Welcome to the IDRiM Podcast

We are in a rapidly evolving world, meaning that the need for platforms that engage, educate, and empower society has never been more apparent. A podcast tailored to the interests and concerns of our community not only serves as a beacon of information but also fosters a sense of belonging and understanding among its listeners. By delving into diverse topics ranging from climate change and meteorological disasters to Natech disasters and terrorism, such a podcast has the potential to become a powerful tool for positive social change. In this age of digital connectivity, where voices from all corners of society yearn to be heard, the creation of a podcast offers an unparalleled opportunity to amplify junior researchers’ voices, speak meaningful dialogue, and inspire collective action.

This podcast series is going to run in a way that every Tuesday, there will be a new episode focusing on different aspects of the disaster, whether it be a recap of this month, whether it be about what we do like a documentary episode, whether it be asking students to see research about their career development, or even just asking PhD students who have just graduated to their research.

Title: IDRiM Podcast #49 “Empowering Communities: A Bottom-Up Approach to Disaster Risk Reduction”

Abstract:

Conventional, top-down approaches have dominated disaster risk reduction (DRR) initiatives for decades, with central governments coordinating disaster preparation and recovery efforts, fortifying coasts, and building large-scale gray infrastructure such as levees and seawalls to mitigate potential threats. Critics have questioned the usefulness and applicability of this strategy, especially given the mixed results from recent shocks, including Japan’s 3/11 triple disasters. To investigate the degree to which experts in the field embrace traditional or alternative DRR models, we conducted 15 in-depth interviews with DRR specialists from the U.S. and Japan and systematically coded their responses using the NVivo software. Three key themes emerged from our analysis: 1) Leveraging community-based DRR and addressing issues such as tokenism; 2) prioritizing support networks; and 3) harmonizing top-down and bottom-up structures where national planning and local efforts are synergized, and decision-making is conducted through multi-stakeholder participation. Our results suggest that top-down policies alone cannot control disaster response; rather, a more inclusive governance structure that makes use of both institutional capacity and local knowledge will enhance DRR moving forward.

Link to Paper:
https://www.idrimjournal.com/article/140543-empowering-communities-a-bottom-up-approach-to-disaster-risk-reduction
Guest:
Host:
Music:
“Sunset” by Kai Engel, available at ⁠Free Music Archive⁠, licensed under CC BY 4.0.