AN AFRICAN PARTNERSHIP

Building Capacity Reducing Risk What is Periperi* U?

Periperi U is a partnership of African • New applied academic programmes universities that spans the continent, and that are generating urgently is committed to building local disaster risk- needed local disaster risk reduction related capacity. Established in 2006, with professionals. five original members, the consortium has • Regular, accessible disaster risk-related grown to ten universities from ‘Algiers to short-courses in local languages that are Antananarivo’, with institutions located in offered to government and civil society Algeria, , , , Madagascar, practitioners. , Senegal, South Africa, and . • A surge in research on local disaster risks that has improved the knowledge base for Periperi U now involves more than 70 academic disaster risk management planning. professionals from different countries and diverse disciplines working together. • Opportunities for consortium members to learn from their colleagues’ experience “This short course was This collective effort is practically reflected in: through flexible exchange visits. absolutely relevant to the work I do! As practioners we sometimes have isolated views of how to approach risk management and the course in its totality has broadened my view and how Short course participants conduct a ‘risk’ can be approached” community risk assessment, South Africa Fedeela Adams, DiMP, South Africa * Periperi stands for Partners Enhancing Resilience to People Exposed to Risks

1 Why a partnership Who are the of African academic Periperi U 10

institutions? partners? 9

The original motivation for Periperi U was a shared concern that disasters The partnership has grown from an initial 8 disrupt and undermine development in Africa. For instance, market and consortium of five Universities to the current 1 informal settlement fires in Africa’s rapidly growing cities spread quickly complement of ten. and lead to deaths and property loss. Flash floods frequently claim lives, 2 damage crops and cause livestock deaths. Infectious disease outbreaks 1 Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia 3 also occur often, due to weak public health systems and poor water and 2 Makerere University, Uganda sanitation services. 3 Moi University, Kenya 4 , Tanzania 4 Periperi U partners are committed to building skilled capacity to reduce 5 Technical University of Mozambique these and other local disaster risks. They also recognise that improved 6 Université d’Antananarivo, Madagascar risk management is necessary for social and economic development, 7 Stellenbosch University, South Africa 5 especially in high-risk countries like Mozambique and Ethiopia. 8 9 Université Gaston-Berger, Senegal 6 10 University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene, Algeria

7

Staff from Moi University receive training on fire safety and fire risk assessment, Kenya

2 3 A woman sorts grain in rural Ethiopia What has Periperi U ETHIOPIA University: Bahir Dar University risk management and sustainable development achieved so far? Unit or programme: Department of Disaster in Ethiopia. It has since expanded its work to Risk Management & Sustainable Development include a Master’s degree programme. Expertise: Agriculture & Environmental Science Robust risk management requires strong cross-disciplinary thinking and applied It has also: problem-solving skills. Periperi U partners have worked hard to develop innovative The Department of Disaster Risk Management • Run short courses in community-based risk courses and research strategies relevant to Africa’s disaster risks. They have shown and Sustainable Development (DRMS) was reduction and livelihood security how Africa can be a learning laboratory for itself. established in 2005 through a joint partnership • Prepared training modules on risk reduction between Bahir Dar University, Save the for the DRMFSS A snap-shot of achievements from 2008 – 2011: Children Canada and the government’s • Conducted research and training on the Disaster Risk Management and Food Security link between disaster risk reduction and • A ‘home-grown’ ‘surge’ in skilled human capital due to new disaster-related Section (DRMFSS). It was formed to meet climate change for the Africa Climate academic courses in agriculture, engineering, urban planning, economics, the identified need to build the resilience of Change Alliance (ACCRA) environmental science and public health. There are more than 200 skilled communities in Ethiopia to a range of hazards • Produced research on a wide range of graduates already, with a further 400 students on-track. through strengthened capacity and sustainable topics, from the impact of ethnic conflict • More than 50 disaster-related short courses, reaching over 1,500 professionals development. on livelihood security, to urban fire and and practitioners in local languages. flood-risk • Over 100 disaster risk-related research outputs, in English, French and When it joined Periperi U, the Department Portuguese, including theses, published articles and unpublished professional had already developed the first ever reports. undergraduate degree programme in disaster • Growing recognition of capacity to implement consultancies for government, and international agencies. ACADEMIC COURSES • Bachelor’s programme in disaster risk science & sustainable development • Master’s programme in disaster risk science & sustainable development

