Diagnosing the Barriers Faced by Rural Communities in Building Disaster and Climate Resilience in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This study is poised to explore the barriers faced by rural communities in building disaster and climate resilience. The study was conducted against the backdrop that the frequency and intensity of climate change and its associated extreme weather events and hazards necessitate resilience building for at-risk communities to protect the lives, livelihoods, economic, social and environmental assets. As rural communities endeavour to build resilience against climate change and disasters, they are confronted by a plethora of barriers that make disaster and climate resilience aspirations untenable. The study adopted the qualitative research approach within the exploratory research design. Community members, disaster risk reduction and climate change practitioners and traditional leaders were purposively sampled to share their insights on the subject matter. A total of 32 respondents participated in the study. Focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews were used as data collection methods. Soaring poverty levels, weak and uncoordinated local institutions, recurring exposure to natural hazards and extreme weather events, limited community participation and inequalities emerged as barriers to disaster and climate resilience building in Zimbabwe's rural communities. The study provides nuanced empirical perspectives on barriers to disaster and climate resilience building to propose ways of dealing with them. The study sets pathways for policy reform at national and subnational levels and paradigm shifts where collective or individual efforts, changed ways of thinking, reprioritisation of resources, institutional support and political will can assist at-risk communities overcome the identified barriers.