Developing the CBDM- Community-Based Disaster Management training methodology,and training the stakeholders in the region to apply the concepts

Conducting “Local” CBDM training programmes in India and Sri Lanka

Art and Poster Competition in the region on “Seeing Disasters Differently” in1998 and publishing the booklet by the same name.

Publishing the electronic newsletter “Disaster Dispatch” coordinated by the Journalists Resource Center of Islamabad.

Workshops to discuss the issue of better regional cooperation

Building up a network of partnerships through the region, which includes governmental organizations, NGOs, academic institutions and community members. Top

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Dominant Perspective

Disasters and conflicts are viewed as an isolated event

Less analysis on linkages in society during normal times

Technical and law and order solutions are adhered

Centralized state institutions dominate the intervention.

Less people participation.

People are regarded as “victims.”

Implementing agencies are rarely accountable and their processes are less transparent

Interventions come after the event

The objective is to return to the situation prior to the event

Alternative Perspective

Disasters and conflicts are part of the normal process of development

Analyzing linkages in society during normal times is fundamental to understanding disasters and conflicts

Emphasis is on solutions that change the relationships and structures in society. The objective being to strengthen people’s capacity and reduce their vulnerability

Disasters and conflicts are viewed as an isolated event

People are treated as “partners” in development.

Accountability and transparency are paramount in this strategy

Interventions aim at preparing communities and mitigating the impact of disasters

Disasters and conflicts are viewed as opportunities for social transformation

The common idea is to view a disaster as an isolated event,which requires emergency response. But disasters are part and parcel of normal development of societies, as unresolved problems of development. The alternative perspective tries to analyze the underlying reasons why some sections of society are more affected by disasters than others. The stress is on disaster mitigation and preparedness as opposed to emergency response and post-disaster interventions. The role of the affected communities’ in managing disasters and their control over any mitigation activity is given more importance over the traditional view of being state-and-authority dependent for solutions. Top

THEME

Duryog Nivaran activities are organized on the following themes   Understanding linkages with society  

If disasters are considered as a normal part of the overall development of society, it is necessary to understand how natural hazards and conflicts are linked to different aspects of this society. Issues of development, livelihood and gender are the main areas of concern.

Myths of science and technology  

The dominant perspective of treating disasters as isolated events stems from ‘scientific knowledge’ as analysis for disaster causes.Duryog Nivaran hopes to research and demonstrate the limitation of natural sciences-based framework and the importance of other knowledge, especially that which comes from indigenous sources.

Accountability  

Lack of accountability among those who are engaged in disaster management activities have only served to increase communities’ vulnerability and their inability to cope with future disasters. This is true for formal institutions as well as field-level players and grassroots organizations. Duryog Nivaran advocated participatory strategies as a key aspect.

Regional cooperation

Cooperation between countries in South Asia for better preparedness and management of flood, cyclone,earthquake and conflict, is essential. The network hopes to bridge some of the knowledge and activity gaps that have arisen due to non-cooperation.

Understanding vulnerability and capacity

Strengthening the capacity of disaster-affected people is considered a key element in the disaster mitigation strategy advocated through Duryog Nivaran. There is a need to investigate methodologies and indicators used at present and develop new indicators for better capacity building.

Risk and Livelihoods

Millions of people in the developing countries ‘live with hazards’, drought, floods and the like. Risk management is part and parcel of their daily livelihoods. This is reflected in the livelihood patterns, crop calendars, type of housing, festivities, in social dynamics, in belief systems.There are various internal coping mechanisms to manage risk inbuilt into the livelihoods.

Preparedness based disaster management/alternative perspective needs to be based on the existing knowledge and systems. Research to identify the relationships between disaster risk and livelihoods, coping mechanisms,ways and means of strengthening the livelihood options, and demonstrating the identified options are carried out under this theme.

The dominant perspective of treating disasters as isolatedevents stems from ‘scientific knowledge’ as analysis for disaster causes.Duryog Nivaran hopes to research and demonstrate the limitation of naturalsciences-based framework and the importance of other knowledge, especially thatwhich comes from indigenous sources. Top