المنتدى العالمي المعني بالأمن الغذائي والتغذية

‘Beyond “temporal” resilience: results that withstand the test of time

Communities, individuals and systems experience shocks/stressors at different levels and magnitude. Some of these shocks/stressors are sporadic and difficult to mitigate such as acts of God while others are progressive over time like the vagaries of climate change. These shocks/stressors may emanate from within the affected communities or systems and are considered easy to address as the causal factors are predetermined. However, there are factors outside the realm of the affected individuals, communities or systems that are often complex and unfamiliar. In the short term, the more complex a need and resultant intervention, the less resilient the beneficiary community. Put otherwise, it may take longer for the beneficiary community to become less vulnerable if their stressors are complex and the intervention even more complex. Regardless, the impact of an intervention on the beneficiaries will determine their resilience.

Resilience is built over time. Long term interventions (programs) would be the best yard stick for measuring vulnerability levels. Nonetheless, there are other considerations in determining how resilient an individual, community or system is.

1. The duration an intervention has stood relevant to its course. Resilience is fostered around sustained knowledge gathering and dissemination, empowerment and preparedness. Done over time, a community is able to overcome its shocks and bounce back faster and stronger.
2. A resilient community should be innovative to the changing nature of the existing shocks be it climate change, global security, trade or disasters.
3. A resilient community thrives amid shocks/stressors. It is one that is able to understand the nature of its shocks, predict occurrence, mitigate effects, and lead an almost normal life bearing in mind the presence of stressors.
4. Resilience is best described by a community/system that is self-sustaining in the presence of shocks. Effectives systems are put in place to ensure minimum external help is required during pre and post occurrence of shocks.
5. A resilient system is able to support weaker systems experiencing similar stressors through sharing success stories and support models.

There is no minimum time frame in which a community, individual or system should remain resilient to be regarded as "resilient". Even the most stable and formidable entities buckle to shocks and stressors at some point. Constant reevaluation and strengthening of systems is the surest way of ensuring preparedness, mitigation of effects, fast recovery and bounce back. That is a lifelong endeavor.