Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Management in Urban Local Government Sector

In Sri Lanka Disaster Management Centre (DMC) under the Guidance of Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights (M/DM&HR) has commenced activities since 2005 related to all phases of DRM at all levels. As provided for in the Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act enacted in the Parliament in May 2005, DMC and the M/DM&HR are required to implement DM related activities in collaboration with all relevant ministries and agencies covering relevant sectors.The local government sector has been identified as a very important sector in mainstreaming DRR under the current policy of the Ministry.

Final report

Rationale 

Local Authorities (LAs) are responsible for land use planning, issue of building permits, city expansion etc.  Due to limited capacity in the local government sector it is not possible for LAs to execute control in such interventions or advice on improving the quality.  Athough much has been discussed about the compliance to guidelines and building codes, what has been observed in most cases is that the buildings which were subject to destruction had no engineering inputs during the design or construction process.  In addition, LAs need to build the capacity of emergency services to support the National Agencies to have a better integrated emergency response system within the country.

Therefore the Ministry recognizes the need for provision of mandates, building the capacity of local government sector for integrating risk management interventions in to routine practices in the process of building permit as well as in land use planning, as well as creating awareness within the local communities. In addition it is necessary to create awareness to move away from disaster prone areas for making the urban areas safer from hazard events. The ministry understands the importance of mainstreaming the risk reduction discipline in the local government sector and   delegating certain functions of DRR in to local authorities.

The Ministry intends to implement a pilot project for developing a sustainable strategy for DRR mainstreaming in local government sector with the active involvement of Disaster Management Center (DMC) and other relevant stakeholders of Ministry of DM&HR and Ministry of Local Governments and Provincial Councils and with the technical inputs from Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, (ADPC), and Thailand.

Developing a Conceptual framework and identifying target audience for Advocacy 

The major role in mainstreaming the risk management in local governance should be played by the decision makers and they will essentially become a primary target for advocacy initiatives.  Advocacy initiatives targeting the elected representatives and local government officials can be connected with policy changes or improvements, such as:

• Setting up local government level disaster management committees

• Adopting new bye-laws, revision of building permit procedures, safer construction practices etc.

• Change of regulations (Adaptation of zoning ordinances, regulations for urban land use planning, regulations for issue of building permits, tax laws etc.)

• Change of construction practices (Dwellings, road pavements, construction procedures for school buildings, hospitals and other critical facilities, allocation of unsafe land for recreation purposes etc)

• Improvement of local emergency response capacities

• Capacity building and fund allocation (allocation of a part of the required funds from annual budget, government grants, special projects for risk reduction, etc.) 

Proposed Implementation arrangements for MDRM in local government sector 

1. Setting up a Joint Committee.  It is suggested that a Joint Committee to be set up for Mainstreaming DRM in Local Government sector involving senior members representing both ministries and relevant institutions in order to:

   • Remove any misunderstanding between the ministries handling the subject of disaster management and the ministries handling the subject of Local government,

   • Create a better understanding of functional responsibilities of different organizations in the mainstreaming process and

   • Develop necessary policy guidelines and action plan for implementation

2. Setting up Technical Advisory committees.  It is recommended to form Technical Advisory Committees for specialized areas such as:

   • risk based land use planning

   • safer building and construction

   • setting up institutional arrangements within local authorities

3. Identification of capacity-building needs.  The Ministry recognizes that it is very important to build the capacity of the stakeholders involved in the mainstreaming process.  The target group for capacity-building is the elected bodies and the local government officials.  Community members, NGOs, CBOs can be included in public awareness campaigns.  Capacity-building can be entrusted to the Sri Lanka Institute of Local Governance (SLILG), to integrate the same in their regular training programs or as special training programs.  The DMC will also organize special training programs, seminars etc. for local government sector officials.  Regional institutions specializing in DRR mainstreaming such as UN-ISDR and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center can also provide technical assistance and capacity building.

Objectives 

• Developing a detail concept note outlining the strategy that can be adopted for Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Management in the local government sector.

• Conducting a national level workshop to present the strategy to institutions within the MDM&HR and Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government to build the consensus..

Main Activities 

1. Establishment of the Joint Committee for Mainstreaming DRM (DMC, National and Provincial Local Government Departments (Commissioners of Local Government), Sri Lanka Institute of Local Governance (SLILG), Urban Development Authority (UDA), National Physical Planning Department (NPPD), other training institutions, NBRO etc.). Regular meetings of the committee will be held as appropriate on formulating the strategy for Mainstreaming DRM.

2. Discussions with selected Local Authorities. Discussions will be held with 13 representative local authorities including MCs, UCs and PSs (already identified), with whom discussions will be held to obtain inputs for developing the strategy paper for Mainstreaming DRM in the local government sector.

3. Meetings of Joint Committee at different times as necessary to discuss and finalize the Strategy paper,

4. Developing and finalizing the document on the strategy for mainstreaming and for conducting a National level workshop to present the strategy to related institutions, viz., UDA, NPPD, national and Provincial Commissioners of Local Government, SLILG, within the Ministry of DM&HR and related institutions within the Ministry of Local Governments and Provincial councils. In the process discuss matters related to the following:

   • Revision and regularizing revised development approval procedure

   • Adopting guidelines for planning and land blocking out (Avoiding high risk areas and/or leading increase of proneness) and land blocking out approval procedure

   • Adopting building guidelines for Construction in hazard prone areas

   • Necessary amendments to MC/UC/PS ordinances regarding regulations to adopt guidelines etc.

   • Developing generic sample Mitigation Plans and Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Plans for LAs

   • Preparations for the National level Workshop – objective setting, target group identification, developing  contents / presentations, workshop materials

   • Organizing the National level Workshop.  Invitations to participants and special guests for Inagural & Concluding sessions, arrangements venue and refreshments, audio-visual arrangements, presentations and seminar materials, stationary and related expenses, contingencies.

Topics in this section:

Demonstration Projects:

• Philippines

• Sri Lanka

RCC Guidelines on Mainstreaming DRR:

• Webpage

• Local Governance

• Land Use Planning

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