Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa (DiMTEC)
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Browsing Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa (DiMTEC) by Author "Kunguma, Olivia"
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Item Open Access A South African disaster legislative perspective of information management and communication systems(AOSIS Publishing, 2022) Kunguma, Olivia𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱: Establishing a disaster information management and communication system (IMCS) is a mandate of the South African National Disaster Management Framework of 2005 (NDMF). The inception of such systems is supposed to be at the initial set-up of disaster management centres. The comprehensive functioning of a disaster centre will require an interoperable system that can collect, process, store and disseminate data. The lack of such a system might result in poor disaster risk reduction (DRR) and ineffective response. 𝗢𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲: This article identified and described IMCSs from the South African disaster policy perspective. 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀: Qualitative in-depth interviews were used to investigate the status quo of all nine provincial disaster management centres (PDMCs) regarding the existence, functioning and understanding of IMCSs. The NDMF informed the interview questions administered to 29 purposively selected participants. Themes from descriptions by informants were used to analyse the data. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀: All the centres operating for more than 10 years lack integrated IMCSs. The disaster managers perceive IMCSs as more information technology, computers and other physical devices and less human input systems and governance capabilities. The lack of integrated and well-governed disaster information and communication affects disaster management operations and service delivery mandate. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: To date, no studies have explored the establishment and management of interoperable IMCSs in disaster management centres. Therefore, this study contributes to the literature on disaster information and communication discourse and practical contributions to improve the capacity of PDMCs. This article provides insight into the significance of IMCS for building resilient communities and recommendations for establishing and maintaining the systems.Item Open Access Assessing the resilience of female smallholder farmers to drought: a case study of Frances Baard District, South Africa(University of the Free State, 2021) Sigenu, Mendi; Kunguma, OliviaThe main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of drought hazards on smallholder female farmers of Frances Baard District Municipality district and to assess their coping, adaptation, and resilience to droughts as compared to smallholder male farmers in the rural communities. The study also sought to assess the vulnerability of smallholder female farmers regarding drought hazards in Frances Baard District Municipality. In addition, the study sought to investigate drought resiliency of smallholder male farmers as compared to smallholder female farmers. Furthermore, the study investigated drought coping and adaptation mechanisms of smallholder female farmers use as compared to the male farmers. Lastly, the research assessed the communication strategies employed by male and female smallholder farmers to foster drought resilience. This paved way for the provision of recommendations to address drought challenges for smallholder female farmers. The Harvard Framework guided this study for gender analysis; it was applicable and relevant in a variety of ways for this research. The study adopted a qualitative single case study. It also applied an interpretivist philosophy to understand how female smallholder farmers are affected by drought, and to what extent are they resilient compared to their male counterparts. The study adopted a qualitative research approach. Primary data was collected using a Focus Group Discussion Interview Guide. This research followed Terre Blanche, Durrheim, and Kelly’s (2006) guidelines for data analysis. The study found that drought has various economic, environmental, and social consequences in Dikgatlong, Sol Plaatje, Magareng, and Phokwane farming communities. Even though the study sought to investigate the resilience of female smallholder farmers to drought, it concluded that both male and female smallholder farmers are vulnerable to drought. The study also found that both smallholder male and female farmers are resilient, but male farmers are more resilient since they have access to and control farming resources and agricultural benefits. This study concluded that both smallholder farmers preserve agricultural income for future use, as well as harvest and keep livestock for future use. The study recommends the preservation of biodiversity, open space, and trees, and reduction of land degradation, diversification of crop varieties, crop insurance, and maintenance of soil health and continued use of communication strategies. Further research may cover other antecedents of the resilience of female smallholder farms to drought.Item Open Access COVID-19 disaster response: South African disaster managers’ faith in mandating legislation tested?(AOSIS, 2021) Kunguma, Olivia; Ncube, Alice; Mokhele, Mosekama O.For the first time in the history of the Disaster Management Act, 57 of 2002, South Africa declared COVID-19 an epidemiological disaster. Section 3 and 27(1) of this Act activated the responsible Minister in consultation with other Ministers to issue regulations in response to the disaster. The declaration exposed the already criticised Act to scrutiny by the public. Therefore, this study investigated the Metropolitan Disaster Management Centres that coordinate local events and support the provincial and national disaster management centres, their perceptions concerning the disaster management legislation that mandates them. The study recognised a gap in this regard and saw it imperative to give the disaster managers a voice and a platform to express their opinion concerning the heavily criticised legislation. A model of the policy implementation process guided the study investigation. This model argues that implementation of policies tends to generate tensions, which result in a disruption of the policy formulators’ expectations. The research uses some of the model’s variables to measure the perceptions of disaster managers. Using an interview guide, the researchers conducted virtual interviews with the disaster managers. Scholarly and media articles review concerning the Act formed part of the data collection. The study finds that the disaster managers perceive the disaster management legislation as a very useful guide, an excellent piece of legislation and trust it regardless of the criticism it received. The gaps the critics identified in the legislation became evident and had negative effects on the COVID-19 disaster response.Item Open Access COVID-19 home remedies and myths becoming a hazardous health infodemic?