SHORT-COURSE TOPICS Dr. Enyew Adgo Tsegaye and Tarekegn Ayalew • Community-based disaster risk reduction Farmers learn sustainable agricultural E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] • Food livelihood security techniques, Senegal Tel: +251 (0) 918 765 621; +251 (0) 918 730 624

4 5 Patients receive treatment during a pilot study on managing jigger infections using locally available products UGANDA KENYA

University: Makerere University It has also: University: Moi University The Department has also: Unit or programme: Department of • Run short courses on nutrition and public Unit or programme: Department of • Developed short courses on food safety and Community Health & Behavioural Sciences health in emergencies for front-line Epidemiology and Nutrition fire safety and risk assessment Expertise: Public Health, Community Health health service providers, administrators, Expertise: Community Health/Public Health • Undertaken research for the University on and Displaced People policy-makers the United Nations and its fire preparedness, and run a short international and local organisations, as Moi University joined Periperi U in 2009. course for staff to raise awareness of fire Makerere University’s Department of Community well as courses on research methods for The project is hosted by the School of Public risks and promote readiness Health and Behavioural Sciences offers post-graduate students and researchers. Health in the Department of Epidemiology and • Participated in exchange visits to partners undergraduate, post-graduate and short courses • Participated in a national disaster risk Nutrition. in Ethiopia, Uganda, South Africa and on public health issues. It also runs a range of reduction forum Tanzania research and community service projects. • Undertaken consultancies for the The School of Public Health offers a post- Government of Uganda, Makerere graduate degree in public health, with ACADEMIC COURSES The Department has a long track record of University and the Institute of Tropical the option of specialisation in disaster • Elective module on nutrition in emergencies training and research in emergencies. Prior Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium. management and preparedness, as well as (part of the University’s Master’s in Public Health to joining Periperi U, it ran a short course electives in disaster risk management for programme) on public health in complex emergencies, under-graduate students. The Department of • Master’s programme in food safety & hygiene but did not focus specifically on disaster risk Epidemiology and Nutrition is in the process SHORT-COURSE TOPICS reduction. It now has a Master’s programme of developing a Master’s in food hygiene • Food hygiene and safety incorporating disaster risk management and safety, and a module on nutrition in • Fire safety and risk assessment Dr. Garimoi Christopher Orach • Nutrition in emergencies modules, and is developing a Master’s course E-mail: [email protected] emergencies, to be integrated into its existing on public health and disaster management. Tel: +256 414 543872 Master’s programme in public health.

ACADEMIC COURSES • Master’s programme in public health and disaster “I learnt a lot from this course. It’s important management to engage the community in identification of their own risks since what I may feel or SHORT-COURSE TOPICS assume as the risks in the community may • Public health in complex emergencies not actually be their ‘priority’ risks.” • Nutrition in emergencies Dr Diana Menya Discussing health challenges with internally • Advanced qualitative methods for health research E-mail: [email protected] Judy Mangeni, Kenya displaced people Telephone: +254 720 352579 6 7 Pamphlets developed for Mozambique’s disaster management authority TANZANIA MOZAMBIQUE

