Options for flood risk reduction

Participatory flood risk mapping is a well-recognized and widely implemented tool for meaningful community involvement in disaster risk reduction. It generally entails a process that enables the local community to physically locate on maps the impending flood risks in communities, their resources, and the countermeasures they can adopt.

The participatory flood risk mapping is also considered to be an effective tool to enhance the community’s risk awareness and preparedness intention, as it provides a visual demonstration of risks through maps.

The effectiveness of participatory flood risk mapping remains anecdotal. The claims made in favour of participatory flood risk mapping are seldom empirically tested. Moreover, participatory mapping has rarely been identically carried out in two different places by two different organizations. Hence, the same exercise has varied outcomes and success rates in different places.

The participatory flood risk mapping exercise has rarely been applied identically in two different places by two different organizations, which produces varied and uncertain outcomes.

This study by Samaddar et al published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Science examines what factors and methods make participatory flood risk mapping an effective participatory disaster risk reduction tool. This study identifies the process-based criteria of participation.

A participatory flood risk mapping exercise conducted in a flood-prone informal settlement in Dharavi, Mumbai is discussed. The exercise was carefully designed to meet the process criteria of effective participation. Finally, using qualitative research methods, the effectiveness of participatory flood risk mapping is evaluated from the local community perspective.

Key findings and planning implications for disaster risk reduction

• Flood risks under livelihood risks: More than the facilitation process and style, the agenda and scope of the exercise were found critical for participants’ motivation to participate. Local leaders found it extremely challenging to engage people in participatory flood risk mapping activities, especially in the initial phase, because people’s priorities were livelihood survival needs rather than the flood risk issue. Therefore, participatory flood risk mapping activities must illustrate the direct connection between the flood and the community’s jobs, income, shelter, and health problems.

• Hope and options for flood risk reduction: Participants reported that over time local communities have developed a fatalistic attitude toward flood risks. Because floods became an annual phenomenon, and people did not yet find any options to reduce the incurred loss, solely knowing the risk is not adequate for the community’s sustainable participation.

• Self-reliance: Local communities found themselves helpless to negotiate with external agencies to pursue their visions of disaster risk reduction because of a lack of financial, technical, and human resources. Local communities suggested that local youths could be trained to carry out participatory flood risk mapping independently. That would empower them to implement their action plan without external help.
• Self-trust and self-recognition: Social trust is very fragile among the stakeholders due to several socio-political reasons in slums areas. Local communities suggested celebrating the contribution of local volunteers and leaders through advertising their names, celebrating their achievements, and so on. This would increase the mutual trust within the community to cooperate and collaborate for community well-being in activities like the participatory flood risk mapping initiative.

• Social and cultural viability: Local communities considered the participatory flood risk mapping to be very intensive in terms of time and labour. Leaders and volunteers had to devote lots of time and resources to organising the activities. Therefore, local leaders should be recognized for organizing social and cultural activities. Linking the participatory flood risk mapping with cultural activities or sports as a side event would create higher social acceptance and interest in the exercise.
• Sustainability: Social activities like participatory flood risk mapping terminate easily after a while. The local communities argued that some of the plans of participatory flood risk mapping must be tried to enhance people’s motivation. Visible results can encourage people to keep participating in collaborative activities.