Project in Action
Influencing others and raising the voices of the poor
Practical Action staff work directly with rural communities, but also with organisations at all levels from local to international to help vulnerable people make their voices heard and have more influence over issues that concern them. In South Asia, Practical Action is influencing policy makers at national and regional levels to find practical ways of helping communities manage risks, and in particular, to take account of the important role of women in coping with disasters. In Latin America we brought together policy makers from Andean countries to look at impacts of climate change on their countries and to promote action by governments to help poor people adapt. In Southern Africa, Practical Action enabled ‘farmers’ juries’ to be set up to interview agricultural experts. The juries gave farmers the chance to highlight agricultural problems of greatest importance to them and request that agricultural policy and researchers tackle these problems. Practical Action has enabled farmers and pastoralists to attend national and international events so that they have the opportunity to voice their concerns directly to policy makers.
Growing vegetables on a floating garden
Coping with floods in Bangladesh
Many communities in Bangladesh live along river banks in areas prone to flooding and river erosion. During the monsoon many poor families lose their homes, livelihoods, and often go hungry as they are unable to grow crops when their land is flooded. Practical Action has been working closely with these communities to construct safe shelters that affected families can access during floods. Trained volunteers help families go to these shelters using the evacuation boats Practical Action has helped the communities build. The shelters provide clean water and medical supplies, with room to protect families and their livestock during the worst of the flooding. Practical Action has also trained farmers in constructing floating gardens to help them earn a living during these difficult times, by growing food on flooded land. Floating gardens are built using water hyacinth to construct a raft, which is covered with soil and cow dung so that people can grow vegetables such as gourd, okra and onions. Tara Begum trained by Practical Action, built her own floating garden with the help of her family and has managed to grow crops including sweet pumpkin and red onion. “This has made a great difference to my life. Now I have enough food in the floods and I can give some to help my relatives as well”.
Sharon Looremeta from Practical Action, East Africa spoke at the LiveEarth concert to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change on the lives of poor people in her community in Kenya, and the need for governments and their citizens to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Facing the future
Poor people face an uncertain future: they will have to adapt to the changes brought by global warming while coping with many existing challenges. In Practical Action we believe that empowering communities to plan ahead, build secure lives and cope with risks is a vital part of helping people adapt to change and move out of poverty. We continue to work towards a vision of a sustainable world free of poverty and injustice, and to use technology to challenge poverty.
Further information
If you would like to know more about disasters, vulnerability and development, or Practical Action’s work in general, please contact: Supporter Services Unit, Practical Action The Schumacher Centre for Technology and Development Bourton on Dunsmore, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV23 9QZ T +44 (0)1926 634400 F +44 (0)1926 634401 E enquiries@practicalaction.org.uk W www.practicalaction.org
Practical Action is the working name of Intermediate Technology Development Group Ltd. Charity No. 247257 l Patron HRH The Prince of Wales, KG, KT, GCB.
Reducing Vulnerability
Enabling poor people to build secure lives
References: 1World Development Report 2008, 2EM-DAT.CRED, 3World Disaster Report 2006, 4 UNAIDS 2007 Aids Epidemic Update (December 2007). Exchange rate £1 = $2. Whilst the stories in this leaflet are true, names and photos have been changed to protect the identity of individuals. Photography: Karen Robinson, Mohammed Majzoub, Kudzai Marovanidze, Mehrab, Jane Eason
Printed on 100% recycled paper
Living on the edge
Three out of four poor people in developing countries live in rural areas. Many live in harsh environments such as arid or mountainous regions, often long distances from markets and other services. Agriculture provides the main livelihood, but many struggle to make a living. Families often experience a ‘hungry period’ when they do not have sufficient food and cannot afford to buy enough; dependence on food aid is also increasing. These environments are often prone to hazards such as drought, floods or landslides. Over the years, people have adapted and developed many ways of coping using their knowledge of the environment and diverse natural resources. However, their lives are increasingly under pressure as the risks facing them continue to grow. The impacts of drought and floods are often exacerbated by unsustainable development such as deforestation or a combination of increasing population pressure, political tensions and economic changes that lead to practices causing environmental degradation. Conflict has flared in many areas, fuelled by easy access to guns and increasing competition over scarce resources such as pasture and water. The impact of climate change is felt directly by people in these areas: changing seasons and more extreme weather patterns affect the natural environment and can contribute to crop failures and livestock losses. It is poor communities who usually live in the most risk-prone areas such as on steep slopes, river embankments or flood plains because they cannot afford to live in safer areas. They are often politically marginalised and have little voice in the policy decisions that affect them. They lack the safety nets that many take for granted in richer countries, such as savings, insurance policies or government services to warn and protect them from disasters. When disaster strikes they may be forced to take desperate measures to survive, abandoning their homes or selling vital land or tools on which they depend, because they have no savings or other resources. This undermines their future recovery and each new crisis can drive people deeper into poverty. It is not only the large, highly visible and well-reported hazards such as earthquakes and flash floods that hit poor people; there are many smaller, unreported disasters ranging from local landslides to livestock diseases that can destroy their few assets and leave them destitute.
