Elements of disaster resilience: lessons from Bangladesh Mainstreaming Livelihood-Centred Approaches to Disaster Management Project Funded by from the Department for International Development Sustainable & Diverse Livelihoods building disaster resilient communities Mainstreaming Livelihood-Centred Approaches to Disaster Management Project any poor people in rural Bangladesh live in areas subject to extreme flooding and riverbank erosion which destroy their crops, homes and livelihoods, undermining their economy, health and nutritional security. Two key strategies . are generally considered to reduce vulnerability to disaster: 1) decreasing the impacts of hazards on lives and resources through prevention, protection and preparedness; and 2) increasing resilience by strengthening and diversifying livelihood options. Increased income can be achieved through skill development for alternative or diversified livelihood options, both on farm and off farm. The 'Mainstreaming Livelihood-Centred Approaches to Disaster Management' (DRR) Project of Practical Action Bangladesh has used a sustainable livelihoods approach to demonstrate positive development impacts that increase resilience and the ability to adapt to climate change. The project has promoted a number of on-farm and off-farm activities based on local M needs, capacity and opportunities. With improved knowledge and support mechanisms, several thousand vulnerable families from flood-prone, river eroded areas of Bogra, Gaibandha and Sirajganj districts now have the capacity to reduce their vulnerability to disaster risks. Livelihood diversification through on-farm and off-farm activities On-farm activities: Training in practical technologies and skills for farming activities, such as profitable livestock (cow, goat, sheep) rearing, poultry (duck, hen, pigeon) rearing, beekeeping/apiculture, homestead gardening, garlic and watermelon cultivation, early maturing rice cultivation, nursery establishment and fruit sapling plantation, were provided to individuals and groups (project participants). The project also provided appropriate inputs to the trainees. 4,000 families in the project locations a re now using newly acquired knowledge and skills. Gainful employment has been stimulated within the communities, leading to increased earnings, the ability to satisfy basic needs and increased disaster resilience. This appropriate needs-based approach has resulted in measurable economic gains by beneficiary families. Livestock interventions have had significantly greater impacts on strengthening livelihoods than purely agricultural technologies. Cow, goat and sheep rearing have not only significantly increased earnings, but also provided alternative sources of income. Two years after receiving a goat, a beneficiary can be earning Taka 5,000-6,000 per year. The income from a cow can be Taka 45,000 60,000 per year. Apiculture is a profitable and popular enterprise among landless households, requiring little land, simple technology, and a high market price for the honey. This . intervention has been replicated both within and beyond the project areas, creating income earning opportunities for many. . Farming the flood: floating vegetable gardening enable families to ensure household food supply during flooding. Off-farm activities: A number of offfarm activities, such as bamboo product-making (handicraft), matmaking, blanket making, curd production and seed preservation, were promoted under the project by providing training to selected participants. The project also provided equipment to the trained persons so that they could begin earning money using their newly gained skills. Packaging and blanket making have been replicated within the community . The group of people involved may choose to divide responsibilities with sub-groups taking up separate components such as raw material collection, marketing etc; each group contributing to the production of the end product. Each component can even be run as a separate competitive enterprise. Curd production was a completely new way of generating income for the community The . beneficiaries who received training in these skills are now earning money all year round - even during the monsoon season, previously a period when no sources of income were available. Skilled beneficiaries involved in these off-farm activities are now each earning Taka 70 - 150 per day. . Neelmoni (left) of Kazipur received training on making bamboo products including 'darki,' a trap for fishes. A fishreman moves towards flooded spot to fix his traps to catch fish (right).
Practical Action,