Page 1 of 13
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 05
June 2015
Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 76
Institutional Capacity Assessment of District
Disaster Management Authority
Abhishek Kumar
CoEDMM, IIT- Roorkee, Roorkee, India
abhiin001@gmail.com
Dr. Rajat Agrawal
DoMS, IIT- Roorkee, Roorkee, India
Abstract
The formulation of capacity development
strategies is based on the outcomes of
capacity assessment. Based upon the
experiences of various experts and
stakeholders, it is proposed to realistically
assess the existing multi-dimensional
capacities of the Disaster Management
Authorities. The well-analyzed results of
such assessment would provide valuable
recommendations to concerned authorities
to further strengthen the institutional
mechanism at desired levels and would also
highlight the areas which need attention on
a priority basis. The Institutional Capacity
Assessment (ICA) of the Disaster
Management Authorities will be a
categorically organized study based on
interviews, surveys, observations and
analysis of the data and information
available at the subsequent levels. Given in
this context, appropriate methodologies in
term of qualitative and quantitative methods
include identifying the study domains on the
basis of vulnerability of the region. After
various discussions with expert in the field
of disaster management relevant
questionnaire would be developed. Then a
series of Baseline Survey needs to be
conducted in the intended regions which
would involve collection of secondary and
primary data.
The collected data would be analyzed and
rating is assigned given to the different
section of authorities followed by providing
recommendations on the basis of
performance. Then denomination would be
done as High Concern, Moderate Concern
and Lower Concern for disaster
preparedness.
Keywords:
Institutional Capacity, Capacity
Assessment, District Disaster Management
Introduction
Himachal Pradesh is located in Western -
Himalayas. The total geographical area of
the state is 55,673 sq. kms. It consist of 12
distinct, 75 tehsil and 34 sub tehsil. The
average annual rainfall is about 1111 mm.
About 70 percent of precipitation is received
in the monsoon season. It is prone to
numerous disaster events. As evident from
statistics, the frequency of disasters has
increased dramatically. Natural disaster such
as flash flood and landslide are very
common in the state. Every year heavy loss
is recorded and it readily affects the socio- economic conditions of the natives. “In the
financial year 2014-15 state recorded 600
corers loss in the monsoon season”,
(Revenue Department of Himachal Pradesh,
2012: Himachal Pradesh State Disaster
Page 2 of 13
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 05
June 2015
Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 77
Management Plan. Disaster Cell).On the
basis of vulnerability matrix, out of 12
districts overall vulnerability of four districts
is severely very high. These districts are
Kinnaur, Kangra, Chamba and Kullu.
Earthquake, Landslide and floods are the
major Hazards in these districts. While other
remaining districts the overall vulnerability
ranges between moderate to high.
“According to 13th finance commission,
Ministry of Finance, Government of India
has allocated funds for the disaster
management institutions. Around Rs. 525
crores have been allocated to the states for
the building capacity in the administrative
machinery. Out of total funds Himachal
Pradesh has been receiving Rs. 4 crores
every financial year since 2010” (Ministry
of Home Affairs GoI, 2012)
In recent times the frequency of disasters
has increased in Himachal Pradesh.
Vulnerability of most districts varying from
very high to high. Every year new
technologies are introduced at National and
State level. It is also crucial to strengthen
our first responders i.e. district disaster
monument authorities and for this it is
essential to draft capacity development (CD)
strategies to strengthen district authorities in
state. Lack of preparedness at district level
would result in more loss during an incident.
Therefore it is necessary that existing
capacities should be evaluated periodically
so that the loopholes could be mended in
accordance with scientific methodology.
Capacity Development
“Capacity development (CD) is a process
through which the abilities to do so are
obtained, strengthened, adapted and
maintained over time.”
According to DM Act, 2005, Capacity
building includes
i) “Identification of existing resources
and resources to be acquired or
created.”
ii) “Organisation and training of
personnel and coordination of such
training for effective management of
disaster. (Disaster Management
Act , 2005)
Figure 1: Capacity development (CD) cycle
Capacity development (CD) cycle involves
the six steps. (United Nations WFP–
Philippines , 2011)These are engage partners
and build consensus, assess capacity assets
Page 3 of 13
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 05
June 2015
Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 78
and needs, define capacity development
strategies, implement CD strategies and
monitor and evaluate capacity development
strategies.
Among them capacity assessment is
important because the formulation of
capacity development strategies is based on
the findings of capacity assessment only. It
is a continuous process of replacing existing
resources and adding newer ones.
Institutional Capacity Assessments
Institutional Capacity assessment (ICA) is a
process to evaluate the existing capacity
within an organization. It includes
evaluation of core capacities, technical
capacities and enabling environment
capacities. It an important step in capacity
building cycles because existing loop holes
are evaluated within an organization and
new capacities will be added to full fill the
desired goals. Based upon the experiences of
various experts and stakeholders, it is
proposed to realistically assess the existing
multi-dimensional capacities of the District
Disaster Management Authorities
(DDMAs). The well-analyzed results of
such assessment would provide valuable
recommendations to the HPSDMA to
further strengthen the institutional
mechanism at district-level and would also
highlight the areas which need attention on a
priority basis. The Institutional Capacity
Assessment (ICA) of all the DDMAs will be
a categorically organized study which will
be based on interviews, surveys,
observations and analysis of the data and
information available at the district-level.
Keeping all aspects under consideration the
overall objectives of the study can be
summarized as follows:
o To map existing capacity
development activities for disaster
risk reduction.
o To Qualitative and Quantitative
Assessment of Resources i.e. Human
Resource, Technical Resource and
Financial Resource.
o To identify key loop holes in capacity
development.
Methodology
Given in this context, appropriate
methodologies in term of qualitative and
quantitative methods were applied. Firstly
districts were identified on the basis of
vulnerability of the region. Then suitable
model was developed for the institutional
capacity assessment of District Disaster
Management Authorities. After various
discussions with expert personnel in the
field of disaster management relevant
questionnaire were developed. Then a series
of Baseline Survey were conducted in the
intended districts which involved collection
of secondary and primary data. At the end
the collected data was analyzed and rating
was given to DDMAs followed by providing
recommendations on the basis of
performance. Methodology of the study
included number of steps as follows:
Identification of study areas and
analysis of prevalent hazards.
Development of method for capacity
assessment.
Collection of secondary data.
Primary Data collection from
interviews of DDMA employees and
various consultants.
Assignment of subsequent ratings on
the basis of investigation of capacity.
Study Domain
The study area included DDMAs of six
districts of Himachal Pradesh. These
districts were Bilaspur, Chamba, Kangra,
Kullu, Mandi and Shimla. The vulnerability
of these districts varied from very high to