Poverty, disasters and vulnerability – the facts
• • 2.1 billion people in rural areas live on less than £1 a day; 880 million live on less than 50p a day.1 On average 250 million people were annually affected by disasters reported in the decade 1996-2005. This is one-third more than the previous decade 1986-1995. Almost all these people lived in Asia, Africa or Central and South America.2 The accumulated death toll and impact on livelihoods from small-scale, local events and recurring crises may equal or exceed that of high profile disasters.3 By the end of 2007 an estimated 33.2 million people worldwide were living with HIV mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, and 2.1 million people died from AIDS related illnesses.4
In Zambia, many poor communities have been hit hard by HIV/AIDS and are often dependent on food aid. Better nutrition is vital to improve general health, so Practical Action is working with poor farmers to form gardening groups who can produce a much wider range of vegetables and beans so people have a better diet and increased income. Instead of relying on food handouts and increasing their dependency, people are able to produce more themselves, which increases their self-reliance and confidence.
Project in Action
•
•
Practical Action’s approach to reducing vulnerability
Practical Action works with poor people in Africa, Asia and Latin America to build on their skills and knowledge and use appropriate technologies to help them develop more secure lives, cope with the risks they face and adapt their lives successfully to meet future challenges. Practical Action’s approach includes: • Enabling communities to organise and plan their own development. • Increasing poor people’s access to technologies and skills for sustainable agriculture production and managing natural resources such as soil, land and water. • Increasing access to a range of skills so that poor people have more ways of making a living. • Helping people to assess risks and find ways of coping better with hazards including drought, flood and conflict. • Working directly with local people and also with partners so we can share our work and reach more people. • Working at all levels from local to international in order to have a bigger impact on the policies that affect vulnerable people.
Constructing dykes and spurs from stone gabions Drip irrigation vegetable garden in Zambia
Coping with floods in Nepal
In the mountains of Nepal, heavy rain on the steep slopes erodes the soil and frequently leads to landslides, resulting in loss of land, damage to property and a threat to life. People living alongside the Narayani River are most at risk. Debris is carried downstream and deposited, raising the river bed, which in turn increases the frequency and severity of flooding in the surrounding lands. Practical Action has been working with local partners to establish a Community Flood Management Committee to galvanize the local communities to prepare for the floods. Measures include constructing dykes and spurs using stone filled wire baskets (gabions) which reduce the erosive force of the river. Early warning towers equipped with sirens have been built so that local communities can watch out for changing up-stream conditions and can warn surrounding villagers of rising water levels. As the rivers rise trained observers are in regular contact with communities, alerting them to the changes in river level or potential landslides. This was put to the test in Chitwan District when floods came in 2007. The siren was sounded and volunteers successfully evacuated people to safety. A community member says “Since the gabion has been built part of the river bank is protected and water doesn’t come into the house. Before I was extremely worried about the floods – I could not sleep. The men used to go to the river bank to monitor the flood. But during the flood we heard the siren and went to the riverside to check the water level. We went to a safe place in the nearby school where the shelter was constructed”.
