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Enhanced Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments as an organisational learning bridge for resilience building? A case study of Red Cross National Societies in the Caribbean

Delcourt, Gwenaëlle LU (2023) VBRM15 20221
Division of Risk Management and Societal Safety
Abstract
Adaptive capacity based on organisational learning (OL) is at once a critical imperative facing humanitarian organisations in their mission to save lives and support communities most at risk; and inherently evidenced as an enduring weakness over the past decades. Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments (VCA) are community-based risk assessments established for their utility in supporting communities’ iterative learning. However, understanding of their potential use for OL remains scarce, owing to their application having been limited to a community-based learning perspective. This timely study sought to explore their potential contribution to OL, specifically investigating the newly released Enhanced Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments... (More)
Adaptive capacity based on organisational learning (OL) is at once a critical imperative facing humanitarian organisations in their mission to save lives and support communities most at risk; and inherently evidenced as an enduring weakness over the past decades. Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments (VCA) are community-based risk assessments established for their utility in supporting communities’ iterative learning. However, understanding of their potential use for OL remains scarce, owing to their application having been limited to a community-based learning perspective. This timely study sought to explore their potential contribution to OL, specifically investigating the newly released Enhanced Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments (EVCA) of the IFRC as the methodology in real-time. A multi-case study approach involved 4 National Societies in the Caribbean region with whom 17 interviews were conducted, alongside 6 interviews with HQ-level informants and document analysis complementing the empirical data. Results revealed a significant potential for the Enhanced VCA methodology to contribute to learning at the micro, meso and macro levels, contingent upon leveraging a nexus of motives, means, and opportunities for OL. The study provides additional evidence to previous studies having nuanced enduring gaps in leveraging assessment processes for learning by further nuancing the interactions and systemic interdependences at play. Notwithstanding its contextual scope specifically focused on the IFRC and Caribbean region, the study provides insight which could be of interest in other contexts. (Less)
Popular Abstract
In an astounding 191 countries across the globe, with a dedicated volunteer force estimated at a staggering 15.2 million, the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement (RCRC) stands as the most extensive humanitarian network on Earth. Their noble mission? To provide precisely targeted assistance to the communities most susceptible to hardship. At the core of their strategic toolkit lies the Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA), a potent instrument employed by RCRC to navigate their humanitarian endeavours.
In recent years, the landscape of humanitarian efforts has undergone a profound transformation, shifting from a reactionary stance towards a proactive approach centred on resilience building. This transition demands a heightened ability to... (More)
In an astounding 191 countries across the globe, with a dedicated volunteer force estimated at a staggering 15.2 million, the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement (RCRC) stands as the most extensive humanitarian network on Earth. Their noble mission? To provide precisely targeted assistance to the communities most susceptible to hardship. At the core of their strategic toolkit lies the Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA), a potent instrument employed by RCRC to navigate their humanitarian endeavours.
In recent years, the landscape of humanitarian efforts has undergone a profound transformation, shifting from a reactionary stance towards a proactive approach centred on resilience building. This transition demands a heightened ability to foresee, acknowledge, adapt to, and learn from evolving challenges, both for the communities RCRC serves and for the organisation itself. While VCAs are acknowledged for their role in fostering iterative learning within communities, their significance in promoting organisational learning (OL) remains somewhat elusive.
This study delves into this conundrum, recognising a significant gap in our understanding, especially when considering the practical application of OL within the humanitarian sector. In particular, it zeroes in on the Enhanced Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (EVCA), introduced in 2019 as a response to the persistent shortcomings of its predecessor.
A key advantage of this research lies in its real-time nature, enabling a fresh perspective on the newly implemented methodology, while also drawing from past VCA experiences. Two research questions were posed, demanding, first, a deep dive into the history and present utilisation of VCAs by National Societies (NSs) within the case study context, and second, an exploration of how the EVCA methodology can bolster OL for resilience building.
Resilience, OL, and VCAs are all interconnected, requiring a systemic perspective to comprehend their intricate dynamics. Multi-level perspectives are vital in decision-making processes aimed at enhancing resilience. The study's conceptual framework is rooted in complex adaptive systems theory, offering a lens through which to view the intricate interdependencies inherent in the processes under scrutiny.
This study delves into the RCRC within the Caribbean region, collaborating closely with four NSs, which serve as the operational arms of the global organisation at the country level. To gather primary data, 17 interviews were conducted with carefully selected informants across the four NS cases, supplemented by 6 interviews with individuals from regional (Panama) and global headquarters (Geneva) offices. Document analysis served as a secondary data source. The research owes its existence to collaboration with the RCRC Climate Centre and CADRIM, stemming from the researcher's practical involvement with the organisation.
The study applies the Motives, Means, and Opportunities (MMO) framework during its analytical phase. This framework proves invaluable in unveiling the intricate interplays between various components.
The findings of the study reveal a wide spectrum of VCA utilisation, linked to the roles and leadership responsibilities of respondents, with an emphasis on the lack of internal focus. It becomes evident that the potential contribution of the EVCA to OL for resilience building hinges on the intricate interplay of MMO within the NS system and the broader RCRC network. A critical factor to consider is the risk of sub-optimisation. Remarkably, previous literature has not explicitly explored the significance of MMO components' interactions and intersections when addressing risk assessments or OL in the humanitarian sector.
While this study doesn't claim to unearth ground-breaking revelations or previously undiscovered factors essential for fostering OL in this realm, it unquestionably enriches our comprehension of the complexities at play. Though the study's findings are inherently context-specific and based on a limited sample of informants and NS, which cannot be deemed representative of the Caribbean region or the RCRC as a whole, it is hoped that certain aspects of this research will stimulate further inquiry into the subject matter. Ultimately, although not a cure-all, the utilisation of the MMO Framework sheds light on the interdependent components, suggesting that this topic warrants further in-depth exploration. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Delcourt, Gwenaëlle LU
supervisor
organization
course
VBRM15 20221
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Organisational learning, resilience, vulnerability and capacity assessments (VCAs), red cross red crescent, Disaster risk management, MMO
language
English
id
9139984
date added to LUP
2023-10-17 12:52:59
date last changed
2023-10-17 12:52:59
@misc{9139984,
  abstract     = {{Adaptive capacity based on organisational learning (OL) is at once a critical imperative facing humanitarian organisations in their mission to save lives and support communities most at risk; and inherently evidenced as an enduring weakness over the past decades. Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments (VCA) are community-based risk assessments established for their utility in supporting communities’ iterative learning. However, understanding of their potential use for OL remains scarce, owing to their application having been limited to a community-based learning perspective. This timely study sought to explore their potential contribution to OL, specifically investigating the newly released Enhanced Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments (EVCA) of the IFRC as the methodology in real-time. A multi-case study approach involved 4 National Societies in the Caribbean region with whom 17 interviews were conducted, alongside 6 interviews with HQ-level informants and document analysis complementing the empirical data. Results revealed a significant potential for the Enhanced VCA methodology to contribute to learning at the micro, meso and macro levels, contingent upon leveraging a nexus of motives, means, and opportunities for OL. The study provides additional evidence to previous studies having nuanced enduring gaps in leveraging assessment processes for learning by further nuancing the interactions and systemic interdependences at play. Notwithstanding its contextual scope specifically focused on the IFRC and Caribbean region, the study provides insight which could be of interest in other contexts.}},
  author       = {{Delcourt, Gwenaëlle}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Enhanced Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments as an organisational learning bridge for resilience building? A case study of Red Cross National Societies in the Caribbean}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}