philanthropyOz Blog

Guest Post: Seven habits of highly-effective natural disaster recovery granting

This post written by Alex Gartmann, Foundation For Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR). See Part One here.

Previously, I wrote about the overarching issues that need to be considered in responding to the natural disasters which have continued to unfold around us. In this post, I want to share some practical lessons and principles that we have used to guide our activities in the natural disaster recovery space.

1. The first principle is that it’s critical to recognise that recovery is a marathon rather than a sprint. The emergency response and first recovery phase can take up to 12 months; full recovery can take up to 10 years. Accordingly, we advocate thinking about philanthropic spend over the long term. Short term relief is absolutely critical, but there are often many other government agencies involved in the first 12 months. Yet they move on to other issues, or disasters, after about 12 months. Our tip therefore is to commit 40% of your allocation to emergency assistance and response (the first year), and 60% for medium to long term recovery (providing support long after the media and high intensity support has disappeared).
2. A second principle we learnt following the 2009 Victorian bushfires was the importance of philanthropic, government and private sector collaboration for recovery. There is a need to support and collaborate at the time of a disaster, and for the duration of the disaster recovery. Collaboration means we can better manage duplication; we use each other’s strengths and skills more effectively. It also means stressed communities have an easier time navigating their way towards philanthropic support.
3. Be comfortable in early allocation or dispersal of your recovery funds but a delay in a report on the ‘impact’ of your funds, particularly if those funds were to be used for medium to long term recovery phases.
4. Put an emphasis on listening to the locals. This way you can learn what will work at the local level, what is needed and what could help in the future. It is tempting to invest in infrastructure – it’s visible and often ‘easy’. However, our experience shows that it is the community services, or soft fit out, that are often in most demand. Philanthropy is well placed to facilitate lateral thinking such as the appropriateness of ‘like for like’ restoration. Turning the disaster into an opportunity to review community needs and create something that will sustain and support community in the future – when they are ready to consider the disaster in that manner.
5. Because recovery from a disaster is a sustained effort over a long period of time, it is important to be mindful of volunteer fatigue issues that will emerge later in the journey. The money for recovery is vital, however so is the volunteering and semi-skilled labour. Given the economic impact many businesses and communities will face, mentoring during recovery will be essential – a key role for corporate foundations with access to business skills.
6. Critical to any communities’ recovery is an element of economic development and adjustment. Communities cannot survive on air and water alone and reinvigorating that economic fabric is crucial to a town’s survival. Recent research by the Regional Australia Institute has highlighted that economic recovery, particularly in smaller regional locations, is often not supported or assisted - a gap philanthropy could address.
7. Consider the systems and processes that will be needed in a disaster recovery environment. How fast can you operate; what risks can you take to grant to organisations you have no established relationship with; what system do you have to handle applications and acquittals; do you have the personnel that can interact with stressed community members?

At FRRR, we don’t profess to have all the answers, by any means. However the lessons above have emerged from active involvement in the area of natural disaster recovery over the last seven years. If you would like to explore any of these issues in any more detail, or if you would like to contribute to the program we are currently implementing to support the fire and flood recovery efforts in relation to the current and recent disasters, please contact us on 03-54302399 or email a.gartmann@frrr.org.au.

References

Bushfire recovery interview (retrieved 29/1/2013). http://www.abc.net.au/rural/telegraph/content/2013/s3677927.htm
Morris, H. (2012). Lessons in Disaster Recovery: Learnings from FRRR’s Response to the 2009 Victorian Bushfires. www.frrr.org.au

Guest Post: Natural Disaster Recovery: the role of the philanthropic sector

This post written by Alex Gartmann, Foundation For Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR). Stay tuned for the second part of this post later this week, where Alex shares some practical lessons and principles for the natural disaster recovery space!

Australia is certainly a land of drought and flooding rains and the summer of 2012/13 is presenting a series of challenges for numerous communities across the country.

Bushfires have devastated communities, and the local economies, across Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, the Queensland Gulf and central Australia. Cyclones have thrashed communities in the Kimberley and northern Queensland, while ex-tropical cyclone rains have resulted in widespread flooding in Queensland and New South Wales. And summer is only half way through.

FRRR’s involvement in this area began in 2006, following Cyclone Larry in Queensland. Since then, we have provided support for disaster-affected communities all over Australia, including the 2009 Victorian Bushfires (Morris 2012) and communities devastated by floods and storms over the summer of 2010/11. From these experiences, we know that support needs to be provided a long time after the immediate effects of the disaster have been felt. It takes many years for smaller regional communities, for the trauma to be replaced with hope, and for economic stability to return.

But what exactly is ‘recovery’? It means different things to different people, but by going back to the roots of the words, we can discern that recovery is ‘to re-immerse in the medium of life’.