Managing natural resources
In Northern Kenya competition over scarce pastures and water sources has been a cause of conflict between different groups of pastoralists and farmers. Conflict stifles development by creating a vicious circle of insecurity, limited access to natural resources and growing poverty. Practical Action is helping local people come together to agree better ways of managing access to water and land, and to work on practical solutions such as water points in dry season grazing areas that bring benefits to all communities. Livestock is the main resource in this region and local people have many indigenous breeds of sheep, goats, cattle and camels that are adapted to survive the harsh climate. These are not only essential to local people but also provide a world-wide source of biodiversity. Practical Action trains local animal health workers to provide front-line advice to improving animal health, and supports livestock keepers in the protection of local breeds.
Unlocking potential for sustainable agriculture
In the fragile region of Darfur in western Sudan, poor communities strive to cope with a harsh environment as well as the threat of conflict. Competition over limited water and pasture is one of the causes driving the current conflict. For over 15 years Practical Action has been helping to increase the potential from the land in this region. Improved water conservation techniques such as crescent terraces combined with a wider variety of seeds help farmers make the most of the limited rainfall. More dams and water sources help livestock keepers look after their animals during the drought. Better tools such as donkey ploughs, which were developed with and adapted by local blacksmiths, make it easier to prepare land and provide an income to the blacksmiths who make the tools. While the conflict presents huge challenges, Practical Action continues to support local people to come together to plan their own development, and to provide advice to enable people to cope and to sustain their lives.
Reducing risks from disasters
Better awareness of risks, planning and early warning systems are vital in helping people prepare and cope with disasters that can occur with little warning. In Peru, school education programmes on identifying risks, taking precautions and providing assistance during and after disasters such as earthquakes and floods are being developed and promoted by Practical Action. Young people now take a leading role and have been active in encouraging their families and the wider community to protect themselves. Long-term reduction of risks is also important. In Nepal, villagers are gaining skills to reduce risks and increase their incomes at the same time. An example is using tree planting as a way of stabilising slopes and reducing risks of landslides. The trees are used for fruit or fodder for animals so also provide a useful resource.
Women in Sudan using an ‘A’ frame to measure level contours for terrace construction.
Living on the edge
Three out of four poor people in developing countries live in rural areas. Many live in harsh environments such as arid or mountainous regions, often long distances from markets and other services. Agriculture provides the main livelihood, but many struggle to make a living. Families often experience a ‘hungry period’ when they do not have sufficient food and cannot afford to buy enough; dependence on food aid is also increasing. These environments are often prone to hazards such as drought, floods or landslides. Over the years, people have adapted and developed many ways of coping using their knowledge of the environment and diverse natural resources. However, their lives are increasingly under pressure as the risks facing them continue to grow. The impacts of drought and floods are often exacerbated by unsustainable development such as deforestation or a combination of increasing population pressure, political tensions and economic changes that lead to practices causing environmental degradation. Conflict has flared in many areas, fuelled by easy access to guns and increasing competition over scarce resources such as pasture and water. The impact of climate change is felt directly by people in these areas: changing seasons and more extreme weather patterns affect the natural environment and can contribute to crop failures and livestock losses. It is poor communities who usually live in the most risk-prone areas such as on steep slopes, river embankments or flood plains because they cannot afford to live in safer areas. They are often politically marginalised and have little voice in the policy decisions that affect them. They lack the safety nets that many take for granted in richer countries, such as savings, insurance policies or government services to warn and protect them from disasters. When disaster strikes they may be forced to take desperate measures to survive, abandoning their homes or selling vital land or tools on which they depend, because they have no savings or other resources. This undermines their future recovery and each new crisis can drive people deeper into poverty. It is not only the large, highly visible and well-reported hazards such as earthquakes and flash floods that hit poor people; there are many smaller, unreported disasters ranging from local landslides to livestock diseases that can destroy their few assets and leave them destitute.
