Disaster Nursing | NCM 0120

MODULE 7 Capacity
Capability and Capacity Building in
Disaster Preparedness
Capacity development is a continuous process that
prepares officials, stakeholders, and the general public to perform their
duties more effectively during a crisis or tragedy. Human resource
development, such as individual training, organizational
development, such as improving the functioning of groups and
organizations, and institutional development, must all be included in
the capacity-building process.
TRAINING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
Considering the natural, economic, political and social status
of Philippines, its exposure and vulnerabilities, creating programs to
increased its national capacity building is necessary. In this chapter, we
will have a bird’s eye view of the importance of capacity development for
disaster risk reduction and management and its activities.
Capacity-building
• is defined as the process of developing and strengthening
the skills, instincts, abilities, processes and resources that
organizations and communities need to survive, adapt, and
thrive in a fast-changing world. ® in order to respond to any
disaster or to lessen the possible effects of disaster
• There are a number of definitions of capacity
building/development, disaster risk management (DRM) and
disaster risk reduction (DRR), including the following proposed
by UNISDR:
o Capacity Development – The process through
which individuals, organizations and societies
obtain, strengthen and maintain the capabilities to
set and achieve their own development objectives
over time.
o Disaster Risk Management (DRM) – The
systematic process of using administrative
• A combination (totality) of all of a community's, society's, or
organization's capabilities and resources that can lower the
level of risk or the effects of a disaster. = talents, abilities, etc.
• Physical, institutional, social, and economic resources, as
well as competent personal or collective traits like
leadership and management, all contribute to capacity.
• Capacity may also be described as capability.
• Some examples of capacity are: permanent houses,
ownership of land, adequate food and income sources, family
and community support in times of crisis, local knowledge,
good leadership etc. and the environment, and improved
preparedness for adverse events.
• The Capacity Needs Assessment (CNA) for Disaster
Preparedness and Response is a preliminary activity
designed to systematically identify existing capacity
development activities, identify key gaps, and serve as the
foundation for recommending specific capacity building
interventions that will strengthen target communities'
capabilities.
TYPES OF CAPACITIES IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Type Definition/Examples
§ Buildings/infrastructure
Physical § Means of communication
• Physical capacity of a community or an area
includes the equipment available, means of
communication, infrastructure available in
the area like bridges, roads, hospitals, schools,
drainage etc. ® helps in reducing the
community’s risk for a certain risk to a disaster or
possible impact from a disaster
• Availability of new water sources for drinking,
irrigation and other purposes can also be
counted in physical capacity.
• Indigenous engineering and construction
skills to build and repair infrastructure are also
a part of physical capacity. (i.e., earthquake

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resistant buildings)
directives, organizations, and operational skills
§ Social interaction
and capacities to implement strategies, policies
Social § Community organization
and improved coping capacities in order to lessen
• Social capacity includes the interpersonal and
the adverse impacts of hazards and the possibility of
intrapersonal links in the community,
disaster.
relations and motivations among the people
o Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) – The concept
and the amount of interaction between people.
and practice of reducing disaster risks through
(i.e., communication, warning dissemination,
systematic efforts to analyze and manage the causal
community pantry during the pandemic,
factors of disasters, including through reduced
partnerships of NGOs and government units)
exposure to hazards, lessened vulnerability of
• During and after a disaster has struck in an area
people and property, wise management of land.
the ability of the local people to take action and
 Disaster Nursing | NCM 0120

guarantee the sustainability of the ongoing § Identify competencies required to deliver a high quality and
projects. significant response. = know what products needed
• In some areas communities have organized § Understand their strengths and weaknesses. = prioritize
themselves on street-level or village level and needs; used as baseline data and compare before & after doing
have built small organizations for help in case of an intervention
disasters or carrying our other welfare activities § Foster ownership and commitment. = encourage involvement
in the area on volunteering basis. § Prioritize areas for capacity strengthening support.
§ Entrepreneurship § Review the progress of capacity strengthening initiatives.
Economic § Savings/Earnings/Employable skills
• Economics capacity comprises of the income of SELF ASSESSMENT REPORT
the community or an area, their savings,
earnings, production, business activities and
availability of jobs and livelihoods.
• This capacity also includes employable skills
like mining, weaving, etc. GDP/ GNP of an area
describes its economic capacity. = funding,
financial contribution
§ Ready to accept change
Attitudinal § Collectivism approach
• People fight and resist against plans and
strategies that are not in line with their culture,
ideology or religion and this can limit their
capacity and increase their vulnerability to • checklist that companies/communities used to evaluate their
disasters. = resiliency and positivism; attitude, own organization regarding their capacity/ability in disaster
perception, belief and culture risk management
• Having positive attitude towards involvement
of women in community decision making; High In general, capacity building involves the following step:
awareness on social issues and high motivation capacity assessment/identification of needs, gaps and demands,
for projects which are of mutual benefit for planning and capacity building, making decision to invest, building and
whole of the community can be regarded as an expanding network, promoting awareness and utilization drive and
attitudinal capacity of a community (i.e., attitude evaluation of outcomes and impacts.
to: covid-19 vaccination, adherence to
pandemic protocols, start of online classes, fear
regarding the duty risks during the pandemic)
• e.g., if people have ‘We perception’ instead of Step 1: Engage
stakeholder
‘I perception’ this brings a feeling and attitude
of collectivism as opposed to individualism in a
society. = positive attitude and being

