Aim

• prepare the students so that they are able to work to reduce risk and to develop an effective preparedness for disasters.

• provide a foundation for students interested in research to be used as a base for their research on risk reduction and preparedness issues.

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

• be able to critically analyse the prerequisites and challenges for effective risk reduction activities.

• be able to critically analyse the prerequisites and challenges for effective disaster preparedness.

Skills and abilities
For a passing grade the student must

• be able to identify, analyse, prioritise, plan, implement and evaluate activities that reduce risk, either by reducing the probability for disasters (prevention) or by reducing their possible consequences beforehand (mitigation).

• be able to plan, prepare and evaluate an effective preparedness to manage needs that arise from and the consequences of future disasters, both as Response and Recovery.

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

• demonstrate capability for identifying his/her needs for further knowledge and for ongoing improvement of his/her competence.

• demonstrate capacity to make assessments regarding risk reduction and preparedness with respect to the relevant scientific, community-related, and ethical aspects.

Contents
The course is focused on providing insight into various measures available for risk reduction and approaches to assessing and evaluating their effectiveness. Attention is given to principles of disaster preparedness and challenges related to such activities. A central part of the course is the case which involves analysing and evaluating various risk reduction and preparedness measures in a city in Tajikistan (or other suitable city). The students will work with the case throughout the course.

Teaching methods used in the course: Case studies; Lectures on research in the field of risk reduction and preparedness; Lectures on systems and organisations in society for dealing with issues of risk reduction and preparedness; Class-room sessions with analytical discussions on risk reduction and preparedness issues; Literature seminars.

Literature
Abrahamsson, M., Johansson, H., Fredholm, L., Eriksson, K. & Jacobsson, A. Analytical input to emergency preparedness planning at the municipal level. Paper presented at TIEMS 2007 Conference, Trogir, Croatia, 2007.
Alexander, D. Towards the development of a standard in emergency planning. Disaster Prevention and Management, vol. 14, no 2, Emerald, 2005.
Buckle, P. Re-defining community and vulnerability in the context of emergency management. Paper presented at Disaster Management: Crisis and Opportunity: Hazard Management and Disaster Preparedness in Australasia and the Pacific Region Conference, James Cook University, Centre for Disaster Studies, Nov 1-4, 1998, Cairns, Queensland, 1998.
Coppola, D. P. Introduction to International Disaster Management, Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann (Elsevier), 2007.
Choularton, R. Contingency planning and humanitarian action - A review of practice, No.59, Humanitarian Practice Network (HPN), London: Overseas Development Institute, 2007.
Enander, A. Human needs and behaviour in the event of emergencies and social crises. In Fredholm, L. & Göransson, A.-L. (eds.) Emergency Response Management in Today’s Complex Society. Swedish Rescue Services Agency, Karlstad, Sweden, 2008.
McConnell, A. & Drennan, L. Mission Impossible? Planning and Preparing for Crisis. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, vol. 14, no 2, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, UK, 2006.
Perry, R.W. & Lindell, M.K.Preparedness for Emergency Response: Guidelines for the Emergency Planning. Disasters, vol. 27, no 4, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, UK, 2003.
Quarantelli, E. L. Major criteria for judging disaster planning and managing and their applicability in developing societies. Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA, 1998.