This research seeks to enhance the disaster resilience of cities within the EAC by: (a) developing a data base of acute disasters that are common and likely to occur in cities within the EAC, (b) measuring the resilience of major cities within the EAC to these disasters, and (c) developing a framework for enhancing their resilience to potential hazards. It is important to conduct this study now because the present and projected demographic and geographic changes point to a future of continued: (a) rapid urbanization in developing countries – like the EAC - and (b) escalation in the number of urban disasters. Document review and descriptive research will be used in the study with a sample size of 104 participants being selected from the cities of Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Kampala, Kigali, and Mombasa. The collected data will be tested for inter-rater reliability, triangulated and instruments checked for content validity. Both measures of central tendency and measures of variability about the mean will be performed on the collected data.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1. Background
1.2. Research Problem
1.3. Research questions
1.4. Research Objectives
1.5. Significance of the Study
1.6. Definitions of Significant Terms
2. Literature review
2.1. Disasters in the global, regional and urban contexts
2.2. Engineering resilience and ecological resilience
2.3. An integrated approach to urban resilience
3. Methodology
3.1. Research Design and Procedures
3.2. Target Population
3.3. Sample Size and Sampling Procedure
3.4. Data Collection Instruments
3.5. Reliability of the Instruments
3.6. Validity of the Instruments
3.7. Data Collection Procedure and Analysis Techniques
3.8. Delimitation of the Study
3.9. Limitations of the Study
3.10. Ethical Considerations
3.11. Timetable
4. References
Research Objectives and Thematic Focus
This study aims to enhance disaster resilience in major East African Community (EAC) cities by analyzing current disaster trends, evaluating existing resilience levels, and developing a comprehensive policy framework for future disaster risk reduction.
- Analysis of acute disaster trends in major EAC urban centers.
- Evaluation of urban resilience using standardized scorecard methodologies.
- Development of actionable policy frameworks for sustainable urban planning.
- Assessment of disaster impact on demographic and economic infrastructure.
- Integration of disaster risk reduction into regional urban development strategies.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1. Background
Two distinct but intertwined trends are increasingly becoming more prominent in the twenty–first century: one is rapid urbanisation while the other is “the increasing numbers of disasters and the increasing numbers of people affected by those disasters” (Brown, 2012, p. 1). In late 2014, 54% of 7.28 billion people were living in urban areas, up from 34% in 1960 (The World Health Organization (WHO), 2015). This global urban population is expected to continue growing by approximately 1.64% per year between 2015 and 2030 (Khaing, 2015) to bring the world urban population in the year 2050 to more than two thirds of 9.6 billion – the projected world population then (Vidal, 2010). On its own, rapid urbanization has exerted enormous pressure on both the environment and urban infrastructure in developing economies (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN/DESA), 2015). For instance, even though cities occupy only 3% of the planet’s land, they consume 60–80% of the planet’s energy, account for 75% of all carbon emissions, and currently accommodate over 828 million slum dwellers (UN/DESA, 2015).
Looking at the East African Community (EAC), in 2014, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi had populations (in millions) of 45.6, 38.8, 50.8, 12.1, and 10.5 respectively with their percentage urban populations being 25%, 17%, 28%, 20%, and 12% respectively but projected to rise to 44%, 32%, 53%, 53%, and 26% respectively by the year 2050 (UN/DESA, Population Division, 2014). Put simply, the number of people residing in cities within the EAC will have doubled to 217.9 million in the next three decades.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the background of rapid urbanization and rising disaster risks, defines the research problem, and establishes the objectives of the study.
2. Literature review: Examines global and regional disaster contexts, contrasts engineering and ecological resilience, and discusses integrated approaches to urban resilience.
3. Methodology: Details the quantitative research design, sampling procedures for 104 participants, data collection instruments, and the ethical framework guiding the study.
4. References: Provides a comprehensive bibliography of the academic sources and institutional reports cited throughout the research.
Keywords
Urban Resilience, East African Community, Disaster Risk Reduction, Sustainable Development, Urbanization, Disaster Management, Infrastructure, Socio-economic, Ecological Resilience, Engineering Resilience, Vulnerability, Risk Assessment, Policy Framework, Humanitarian Assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research focuses on enhancing the disaster resilience of major cities within the East African Community (EAC) by analyzing historical disaster data and establishing a roadmap for future risk mitigation.
What are the core themes addressed in this work?
The core themes include the impact of rapid urbanization on disaster frequency, the distinction between engineering and ecological resilience, and the necessity of integrated policy frameworks for urban safety.
What is the central research question?
The study seeks to identify common acute disasters, measure the current resilience levels of EAC cities, and determine how to effectively enhance their resilience against future hazards.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The study employs a quantitative research design utilizing systematic document review and descriptive research methods, supported by standardized disaster resilience scorecards.
What is covered in the main body?
The main body covers the theoretical foundations of resilience, a review of existing disaster literature, and a detailed methodological approach for conducting field assessments in cities like Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Key terms include Urban Resilience, Disaster Risk Reduction, Sustainable Development, and East African Community.
How does the study address the specific vulnerability of EAC cities?
It addresses vulnerability by evaluating cities with over one million inhabitants against a 10-point checklist derived from the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
What role does the 'ball-and-cup' heuristic play in this research?
The heuristic is used to illustrate the conceptual difference between engineering resilience (bouncing back to a stable state) and ecological resilience (adapting to stay within a functional basin).
Why is this research considered urgent?
The study is considered urgent due to projections indicating that the urban population within the EAC will double to 217.9 million in the next three decades, significantly increasing exposure to potential disasters.
- Citation du texte
- B W Namano (Auteur), 2016, Enhancing the Disaster Resilience of Cities within the East African Community, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/313492