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considerate would help the community to Step 5: Evaluate Step 2: Assess
capacity capacity assets and
develop higher vulnerability against disaster development needs

Capacity Building/Development Process

• is important because the evaluation process coupled with
implementation component help ensure better risk reduction
and management.
Step 4:
Step 3: Formulate
• Based on the results of the Start Network’s Shifting the Power Implement a
a capacity
capacity
project, Tearfund is now phasing in the disaster management development
development
response
capacity assessment (DMCA) tool across all disaster-vulnerable response

countries. According to them, the capacity self-assessment

aims to help organizations to:
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CAPACITY STEP 4: After the assessment and planning of activities to increase

DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS
STEP 1: Engage
Stakeholders on
Capacity Development
= involve the community
members → empower
them to participate
STEP 2: Assess Capacity
Assets and Needs
STEP 3: Formulate a
Capacity Development
Response
STEP 4: Implement a
Capacity Development
Response
STEP 5: Evaluate
Capacity Development
QUESTIONS
§ Is there support for the capacity
development agenda?
§ For change more generally? = who
will be affected
§ Will it involve:
o Physical = infrastructures
o Social = communication
process, relationships
o Economic = GDP or economic
status
o Attitudinal = positive
perception in disaster risk
management; culture
§ Are capacity development
responses being formulated based
on insights generated and
consensus built via a capacity
assessment?
§ Does the capacity development
response build on capacity assets
and address capacity needs?
= formulating projects should be
based on assessment of needs
§ Is the capacity development
response effectively implemented?
§ What are constraints hampering
implementation? = foreseeable
threats
§ Have benchmarks been set against
which measure capacity
development? = compare if there is
improvement in capacity after
interventions
capacity of a certain locality, interventions which include resource
development, financial management, organizational learning,
leadership development or environmental modification may be
carried out based on the identified objectives and priorities. Elements of
capacity building consist of education on disaster prevention and
response, training, mock drills, collaboration with other agencies,
household preparation, understanding warning messages, first air
preparedness etc.
STRATEGY / ELEMENTS
1. Trainings
• Training is the structured approach to enhance
someone’s knowledge, this usually requires
completion of prerequisite courses or on the job
training where an individual is given the knowledge
needed to apply theory into practice.
• This includes basic training of disaster management
to the volunteers and community members. It aims
to empower people. = increase capacity
2. Education on disaster prevention and response /
Competency Enhancement
• It includes educating communities to the possible
hazards and their impacts in their area. It also
includes education in terms of preventive measures
and response strategies in the identified hazards.
• Competency consists of a number of elements,
of which training is only one. Others include skills,
knowledge, experience appreciation and
understanding of the task at hand, the
surrounding environment, and a range of
human factors such as behavioral safety and
interpersonal communication. = holistic
3. Advocacy Activities
• Advocacy activities to raise awareness and gather
support in the campaign. This may include
collaboration between government and as well as
non-government agencies = i.e. promote disaster
awareness to school children

