Concepts of Vulnerability
AIACC Project
AIACC VULNERABILITY AND ADAPTATION WORKSHOP VULNERABILITY CONCEPTS Objectives: To introduce the range of definitions of vulnerability To look at range of methods in vulnerability assessment To consider ways to apply vulnerability assessment in AIACC projects Module plan: Range of vulnerability assessment methods (15 min) Table with checklist of uses Vulnerability concepts and definitions (45 min) Using the attached vulnerability diagrammes, brainstorm regarding framing vulnerability in the context of climate change and using vulnerability frameworks in AIACC projects List of definitions How might this approach and techniques be used in AIACC projects? (15 min) Practical applications List of potential constraints Requirements for further training Evaluation (5 min) Sheets with likes/dislikes comments Follow up session: Vulnerability mapping Livelihood approaches Socio-economic scenarios Indicators
Concepts of Vulnerability
AIACC Project
Definitions of hazard, vulnerability, risk and disasters
Hazard + vulnerability = risk disaster
: : : :
potential threat to humans and their welfare exposure and susceptibility to losses probability of hazard occurrence realization of a risk
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Techniques:
Concepts of Vulnerability
AIACC Project
Hum an N eed s: N u tr i ti o n
Hum an W a n ts : D i e ta r y p r e fe r e n c e
C h o ic e o f M eans: C r o p p in g s y s te m
I n i ti a ti n g E v e n ts : D ro u g h t
In t e r m e d i a t e E v e n ts : C r o p f a ilu r e
O u tc o m e : H o u s e h o ld fo o d s c a r c i ty
E x p o su re : Hunger of h o u s e h o ld m e m b e rs
C on se que nce: M o r b id ity , L o s s o f liv e li h o o d
C onseq uen ce : D e a th
M o d if y W a n ts : A lt e r c h o ic e o f fo o d s
M o d if y M eans: C hoose d ro u g h t cro p s
C o p e w ith E v e n t: I r r ig a t e
C o p e w it h E v e n t: R e p la n t
C o p e w it h O u tc o m e : S e ll a s s e t s , b u y fo o d
B lo c k E x p o su re : M ig r a te to fin d fo o d
M it ig a t e C onsequence: R e d u c e a c t iv i t y
M i t ig a t e C on seque nce: E m e r g e n c y r e lie f , re co ve ry, r e h a b ili t a t io n
Causal chain of hazard development
Source: after Downing (1991, see also Millman and Kates 1990).
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Concepts of Vulnerability
AIACC Project
Vulnerability and capability RESOURCES Physical/material VULNERABILITY CAPABILITY
Social/Organizational
Motivational/attitudinal
Source: Anderson and Woodrow (1989).
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Concepts of Vulnerability
AIACC Project
Three dimensions of vulnerability
Source: after Bohle et al. (1994).
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Concepts of Vulnerability
AIACC Project
PROGRESSION OF VULNERABILITY ROOT CAUSES Limited access to
DYNAMIC PRESSURES Lack of
UNSAFE CONDITIONS Fragile physical environment
DISASTERS
HAZARDS Earthquake
Resources Structures Power
Institutions Training Skills Investment Markets Press freedom Civil society
Dangerous locations Unprotected structures
RISK Wind storm = Flooding HAZARD Volcano + Landslide VULNERABILITY Drought Virus and pest
Fragile local economy
Ideologies Political systems Economic systems
Livelihoods at risk Low income
Vulnerable society Macro-forces
Groups at risk Little capacity to cope
Population Urbanisation
growth
Arms expenditure Debt repayment
Public actions
Lack of preparedness Endemic disease
Heat wave
Deforestation
Soil degradation
Structure of vulnerability and disasters. Source: Blaikie et al. (1994). Strengths: Weaknesses: Techniques:
Concepts of Vulnerability
Environmental vulnerability
Source: Kasperson, et al. Strengths:
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Concepts of Vulnerability DEFINITIONS vulnerability: the degree to which a person, system or unit is likely to experience harm due to exposure to perturbations or stresses. exposure: the contact between a system and a perturbation or stress. sensitivity: the extent to which a system or its components is likely to experience harm, and the magnitude of that harm, due to exposure to perturbations or stresses. resilience: the ability of a system to absorb perturbations or stresses without changes in its fundamental structure or function that would drive the system into a different state (or extinction). stress: cumulating pressure on a system resulting from processes within the normal range of variability, but which over time may result in disturbances causing the system to adjust, adapt, or be harmed. perturbation: a disturbance to a system resulting from a sudden shock with a magnitude outside the normal vulnerability. adjustment: a system response to perturbations or stress that does not fundamentally alter the system itself. Adjustments are commonly (but not necessarily) short-term and involve relatively minor system modifications. adaptation: A system response to perturbations or stress that is sufficiently fundamental to alter the system itself, sometimes shifting the system to a new state. hazard: the threat of a stress or perturbation to a system and what it values. risk: the conditional probability and magnitude of harm attendant on exposure to a perturbation or stress. Source: Kasperson, et al. (2002)
