EFFECTIVENESS OF NGOS’ INITIATIVES IN FACILITATING DRM EFFORTS FOR THE VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN EGYPT

Abstract

Risks have been defined as the combination of vulnerability, exposure, and natural hazards. Poverty, illiteracy, socio-economic challenges, and disease are the primary factors that contribute to the vulnerability of communities. The community in Alexandria, Egypt is one such vulnerable community. Alexandria, Egypt has faced numerous natural disasters and is one of the coastal cities which are among the most exposed to natural weather-related disasters. This study applied the case study and qualitative approach methods to examine a Non-Government Organisation’s role in disaster risk management (DRM). The objective of the research was to evaluate the effectiveness of the NGOs’ initiatives in carrying out DRM efforts for vulnerable communities in Alexandria City, Egypt. This research paper used three approaches, Firstly, the researchers investigated the role of different NGOs in the implementation of DRM initiatives and community development programmes in one of the vulnerable towns in Alexandria. Secondly, this paper conducted a few structured and semi-structured online and one-to-one interviews with the NGOs’ personnel and the vulnerable families under review. Finally, this research paper carried out an on-site observational study at Al-Amiriyah village, in Alexandria. The findings proved that the disasters ‘risk drivers’, which threatened the city’s resilience, were inadequate living conditions, poverty, socioeconomic challenges, illiteracy, and disease that were most often seen in the poorest sectors of the city. On the other hand, Disaster-focused NGO programmes have positively impacted and transformed, the living conditions of vulnerable villages gradually. Their approaches have been designed to build community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR), using effective DRM programmes and community development activities. The results demonstrated that the NGOs understood the impact of bottom-up resilience capacity building approaches on the effectiveness and success of their DRM initiatives. The NGOs even aimed to integrate their mitigation measures into the development framework to build a sustainable DRM aware community. The researchers believe that this study will be a good starting point for further studies aimed at identifying successful approaches of building resilient communities and adaptive capacities. The main conclusion of the study that NGOs play a crucial role in disaster management, community development, and humanitarian assistance.