University: Ardhi University environmental management for a range of University: Universidade Tecnica de Mozambique (UDM) • Run short courses on disaster management Unit or programme: Disaster Management government and non-governmental institutions Unit or programme: Unidade de Produção e for regional government officials and Training Centre • Conducted risk and capacity needs assessments Gestão de Riscos de Desastres (UPGRD) secondary school teachers Expertise: Disaster Management for the governments of Tanzania and Zanzibar Expertise: Environmental Engineering • Undertaken research for the government, the • Partnered with the government’s Disaster UNDP and the Family Early Warning System The Disaster Management Training Centre Management Department to develop radio The Unit for Disaster Risk Management was Network (FEWSNET) (DMTC) was established in 2002 as part of the segments on preventing and responding to formed shortly after the University joined Periperi • Started a conservation agriculture and government’s Strengthening Tanzania Disaster disasters U in 2008. Its focus areas include environmental outreach project aimed at helping farmers to Response Project (STDRP), with funding from • Undertaken consultancies for United Nations engineering, spatial mapping, water and sanitation farm more effectively in water-scarce areas USAID. The DMTC aims to strengthen Tanzania’s Development Programme (UNDP) in emergencies, and public health in emergencies. • Undertaken exchange visits to its partners in disaster response capacity through training, South Africa and Uganda applied research on urban risks and environmental When it joined Periperi U, UDM had already some management, advocacy, and the provision of capacity in disaster risk reduction, but hosted no public services in disaster risk management. courses specifically on disaster risk reduction. Since joining, the Unit has launched an undergraduate Prior to Joining Periperi U in 2006, Ardhi University Dr. Gabriel Kassenga and Benedict Malele programme on environmental engineering and already offered two public short courses and E-mail: [email protected]; disaster management. It is developing a Master’s ACADEMIC COURSES [email protected] • Bachelor’s programme in environmental tailored in-house training for local government, Tel: +255 713 599 181; +255 22 277 1272 programme on disaster risk management and the police and the military. Since joining, it has development. engineering and disaster management • Master’s programme in technical education, risk launched a Master’s programme in disaster risk reduction and development management. It has obtained content approval ACADEMIC COURSES It has also: for two additional Master’s programmes focusing • Master’s programme in disaster risk reduction • Partnered with Mozambique’s Disaster SHORT-COURSE TOPICS • Master’s programme in disaster risk on disaster management and engineering. Management Authority to provide training • Geographical Information System (GIS), Global management Positioning System (GPS) and remote sensing materials on responding to disasters for schools technologies for disaster risk management It has also: SHORT-COURSE TOPICS • Disasters and development for government • Run short courses on disaster risk reduction, • Introduction to disaster risk reduction officials in South Mozambique • Emergency planning emergency planning and management and • Disasters and development for secondary school • Disaster management teachers and NGO staff • Environmental management and disasters in the Dr. Rui Carlos Maia Training disaster management officials in context of climate change E-mail : [email protected] disaster risk reduction Tel: +258 847 686 214 or +258 21 305 176 8 9 Community members participate in a community risk assessment MADAGASCAR SOUTH AFRICA

University: University of Antananarivo It has also: University: Stellenbosch University Other achievements include: (Univ-Tanà) • Run short-courses on the concepts underlying Unit or programme: Disaster Mitigation for • Running several short courses on the Unit or programme: Centre d’Etudes et disaster risk reduction, economic evaluation Sustainable Livelihoods Programme (DiMP) developmental underpinnings of risk and risk de Recherches Economiques pour le tools and community-based risk assessment Expertise: Integrated Disaster Risk Research assessment Développement (CERED) • Undertaken consultancies for the European Methods • Contributing to international publications by Expertise: Development Economics Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Department the United Nations Strategy for Disaster Risk (ECHO) on measuring community resilience The Disaster Mitigation for Sustainable Reduction (UNISDR) and Earthscan. CERED is located within the University’s Faculty of • Been included in the steering committee for Livelihoods Programme (DiMP) has been based • Producing books on disaster risk reduction Law, Economics, Management and Sociology. The the national Risk Atlas and the Agricultural at Stellenbosch University since 2011, where it in urban Africa, livelihoods, drought and programme focuses on severe weather events, Conservation Project is located in the Department of Geography and community risk assessment, including training including tropical cyclones, floods and droughts, • Participated in exchange visits with Algeria, Environmental Studies. It was first established in manuals for local government and other and how they impact on Madagascar’s economy. Ghana and South Africa 1996 and brought to Periperi U a well-developed practitioners The programme aims to equip decision-makers disaster risk reduction academic programme. with the practical knowledge and tools to better assess, evaluate and reduce risk. DiMP’s disaster risk focus draws heavily on its disciplinary foundation in applied geography and The University of Antananarivo offered no environmental science, with particular emphasis Dr Tiana Mahefasoa Randrianalijaona courses on disaster risk reduction prior to joining E-mail: [email protected] on urban risk, as well as hydro-metrological Periperi U. CERED has now launched a Master’s Telephone: +261 340 137 170 threats and fire. programme on multidisciplinary disaster and risk management. Since its inception, DiMP has introduced ACADEMIC COURSES disaster risk-related post-graduate programmes, • Master’s in multidisciplinary disaster and risk management generated numerous publications and undertaken ACADEMIC COURSES nationally and provincially-commissioned post- • Elective modules in disaster risk studies (part of SHORT-COURSE TOPICS disaster research. the University’s Geography and Environmental • Economic valuation methods and disaster risk Studies Honour’s programme) reduction • Economic valuation and community-based Dr Ailsa Holloway and Trish Zweig SHORT-COURSE TOPICS valuation applied to disaster risk reduction and E-mail: [email protected]; • Disasters in development Assessing the cost of cyclone-damage management [email protected] • Community risk assessment Telephone: +27 (0) 21 808 9281-9285 10 11 Farmers learn about conservation agriculture

