Volunteerism in Disaster Management. Opportunities, Challenges and Instruments for Improvement
Collaborations of civic society and public administration play a key role for successful disaster management. This report by Tim Prior and Florian Roth addresses the challenges and opportunities of integrating volunteers in disaster management and civil protection. Further, it details 1) the relationships between state crisis management and the social environment in they take place, and 2) the instruments available to support volunteerism in the context of disaster management.
Collaborations of civic society and public administration play a key role for successful emergency and disaster management. In many instances, the tradition of organised volunteering in support of organised disaster management processes is a long one. However, new technologies, large scale disaster events, and a differently engaged population are some factors combining to bring new, spontaneous or emergent forms of volunteerism to official disaster management activities.
From the perspective of the authorities, these new forms of civic engagement often appear as unpredictable. Aligning spontaneous volunteers and professionals is a difficult challenge that many organizations are facing today. This study draws on a range of examples from different countries and hazard scenarios to demonstrate how “new” volunteers have successfully worked hand-in-hand with authorities. These cases also provide evidence of the way, though smart and proactive planning and training, obstacles that often complicate the collaboration between authorities and civic society can be overcome. It also shows how these activities contribute to raising societal resilience through the contributions of volunteers.
The report seeks to provide an understanding of the challenges and opportunities of integrating spontaneous and emergent volunteers in disaster management and civil protection. It details the relationships between state crisis management and the social environment in which these relationships take place. The study analyses several crises and disasters where ‘new’ volunteers have played a prominent role. The study aims to provide an overview of the various instruments available to support volunteerism in the context of disaster management and civil protection, and how these instruments can be employed to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of civil society engagement in disaster management.