G.M.M.E. | A.J.E.F. | T.A.M.M. – MARILAG

STEP 2: The term "capacity assessment" refers to the process of 4. Mock Drills
identifying strengths and resources that can be used to reduce risk or • This is a method of practicing how people
the effects of a disaster. In this step, a community's resources are assessed should react in times of an emergency.
by examining accessible assets such as talents, expertise, • Example: during a fire drill, the building’s existing
equipment, and infrastructure. The availability of these resources is fire alarm is activated and residents are asked to
then assessed to determine how quickly they can be deployed and made evacuate by following the safety plan. = and also
accessible for use. Another crucial stage is to determine how durable earthquake drills
and long-lasting these resources are, as well as the level of 5. Household Preparation / Activities
operational integrity they possess (Ability to complete tasks without • It covers the preparation of all valuable items
supervision). in appropriate containers, keeping minimum
clothing and being ready with a communication/
evacuation plans.
• This may include first aid kit preparedness
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6. Volunteerism CENTER FOR RESEARCH ON THE

• Volunteers augment the community’s response EPIDEMIOLOGY OF DISASTERS
capability by performing roles that require less
technical training, allowing professionals to focus
The Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of
on the more highly specialized roles. This means
Disasters (CRED) is a research unit of the University of Louvain (UC
volunteers may respond in multiple venues and
Louvain). It has been active for over 40 years in the fields of
hold varied roles throughout a single response.
international disaster and conflict health studies, with activities
7. Support Groups
linking relief, rehabilitation and development. The Centre promotes
• Family and/or survivor support group is a group of
research, training and technical expertise on humanitarian
people affected by the same disaster who
emergencies, particularly in public health and epidemiology.
support each other by sharing information,
giving each other emotional and practical support
CRED's research scope includes two main axes:
and/or by focusing on issues important to them.
1) natural disasters
= i.e., Alcoholic Anonymous where people grouped
2) crisis situations (man-made disasters) caused by civil strife,
together are battling with alcoholism and do some
conflict or others
activities and share their insights
8. Understanding Warning Messages such as:
• Dissemination of effective early warning messages CRED Data Initiatives
or statements / recommendations to the vulnerable § EM-DAT: International Disaster Database
communities can be achieved through education § CE-DAT: Complex Emergency Database
and involvement of all the stakeholders.
a. Position Paper / Advisories CRED studies broader aspects of humanitarian crises
o Position paper is a form of writing and emergencies, such as socio-economic, gender and environmental
used in academic and professional issues, with a strong focus on the special needs of vulnerable
contexts that summarizes the groups such as women and children.
writer’s arguments supporting a
certain issue. THE EMERGENCY EVENTS DATABASE (EM-DAT)
o An advisory is a report giving
information (as on the weather) and
often recommending action to be
taken.
b. NDRRMC Situational Reports on
Preparedness Measures and Effects
o Situational reports shall be brief,
updated regularly and outlines the
details of the disaster, requirements
and the responses undertaken.
c. PAGASA-DOST Weather Forecast, etc.
o This is a statement of what the

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weather is likely to be for the next
day or few days, usually broadcast
on television or radio or printed in a
newspaper.
§ Reference database in disaster research field = records of
various disasters from different countries throughout the years
§ Collect data on occurrence and impact of natural and
technological disasters since 1900
§ They do interventions and upgrade systems to improve and
strengthen the evidence base
§ Improve rational decision making
§ Set priorities for policymaking = data gathered by the CRED
can serve as reference for EM-DAT (good legislation that
focusing on disaster risk reduction and management)

ASSESS HEALTH AND HUMAN IMPACT
§ On their database, they do researches which help us
understand health and socio-economic impacts of a certain
disaster
§ Make disaster profiles of countries and overviews of certain
periods
§ Participate in high-level consortia to address knowledge gaps
§ Collect primary (interviews) and secondary data (collect
data from documents, textbooks, journals, researches by
experts) through fieldwork and collaborations = studies
conducted by the CRED are important in assessing the health
and human impacts made by a disaster (disasters have direct
and indirect effects)
IMPROVE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE
With this study, the government of Georgia developed projects and programs on
how to improve and educate the local members of the community regarding
their knowledge and skills on how to respond with heatwaves.
§ Analyze preparedness policies and disaster response
§ Advise different governance levels on strategies
§ Assess risk awareness of the general public and vulnerable
groups
§ Analyze the needs and resilience of healthcare facilities =
CRED’s researches and topics are important in providing
information to the leaders of the communities on what to focus
and prioritize
Disaster Nursing | NCM 0120
USE TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE EFFECTIVENESS
Darker red areas signify higher disaster density
§ Explore application of Earth Observation satellite
systems
§ Support decision making awareness in inaccessible or
dangerous environments = uses satellite in order to have an
idea on disaster risks and hazards on certain areas which are
inaccessible
§ Apply web mapping to improve visualization of heavily
affected areas
THE COMPLEX EMERGENCY DATABASE (CE-DAT)
G.M.M.E. | A.J.E.F. | T.A.M.M. – MARILAG
§ Database with mortality and malnutrition rates of affected
communities
§ International survey repository with epidemiological
(SMART) surveys
§ Encourage rational, evidence-based humanitarian decision-
making which are focused on areas that need help
§ Set priorities for human and financial resources of
humanitarian organizations