GHANA SENEGAL

University: University of Ghana, Legon • Undertaken assessments on market-fire risk and University: Université Gaston Berger Since it was launched, the Unit has: Unit or programme: Department of mapped seismic vulnerability in Ghana Unit or programme: UFR de Sciences • Run a short course on agricultural risk and Geography and Resource Development • Participated in exchange visits with its South Agronomiques, d’Aquaculture et de Technologie vulnerability Expertise: Urban Studies African, Senegalese and Tanzanian partners Alimentaires • Developed a Master’s degree programme on Expertise: Food Security food risk management Prior to joining Periperi U, the Department of • Researched disaster risk awareness amongst Geography and Resource Development offered Gaston Berger University formed the Agronomy, stakeholders in the Senegal river valley as a both undergraduate and graduate programmes ACADEMIC COURSES Aquaculture and Food Technology Unit in 2010. first step in developing a strategy to improve on various aspects of geography, including • Modules in disaster risk reduction and applied The Unit forms part of the University’s broader food security in region integrated disaster risk reduction in urban GIS, remote sensing and urban studies but did efforts to engage in the regional development of • Undertaken exchange visits to its Periperi U Ghana (part of the University’s Geography MPhil not specifically focus on disaster management programme) the Senegal river valley through agriculture and partners in Ghana and South Africa or disaster risk reduction. It now offers • Elective modules in disaster risk reduction and sustainable development. undergraduate and post-graduate modules on policies & strategies for integrated disaster risk reduction (part of the University’s Geography disaster risk reduction in urban areas as part of The Unit focuses on reducing risk to support food MPhil programme) its undergraduate and post-graduate geography security in Senegal and West Africa. It draws on ACADEMIC COURSES curriculum. SHORT-COURSE TOPICS the experience and expertise of a multidisciplinary • Master’s programme in disaster risk reduction • Introduction to disaster risk reduction in urban team with backgrounds as diverse as agriculture, areas SHORT-COURSE TOPICS The Department has also: economics, hydrology, geography, environment, • Research methods for environmental health • Management of natural risks and vulnerability in • Run short courses on risk reduction in urban management and disaster risk reduction rural sociology, biostatistics, law and jurisdiction, cropping systems in the Senegal river valley areas and environmental health management • Nutrition in emergencies bio-mathematics and modelling. for middle-level practitioners, policy-makers and students

Prof. Jacob Songsore and Dr. Osman Alhassan “The course was an eye opener; it has made Email: [email protected], [email protected] me more conscious of my environment and Tel: +233 243 402 853 how our daily activities can contribute to disasters.” Dr Mateugue Diack E-mail: [email protected]; Short course participants visit a sanitation Short course participant, University of Ghana [email protected] project in Accra Telephone: +221 77 637 5791 12 13 ALGERIA WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

