Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Implementation of Community Based Disaster Risk Management in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Sjöstedt, Frida LU and Sturegård, Viktor (2015) VBR920 20152
Division of Risk Management and Societal Safety
Risk Management and Safety Engineering (M.Sc.Eng.)
Abstract
This master thesis examines the implementation of Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. The report is based on a literature study in the field of CBDRM together with an interview study conducted with organisations operating in the region. The thesis shows that CBDRM has been an effective approach in the Mekong Delta and that used modes and modalities have resulted in more resilient communities with a higher capacity to deal with imminent threats from disasters. However, CBDRM is still a fairly new concept and further research should be conducted in order to study the long-term effects.
Popular Abstract
As a result of global warming the number of disasters will increase in the world. Increased urbanisation and environmental degradation will lead to escalating vulnerability. As a result of this changing landscape of disaster risk a new adaptable approach is needed in order to create sustainable and resilient communities. Community based disaster risk management, CBDRM, is a successful way to achieve this.

The Mekong Delta in Vietnam is located in a tropical monsoon region and is therefore highly susceptible to climate change. Floods are causing immense threats to society and the region needs a way of dealing with the increasing and changing challenges of the future. In 2009 a national program was established which aimed at implementing... (More)
As a result of global warming the number of disasters will increase in the world. Increased urbanisation and environmental degradation will lead to escalating vulnerability. As a result of this changing landscape of disaster risk a new adaptable approach is needed in order to create sustainable and resilient communities. Community based disaster risk management, CBDRM, is a successful way to achieve this.

The Mekong Delta in Vietnam is located in a tropical monsoon region and is therefore highly susceptible to climate change. Floods are causing immense threats to society and the region needs a way of dealing with the increasing and changing challenges of the future. In 2009 a national program was established which aimed at implementing CBDRM in 9000 exposed communities.

CBDRM is an approach to disaster risk management where the purpose is to put the community at the centre of the projects. CBDRM consists of three pillars; participation, ownership and sustainability. By involving the people in disaster risk reduction you create communal ownership and thereby sustainability.

Today many countries throughout the world is dependent on humanitarian aid. However, in order to create a safer and more sustainable world a shift of focus from response to preparedness is needed. CBDRM creates a possibility to achieve this. By linking CBDRM to sustainable development social, economic and environmental conditions will improve.

The outcomes of CBDRM are difficult to measure since it is a long term process and successful implementation tends to result in a lack of visible evidence. Another difficulty is the lack of funding for these long term activities.
At Lund University a study was conducted to examine the outcome of CBDRM. The aim was


to get a general grasp of the successes and the challenges with the approach. The study was a case study of the Mekong Delta and consisted of a literature and interview study.

This study found that CBDRM is achieved through several different activities such as training, education and improved coordination and communication between actors. An example from the Mekong Delta is the successful concept called Train of Trainer, ToT, where certain key people have been taught how to drive and maintain a boat and then used this knowledge to teach others in the community. Teachers are also taught about disaster risk management in order to incorporate the subject into the school curriculum and thereby teach their students about how to deal with risks that are facing them and their families. Another example is how the involvement of women in the different projects have increased their status, not only in terms of disaster risk reduction but also in society as a whole.

The study shows that the implementation of CBDRM has led to safer and more resilient communities better capable of dealing with the future challenges of climate change. People now feel a greater ability and responsibility to reduce their own risks. The population is more aware of the risks and have a greater trust towards the authorities.

CBDRM is not only a tool to achieve national strength and capability. A disaster rarely affects only one country and a collaboration between actors both nationally and through international cooperation could be beneficial not only from a disaster perspective but also for long-term stability and peace across borders.
The national program implemented by the government of Vietnam is placing the country at the forefront in regards to CBDRM and sets a good example for the rest of the world to follow.
By Frida Sjöstedt & Viktor Sturegård, 2015-12-1 (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Sjöstedt, Frida LU and Sturegård, Viktor
supervisor
organization
course
VBR920 20152
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
CBDRM, Community based disaster risk management, DRR, Disaster risk reduction, capacity development, resilience, Mekong Delta, Vietnam, climate change adaptation, vulnerability, sustainability, ownership, kapacitetsutveckling, sårbarhet, klimatförändringar, klimatanpassning, hållbarhet, katastrofberedskap, Mekongdeltat.
report number
5022
other publication id
LUTVDG/TVRH—5022--SE
language
English
id
8602556
date added to LUP
2016-03-03 09:47:31
date last changed
2020-12-03 14:26:11
@misc{8602556,
  abstract     = {{This master thesis examines the implementation of Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. The report is based on a literature study in the field of CBDRM together with an interview study conducted with organisations operating in the region. The thesis shows that CBDRM has been an effective approach in the Mekong Delta and that used modes and modalities have resulted in more resilient communities with a higher capacity to deal with imminent threats from disasters. However, CBDRM is still a fairly new concept and further research should be conducted in order to study the long-term effects.}},
  author       = {{Sjöstedt, Frida and Sturegård, Viktor}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Implementation of Community Based Disaster Risk Management in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}