Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction with Security Risk Mitigation in Conflict Settings - A Case Study

Abstract

Although conflict, climate change and natural hazards frequently coincide, consequently affecting human security, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation as well as security risk mitigation are often treated separately in programme implementation. This, however, increases the risk in overlooking the opportunity to address root causes caused and exacerbated by climate change, natural hazards and conflict.
This thesis, therefore, examines how disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation can be integrated with security risk mitigation strategies in conflict settings. The topic was approached by conducting a case study, using Yemen and Afghanistan as cases.
Relevant data was collected by reviewing topic-related scientific and grey literature, conducting semi-structured interviews with key informants working in both Afghanistan and Yemen, or researching on the topic. By comparing the results obtained from both data collection methods, six key elements could be identified that should be incorporated into a conceptual framework for integrating disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and security risk mitigation: The local context, community engagement, funding and external support, human rights-based approach, governance, and early warning and forecasting.
Including these six elements can enhance the connected approach between disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and security risk mitigation and reduce vulnerabilities and enhance resilience, thus mitigating the compounding effects of climate change, natural hazards and conflict.

Popular Abstract

In 2015, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was published laying out goals and pathways to achieve peace and eradicate poverty while promoting the narrative of “leaving no one behind”. However, is that really the case!? Countries such as Yemen and Afghanistan, which are not only experiencing the impacts of climate change and natural hazards but are also struggling with the effects of complex and long-lasting conflicts, are facing severe challenges in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

As conflicts often coincide with natural hazards and the impacts of climate change (think about the earthquake in Afghanistan in 2023, resulting in over 2,000 deaths), an integrated approach to disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation (CCA), and security risk mitigation (SRM) is needed. SRM is hereby understood as the proactive reduction of consequences and severity of events resulting from conflict settings that amplify vulnerabilities and exposure, consequently endangering the ability to live a dignified life.

By conducting a case study with a focus on Yemen and Afghanistan, this research project aimed to understand the complex interconnection between DRR, CCA, and SRM in conflict settings. To fulfil this purpose, the question of what elements a conceptual framework should entail to integrate these three was answered. Several key elements were identified through a document analysis and by conducting interviews: The local context, community engagement, funding and external support, human rights-based approach, governance, and early warning and forecasting.

Integrating these elements by implementing specific programme activities such as conflict-sensitivity or anticipatory action can enhance the alignment between DRR, CCA, and SRM and hence strengthen the resilience and decreasing the vulnerabilities of communities. Nevertheless, as one can imagine, especially in conflict settings, implementing any kind of project activities comes with certain challenges. Just think about trying to cooperate with a de facto regime like the Taliban or a rebel group such as the Houthi. However, can sustainable DRR, CCA, and SRM even be possible without including all the involved actors?

This research projects discusses these and more challenges by drawing on recent literature and interviewing key informants who are either working in Yemen and Afghanistan or are researching the topic of climate change, natural hazards, or conflict. Yet, while this thesis could support future research on this increasingly important topic, more in-depth studies are needed to further validate the findings, help operationalise the developed conceptual framework, and apply it to different contexts, such as newly emerging conflict settings.

• author: Hartig, Charlotte
• supervisor: Mo Hamza
• organization: Division of Risk Management and Societal Safety
• course: VBRM15 20251
• year: 2025
• type: H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
• subject: Social Sciences
• keywords: Disaster Risk Redutcion, Disasters, Climate Change Adaptation, Conflict Settings, Security Risk Mitigation, Vulnerability
• language: English
• id: 9204668
• date added to LUP: 2025-06-24 10:04:45
• date last changed: 2025-06-24 10:10:10