Hdm 308 Course Outline

UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE
FACULTY OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES

DEPARTMENT OF PEACE, SOCIETY AND SECURITY
MODULE OUTLINE: WATER RELATED DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT (HDM

308)
Module Overview
This module provides an interdisciplinary exploration of water-related disasters and risks, examining their
causes, impacts, mitigation strategies, and resilience-building measures. Through case studies, practical
examples and theoretical concepts, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of the complex
dynamics of water-related hazards and their implications for societies and ecosystems. The module
explores the various water-related disasters and risks that impact communities globally. Students will
examine the causes, impacts, and mitigation strategies for hazards such as floods, droughts, hurricanes,
tsunamis and water pollution. Through case studies and interdisciplinary perspectives, students will gain a
comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions between water systems, human activities, and
environmental factors.
Module Title: Water-Related Disaster Risk Management

Module Code: HDM 308
Convener: Mr Kelvin Gomera
Office: Room 20
Contact Hours: Teaching 12Hours
Seminars 6 Hours
Independent Study 120 Hours
Consultation: By appointment
Level: 3
Semester 2
Aims and Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module, students should:

 Have clear understanding of the concept of water-related disaster risk management and its
importance
 Identify and analyse different types of water-related disasters and their causes
 Evaluate the socio-economic and environmental impacts of water-related disasters
 Explore strategies for assessing and monitoring water-related disaster risks and enhancing
resilience
 Learn about policy frameworks, governance structures and institutional arrangements for water-
related disaster risk management
 Analyse case studies and best practices in water-related disaster risk management in Zimbabwe
and around the world
 Develop practical skills for designing and implementing water-related disaster risk management
plans and interventions
Teaching & Learning
Unit 1: Introduction: Hydrological Hazards

 Overview of the principles of disaster risk management
 Identifying different types of hydrological hazards (floods, droughts, storm surges, hurricanes
etc.)
 Understanding the causes, triggers and impact of water-related disasters on communities and the
environment
 Case studies on historical hydrological disasters
Unit 2: Community Resilience and Indigenous Knowledge
 Strategies for involving local communities in disaster risk management
 Empowering vulnerable groups and building local capacity for disaster response and recovery in
water-related emergencies
 Gender dimensions of water-related disasters and risks
 Strategies for managing water-related risks and building resilience to water-related hazards at
individual, community and institutional levels
 Adaptive management strategies for uncertain and changing conditions
 Incorporating indigenous knowledge and local practices in resilience building
Unit 3: Disaster Preparedness, Response and Integrated Risk Management Approaches

 Principles of integrated water resources management
 Design and implementation of preparedness plans
 Water –related disasters risk assessment and mapping techniques
 Multi-stakeholder collaboration and community engagement
 The role of ecosystems in water related disaster risk management
 Importance of early warning systems in mitigating water-related disasters
 Emergency planning and response mechanisms
 Challenges in providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations to water-related
disasters
Unit 4: Policy and Governance

 Analyzing the role of government policies in water-related disaster risk management
 Understanding international frameworks for water-related disaster management
 Water governance and transboundary disasters
 Nexus of water scarcity and conflict
Unit 5: Future Challenges and Opportunities

 Emerging trends and future projections in water-related hazards
 Water pollution and human health
 Implications of climate change, urbanization and population growth on water related disasters
 Opportunities for innovation and collaboration in water-related disaster risk management
 Projection of future risks and challenges
Unit 6: Practical Applications and Case Studies
 Applying DRM principles to real world related scenarios

