ABSTRACT

Local authorities (LA) are vested with authority to preside over the affairs of local communities. This authority comes with responsibilities of reducing disaster risks and losses. Disaster risk reduction (DRR) has been a key goal of global frameworks for minimizing risk and losses from disasters. Despite global efforts to reduce disaster risk, research into what hinders LA in investing for DRR is limited. Using case study material from two rural councils in Zimbabwe, this study examined barriers that constrain LA in investing in DRR for resilience. The study used interviews that involved local authority and civil protection officials, the academia, policy makers and disaster practitioners. Results show that LA in Zimbabwe are constrained by inadequate legislative authority, unclear mandates for DRR and a lack of necessary resources. The study concludes that LA need strengthening through legislative reforms, devolution, and injection of financial and material resources to invest in DRR strategies.

摘要

地方当局 (LA) 有权主持当地社区的事务。该权力承担着减少灾害风险和损失的责任。减少灾害风险 (DRR) 一直是全球框架的一个关键目标，旨在最大限度地减少灾害风险和损失。尽管全球都在努力降低灾害风险，但对阻碍洛杉矶投资减灾的因素的研究仍然有限。本研究使用津巴布韦两个农村委员会的案例研究材料，研究了限制洛杉矶投资 DRR 以提高复原力的障碍。该研究使用了涉及地方当局和民防官员、学术界、政策制定者和灾害从业人员的访谈。结果表明，津巴布韦的洛杉矶受到立法授权不足、DRR 任务不明确以及缺乏必要资源的限制。