United Nations Food
and Agricultural Organisation
Deutsche Gesellschaft
für Technische Zusammenarbeit

THE ROLE OF LOCAL INSTITUTIONS IN REDUCING VULNERABILITY TO RECURRENT NATURAL DISASTERS AND IN SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS DEVELOPMENT

UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN

Disaster Mitigation for Sustainable
Livelihoods Programme (DiMP)

Case study

Assessing the Role of Local Institutions in Reducing the Vulnerability of At-Risk Communities in Búzi, Central Mozambique

Zefanias Matsimbe

Disaster Mitigation for Sustainable Livelihoods Programme (DiMP)
University of Cape Town

October 2003
 

Table of Contents

Co-financed by the Rural Institutions and Participation Service
of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ)

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not imply any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations and acronyms

Executive Summary

PART 1. Introduction, background, identification of study sites and methodology

1.1 Introduction
1.2 Background on Mozambique
1.3 Reasons for selection of case study sites

1.3.1 Description of study sites

1.3.1.1 Munamícua (Bândua)
1.3.1.2 Boca (Estaquinha)

1.4 Summary of methodology

1.4.1 Overview of research team and coordination
1.4.2 Overview of the methods and techniques used for data collection

1.4.2.1 Institutional assessment from national to local government
1.4.2.2 Institutional assessment of international agencies
1.4.2.3 Community assessment: Boca and Munamícua communities

1.5 Limitations

PART 2. Dealing with natural hazards in Mozambique: the case of the 2000 floods

2.1 Introduction
2.2 Impact of the 2000 event on the livelihoods of Búzi residents
2.3 Early warning in Búzi

2.3.1 Factors influencing early warning
2.3.2 Community based early-warning systems
2.3.3 Early warning systems after the 2000 event

2.4 Local responses to the event: The role of informal social networks in emergency response
2.5 Coordinating the emergency assistance
2.6 Assessing need and the distribution of relief

2.6.1 The role of traditional authorities in assessing households’ needs and distributing relief
2.6.2 Institutional limitations and challenges in distributing relief

2.7 Local perceptions of increasing disaster risk
2.8 The role of institutions in long-term recovery and risk reduction in at-risk communities

PART 3. Institutional assessment

3.1 The changing role of disaster-risk related institutions after the 2000 event
3.2 National level
3.3 Provincial level
3.4 District level
3.5 The role of the UN in coordinating a strategy for disaster management in Mozambique

PART 4. Lessons learnt and recommendations

4.1 Introduction
4.2 Lessons learnt from the 2000 events
4.3 Recommendations

4.3.1 Emergency management of an extreme event

4.3.1.1 Early warning and emergency planning
4.3.1.2 Evacuation, search and rescue
4.3.1.3 Assessing the impact and distributing relief
4.3.1.4 Recovery and rehabilitation

4.3.2 Reducing the vulnerability of at-risk communities

4.3.2.1 Strengthening and diversifying community livelihoods
4.3.2.2 Strengthening the coordination role of local institutions in reducing the vulnerability of at-risk communities
4.3.2.3 Integrating disaster management in sectoral policies
4.3.2.4 Promoting multidisciplinary research into vulnerability reduction

Appendices

Appendix 1. Tropical depressions between January and April 2000
Appendix 2. Level of appeal and response
Appendix 3. Summary of assistance received as result of appeal
Appendix 4. Main policies and legislation after 1990
Appendix 5. Map indicating the concentration of institutions in basin during the 2000 floods
Appendix 6. Institutions and their role during the emergency in Búzi

References and Selected Bibliography

Glossary