Integrating “Top-Down” and “Community-Centric” Approaches for Community-Based Flood Early Warning Systems in Namibia
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) resolutely endorses the development of people-centred early warning systems. Moreover, several scientific studies have deprecated the vast technology-driven technocratic approaches to implementing these systems, contending the prioritisat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Challenges |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/14/4/44 |
| _version_ | 1797381607675396096 |
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| author | Deolfa Josè Moisès Nnenesi Kgabi Olivia Kunguma |
| author_facet | Deolfa Josè Moisès Nnenesi Kgabi Olivia Kunguma |
| author_sort | Deolfa Josè Moisès |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) resolutely endorses the development of people-centred early warning systems. Moreover, several scientific studies have deprecated the vast technology-driven technocratic approaches to implementing these systems, contending the prioritisation of communities and their contextualised needs for systems that ensure effective risk protection and resilience building. However, both the UNDRR and the scientific literature have failed to define appropriate means of implementation (MoI) for community-based early warning system (CBEWS) development. Floods are a major hazard annually impacting several communities in rural sub-Saharan Africa, and though several opportunities for participatory systems have been identified, investment in developing countries is often lagging, and no defined mechanism for developing these systems exists. Adopting a modified Integrated Emergency Management Framework, this study demonstrates that an impact-based CBEWS can be established by leveraging existing resources, institutions and stakeholders, essentially merging last-mile and first-mile approaches. The study further reveals that directly linking technical capacities with community-based efforts allows communities to define system development parameters, strengthen risk knowledge and response, and build resilience for improved physical, economic and environmental protection, essentially bridging the gap between first and last-mile approaches. The study also highlights the need for governments to appropriately streamline DRR to improve coordination and communication. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:54:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-96da4f987acb4a47a31a147f7fb6ff53 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2078-1547 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:54:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Challenges |
| spelling | doaj.art-96da4f987acb4a47a31a147f7fb6ff532023-12-22T13:59:55ZengMDPI AGChallenges2078-15472023-10-011444410.3390/challe14040044Integrating “Top-Down” and “Community-Centric” Approaches for Community-Based Flood Early Warning Systems in NamibiaDeolfa Josè Moisès0Nnenesi Kgabi1Olivia Kunguma2Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa, Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South AfricaUnit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South AfricaDisaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa, Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South AfricaThe United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) resolutely endorses the development of people-centred early warning systems. Moreover, several scientific studies have deprecated the vast technology-driven technocratic approaches to implementing these systems, contending the prioritisation of communities and their contextualised needs for systems that ensure effective risk protection and resilience building. However, both the UNDRR and the scientific literature have failed to define appropriate means of implementation (MoI) for community-based early warning system (CBEWS) development. Floods are a major hazard annually impacting several communities in rural sub-Saharan Africa, and though several opportunities for participatory systems have been identified, investment in developing countries is often lagging, and no defined mechanism for developing these systems exists. Adopting a modified Integrated Emergency Management Framework, this study demonstrates that an impact-based CBEWS can be established by leveraging existing resources, institutions and stakeholders, essentially merging last-mile and first-mile approaches. The study further reveals that directly linking technical capacities with community-based efforts allows communities to define system development parameters, strengthen risk knowledge and response, and build resilience for improved physical, economic and environmental protection, essentially bridging the gap between first and last-mile approaches. The study also highlights the need for governments to appropriately streamline DRR to improve coordination and communication.https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/14/4/44flood riskresiliencecommunity-based early warning systemsocioeconomic and environmental capacitypreparednessemergency management |
| spellingShingle | Deolfa Josè Moisès Nnenesi Kgabi Olivia Kunguma Integrating “Top-Down” and “Community-Centric” Approaches for Community-Based Flood Early Warning Systems in Namibia Challenges flood risk resilience community-based early warning system socioeconomic and environmental capacity preparedness emergency management |
| title | Integrating “Top-Down” and “Community-Centric” Approaches for Community-Based Flood Early Warning Systems in Namibia |
| title_full | Integrating “Top-Down” and “Community-Centric” Approaches for Community-Based Flood Early Warning Systems in Namibia |
| title_fullStr | Integrating “Top-Down” and “Community-Centric” Approaches for Community-Based Flood Early Warning Systems in Namibia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrating “Top-Down” and “Community-Centric” Approaches for Community-Based Flood Early Warning Systems in Namibia |
| title_short | Integrating “Top-Down” and “Community-Centric” Approaches for Community-Based Flood Early Warning Systems in Namibia |
| title_sort | integrating top down and community centric approaches for community based flood early warning systems in namibia |
| topic | flood risk resilience community-based early warning system socioeconomic and environmental capacity preparedness emergency management |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/14/4/44 |
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