Poverty, disasters and vulnerability – the facts
• • 2.1 billion people in rural areas live on less than £1 a day; 880 million live on less than 50p a day.1 On average 250 million people were annually affected by disasters reported in the decade 1996-2005. This is one-third more than the previous decade 1986-1995. Almost all these people lived in Asia, Africa or Central and South America.2 The accumulated death toll and impact on livelihoods from small-scale, local events and recurring crises may equal or exceed that of high profile disasters.3 By the end of 2007 an estimated 33.2 million people worldwide were living with HIV mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, and 2.1 million people died from AIDS related illnesses.4
In Zambia, many poor communities have been hit hard by HIV/AIDS and are often dependent on food aid. Better nutrition is vital to improve general health, so Practical Action is working with poor farmers to form gardening groups who can produce a much wider range of vegetables and beans so people have a better diet and increased income. Instead of relying on food handouts and increasing their dependency, people are able to produce more themselves, which increases their self-reliance and confidence.
Project in Action
•
•
Practical Action’s approach to reducing vulnerability
Practical Action works with poor people in Africa, Asia and Latin America to build on their skills and knowledge and use appropriate technologies to help them develop more secure lives, cope with the risks they face and adapt their lives successfully to meet future challenges. Practical Action’s approach includes: • Enabling communities to organise and plan their own development. • Increasing poor people’s access to technologies and skills for sustainable agriculture production and managing natural resources such as soil, land and water. • Increasing access to a range of skills so that poor people have more ways of making a living. • Helping people to assess risks and find ways of coping better with hazards including drought, flood and conflict. • Working directly with local people and also with partners so we can share our work and reach more people. • Working at all levels from local to international in order to have a bigger impact on the policies that affect vulnerable people.
Constructing dykes and spurs from stone gabions Drip irrigation vegetable garden in Zambia
Coping with floods in Nepal
In the mountains of Nepal, heavy rain on the steep slopes erodes the soil and frequently leads to landslides, resulting in loss of land, damage to property and a threat to life. People living alongside the Narayani River are most at risk. Debris is carried downstream and deposited, raising the river bed, which in turn increases the frequency and severity of flooding in the surrounding lands. Practical Action has been working with local partners to establish a Community Flood Management Committee to galvanize the local communities to prepare for the floods. Measures include constructing dykes and spurs using stone filled wire baskets (gabions) which reduce the erosive force of the river. Early warning towers equipped with sirens have been built so that local communities can watch out for changing up-stream conditions and can warn surrounding villagers of rising water levels. As the rivers rise trained observers are in regular contact with communities, alerting them to the changes in river level or potential landslides. This was put to the test in Chitwan District when floods came in 2007. The siren was sounded and volunteers successfully evacuated people to safety. A community member says “Since the gabion has been built part of the river bank is protected and water doesn’t come into the house. Before I was extremely worried about the floods – I could not sleep. The men used to go to the river bank to monitor the flood. But during the flood we heard the siren and went to the riverside to check the water level. We went to a safe place in the nearby school where the shelter was constructed”.
Managing natural resources
In Northern Kenya competition over scarce pastures and water sources has been a cause of conflict between different groups of pastoralists and farmers. Conflict stifles development by creating a vicious circle of insecurity, limited access to natural resources and growing poverty. Practical Action is helping local people come together to agree better ways of managing access to water and land, and to work on practical solutions such as water points in dry season grazing areas that bring benefits to all communities. Livestock is the main resource in this region and local people have many indigenous breeds of sheep, goats, cattle and camels that are adapted to survive the harsh climate. These are not only essential to local people but also provide a world-wide source of biodiversity. Practical Action trains local animal health workers to provide front-line advice to improving animal health, and supports livestock keepers in the protection of local breeds.
Unlocking potential for sustainable agriculture
In the fragile region of Darfur in western Sudan, poor communities strive to cope with a harsh environment as well as the threat of conflict. Competition over limited water and pasture is one of the causes driving the current conflict. For over 15 years Practical Action has been helping to increase the potential from the land in this region. Improved water conservation techniques such as crescent terraces combined with a wider variety of seeds help farmers make the most of the limited rainfall. More dams and water sources help livestock keepers look after their animals during the drought. Better tools such as donkey ploughs, which were developed with and adapted by local blacksmiths, make it easier to prepare land and provide an income to the blacksmiths who make the tools. While the conflict presents huge challenges, Practical Action continues to support local people to come together to plan their own development, and to provide advice to enable people to cope and to sustain their lives.
