The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) contracted Oxford Policy Management and the University of East Anglia to conduct Strategic Research into National and Local Capacity Building for Disaster Risk Management.
This research project is contributing to evidence-driven approaches to capacity building for disaster risk management (DRM). There is an increasing recognition of the importance of both national- and local- level responses to increasing disaster risk, yet the lack of formal, empirical research on how to build capacity for DRM has resulted in a dearth of robust guidance for international humanitarian actors. We are working with the University of East Anglia to develop a mixed-methods operational research strategy based on a conceptual model for effective capacity building drawn from research across various literatures.
Semi-structured interviews, online surveys and secondary data sources will be used to gather evidence in a case study approach that allows for comparative analysis across a range of countries and contexts to help ensure the wider applicability of the research findings. The team is also developing and piloting a monitoring and evaluation framework incorporating outcome- and impact-level indicators. By providing evidence of how to improve DRM capacity building initiatives, this project will help strengthen humanitarian responses in those countries most vulnerable to the effects of natural disasters.