Shaping Disaster Resilient India: An initiative to build the capacities of YYPs in DRM and CCA through University Networks
A Youth and Young Professionals (YYP) initiative to provide a platform for working in Disaster Risk Management (DRM), risk reduction, climate change adaptation (CCA) and other analogous fields to implement the Sendai Framework by applying Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation (SETI).
Description
India is a multi-hazard prone country and the bruises of climate change are also explicit. As a nation we are striving hard to battle our vulnerabilities and reduce our risks, and as the Sendai Framework suggests, the responsibility of disaster risk reduction lies with all of the society, ‘all-of-us’. More than 50% of the population, presently, is of youth and young professionals in India. Then the question arises, Can’t this huge demographic dividend be leveraged? Can’t the immense skills and potentials within this section of the society be benefitted from? “The power of youth is the common wealth for the entire world. The faces of young people are the faces of our past, our present and our future. No segment in the society can match with the power, idealism, enthusiasm and courage of the young people.” This quote by Kailash Satyarthi is what inspired the formation of CRRP India!
• In February 2019, a discussion was initiated to form Disaster Management Association and provide a platform for youth and young professionals.
• In March-April 2019, the discussion spread within country. We searched similar initiatives taken in neighbouring countries and the South Asian region to know more about formulation of a platform.
• The successful multicity-cross country meetings and consultation helped to establish a platform in August 2019 to define a role for YYP in SETI4DRR.
The group became a legal entity recognised as a Confederation of Risk Reduction Professionals (CRRP). This commitment is implemented by the existence of CRRP in India as a national platform for the youth and young professionals working in the field of disaster risk reduction, risk management, climate change adaptation and analogous fields to come together and disrupt the status quo and innovate their way towards a disaster resilient sustainable development.
Expected outcomes of this commitment are focused on capacity building and include the organization of training programs and workshops, among others.
Did the Sendai Framework change or contribute to changes in your activities/organization? If so, how?
Yes. Sendai Frameworks Guiding Principal, Para 19 (d) talks about “Disaster risk reduction requires an all-of-society engagement and partnership. It also requires empowerment and inclusive, accessible and non-discriminatory participation, paying special attention to people disproportionately affected by disasters, especially the poorest. A gender, age, disability and cultural perspective should be integrated in all policies and practices, and women and youth leadership should be promoted. In this context, special attention should be paid to the improvement of organized voluntary work of citizens.” Further it also explains in Para 36(ii) “youth are agents of change and should be given the space and modalities to contribute to disaster risk
What led you to make this commitment/initiative?
What was your position before making this Voluntary Commitment / prior to the Sendai Framework?
CRRP is a platform that encourages youth and young professionals to indulge in science, engineering, technology and innovation and take up disaster risk management as a career. CRRP sees youth as a torchbearer for a resilient tomorrow. The Sendai Framework’s Priorities for Action 1, 2 and 4 are aligned with the major objective of the organization. The youth and young professionals of the country need to come together for better policy and advocacy for strengthening disaster risk governance.
Deliverables and Progress report
Deliverables
Deliverables are the end-products of the initiative/commitment, which can include issuance of publications or knowledge products, outcomes of workshops, training programs, videos, links, photographs, etc.
This is the one of the initiative taken by CRRP to mould the youth and develop a right mindset while entering the Disaster Risk Management & Climate Change Action field.
The initiative has a core idea of providing lectures, demonstrations, hands-on exercises, Coaching and mentoring. It involves both physical and social dimension for developing a right set of mindset in the future generation for fostering the career in DRM & CCA. These will eventually help them to get familiar with getting familiar with combination of thematic layers categorized as Hazard, Risk, Vulnerability, Capacity and Exposures (HRVCEs) at different scales.
In addition to this, the holistic approach also intended to provide awareness and capacity building of the community. The output of these deliverable will be documented and provided as a end product of the initiative.
Organizations and focal points
Implementing Organization(s)
Focal points