At an individual and community level, highly respected Australian disaster recovery psychologist Gordon (2011) proposes a recovery model that encompasses the four stages.

• Stage 1: Survival (1-6 months)
• Stage 2: Endurance (6 months – 2nd year)
• Stage 3: Identity crisis (2nd – 4th year)
• Stage 4: Recovering from the recovery (4th year +)

The Third Stage of recovery is an important period as far as philanthropy is concerned. It is during this medium term period that the event may have moved out of the media spotlight with attentions shifting onto the next issue or community need. There will be significant rebuilding activity; drawing heavily on the resources of community members and requiring sophisticated capacities to manage the recovery effort. Individual and community identities can begin to fragment and any security or solace found in the ‘disaster identity’ can be lost or diminished the closer communities get to completion of rebuilding; repeating the sense of uncertainty and disorientation experienced immediately after the disaster. It is common after the third year for core government relief and assistance to be scaled back and recovery activities to be absorbed back into mainstream services.

A Fourth Stage is concerned with ‘recovering from the recovery’. This Stage recognises the immense toll that recovery takes on individuals and communities and provides the next step after the recovery work itself is complete; finding a new normal and living life in relation to an altered future state. The Fourth Stage acknowledges the need for renewed energy, a focus on stepping away from recovery toward an identity expanded beyond the disaster.

So where does philanthropy fit in?

With models of climate change predicting more frequent and severe natural disasters, how do we better prepare our grant making to support community preparedness and resilience? There is the emergence of a paradigm shift in the ways in which communities are supported to prepare for and recover from natural disasters. The National Strategy for Disaster Resilience (COAG, 2011) suggests moving from an ‘emergency management’ emphasis on roles, responsibility and procedures to greater consideration and planning for prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and recovery, as well as response. The strategy documents the need to focus more on action-based resilience planning, strengthening local capacity and capability, with a greater emphasis on community engagement and understanding the diversity, needs, strengths and vulnerabilities within communities.

This new perspective contains elements that are closely aligned with FRRR’s mission, and those of many other Trusts and Foundations, and our approaches to supporting communities within grant programs.

Preparedness and recovery should work in parallel; rather than in isolation. Graham (2012) says this bottom-up participative approach is relatively new to the emergency management sector; however it has been the basis of community development practices and principles for many decades. Our challenge in philanthropy is to move with the paradigm shift and better support the development of resilience in community.

While many organisations are making generous donation to the immediate relief effort, at FRRR we are turning our focuses to the medium to long-term recovery of the communities, implementing a response within the Natural Disaster Recovery Framework. The four key approaches are:

• Grants and funding support
• Community support and advocacy
• Project management of donation accounts
• Strategic recovery projects and strategic partnerships

Partners and contributions are being sought – to the recovery programs and to the thinking about resilience. This collaborative and proven approach will help to sustain momentum in community led recovery efforts when volunteer fatigue sets in, providing ongoing support long after most of us will return to ‘business as usual’.

To be involved in these efforts or perhaps have a grant program FRRR can consider in a ‘clearing house’ role, please contact us on 03-54302399 or email a.gartmann@frrr.org.au. Donations for medium to long term recovery programs can be made online (http://www.frrr.org.au/cb_pages/donate.php) or contact us at FRRR and we can assist to direct your donation to particular communities.

References

COAG, National Emergency Management Committee (2011). National Strategy for Disaster Resilience: Building our nation’s resilience to disaster.
Gordon, R. (2011). Crisis Intervention and Management Australasia Conference, Melbourne, November 2011
Graham, W. (2012). 2011 Winston Churchill Fellowship for disaster assistance program and community resilience. Australian Journal of Emergency Management, 27, (4), pg 5.
Morris, H. (2012). Lessons in Disaster Recovery: Learnings from FRRR’s Response to the 2009 Victorian Bushfires. www.frrr.org.au

Tasmanian Bushfires - donation and emergency info

Here is some information for those seeking to assist in response to the recent bushfires in Tasmania:

For donations: Red Cross and the State Government are working together to provide support to people who have been forced to flee their homes or lost their homes due to the fire. See the link below for more information about their response and if you or your organisation would like to make a donation of money or goods. All of the money will go directly to those in need with none going to administration costs.

http://www.redcross.org.au/tasmanian-bushfires-appeal-2013.aspx

For those seeking to direct calls for assistance:

• Housing Tasmania is providing emergency accommodation for people affected by bushfires. For more information phone 6233 8829.
• Refuge centres have been set up, which offer medical assistance, counselling, food, advice and support, in the following locations: Nubeena – Civic Centre, Sorrell – Cole Street, Sorrell, Hobart City Hall – Macquarie Street, Hobart

For more information go to http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/emergency_info

Emergency relief for Typhoon Bopha in the Philippines

Over the past few days Typhoon Bopha (Pablo) has devastated south eastern provinces of the Philippines, with some calling it “Hurricane Sandy Times Two”. The death toll today is approaching 500 people, with thousands more left injured and destitute. Urgent appeals for disaster relief have been issued by charities working on the ground.