University: University of Houari Boumediene Other achievements include: MIHRET JEMBER BAHRY FRANCISCO DAAMS (USTHB), Algeria • Conducting workshops on seismic vulnerability Unit or programme: Built Environment assessment for Burundi, the Democratic Mihret received his first degree Francisco completed his Honour’s Research Laboratory (LBE) Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya and in economics from Mekelle degree in disaster risk science Expertise: Seismic Engineering Uganda for the UNISDR University, Ethiopia. He furthered through DiMP, where his research • Conducting research on the state of risk his studies through DiMP, in focused on wildland fires in The Built Environment Research Laboratory reduction in Algeria for the United Nations disaster risk science. South Africa’s Western Cape (LBE) was founded in 2000. It is a research Children’s Fund (UNICEF) province. In 2008 he joined the unit specialising in earthquake engineering, • An exchange visit to the University of He now lectures in the programme as a researcher, engineering seismology and disaster risk reduction Antananarivo, the first of its kind between two management. Its mission is to research earthquake African francophone countries department of disaster risk management and where he had the opportunity to meet officials risk reduction, build the capacity of practitioners sustainable development at Bahir Dar University. He working for the City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk to address seismic risk and serve as a resource for provides training on various aspects of disaster risk Management Centre and the Western Cape’s government. management for national, district and community Provincial Disaster Management Centre. Professor Djillali Benouar E-mail: [email protected] officials. Mihret has also helped to prepare training The LBE has run short courses focused on Telephone: +213 771 842 428 modules on urban risk, disaster risk, disaster recovery In January 2009, Francisco was appointed as disaster risk reduction and reducing vulnerability and food security for the Disaster Risk Management Assistant Disaster Risk Management Officer for the to earthquakes. These targeted civil engineers, ACADEMIC COURSES and Food Security Sector (DRMFSS) of Ethiopia. City of Cape Town. Later that year, he accepted architects, social scientists and the media, and • Master’s programme in earthquake engineering Mihret is currently working as a consultant for the the position of Assistant Director at the Provincial • Master’s programme in disaster risk reached participants throughout Algeria. The LBE DRMFSS’s disaster risk profiling programme, which Disaster Management Centre. In January 2011 he management is also actively engaged in lobbying for a stronger aims to profile the disaster risk contexts for all of was appointed as Acting Deputy Director for the focus on disaster risk reduction in Algeria and SHORT-COURSE TOPICS Ethiopia’s more than 700 urban and rural districts. Sub-directorate on Risk Reduction. abroad. • Scientific and practical methods for reducing seismic risk • Strategies for reducing seismic risk • Earthquake-sensitive design for architects • Earthquake-sensitive design for engineers “My interest is to be a competent resource person “I am so thankful and owe my career path progress • Disaster risk management for journalists in the field of disaster risk management, resource to everything I learnt and was exposed to from my • The role of social science in disaster risk management, climate change and broad the time at DiMP, as a student and as a colleague.” Earthquake damage in Algiers reduction development field.”

14 15 WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

ARITIANA FABIEN CHIEDZA MAVENGERE

Aritiana graduated with Chiezda completed her a Master’s degree in risk Master’s degree in disaster management at the University risk science through DiMP. of Antananarivo. He has worked Chiedza’s thesis focused on in the emergency services in exploring and examining Madagascar for seven years. the role of human agency Between 2010 and 2011 he in reducing and managing enrolled in CERED’s Master’s everyday childhood risks in course in multidisciplinary disaster and risk African informal settlements Cape Town, South management. Africa and Harare, .

Since completing his degree he has begun to test Chiedza took home the prize for the best junior and use the theoretical knowledge he learnt as a researcher and presenter when she presented working tool among his colleagues and humanitarian her findings to her University. Her work was also actors in Madagascar. showcased at a Black Research Forum held at the Annual Child Safety Seminar in South Africa. Chiedza is now employed at Childsafe, where she heads her own project exploring back-carrying of children in Africa.

“This short course changed my thinking about disasters and risks, because at first I couldn’t see the actual risks in my community – I just saw their negative outcomes – but “I have learned a lot, thanks not only to the “My background in DRS has brought a different now I can see [the risks] and I am great experiences of the instructors and professors and invaluable lens to this organisation in terms of challenged to do some work.” but also the quality of the presentations. All the child injury prevention. My knowledge in DRS has instruction supports and enriches learning.” definitely paved a way for my career in all ways.” Holoya George, Uganda Photo: Edward Echwalu 16 Periperi U represents an innovative collaboration of African Universities committed to strengthening their strategic capacity to reduce and manage contextually- relevant disaster risks. It gives explicit priority to ‘closing the gap’ between Africa’s institutions of higher learning, and contemporary disaster risk management policy and practice within countries and across the continent. Its members also work closely with many governmental partners as well as with bilateral and multilateral organisations and nongovernmental organisations.

The consortium provides a vehicle for disaster risk knowledge exchange across disciplines, risk profiles, national borders and regional groupings, and taps applied expertise from across Africa. It actively engages academic staff in ten countries, working across diverse disciplines, including engineering, urban planning, economics, environmental science and public health. This diversity places it in a unique position to help develop the skilled human resources required to drive risk reduction in Africa through cutting-edge research and teaching that is contextually relevant, robust and responsive.

Consortium secretariat Dr Ailsa Holloway and Trish Zweig E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Telephone: +27 (0) 21 808 9281-9285 www.riskreductionafrica.org