Page 46 - Research Report 2025.1

Institutional factors contribute to their resilience?
Theme 1:
Institutional Factors Contributing to Resilience in Disasters
This theme explores the institutional frameworks and collaborative efforts that strengthen community resilience to disasters in the Alfred Nzo District. Key factors such as disaster management structures, NGO partnerships, private sector involvement, emergency response grants, and awareness campaigns all play a critical role in preparing communities and facilitating recovery in the face of crises.
Code 1: Disaster Management Structures
Participants emphasised the role of disaster management structures in fostering resilience. . Participant 7 emphasised the coordination of joint operations between the municipality and government departments, ensuring post-disaster recovery efforts are well organised. The local government’s Joint Operations Committee (JOC) facilitates coordination between various stakeholders during disasters, ensuring that assessments and response efforts are organised effectively. Participant 5 highlighted that Alfred Nzo District has a disaster management unit staffed with Disaster Management Officers (DMOs) and field workers, reinforcing the municipality’s preparedness. These institutional arrangements, including disaster management plans and policies, enable the district to respond effectively to crises. Additionally, participant 2 discussed specific support mechanisms, such as the provision of resources to farmers who lost livestock, showing how local governments collaborate with other departments (e.g., agriculture) to restore livelihoods after disasters.
Factors Contributing to Resilience in Disasters
Participant 2
“Looking at, say for an example for farmers that, have lost stock
Yes. In terms of, whether it be a swine fever thing. But we would come to have with assistance with the department of agriculture, we bring them in to say these are the people that are worse affected. And how to assist them. Then we create, funding mechanism where as local government and municipalities would say, these farmers maybe we then create a concept to say, for people who lost the stock, this is how we support them.
Then we give, maybe we purchase stock on their behalf Yeah. And then give them stock and feeding and medicines the new stock Okay. And then try also to bring about other people that can help even in terms of department of agriculture as well now has to play a role. Making sure that we boost, those people to be at a level where they can be able to or to be operational in their sectors..”
Participant 3
So, like, measures to respond as a local government when there’s these disasters. We sit in a JOC (Joint Operations Committee) or coordinate to each other, and then you go and do the assessment with all disaster management role players.
Definitely the support that the municipality provides for people. When you make an example of COVID Yeah. It. The district was one of the places that had a fund called food bank for people to contribute for those in need. Some people would deliver groceries and we collect them as the municipality. They would say id a household that has no form of income and they would be assisted with food. So definitely the municipality assisted.
44 | STUDY OBJECTIVE II