ASSESS HEALTH AND HUMAN IMPACT
§ Identify and measure the health status of affected
communities
§ Map and model mortality and nutrition patterns
§ Assess excess mortality in conflict affected areas
§ Improve the database through data collection
By providing a wealth of data on health issues arising from
disasters and conflict, CRED seeks to improve needs-based
preparedness and responses to humanitarian emergencies.
Kindly visit: Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters | Centre for Research on
the Epidemiology of Disasters (cred.be)
Disaster Nursing | NCM 0120
BUREAU OF QUARANTINE
• Works under the Department
of Health (DOH) shall have a
nationwide scope of function and
international commitment in
accord with the International
Health Regulations (IHR) of the
World Health Organization (WHO).
• Active during the COVID-19
pandemic, responsible for vaccine
passports
Quarantine – separation or restriction of movement of people who
were exposed to individuals with a contagious disease.
Isolation – separation of the sick people with the contagious disease.
Vision
A world class bureau for local and international health surveillance
in the prevention of global spread of diseases.
Mission
To prevent international spread of diseases of global impact
with minimum interference to international travel and trade through:
§ Effective surveillance and control measures on
infectious diseases and other health concerns with global
impact through local and international networking = one of
the agencies who do surveillance on the number of COVID-19
cases
§ Strong and comprehensive national sanitation
programs in all seaports and airports of entry in partnership
with local counterparts
§ Partnerships in research and development = local and
epidemiological research units; positive cases in foreigners or
Filipinos who just arrived from international locations
General Functions
a. Formulates and enforces quarantine laws and regulations
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= 14 days quarantine, isolation
b. Conducts surveillance and institutes measures to prevent
the entry of diseases subject to International Health
Regulations and other emerging and re-emerging diseases
and health concerns from other countries that may impact on
public health in the Philippines.
c. Provides technical assistance and supervision, consultative
and advisory services on health and sanitation programs
and activities in international ports and airports and their
immediate environs.
d. Conducts medical examination on aliens and foreign based
Filipinos for immigration purposes. = the Bureau has doctors
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who respond to do assessment who might have contracted an SPECIAL SERVICES DIVISION
infectious disease Specific Functions
e. Advises the Secretary and the Undersecretary of Health a. Provides immunization laboratory services to travelers
on matters pertaining to international health regulations and subject to the International Health Regulation (IHR) =
international health surveillance. = important role of the responsible for doing the RT-PCR with people arriving from
Bureau of Quarantine airports/seaports
b. Conducts health education seminars for stewards, food
Organizational Structure of the Bureau of Quarantine handlers and other clientele
c. Performs medical examination of foreigners admitted
Office of the
into the country
Director IV
PORT AND AIRPORT HEALTH SERVICES DIVISION
Specific Functions
Office of the
a. Promotes and supervises sanitation in ports and airports
Director III
of entry to include the environs, eating establishment and
catering points = make sure that airports and seaports follow
sanitation protocols set by the Bureau
Administrative International
Special Service Port Airport b. Conducts operations for mosquito-and-arthropod-
Health Surveillance Health Services
Division Division Division Division borne diseases subject to the IHR. = e.g., dengue and
Division
malaria
c. Manages carriers or vessels with rodent infestation =
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION conducts inspection
Kindly visit: Bureau of Quarantine | Department of Health website (doh.gov.ph)
Specific Function
a. Provides general administrative and logistics support
services such as personnel, finance, communication,
documentation, security and facility operation and
maintenance services = provides memo, advisories to the
public, helping in isolation/quarantine of individuals who
arrive from abroad who might have contracted COVID-19

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH SURVEILLANCE DIVISION

Specific Functions
a. Provides maximum security against the introduction
and spread of diseases subject to the International Health
Regulation (IHR) with minimum interference to traffic and
trade. = responsible for setting the policies on security against
entry of foreigners or Filipinos from abroad
b. Develops an integrated approach for a more effective

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international health surveillance networks.
c. Develops communication methods for wider and more
effective delivery of critical public health information with
international importance. = implementing the policies set by
the IHR of WHO