 Reviewing case studies of successful (and failed) disaster risk management in water-related
disasters
 Group discussions and problem solving exercises
Methods of Assessment
The approach adopted covers the normal examination at the end of the academic block, constituting 50%
of the overall course mark, and coursework making up the remaining 50%. Students will be given at least
three exercises that constitute the continuous assessment (coursework), two individual assignments and
group assignments divided across the whole of the module. Students will also actively participate in
seminars (seminar topics to be advised). Students are advised to seriously consider the continuous
assessment exercises as they contribute significantly towards the overall course mark.
Assignment Questions
1. State the significance of water-related disaster risk management in the 21 st Century?
2. With reference to concrete examples, state four types of hydrological hazards and explain their
causes.
3. Evaluate the socio-economic and environmental impacts of water-related disasters.
4. Explore strategies for assessing and monitoring water-related disaster risks and enhancing
resilience.
5. Discuss the strengths and weakness of Sendai Famework in relation to water related disaster risk
management.
6. Analyse the impact of climate change on the frequency and intensity of water related disasters.
7. Explore the challenges being faced in providing humanitarian assistance and disaster
relief operations to water-related disasters.
8. With the aid of examples, analyse the role of technology and innovation in water related disaster
management in Zimbabwe.
9. State the challenges and opportunities of integrating climate change adaptation into disaster risk
reduction strategies.
10. Justify the Importance of early warning systems in mitigating water-related disasters.
11. Evaluate the importance of incorporating indigenous knowledge and local practices in resilience
building in relation to water related disaster risk management.
12. Identify the linkages between urbanization and population growth on water related disasters.
13. Identify strategies which can be adopted in implementing integrated Flood Risk Management.
14. Using Muzarabani as a case study, analyse attempts made by the Zimbabwe government in
mitigating floods.
Additional reading material
Bakker, Marloes H. N. (2006). Transboundary river oods: vulnerability of continents, international river
basins and countries. PhD, Oregon State University. Available from
https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_ thesis_or_dissertations/h128nh51r
Bakker, Marloes H.N. Transboundary River Floods and Institutional Capacity. Journal of the American
Water Resources Association, vol. 45, no. 3, pp. 553–566 (May 2009).
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1752-1688.2009.00325.x
Binford, Michael W., and others. Climate variation and the rise and fall of an Andean Civilization.
Quaternary Research, vol. 47, no. 2, pp. 235–248 (March 1997).
Blöschl, Günter, and others. Changing climate shifts timing of European oods. Science, vol. 357, no.
6351, pp. 588–590 (August 2017).
Bradley, Raymond S., Mathias Vuille, Henry F. Diaz and Walter Vergara. Threats to water supplies in the
tropical Andes. Science, vol. 312, no. 5781, pp. 1755–1756 (June 2006).
Mechler, Reinhard. Reviewing estimates of the economic eciency of disaster risk management:
opportunities and limitations of using risk-based cost–bene-t analysis. Natural Hazards, vol. 81, issue 3,
pp. 2121–2147 (April 2016).
Mehta, Lyla, and others. Introduction to the Special Issue – Flows and Practices: The politics of
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Southern Africa. Water Alternatives, vol. 9, issue 3,
pp. 389–411 (2016)
Watson, J. T., Gayer, M., & Connolly, M. A. (2007). Epidemics after natural disasters.
Emerginginfectious diseases, 13(1), 1.
Paton, D., Smith, L., & Violanti, J. (2000). Disaster response: risk, vulnerability and resilience.
Toya, H., & Skidmore, M. (2007). Economic development and the impacts of natural disasters.
Economics letters, 94(1), 20-25.
McEntire, D.A., Fuller, C., Johnston, C.W. and Weber, R. (2002) "A Comparison of Disaster Paradigms:
The Search for a Holistic Policy Guide", Public Administration Review, 62(3), pp. 267-281
Mitchell, J.K., Devine, N. and Jagger, K. (1989) "A contextual model of natural hazard",
TheGeographical Review, 79(4), pp. 391-409
O’Brien, G. and Read, P. (2005) "Future UK emergency management: new wine, old skin?", Disaster
Prevention and Management, 14(3), pp. 353-361
Troy, D. A., Carson, A., Vanderbeek, J., & Hutton, A. (2008). Enhancing community‐based disaster
preparedness with information technology. Disasters, 32(1),
O'Keefe, P., Westgate, K. and Wisner, B. (1976) "Taking the naturalness out of disasters", Nature, 260,
pp. 566-567

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UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

FACULTY OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES

MODULE OUTLINE: WATER RELATED DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT (HDM

Module Title: Water-Related Disaster Risk Management

Aims and Learning Outcomes

By the end of the module, students should:

Teaching & Learning

Unit 1: Introduction: Hydrological Hazards

Unit 3: Disaster Preparedness, Response and Integrated Risk Management Approaches

Unit 4: Policy and Governance

Unit 5: Future Challenges and Opportunities

 Applying DRM principles to real world related scenarios

1. State the significance of water-related disaster risk management in the 21 st Century?

3. Evaluate the socio-economic and environmental impacts of water-related disasters.

Additional reading material

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