A Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment - Case Study Example

Capacities and Vulnerabilities framework A vulnerability and capacity assessment is a method of investigating and gathering of data that uses participatory tools in order to know the natural hazards that communities face in their locality, people’s vulnerability to hazards and capacities people have to live with and recover from these disasters (IFRC, 2012). This process allows people to name, analyze, prioritize and come up with actions that will contribute to risk reduction. The framework helps to mobilize people and raise awareness of the risks. The results of this assessment can help support advocacy efforts and resource mobilization. A good vulnerability and capacity assessment welcomes the involvement and participation of members of the community in identifying, analyzing, prioritization and assess the risk of proposed actions. Participation is critical since it allows risk reduction programs to address the real needs and demands of communities at risk and to make the programs relevant to beneficiaries. The assessment builds on existing skills and capacities, resources and knowledge which communities possess. An assessment of vulnerability and capacity does not stand on its own. The assessment must be part of a process that works with communities, from the first step of engagement all the way to exit, in order to reduce vulnerability to disasters and different threats.    Capacities and Vulnerabilities framework uses participatory tools to gauge the exposure of people to natural hazards and capacity to resist them. This framework is a crucial part of disaster preparedness and helps to create programs of disaster preparedness that are community-based disaster at both rural and urban levels. Capacities and vulnerabilities framework allows for identification of local priorities and necessary action to be taken in order to reduce disaster risks. The framework also helps in the design and development of programs that mutually support and respond to the needs of the community closely concerned. The aims of capacities and vulnerabilities are to: (IFRC, 2012). Come up with action plans that will help to prepare for and respond to the risks identified. Identify activities that reduce risk in order to lessen or prevent the impact of the expected risks, hazards and vulnerabilities. Assess hazards and risks facing communities and their capacities for dealing with the risks and hazards. Involvement of people, local authorities and development organizations in this assessment from the start. Capacities and Vulnerabilities assessment is the national and sub-national hazard, hazard, vulnerability and capacity exercises that identify communities at risk. The assessment is then done in these communities to find the areas of risk and vulnerability and then decide the actions to take in order to eradicate them. What the assessment unearths at the grassroots level can give an indication of national vulnerabilities and capacities. Planning and implementation of Capacities and Vulnerabilities framework The process is complex and it involves some steps that raise specific questions. It is challenging to select key questions for consideration in this process. The framework raises a number of crucial questions that need answers in order to help in the implementation of the results. The following are some of the questions: Who should be the leader of the process, and at what stage should the process be completed. Who will be responsible for the information gathered? How to identify vulnerable groups to be included in the assessment. How can the program respond to identified needs?  Steps in the process of Capacities and Vulnerabilities analysis (IFRC, 2012) Step one:  National Society support 1 To understand why the assessment is being proposed. 2 Sensitizing the leadership, partners, and branches of National Society. 3 Designing a management structure for the assessment. 4 Setting the objectives of Capacities and Vulnerabilities assessment. Step two:  From assessment to planning 1. Planning the assessment 2. Preparing the phase. 3. Involving the community in the use of the investigative tools 4. Systematization, analysis and interpretation of the data. 5. Returning of information to the people and decide actions and priorities for transformation. Step three:  From planning to action 1. Turning vulnerabilities into capacities through actions 2. Writing recommendations in a report for donors, local authorities and partners 3. Program implementations: projects that reduce the risk within the community. Other basic assessment principles are: Transparency from the beginning on the real reason for the assessment. To avoid approaching people with pre-conceived ideas concerning the problems that need solutions. Trust building requires time, and it is very important. Avoiding to raise expectations that may not be met The assessment should never be a goal by itself. The assessment needs to action planning and implementation. There is a need to aim for strong participation. Traditional knowledge must be taken to account. The assessment and analysis outcome must be shared and discussed with the communities. There is a need to ensure the assessment is gender sensitive and includes vulnerable groups.   This assessment requires experienced facilitation specialists who will use standardized methodologies. A good assessment needs facilitation, and tools are used in a flexible manner in response to what is said. This assessment is a conversation that explores issues related to the community (Smit & Wandel, 2006). Trust may take much time to build, and problems may take time to understand. It ensures that people are encouraged to identify their priorities and needs in any sector and helped to identify necessary, achievable and relevant disaster risk reduction tasks. There is a need of engaging and involving colleges, universities, think tanks in the assessment process. These institutions may help by carrying out an analysis of these hazards in order to complement the perspective of the community. Rationale for applying Capacities and Vulnerabilities Framework The framework is used due to the following reasons: This framework is used since it involves the local community. In every stage of this assessment, the local people participate in order to come up with the right results. The involvement of the local people ensures that the right information is captured. The local people understand the problems around them, hence are able to identify them clearly. This information will help analysts to come up with the best solutions to solve these problems. The framework assesses risks and hazards facing communities and their capacities for dealing with the risks and hazards. Many communities lack capacities to deal with various problems that face a particular community. The assessment will help to devise methods to eradicate the risks and hazards. The framework will help to come up with action plans. The action plans will help to prepare and respond to the risks that exist in a given locality. It is critical to carry out an analysis of capacities and vulnerabilities. When analysts understand the challenges that face a particular