GAR 2015 Main Report

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Part II - Chapter 6

6.3 A transient political and

economic imperative

While risk management generally gains momentum in the aftermath of disasters, the importance of investing in risk reduction is usually not part of daily political agendas.

The political importance of the disaster risk management sector in most countries is transient. When large-scale disasters threaten development, the sector enjoys strong political support and budgetary allocations. Before and after large disasters, the sector is often relegated to the political and economic margins of government as other priorities and crises come into the foreground.

This transient political and economic support for the sector reflects its focus on protecting development from disasters as merely occasional events rather than on managing risks which are generated and accumulated on an ongoing basis. While extensive disasters occur regularly in most countries, they have only localized impacts and generally affect low-income households, small businesses and local infrastructure, so they

rarely translate into a national political and economic imperative for disaster risk management (UNISDR, 2011a

UNISDR. 2011a,Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction: Revealing Risk, Redefining Development, Geneva, Switzerland: UNISDR.. .

This transient imperative is reflected in inadequate financing of the disaster risk management sector and insufficient investment in weak human and institutional capacities. Nationally, some countries have established designated budget mechanisms to ensure that the disaster risk reduction sector has some level of guaranteed resources. Examples include percentage allocations by law in the Philippines, budgetary policy in Japan, or specially earmarked funds in Mexico (IFRC and UNDP, 2014

IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies) and UNDP (United Nations Development Programme). 2014,Effective law and regulation for disaster risk reduction: a multi-country report, New York.. .

However, in many other countries the sector is dependent on resources from emergency and contingency funds, which are only replenished when large disasters occur. In the HFA Monitor, some countries report insufficient resources to maintain even basic response capacities. The dependence on emergency funding encourages a form of humanitarian materialism in which disasters themselves become commodities that can influence the consolidation of institutional resources and power.

(Source: GFDRR, 2012b

GFDRR (Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery). 2012b,Managing Disaster Risks for a Resilient Future: A Strategy for the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery 2013 – 2015, The World Bank, Washington, D.C.. .

Figure 6.2 Share of development aid allocated to disaster prevention and preparedness

	122 Part II - Chapter 6 6.3 A transient political and economic imperative While risk management generally gains momentum in the aftermath of disasters, the importance of investing in risk reduction is usually not part of daily political agendas. The political importance of the disaster risk management sector in most countries is transient. When large-scale disasters threaten development, the sector enjoys strong political support and budgetary allocations. Before and after large disasters, the sector is often relegated to the political and economic margins of government as other priorities and crises come into the foreground. This transient political and economic support for the sector reflects its focus on protecting development from disasters as merely occasional events rather than on managing risks which are generated and accumulated on an ongoing basis. While extensive disasters occur regularly in most countries, they have only localized impacts and generally affect low-income households, small businesses and local infrastructure, so they rarely translate into a national political and economic imperative for disaster risk management (UNISDR, 2011a x UNISDR. 2011a,Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction: Revealing Risk, Redefining Development, Geneva, Switzerland: UNISDR.. . ). This transient imperative is reflected in inadequate financing of the disaster risk management sector and insufficient investment in weak human and institutional capacities. Nationally, some countries have established designated budget mechanisms to ensure that the disaster risk reduction sector has some level of guaranteed resources. Examples include percentage allocations by law in the Philippines, budgetary policy in Japan, or specially earmarked funds in Mexico (IFRC and UNDP, 2014 x IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies) and UNDP (United Nations Development Programme). 2014,Effective law and regulation for disaster risk reduction: a multi-country report, New York.. . ). However, in many other countries the sector is dependent on resources from emergency and contingency funds, which are only replenished when large disasters occur. In the HFA Monitor, some countries report insufficient resources to maintain even basic response capacities. The dependence on emergency funding encourages a form of humanitarian materialism in which disasters themselves become commodities that can influence the consolidation of institutional resources and power. (Source: GFDRR, 2012b x GFDRR (Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery). 2012b,Managing Disaster Risks for a Resilient Future: A Strategy for the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery 2013 – 2015, The World Bank, Washington, D.C.. . .) Figure 6.2 Share of development aid allocated to disaster prevention and preparedness	Page 1 Page 10 Page 20 Page 30 Page 40 Page 50 Page 60 Page 70 Page 80 Page 90 Page 100 Page 110 Page 112 Page 113 Page 114 Page 115 Page 116 Page 117 Page 118 Page 119 Page 120 Page 121 Page 122 Page 123 ->Page 124 Page 125 Page 126 Page 127 Page 128 Page 129 Page 130 Page 131 Page 132 Page 133 Page 134 Page 135 Page 136 Page 140 Page 150 Page 160 Page 170 Page 180 Page 190 Page 200 Page 210 Page 220 Page 230 Page 240 Page 250 Page 260 Page 270 Page 280 Page 290 Page 300 Page 310