The Australian government has also committed to providing $5 million for survival kits and 1,000 tonnes of emergency food aid.

Australians wishing to make tax-deductible donations can do so via the following organisations:

• Oxfam Australia - Phone 1800 088 110
• Australian Red Cross - Phone 1800 811 700
• Caritas Australia - Phone 1800 024 413
• Plan International Australia - Phone 13 75 26
• World Vision Australia  - Phone 13 32 40

Disasters declared for NSW, Vic floods

The Assistant Treasurer has declared the recent New South Wales and Victorian floods a disaster for the purposes of establishing Australian disaster relief funds. This means that tax deductible disaster relief funds can be established for those areas.

For more information see the Australian Taxation Office website: http://www.ato.gov.au/content/00312667.htm

Queensland and NSW Floods

Edit, 13 February: The Queensland Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services has declared a disaster situation for the disaster district of Roma, covering both the Maranoa Regional and Balonne Shire Councils; and for the disaster district of Charleville, covering the Quilpie Shire, Bulloo Shire, Paroo Shire and Murweh Shire Councils. Information on the appeal is available from the Queensland Government flood page.

Those who wish to make donations in response to the ongoing flood situation in Queensland and northern NSW have the following options:

• Red Cross - Disaster relief and recovery
• Queensland Government Disasters and Emergencies page

For flood warnings, evacuation orders, weather details and information on emergency assistance check the Queensland Government flood page and the NSW Ministry for Police and Emergency Services page.

Horn of Africa Drought & Famine

Severe drought and famine is currently gripping nations in the East Africa, including Somalia, Ethopia and Kenya. Affecting more than 12 million people, thousands have died with many displaced by continuing civil unrest and starvation affecting thousands of communities. The Australian Federal Government has committed $80million to help victims, and aid agencies working on the ground are in need of additional assistance for food, shelter, health and medical supplies.

^{Image source: World Concern http://humanitarian.worldconcern.org}

Australians wishing to make tax-deductible donations can do so via the following organisations:

• Oxfam Australia - Phone 1800 088 110
• Australian Red Cross - Phone 1800 811 700
• Caritas Australia - Phone 1800 024 413
• Plan International Australia - Phone 13 75 26
• World Vision Australia  - Phone 13 32 40

NZ Government’s Christchurch Earthquake Appeal now a DGR

The Assistant Treasurer has announced that the New Zealand Government’s Christchurch Earthquake Appeal will be listed in the tax legislation as a Deductible Gift Recipient for Australian taxation purposes. Australians who donate $2 or more to the official appeal can claim a tax deduction for their donation. Previously, Australians could only claim a tax deduction if they donated to an Australian-based appeal.

Donations to the appeal are tax deductible for a period of two years from 22 March 2011 and taxpayers should ensure they receive a receipt for their donation.

Japan earthquake donations; Qld flood appeal clarification

The ongoing earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan has affected tens of thousands of people and will need ongoing assistance. Australians wishing to make tax-deductible donations may do so via the Red Cross appeal at: http://www.redcross.org.au/japan2011.htm

Please note that we have been notified that the Queensland Premier’s Disaster Relief Fund operates both an item 2 and an item 1 DGR. Members who are Private Ancillary Funds and Public Ancillary Funds must request a tax receipt under the item 1 charity (ABN 82 378 381 789) in order to comply with their legal requirement not to fund item 2 DGRs.

NZ earthquake 2011

Philanthropy Australia is thinking of all those in Christchurch who have been affected by the massive earthquake that hit the city on Tuesday. To those who have lost family and friends, to those who have lost property, and to the many who are so traumatised by the devastation, we are thinking of you. We have close ties with Philanthropy New Zealand and are aware that many Trusts and Foundations and non-profit organisations will be working over the next days, months and years to comfort, assist and rebuild in Christchurch.

Australians wishing to make tax-deductible donations in response to the earthquake can do so via the Australian Red Cross New Zealand Earthquake 2011 Appeal. Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible. The Australian Red Cross is an item 1 DGR and the Assistant Treasurer, Bill Shorten, has declared the earthquake a disaster for tax purposes.

For those looking for information on the disaster and its effects, Google has an excellent page of resources. This includes the Christchurch Person Finder, for those seeking information on family and friends.

The relevant Twitter hashtags are #eqnz or #nzeq