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Measuring Resilience:

Challenges and promising approaches

April 25, 2012

Overview

1. Challenges in measuring resilience

2. Helpful frameworks and promising approaches

3. Common indicators

Measurement Challenge #1: Temporal

Measurement Challenge #2: Dimensional

Resilience Framework - TANGO International

TANGO International. The Resilience Framework, draft. March 2012.

Measurement Challenge #2: Dimensional

Resilience Framework - Practical Action

Pasteur, Katherine . From Vulnerability to Resilience: A framework for analysis and action to build community resilience. Practical

Action, 2011.

Promising ApproachesOxfam GB’s ‘Characteristics Approach’

FAO’s (Alinovi et al) Resilience Index

Common Indicators: Pre-shock PredictorsVariable Indicators

Preparedness (institutional) - Existence of disaster preparedness plans or committees - Functioning early warning systems

Livelihood diversity - Livestock herd diversity- Crop diversity

- Number of household income sources- Use of drought tolerant crops/livestock

Access to natural resources - Access to grazing land (during drought)- Access to productive agricultural land

- Access to water for productive use- Local ecological health

Access to public services - Access to veterinary services - Agricultural extension services

- Access to health services - Access to education (formal and non)

Financial resources, assets, and support

- Level of savings- Remittances- Assets that can be readily sold- Access to credit

- Access to markets- Social safety nets and support systems,

including insurance

Access to information - Seasonal forecasting information - Market demand information - Information on disaster risks

Enabling environment and institutions

- Levels of local conflict / insecurity / freedom of movement - Strength of linkages between customary institutions and local government at different

levels

Confidence to adapt - Risk tolerance (Interest willingness to try out new strategies) - Aspirational index - Locus of control

These indicators draw on work by: Oxfam BG, DFID, Practical Action, Mercy Corps, and others agencies.

Common Indicators: Post-Shock Proxies

Variable Indicators

Coping strategies - Coping Strategies Index (consumption-related) -Reliance on distressful / erosive coping -Reliance on ‘positive’ coping

Food security - Dietary diversity -Meal frequency-Length of hunger gap-Food Consumption Score (WFP)

Savings and assets - (Value of) loss of assets (e.g. livestock or crops) due to shock - Loss of savings

Group Work

Discuss and report back on:

1.Feedback on suggested resilience indicators. Do these indicators capture the important elements of resilience? What could be added/ changed?

2.Design/ implementation for greater resilience. Based upon the presentations on promising practices and frameworks/ indicators, what lessons can be drawn for improving resilience among targeted communities? Lessons for donors? Lessons for NGOs?