(AOSIS, 2021) Kunguma, OliviaCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) brought on several social, economic, political, and environmental challenges. What was mostly questioned was the efficacy of the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 (As Amended 16 of 2015) (DMA), which was used to declare COVID-19 a disaster. The concern was whether the DMA is able to deal with pandemics when its focus is mostly on climate-related disasters. Most public health emergencies experience the spread of overwhelming information, some of which may be true and others may be false information. This article discusses the home remedies and myths related to COVID-19, that could impede pandemic response efforts. Subsequently, this study raises a question regarding the effectiveness of DMA to deal with such types of compounding risks. In doing so, this research is exploratory where the DMA and the media articles on COVID-19 home remedies and myths are systematically reviewed. Coronavirus disease 2019 home remedies and myths were found to be hazardous and the DMA was found unprepared to deal with such types of compounding risks. ‘Infodemic management’ needs to be considered in the DMA in order to prepare for effective disaster response.Item Open Access A crisis communication plan for municipalities: the case of the Frances Baard district municipality(Department of Communication Science, University of the Free State, 2013) Kunguma, Olivia; Terblanche, LydieA crisis communication plan facilitates the effective flow of information between relevant organisation(s) and a community affected by a crisis. In 2010 the Frances Baard District Municipality, situated in the Northern Cape, commissioned the development of a crisis communication plan for the municipality. It was to be developed in consultation with various stakeholders. Once developed, the plan had to be reviewed and serve as an educational document that could be used by other municipalities. The study found that drafting a crisis communication plan has to include best communication practices for each anticipated problem and effective implementation. Continuous evaluation and updating of the plan are necessary to ensure that critical business functions are not jeopardised in the event of a crisis.Item Open Access Investigating the prevention and mitigatory role of risk communication in the COVID-19 pandemic: a case study of Bloemfontein, South Africa(AOSIS, 2021) Kunguma, Olivia; Mokhele, Mosekama O.; Coetzee, MerciaThe South African disaster response activities surpass risk reduction since the implementation of the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 (DMA) and the National Disaster Management Framework of 2005 (NDMF). Risk reduction, in particular risk communication, remained unexploited until the occurrence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The legislation and policy mandate a proactive approach for disaster management, requiring a focus on disaster risk reduction. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the significance of risk communication as a critical prevention and mitigatory strategy in disaster risk management, focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic. Key to risk communication success is ensuring adequate comprehension, accurate perception of the disseminated information, and compliance with regulations. Questions of trustworthiness, acceptability, effectiveness, and usefulness of messages and strategies communicated sought answers from the Bloemfontein population. Furthermore, the Agenda-setting Theory provided the grounding for the study. The study sample was picked in a stratified random sampling manner, using the confidence level and margin of error equation. A questionnaire survey was used to collect the data required to achieve the research objectives. Risk communication as a disaster risk reduction strategy implemented concurrently with imposed regulations was found to have played a vital role in mitigating the virus spread. However, the respondents were not aware of the local disaster management centre, which is supposed to be engaged in COVID-19 disaster management activities.Item Open Access Strengthening Namibia's flood early warning system through a critical gap analysis(MDPI, 2023) Moises, Deolfa Jose; Kunguma, OliviaFloods are considered leading hydrometeorological disasters, which are increasing in frequency, intensity and complexity with the evolution of climate change. Their associated impacts have detrimental and often prolonged implications for humankind, especially communities heavily reliant on the natural environment. The development and implementation of effective flood early warning systems (FEWSs) can serve to enhance coping strategies and strengthen the adaptive capacities of target communities while simultaneously minimising flood risks. However, shortcomings related to the lack of information on the operationalisation of these systems, the technical and financial requirements, the challenges faced and the directives related to their implementation have persisted, subverting risk reduction efforts at the grassroots level. Using data from key informant interviews and focus group discussions, this study employed a systematic analysis of the official Namibian flood early warning system based on the system’s implementation in Kabbe, Namibia. The study results revealed a need for significant changes across all system components as the FEWS follows a top-down, disintegrated and response-driven approach. Roles are undefined among institutions; funding is inadequate; and community risk perceptions, coping capacities and participation are disregarded. Based on the study findings, the researchers recommend significant changes in the design and application of the system, urging practitioners to recognise FEWSs as the continuous and integrated tools that they are.