A research and action agenda for social vulnerabilityKoko Warner (UNU-EHS) and Thomas Loster (Munich Re Foundation)Social Vulnerability covers a complex field of research. The risks of natural catastrophes vary strongly among regions, cultures, socio-economic situation, and other complex factors. The field of social vulnerability research has emerged to address these complexities and provide a scientific basis upon which to investigate, assess, and recommend actions for the reduction of factors that contribute to vulnerability of society to natural catastrophes. In the summer of 2006, the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security and the Munich Re Foundation called a group of experts together to discuss the state-of-the art in social vulnerability science, and define a research and action agenda in this field. This presentation describes the outcomes of that meeting: identification of the major issues for further work in social vulnerability. These include a research agenda, recommendations for public awareness, and policy considerations for programs that address social vulnerability. | Science | | A common understanding of vulnerability. Research requires clear definitions, a sound theoretical founding, and consideration of the spatial, temporal, and socio-economic context. Significant research gaps exist today. | | Useable science. Conducting social vulnerability research reaches beyond academia and affects how practitioners and policy makers work with vulnerable populations. Social vulnerability research can be strengthened to move beyond description to more powerful analysis with usable, practical, and significant application possibilities. | | Measuring and analyzing vulnerability. The tools for measuring social vulnerability can be further sharpened. Solid qualitative and quantitative methods are needed to facilitate decision making and action related to social vulnerability reduction. |
| Public awareness | | Complexity. Social vulnerability is a mosaic of interacting systems (environment, social and economic, hazards). Yet complex issues must be presented coherently to maximize public understanding: | | Education. The public needs straightforward information and opportunities to learn about the roots and possible solutions of social vulnerability. Practical tools and knowledge can positively shape vulnerability-reducing behaviors and community action. | | Media. The media provides a bridge between science and society, and signals to policy makers the significance of social vulnerability. The media can play a significant role in raising awareness about the distribution and causes of social vulnerability by telling the stories of vulnerable people. |
| Policy implications | | Involvement. Involve the communities considered in vulnerability studies. Participatory research and action methods are critical to sustained vulnerability reduction activities. Involvement of key stakeholders allows for helping science serve local priorities for vulnerability reduction. | | Empowerment. Strengthen ability of people to help themselves—increase sustainability by giving affected people tools they need to help themselves and shape their own resiliency-building approaches. | | Partnerships. Create partnerships that allow stakeholders from international, national, and local levels to contribute their strengths to reduce vulnerability: international (capacity, resources, and vision), national (legal frameworks and resource channeling), local (understanding of complex issues and contact with stakeholders). |
| Ownership | | Finally, research, awareness, and policies about social vulnerability will fail if they do not involve those people who experience social vulnerability. Individual and local trust and ownership of vulnerability reduction efforts are the most important components of research and policy. Living conditions will improve in a sustainable manner only when the most important stakeholders—the vulnerable themselves—embrace the idea of vulnerability reduction and own the tools to contribute to building more resilient communities. |
The first Summer Academy was held from 23–29 July 2006 at Schloss Hohenkammer, the topic being “Global Water Hotspots: Water-related social vulnerabilities and resilience-building”. The program, presentations, and proceedings can be found online here. |