Financing disaster risk reduction: Exploring the opportunities, challenges, and threats within the Southern African development community region

This study investigated whether DRR is adequately funded within SADC member states in light of the high stakes in human life, infrastructure, and economic losses and the potential savings involved. The study applied a qualitative research design with data collected through semistructured interviews and focus group discussions.

The findings of this study indicate that there is a myriad of challenges that subsume the funding of DRR activities within countries in the SADC region. Major issues raised by participants alluded to a lack of institutional DRR funding mechanisms, absent human resources to implement funded DRR activities at subnational levels, deficient intergovernmental budgeting for DRR, and deficient political will to fund and support DRR activities.