Vulnerability

Vulnerability is a state of being at risk.

According to Republic Act 10121 also known
as ‘Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Act of 2010’, vulnerability is
defined as the characteristics and
circumstances of a community, system or
resource that make it susceptible to the
damaging effects of a hazard.
Vulnerability tends to mean different
things to different people and
because it is often described using a
variety of terms including
‘predisposition’, ‘fragility’, ‘weakness’,
‘deficiency’ or
‘lack of capacity’.
Vulnerability describes the characteristics and circumstances of
a community, system or asset that make it susceptible to the
damaging effects of a hazard. There are many aspects of
vulnerability, arising from various factors.
Examples may include:
• poor design and construction of buildings, 
• inadequate protection of assets,
• lack of public information and awareness,
• limited official recognition of risks and preparedness
measures, and
• disregard for wise environmental
management. 
Who are the so-called
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MOST VULNERABLE your Section
SECTORS?
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They are the community members whose
capacities are low and not sufficient to
withstand and overcome the damaging and
adverse effects of disasters. They are
composed of farmers, urban poor, laborers,
indigenous people, persons with disabilities,
women, and children. They are the so-called
abused sector and at the low level of society
Who are the so-called
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LESS VULNERABLE your Section
SECTORS?
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They are the community members whose capacities
start from their own ability to acquire material
resources, skills and trainings; and position in society.
Their capacities are higher than those in the
vulnerable sector to overcome the adverse effects of
disasters. They are composed of professionals, small
entrepreneurs, and others similar to those who belong
to the high level of society. Their role in disaster
management activities is to extend assistance and
support to vulnerable sectors
Who are the so-called
Title of
NOT VULNERABLE your Section
SECTORS?
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Sector in the society having high position in
the community. Most of the time, they are
the targets of the vulnerable and less
vulnerable sectors in advocacy work in
relating disaster issue on the structure and
policies implemented by the government
that are the root cause of vulnerability of
the community
4 Main Types of
Vulnerability
Physical Vulnerability 
Determined by aspects such as population
density levels, remoteness of a settlement,
the site, design and materials used for
critical infrastructure and for housing
(UNISDR).
Example: Wooden homes are less likely to
collapse in an earthquake, but are more
vulnerable to fire.
Social Vulnerability 
Refers to the inability of people, organizations and societies to
withstand adverse impacts to hazards due to characteristics inherent
in social interactions, institutions and systems of cultural values. It is
linked to the level of well being of individuals, communities and
society. It includes aspects related to levels of literacy and education,
the existence of peace and security, access to basic human rights,
systems of good governance, social equity, positive traditional values,
customs and ideological beliefs and overall collective
organizational systems (UNISDR).
Example: When flooding occurs some citizens, such as children,
elderly and differently-able, may be unable to protect themselves or
evacuate if necessary.
Economic Vulnerability
The level of vulnerability is highly dependent upon the
economic status of individuals, communities
and nations The poor are usually more vulnerable to
disasters because they lack the resources to build
sturdy structures and put other engineering measures
in place to protect themselves from being negatively
impacted by disasters. 
Example: Poorer families may live in squatter
settlements because they cannot afford to live in safer
(more expensive) areas.
Environmental Vulnerability
Natural resource depletion and resource
degradation are key aspects of
environmental vulnerability.
Example: Wetlands, such as the Caroni
Swamp, are sensitive to increasing salinity
from sea water, and pollution from
stormwater runoff containing agricultural
chemicals, eroded soils, etc.
What are the Human
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factors that affectyour Section
Vulnerability?
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 Wealth
The poor are less able to
afford housing and other
infrastructure that can
withstand extreme events
and less likely to have access
to medical care.
 Education
With education, we can learn how to
avoid or reduce many impacts. When
populations include professionals
trained in hazards, then these
people can help the populations with
their hazards preparations and
responses.
 Governance
They can advance policies that reduce
vulnerability. They can support education
and awareness efforts, as well as economic
development to reduce poverty. They can
foster social networks and empower
individuals and communities to help
themselves to prepare for and respond to
hazards.
 Technology
It can improve our ability to
forecast extreme events
withstand the impact of events
and recover afterwards.
Wealthier, ore educated
societies and more likely to
have more advance technology.
Age
Children and the elderly tend
to be more vulnerable. They
have less physical strength to
survive disasters and are
often more susceptible to
certain disease.
Gender
Women are often more vulnerable
to natural hazards than men. This in
is part because women are likely to
be They have less physical strength
to survive disasters and are often
more susceptible to certain disease.
Approaches to vulnerability reduction
include:
• Implementing building codes
• Insurance and social protection (risk)
• Emphasizing economic diversity and
resilient livelihoods
• Knowledge and awareness raising
• Preparedness measures
Why does vulnerability matter?

We acknowledge the fact that disaster risk not only depends on

the severity of hazard or the number of people or assets exposed,
but that it is also a reflection of the susceptibility of people and
economic assets to suffer loss and damage. Levels of vulnerability
(and exposure) help to explain why some non-extreme hazards
can lead to extreme impacts and disasters, while some extreme
events do not. In the context of extensive risk in particular, it is
often people’s vulnerability that is the greatest factor in
determining their risk.
Some groups are more susceptible to damage, loss
and suffering than others and likewise (within these
groups) some people experience higher levels of
vulnerability than others. Vulnerable groups find it
hardest to reconstruct their livelihoods following a
disaster, and this in turn makes them more
vulnerable to the effects of subsequent hazard
events. Consequently, we have to reduce
vulnerability in order to reduce disaster
risk.
 What is Capacity?
All the strengths,
attributes, and
resources available
within a community,
organization, or society
that can be used to
achieve an agreed goal
 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.
What are the
Assumptions
Title of your Section in
developing
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section

DRR capacities?
Essential to the success of any DRR initiative
is also ensuring LOCALLY GENERATED,
OWNED, AND SUSTAINABLE CAPACITIES
rather than on any single agency,
professional disciple, or stakeholder group;
development of DRR capacity
is the concern of the entire
society
The development of TECHNICAL CAPACITIES
ASSOCIATED WITH PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINES OR
FUNCTIONS – such as environmental
management or land-use management
– needs to be combined with other
types of capacity development
that include the promotion of
leadership and other managerial
capacities and performance-enhancing
measures
An ENABLING ENVIRONMENT – i.e.
strong political ownership and
commitment at the highest levels of
authority, extensive participation,
transparency, and clear public
accountability – is essential
for translating capacity into
performance
 Coping Capacity
Ability of people, organizations and systems,
using available skills and resources, to face
and manage adverse conditions,
emergencies or disasters.
Ability to cope entails sustained situation
assessment, awareness building, and
resource mobilization and management.
 Capacity Examples
Ownership of land and safe location and construction
of home
Adequate income
Savings
Adequate food sources
Local knowledge
Family and community support in times of crises
Responsive local government
Enabling legislation
Strong community organization
 ‘Community members and groups have
different vulnerabilities and capacities’

Different individuals, families, and groups in

the community have different vulnerabilities
and capacities. These are determined by age,
gender, class, social class, ethnicity,
language, religion, and physical location.
End