How do we organise for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience? A Study on Disaster Risk Governance in Sri Lanka

Dilanthi Amaratunga, Chamindi Malalgoda, Richard Haigh, Asitha De Silva

Research output: Book/ReportCommissioned report

Abstract

Disaster risk reduction (DRR) at all levels is also dependent upon institutional innovation in governance. In order to move towards “good governance” in DRR, there is a need for institutional systems and administrative arrangements that link public, private and civil society sectors, and build vertical ties between local, district, national and global scale actors. The Report: “How do we organise for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience? A Study on Disaster Reduction and Management Governance Profile of Sri Lanka” provides a detailed analysis of Disaster Reduction and Management Governance Profile of Sri Lanka. It also highlights some of the key challenges and makes recommendations for strengthening the overall Disaster Risk Management (DRM) governance by government institutions and other stakeholders at national, sub-national and local levels.

Strengthening governance has been identified as essential to reduce disaster risk. Addressing fundamental issues that underpin risk, including governance, within the context of DRR, creates a global platform for addressing risk in a way that ushers it into the mainstream of daily political and civil life. There is a need to identify mechanisms of implementation for the key elements of DRR governance. This report responds to the concern of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2015-2030 (SFDRR) that more dedicated action needs to be focused on tackling underlying disaster risk drivers and strengthening good governance in disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies, at all levels and across all sectors and actors. Reducing disaster risk is about addressing basic development that helps build “accumulated resilience”, preparing for and mitigating disasters. It also entails ensuring adequate governance, that is, transparent, accountable and representative decision-making structures , so that everyone’s needs and voices are considered and development gains benefit all. This report includes a detailed discussion on the governing policies and documents of Sri Lanka, institutional arrangements for DRR and management in Sri Lanka, governance structure of the disaster management process in Sri Lanka, the role of local governments in DRR and management processes and an analysis of disaster management governance structures. It concludes with a series of recommendations associated with improved DRR governance in Sri Lanka.
Original languageEnglish
PublisherUniversity of Huddersfield
Number of pages79
ISBN (Electronic)9781862181717
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2020

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