http://hdl.handle.net/10204/901 2013-05-23T23:58:59Z http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6700 Title: An M&E system for measuring compliance of rural water and sanitation projects with South African policy, design standards and norms Authors: Duncker, L; Wilkinson, M Abstract: Enshrined in the South African Constitution is the right of all South Africans to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being and to have access to sufficient food and water. In fulfilling its role as regulator, in 2006 the National Department of Water Affairs initiated the development of a Strategy and a Framework for Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting on water and sanitation projects. A key element was a Spot Check Assessment that was developed and piloted by the CSIR to obtain a snapshot view of the compliance of rural water and sanitation projects to policy requirements and design norms and standards. Description: 2012 Water and Health Conference: Science, Policy and Innovation, Chapel Hill, NC, USA, January 2012 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6682 Title: Analysing risk and vulnerability of South African settlements: Attempts, explorations and reflections Authors: Faling, W; Van Huyssteen, E; Le Roux, A Abstract: This is a presentation paper on the development of multi-criteria indicators for integrated assessment of socio-economic vulnerability at a regional level. An indication is provided of some first steps in interpreting projections for environmental risks and hazards in terms of possible implications for settlements at this regional level. The presentation concludes with some reflections on the challenges and breakthroughs experienced within this exercise, as well as implications for on-going and future research. This paper contributes to the current discourse and body of research by providing an overview of, and reflection on, innovative attempts at exploring the vulnerability of settlements in South Africa in a more integrated and place specific way, as conducted within the ambit of the South African Risk and Vulnerability Atlas (SARVA). Description: Biennial Southern Africa Society for Disaster Reduction Conference, North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa, 10-12 October 2012 2012-10-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6633 Title: Analysing risk and vulnerability of South African settlements: Attempts, explorations and reflections Authors: Van Huyssteen, E; Le Roux, A; Van Niekerk, W Abstract: With the world’s urban population now estimated to be at 52% (United Nations 2012:1), towns and cities are increasingly becoming the stage where disaster risk has to be managed and mitigated. Understanding the risks and vulnerabilities in these complex socio-ecological systems thus becomes of utmost importance to be able to intervene in the underlying root causes, dynamic pressures and unsafe conditions. In this paper, the authors share their experience in, and reflect on, recent attempts at exploring integrated and place-specific risk and vulnerability analyses of settlements in South Africa. An overview is first provided of the attempt to develop multi-criteria indicators for integrated assessment of socio-economic vulnerability at a regional level. Secondly, an indication is provided of some first steps in interpreting projections for environmental risks and hazards in terms of possible implications for settlements at this regional level. The paper concludes with some reflections on the challenges and breakthroughs experienced in this exercise, as well as implications for on-going and future research. Description: Copyright: 2013 The authors. Licensee: AOSIS OpenJournals. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License. The license allows redistribution and reuse of all articles on the condition that Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies is appropriately credited. 2013-02-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6599 Title: Translating disaster resilience into spatial planning practice in South Africa: Challenges and champions Authors: Van Niekerk, W Abstract: It is highly likely that hazards and extreme climatic events will occur more frequently in the future and will become more severe – increasing the vulnerability and risk of millions of poor urbanites in developing countries. Disaster resilience aims to reduce disaster losses by equipping cities to withstand, absorb, adapt to or recover from external shocks. This paper questions whether disaster resilience is likely to be taken up in spatial planning practices in South Africa, given its immediate developmental priorities and challenges. In South Africa, issues of development take precedence over issues of sustainability, environmental management and disaster reduction. This is illustrated by the priority given to ‘servicing’ settlements compared to the opportunities offered by ‘transforming’ spaces through postapartheid spatial planning. The City of Durban’s quest in adapting to climate change demonstrates hypothetically that if disaster resilience were to be presented as an issue distinct from what urban planners are already doing, then planners would see it as insignificant as compared to addressing the many developmental backlogs and challenges. If, however, it is regarded as a means to secure a city’s development path whilst simultaneously addressing sustainability, then disaster resilience is more likely to be translated into spatial planning practices in South Africa. Description: Copyright: 2013 The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS OpenJournals. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License. Open Access refers to free and unrestricted access via the Internet to articles published in Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies. This free access has usage limitations as stipulated in the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) usage license. The license allows redistribution and reuse of all articles on the condition that Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies is appropriately credited. 2013-03-01T00:00:00Z