Reducing risks from disasters
Better awareness of risks, planning and early warning systems are vital in helping people prepare and cope with disasters that can occur with little warning. In Peru, school education programmes on identifying risks, taking precautions and providing assistance during and after disasters such as earthquakes and floods are being developed and promoted by Practical Action. Young people now take a leading role and have been active in encouraging their families and the wider community to protect themselves. Long-term reduction of risks is also important. In Nepal, villagers are gaining skills to reduce risks and increase their incomes at the same time. An example is using tree planting as a way of stabilising slopes and reducing risks of landslides. The trees are used for fruit or fodder for animals so also provide a useful resource.
Women in Sudan using an ‘A’ frame to measure level contours for terrace construction.
Project in Action
Influencing others and raising the voices of the poor
Practical Action staff work directly with rural communities, but also with organisations at all levels from local to international to help vulnerable people make their voices heard and have more influence over issues that concern them. In South Asia, Practical Action is influencing policy makers at national and regional levels to find practical ways of helping communities manage risks, and in particular, to take account of the important role of women in coping with disasters. In Latin America we brought together policy makers from Andean countries to look at impacts of climate change on their countries and to promote action by governments to help poor people adapt. In Southern Africa, Practical Action enabled ‘farmers’ juries’ to be set up to interview agricultural experts. The juries gave farmers the chance to highlight agricultural problems of greatest importance to them and request that agricultural policy and researchers tackle these problems. Practical Action has enabled farmers and pastoralists to attend national and international events so that they have the opportunity to voice their concerns directly to policy makers.
Growing vegetables on a floating garden
Coping with floods in Bangladesh
Many communities in Bangladesh live along river banks in areas prone to flooding and river erosion. During the monsoon many poor families lose their homes, livelihoods, and often go hungry as they are unable to grow crops when their land is flooded. Practical Action has been working closely with these communities to construct safe shelters that affected families can access during floods. Trained volunteers help families go to these shelters using the evacuation boats Practical Action has helped the communities build. The shelters provide clean water and medical supplies, with room to protect families and their livestock during the worst of the flooding. Practical Action has also trained farmers in constructing floating gardens to help them earn a living during these difficult times, by growing food on flooded land. Floating gardens are built using water hyacinth to construct a raft, which is covered with soil and cow dung so that people can grow vegetables such as gourd, okra and onions. Tara Begum trained by Practical Action, built her own floating garden with the help of her family and has managed to grow crops including sweet pumpkin and red onion. “This has made a great difference to my life. Now I have enough food in the floods and I can give some to help my relatives as well”.
Sharon Looremeta from Practical Action, East Africa spoke at the LiveEarth concert to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change on the lives of poor people in her community in Kenya, and the need for governments and their citizens to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Facing the future
Poor people face an uncertain future: they will have to adapt to the changes brought by global warming while coping with many existing challenges. In Practical Action we believe that empowering communities to plan ahead, build secure lives and cope with risks is a vital part of helping people adapt to change and move out of poverty. We continue to work towards a vision of a sustainable world free of poverty and injustice, and to use technology to challenge poverty.
Further information
If you would like to know more about disasters, vulnerability and development, or Practical Action’s work in general, please contact: Supporter Services Unit, Practical Action The Schumacher Centre for Technology and Development Bourton on Dunsmore, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV23 9QZ T +44 (0)1926 634400 F +44 (0)1926 634401 E enquiries@practicalaction.org.uk W www.practicalaction.org
Practical Action is the working name of Intermediate Technology Development Group Ltd. Charity No. 247257 l Patron HRH The Prince of Wales, KG, KT, GCB.
Reducing Vulnerability
Enabling poor people to build secure lives
References: 1World Development Report 2008, 2EM-DAT.CRED, 3World Disaster Report 2006, 4 UNAIDS 2007 Aids Epidemic Update (December 2007). Exchange rate £1 = $2. Whilst the stories in this leaflet are true, names and photos have been changed to protect the identity of individuals. Photography: Karen Robinson, Mohammed Majzoub, Kudzai Marovanidze, Mehrab, Jane Eason
Printed on 100% recycled paper
