Disaster Risk Reduction assessment: Understanding livelihood resilience in Jordan

This disaster risk reduction assessment of Jordan aims to identify significant agricultural interventions to strengthen Jordan’s resilience. The report outlines a baseline of risks and mitigation measures against disasters and shocks, which brings together a better understanding of livelihoods risks in Jordan. The key challenges perceived to be affecting livelihood resilience are related to socio-economic, environmental or structural factors.

Within these factors, key findings include:

• Pre-existing vulnerabilities such as resource scarcity, unsuitable climatic conditions and rapid population growth are perceived to be exacerbated by crisis-related disruptions;
• Existing land and water resources may be sufficient if used more efficiently and efforts to conserve them for the future are intensified; 
• Socio-economic shocks are a priority concern for communities in urban areas whereas shocks associated with environmental factors are more of a priority in rural areas; 
• Findings indicate the relevance of geographic and ecological variations to risk perceptions. Water scarcity was a particularly important concern for communities in the Badia desert region;
• Women and men tended to prioritise different risks as being relevant to livelihood resilience;
• In terms of existing strategies for risk mitigation and preparedness, households predominantly employ short-term coping strategies in response to existing socio-economic challenges;
• Key challenges faced in risk mitigation and preparedness are a perceived lack of structural capacities for risk assessment, monitoring and planning (for example, deficient early warning systems); inadequacy of resources at the household level to invest in future planning and preparation; and inadequate awareness about existing support mechanisms.

The assessment also presents a list of priority concerns for disaster risk reduction and identifies future research needs.