Unlocking the Potential : The imperative of Gender Responsiveness in DRM – Why women matter !

Gender Responsiveness in Disaster Risk Management (DRM) is crucial because women often face unique vulnerabilities and possess invaluable capacities that can significantly enhance resilience and recovery efforts. Women’s roles as caregivers, community organizers, and primary managers of household resources position them as key agents in identifying risks and mobilizing resources effectively. Moreover, their perspectives and experiences provide essential insights into developing more inclusive and effective DRM strategies. By ensuring that DRM policies and practices are gender-responsive, we can unlock the potential for more equitable and sustainable disaster management, leveraging the full range of human resources and fostering stronger, more resilient communities.

Background Information on DRM in Zambia

Over the last few decades, Zambia has experienced a series of climate extremes such as droughts, seasonal and flush floods, increased temperatures prolonged dry spells, many of these with increased frequency, intensity and magnitude. The country’s heavy reliance on agriculture which supports most livelihoods in rural areas renders it particularly susceptible to climate related shocks such as erratic rainfall patterns and prolonged dry spells. Zambia is also usually plagued with pandemics such as Cholera annually. These vulnerabilities underscore the urgent need for proactive gender responsive disaster risk management strategies that prioritise community resilience, climate adaptation, and inclusive approaches to safeguarding the wellbeing of women, men, girls and boys.

It is from this background that DMMU in collaboration with the African Risk Capacity commissioned a gender analysis on disaster risk management in Zambia.

Objective of the Gender Analysis and about the Policy Brief

Gender Analysis Objective : To conduct an in-depth Gender Analysis of gender sensitivity and inclusivity of current disaster preparedness, response, recovery and mechanisms in Zambia

This Policy Brief is informed by the results of the Gender Analysis and it underscores the gender specific disparities and avenues for integrating gender considerations into DRM laws, policies, institutional arrangements and guidelines om Zambia, ensuring equitable recognition of the rights and capabilities of both men and women.

DRM Legal and Policy Framework on Gender and DRM

Internation and Regional Frameworks

The government of Zambia is party to the Sendai Framework, the CEDAW, the SDGs, the Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, the ARC Gender Policy among others. Whilst efforts have been made to implement these obligations, more still needs to be done especially, in setting clear gender targets in all priorities for action and to strengthen gender integration in DRM.

National level legislative framework

At national level, gender mainstreaming is embedded in various Government laws and policies as a critical strategy for the promotion of gender equality across all sectors. The Zambian Act No. 2 of 2016 prohibits discrimination on any basis. Other Gender and DRM laws and policies include the Gender Equity and Equality Act, the Gender policy, the Disaster Management Act which creates the DMMU, the Disaster Management Policy, the Climate Change Gender Action Plan to name a few.

Key Findings of the Gender Analysis

Understanding Gender Equality : Although there is a fair understanding of what gender equality entails, on the ground, this was not practiced.

Disaster management Laws, policies and institutional frameworks : Generally, the existing framework on Gender and DRM in Zambia is well known at National level while these are not well known at district and community level.

• While the existing framework indicates progress in integrating gender into DRM, there is still need to strengthen their gender responsiveness

Disaster Management Coordinating Structures and Mechanisms – Structures at community level lack clarity on when a disaster should be declared leading to inefficiencies in resource allocation and response.

Gender representation on the various disaster management committees – Representation national, district and community levels comprised more males except for some national sub committees and clusters.

Disaster and Vulnerability mapping – It was widely acknowledged that natural hazards impact different population segments differently due to preexisting vulnerabilities such as high poverty, low literacy, gender roles, women’s voice and agency, disability status, fewer resources to cope with and recover from disaster, etc. Furthermore, vulnerability was higher among population living along the river banks and those in the game park who continuously face the threat of animal and human conflict.

Profiling at-risk populations with special requirements during disasters : The social welfare tools and vulnerability assessments used to collect information for profiling at risk populations were found to be inadequate. Indicators such as assessing access to resources, decision making and exposure to GBV need to be included to capture the gender dimensions.

Early Warning and Information Dissemination : Despite acknowledging various sources used for disseminating early warning and other information, the following challenges were mentioned :

• Agriculture Extension Officers were too far away to provide timely information
• Radio coverage is not wide enough
• Limited coverage and Poor phone network
• Some information sharing meetings restricted attendance to household heads, mostly men

Coping Capacity for Disaster Response Management : It was acknowledged that men and male headed households having more capacity than women and female headed households when it comes to coping capacities for disaster response.

Disaster Response : In most cases, response was too slow. As a result, needs of the communities would have changed from the ones identified during needs assessment processes. A contributing factor is the delayed official acknowledgment of natural hazards.

Relief and Registration Services : Concerns were raised on how communication on relief and registration services were conducted ; the limited time allocated for both enumeration and registration, unclear criteria that was used to register beneficiaries ; distance and accessibility of the registration and relieve distribution centres which limited access for women and PWDs.

