Evaluating Risk Governance Practice Against the Sendai Framework: The Case of Forest Fires in Sweden

Zhemchugova, H. (2021). Evaluating Risk Governance Practice Against the Sendai Framework: The Case of Forest Fires in Sweden. IIASA YSSP Report. Laxenburg, Austria: IIASA

Preview

Text YSSP report_Helena_Zhemchugova.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial. Download (985kB) | Preview

Abstract

Understanding the processes and institutions of ‘inclusive risk governance’ is crucial for addressing disaster risks strategically and on a systemic level. The Priority for Action no.2 of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction aims to guide countries around the globe in increasing their capacity to reduce disaster risks by strengthening disaster risk governance. However, the imprecise requirements for its implementation set out in its text and the ambiguity of its language, leave considerable room for interpretation and make accountability for progress difficult. We, therefore, develop an analytical tool that disambiguates the text by increasing the sharpness of meaning of its conceptual components. Using this tool, we rigorously evaluate the extent to which the global ambition to foster risk governance has been achieved in the real-life practice of forest fire risk governance in Sweden - elicited in qualitative interviews from experts and practitioners. We find that the Swedish practice of forest fire risk governance is adopting new governance mechanisms such as creation and maintenance of semi-formal and informal coordination structures that enable cooperation, collaboration and partnerships that transcend territorial and administrative boundaries and foster the exchange of disaster-specific expertise and knowledge. Tensions and bottlenecks remain, however, in how the use of the available knowledge resources is approached. This is indicative of a lingering focus on response and recovery rather than on prevention and preparedness. The results of the study contribute to the global discourse of disaster risk reduction by introducing a new and systematic way of evaluating high-level policy objectives. A rigorous evaluation of the practice of forest fire risk governance in Sweden against Sendai Priority 2 contributes to a better understanding of the governance mechanisms in place in the practice in question. The experimental application of business motivation modelling to the governance practice opens a dialogue and new possibilities for application of this method outside of the business organisational context.

Actions (login required)

View Item