community, and the ability of the community to deal with them, they will be able to know the help that the community needs. The study must ensure that gender issues are addressed (Candida & Ines, 1999). This assessment is important since it helps to identify activities that reduce the risk in order to prevent the impact of the expected risks, hazards and vulnerabilities. Identification of hazards helps the community to prepare for the consequences and devise ways to eliminate the hazards. Analysis of ‘Goodbye, Guinea worm’ This case talks about Guinea worm and its negative effects on human beings. The case indicates that this is a poor man's disease. The case highlights some of the organizations that are in the forefront to deal with this menace. Together with UK Aid, the Carter Center works with other non-governmental organizations in order to eradicate the Guinea worm disease. There is no available vaccine or medicine for Guinea worm disease; this means that the worm must be removed manually. Vulnerabilities of men Many men in Ghana languish, in poverty. Poverty denies men the opportunity to access the necessary basic social amenities. For example, access to health care is restrained. Poverty leads to a reduced number of young men who go to school. Lack of education in the community is very risky; this is because no tangible development may be realized if the locals are illiterate. There is a possible lack of community endeavors to eradicate Guinea worm. It is dangerous since the Guinea worm disease is very dangerous and can render people dead. There must be a collective initiative to deal with this disease before it affects many people. Men also face the challenge of lack of vaccines and medicine to cushion them from diseases. It can easily cause many diseases that could be prevented if there were enough vaccines and diseases. Access to clean water by men is also limited. Water is an important commodity for people, plants and animals. Lack of enough clean water may easily lead to different diseases that will affect people. Capacities of men Men in this region have capacities in terms of funding from Carter Institute knowledge. The Carter foundation works hand in hand with local people to eradicate poverty that bedevils the people. This foundation provides financial support in order to improve the living standards of people in this region. Many men are now seeking medical help when attacked by Guinea worm. It is a positive step since many men used to shy away from accessing medical attention. Men are working harmoniously with various NGOs to ensure that they improve their living standards and at the same time eradicate Guinea Worm disease. Men have also become part and parcel of communities’ education initiatives that are geared towards helping the people. Vulnerabilities of women Women in Ghana experience a limited access to water. This commodity is important for women use it on a day to day basis. Poverty is another great challenge facing women. Lack of a financial power reduces the purchasing power of women, hence they are denied access to important resources. Women encounter challenges in their process of accessing medicine and vaccines. Due to a small income that most women earn, they may not be in a position to purchase medicine and vaccines. Children may develop diseases due to lack of enough food. When parents live in poor conditions, the children will face the wrath of hunger since their parents cannot afford enough food. Capacities of women The Carter Institute plays a critical role in the empowerment of women. The Institute ensures that women are able to access various amenities. The institute is in the forefront to empower women economically. When a woman is empowered to be productive economically, the whole community will benefit from that empowerment. Women are now more than willing to help men in the development of the community. The harmonious working relationship between the two genders is critical since they both encounter the same challenges (Chow, 2003). Gender perspective on the case The case is gender-sensitive. The Carter Institute was a brainchild of a former US president Jimmy Carter. Jimmy Carter has been working together with his wife to eradicate Guinea worm in West Africa. The initiative by Jimmy Carter targets both men and women. The two genders are affected by Guinea worm hence the need to involve both of them. The Carter institute ensures that both men and women are empowered economically and also permitted to access various important amenities. The whole community benefits from funds dished out by the institute. The Carter Centre has worked tirelessly to ensure that the effect of Guinea worm is eradicated. The worm has caused harm to locals in Western Africa. In addition to its support for the treatment of Guinea worm disease, the Carter Centre also funds sanitation and water programs in Africa and Asia. The Centre provides clean water, safe sanitation and assists the prevention of the spread of diseases. All of these initiatives are geared towards helping members of the affected families. The gender agenda is this case is achieved. The members of various communities have benefited immensely from the active role of Jimmy Carter Institute. The institute strives to help both men and women in the society. The provision of water ensures that women's access water for their daily needs. Economic empowerment of the communities ensures that men are able to involve themselves in various economic activities (Warren, 2007). The case ‘Goodbye, Guinea worm’ captures the real situation on the ground in some parts of Africa. Diseases are the main challenges that face people. The initiative to eradicate diseases is a step towards ensuring that the community is safe from diseases that are preventable. The provision of clean water and economic empowerment of people ensure that the community will develop as a whole. The main shortcomings of the case study is the fact that it fails to highlight the views of many victims of Guinea worm disease. The case would have been appealing if it captured people who have benefited a great deal from economic empowerment. Conclusion The case captures the main challenge facing the poor people in Ghana and all developing regions. The case highlights the initiative by the Carter Centre to help both men and women. It is critical for both men and women will be empowered socially and economically. It is possible that it will take some time before the eradication of challenges that people face. References Candida, M & Ines, S. (1999). A guide to Gender- Analysis Frameworks Chow, E.N. (2003). Gender Matters: Studying globalization and Social Change in the 21stC. International Sociology, 18 (3). IFRC. (2012). Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA). Retrieved on 31st March 2014 from http://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/disaster-management/preparing-for- disaster/disaster-preparedness-tools/disaster-preparedness-tools/ Smit, B., & Wandel, J. (2006). Adaptation, adaptive capacity and vulnerability. Global environmental change, 16(3), 282-292. Warren, H. (2007). Using gender analysis frame: theoretical and practical reflections. Gender and Development 2007, 15 (2), 187-198 Read More