Payment Modality : The cash payment model for rural beneficiaries was applauded as an effective model because most women did not have phones and had limited knowledge on how to use phones. Mobile money transfer would pose challenges.

Shelters : Only tents are provided during disasters.

DRM Financing in Zambia

The Government of Zambia is committed to financing disaster risk management interventions. Annually, the government allocates funds for disaster risk management (DRM) activities through the national budget directed towards preparedness, response, and recovery initiatives. This budget allocation is complimented by funding from other sources such as

• International Aid and Grants : From international donors, development agencies, and humanitarian organizations for specific projects aimed at enhancing disaster resilience
• ARC : Which provides insurance against climate-related risks such severe droughts or other climate-related disasters
• World Bank and Other Multilateral Institutions : Which support various programs and funding mechanisms for disaster risk management and climate resilience projects
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) : Which support infrastructure projects, technology deployment, and innovative financing solutions to enhance resilience.

Addressing Gender Vulnerabilities in DRM

• Despite the commitment to DRM in Zambia, there is still room to improve DRM financing to ensure its gender responsiveness.
• Currently, there is a lack of dedicated financing for initiatives that specifically aim to address gender inequalities in DRM. 
• Women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by disasters, often do not receive the targeted support needed to enhance their resilience and participation in DRM processes.

Moving Forward

Empower Resilience : Invest in a Gender Transformative Fund to Build Stronger, Equitable Futures for All !"

This will help to proactively address the underlying root causes of women and girls and other vulnerable groups such as PWDs’ vulnerabilities to DRM Shelter planning and provision, especially for reproduc􏰁ve health services were not considered.

ARC Gender Transformative Fund

In 2021, the African Risk Capacity (ARC), a specialised agency of the African Union, established a Gender Transformative Fund, which is part its broader commitment to uphold gender equality principles and systematically integrate a gender perspective into its operations and policies

• Its an innovative initiative dedicated to addressing gender transformative issues within DRM
• It addresses gender inequalities in DRM and climate change adaptation across Africa.
• It aims to support actions that can transform mentalities and foster an enabling environment for DRM
• It includes efforts to transform DRM approaches to ensure gender equality for vulnerable groups and to partner with various stakeholders in gender transformative activities throughout the DRM spectrum.

Why Adopt a Gender Transformative Fund

Promotes Equity : By focusing on gender-specific vulnerabilities, the fund helps bridge the gap in resource allocation, ensuring that women and girls and other vulnerable groups receive the support they need to build resilience.

Sustainable Development : Addressing gender inequalities contributes to broader sustainable development goals, fostering economic and social stability.

Enhances Effectiveness and Empowering Communities : Considering the diverse experiences and capabilities of women, men, girls and boys leads to more comprehensive and effective disaster management strategies and enhances the overall resilience of communities, as each of them play vital roles in preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.

Emmerging Lessons in DRM

• Strengthening investment in disaster prevention can help to minimise exposure to potential disaster for women, men, boys and girls
• Making funding available proactively before disaster occurs based on early warning information helps to reinforce risk reduction measures and this can mitigate vulnerabilities and the severity of the disaster impact
• A gender Transformative Fund can help to inform the design of interventions that challenge existing gender norms and promote gender equality at all stages of DRM.

Recommendations

Priority Actions for Gender Responsive DRM

For Government

• Leverage ongoing reform of DM Policy to incorporate gender considerations to strengthen DRM
• Incorporate into new Operational Plan gender sensitive language, targets, indicators and interventions that address GBV
• Build capacities of District Management Committees
• Establish Gender Transformative Fund and strengthen collaboration with partners
• Enhance process of decision making in announcing disasters to enable partners access resources to complement government efforts in responding to disasters.
• Enhance resource allocation to DRM processes to ensure adequate time is provided for enumeration and registration using defined criteria.
• Utilise early warning information to proactively guide timely implementation of interventions.
• Enhance reach for communication channels such as radio coverage and availability of Agric. Ext. Officers

For Development Partners

• Support ongoing efforts to engender the legal, policy and institutional framework on DRM
• Support surveys and assessment to collect gender specific issues affecting women and men in disaster areas to inform strategies.
• Support the development, implementation and monitoring of government led DRM policies, plans and strategies
• Support capacity building efforts of stakeholders involved in DRM to enhance their capacity to identify and implement gender responsive DRM interventions
• Support awareness on gender equality and interventions that empower women’s capacity to become resilient and promote their equal participation in all stages of Community life

For Communities

• Provide accurate information on prevailing disaster status and gender dimensions of its impact
• Ensure information received on early warning and DRM interventions are communicated throughout assigned catchment areas.
• Support community mobilization interventions
• Ensure that selection of representation on various DRM committees is based on principles of gender equality.
• Support awareness creation efforts to debunk norms that hinder the equal participation of women and men at all stages DRM

Conclusion

The gender analysis underscores the imperative of integrating gender perspectives into all phases of disaster risk management.
Gender specific needs and considerations need to be enhanced for equitable benefits and participation by women and men before, during and after disasters.