Final report: Science for Humanitarian Emergencies and Resilience (SHEAR) scoping study

Abstract

This scoping study was prepared to provide evidence in support of the Science for Humanitarian Emergencies and Resilience (SHEAR) research programme on risk assessments and early warning systems. The main focus of the programme is on weather-related hazards (e.g. cyclones, floods, droughts, landslides) for humanitarian and development purposes in low-income countries across Africa, the Caribbean and South Asia. The study was based on: Stakeholder surveys aimed at practitioners, and researchers, working in the three regions A UK workshop together a series of small international meetings and a number of one-to-one interviews A comprehensive literature review A number of case studies on community based risk assessment and early warning systems A desk study on relevant initiatives, gaps and needs in the Caribbean The report is structured in three main parts: Part 1 provides an introduction to the project and current progress on the United Nation International Strategy for Disaster Reduction’s (UNISDR) Hyogo Framework for Action. Part 2 presents an assessment of the effectiveness of risk assessments and early warning systems based on user surveys and interviews with individual sections on Africa, the Caribbean and South Asia. Part 3 provides a synthesis of evidence from the surveys, literature reviews and project workshops; it identifies the main barriers to effective risk assessments and early warning systems, research gaps and main conclusions of the study. This report is accompanied by seven standalone Annexes as follows: Annex 1 - Results of a stakeholder survey Annex 2 - Literature review Annex 3 - Community-based case studies covering the three regions Annex 4 - Current initiatives and research priorities in the Caribbean Annex 5 – Workshop report, London 9 December 2013. This was attended by approximately 40 UK-based researchers and some users of information Annex 6 - Notes from a Caribbean workshop and stakeholder engagement. Annex 7 - Notes from African workshop This report has been produced by HR Wallingford Ltd for Evidence on Demand with the assistance of the UK Department for International Development (DFID) contracted through the Climate, Environment, Infrastructure and Livelihoods Professional Evidence and Applied Knowledge Services (CEIL PEAKS) programme, jointly managed by HTSPE Limited and IMC Worldwide Limited