Developing a SAVI Framework

OVERVIEW

SAVI Origins

Maputo & Cape Town W/S

Advancing the SAVI Process

SAVI ORIGINS

Global Environmental Change (GEC) & vulnerability: 1990s

Single stressor/sector

Human vulnerability as environmental stress residual

Research – application gap

SAVI PHASE 1

Initial funding: ICSU & IHDP

Organizing TeamTim Quinlan, U of KwaZulu-Natal

Karen O’Brien, CICERO–Oslo

Mike Brklacich, Carleton U, Canada

Coleen Vogel, U of Witswaterstrand

SAVI PHASE 1 MANDATE

Develop long-term applied research program & network for southern

Africa to address who is vulnerable, to what, why,and what can be done.

MAPUTO WORKSHOP June ‘03Examine current human security threats

Position GEC within context of other HS threats

Identify key comprehensive vulnerability and human security policy issues

Begin development of SAVI framwork

CAPE TOWN WORKSHOP Oct ’03Continue developing a framework for assessing the multi-dimensional nature of human vulnerability in southern Africa.

To continue building the practioner-researcher partnership.

W/S PARTICIPANTSPractioners & researchers

Broad sectoral coverage

Multiple case studies

Wide regional representation

Younger through more established practioners & researchers

W/S FINDINGSHuman vulnerability is generated

Stressor convergence deepens vulnerability

Vulnerability increases when economic and social reforms decoupled

Rethinking of defining vulnerable populations

Cannot depoliticize vulnerability

Human vulnerability – security continuum

Capacity building key to process

Build on vulnerability initiatives

ADVANCING SAVI PROCESSDisequilibrium and change as a norm, rather than as an anomaly

Vulnerability as a consequence of inequitable contributions to stress, outcomes & response capacity

Must address dynamic aspects of vulnerability

Enhanced practioner-scientist interactions

Build on existing initiatives

Place-based research and comparative assessments

Enhancing human security

To enhance human security of those

most vulnerable to environmental,

economic & social stresses in

the southern Africa region.