Developing Capacities for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Built Environment: Capacity analysis in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This paper introduces a framework for capacity development for disaster risk reduction in the built environment. The framework was developed as a part of an ongoing research which aims to strengthen the capacities of individuals and institutions in the built environment to ensure that disaster risk reduction meets its mission and goals in a sustainable way. It is presented as a matrix that identifies four stages of capacity development against six groups of stakeholders in the built environment. The stages and the stakeholder groups were derived through a series of expert interviews and a comprehensive literature review. The four stages are named as Analysis, Creation, Utilisation and Retention. This paper in its latter sections focuses on the first stage, Analysis, and presents some of the initial findings of the research. Analysis attempts to capture capacity gaps in the relevant context in order to identify required capacity development. The study reviews literature on Sri Lanka and discusses such capacity gaps. Problems in the regulatory structure, deficiencies in necessary laws and regulations including problems in their implementation, and lack of required resources and skills have been identified as the major capacity gaps in the country.

Santrauka

Šiame darbe pristatoma sistema, leidžianti ugdyti gebejima mažinti nelaimiu keliama rizika užstatytoje aplinkoje. Sistema sudaryta vykdant nuolatini tyrima, kuriuo siekiama didinti užstatytoje aplinkoje veikiančiu individu ir instituciju gebejimus, idant nelaimiu keliamos rizikos mažinimas darniai atitiktu jo misija ir tikslus. Sistema pateikiama kaip matrica, kuria sudaro keturi gebejimu ugdymo etapai ir šešios užstatytoje aplinkoje veikiančios interesu grupes. Etapai ir interesu grupes buvo nustatytos apklausiant ekspertus ir išsamiai apžvelgiant literatūra. Keturi etapai pavadinti “Analize”, “Kūrimas”, “Panaudojimas” ir “Išlaikymas”. Tolesnese šio darbo dalyse aptariamas pirmasis etapas “Analize” ir pateikiamos kelios pradines tyrimo išvados. Analize siekiama užfiksuoti atitinkamame kontekste esančias gebejimu spragas, kad būtu aišku, kuriuos gebejimus reikia ugdyti. Tyrime apžvelgiama literatūra apie Šri Lanka ir aptariamos tokios gebejimu spragos. Nustatyta, kad pagrindines šalies gebejimu spragos yra šios: problemos reglamentavimo struktūroje, būtinu istatymu ir reglamentu trūkumai, iskaitant ju igyvendinimo problemas, ir reikiamu ištekliu bei igūdžiu stoka.

Keywords:

• Built environment
• Capacity development framework
• Capacity gaps
• Disaster risk reduction
• Sri Lanka