Adaptation and Resilience ADAPTATION ACTION PLANNING

108 themselves as workable and ii they would be more easily introduced from communities and groups which come from a similar context rather than brought in from outside agents. Other ideas look to capitalize on the lessons learned and address specific issues related to vulnerability in the multiple dimensions in which it presents itself. Invisible cities, making them visible: In the case of certain hitherto unrecognized or undocumented communities, such as the neglected and forgotten urban poor of Sukorejo, a community level census and survey would help to document exactly what needs these people may have. As yet there is little appreciation or understanding of these people’s needs or conditions. Local government may not feel the need to provide them with services or enter into dialogue with them since they are not aware of the scale or nature of this need. They conveniently occupy an ambiguous invisible space. By better documenting these areas local neighborhood- level government could have a better idea about what services are necessary how many people need access to a health center, or pupils in a classroom and as a result could receive budget corresponding allocations. Subsidies: Given the precarious economic situation faced by urban poor communities certain social services are simply out of reach. Government could assist by subsidizing access to these services to ensure that the urban poor can benefit from them. Subsidies for education and water would help bolster resilience and reduce vulnerability in many urban poor communities. For example in the case of RW 5 in Kemijen the community’s lack of access to capital to pay for the installation fee for the city’s water service PDAM means that they rely heavily on private water sellers, paying disproportionately high prices. A connection subsidy would help significantly lower their costs. If an education subsidy could secure the retention in school until they finish high school they could access a whole range of employment in the city and not rely exclusively on fishing related jobs. Sharing community narratives + networks: Many urban poor communities live a very isolated existence in which they are often unaware that their realities are very similar to other urban poor communities not far away, in the same city. This denies them the opportunity to share information between themselves, learn from each other and build social networks that could build resilience. By encouraging exchange and meeting of communities could encourage the formation of social networks, sharing of information and learning. One potential benefit for example would be the socialization of different consequences of community relocation programs, sharing the different narratives and consequences of the relocation of Sukorejo and Tandang communities. Urban populations who are set to be relocated would profit by gaining knowledge useful for negotiating relocation conditions and compensation with local government or land developers. This would help to address information asymmetries and strengthen urban poor communities. Low cost financing of incremental housing improvements: It is evident that urban poor residents can improve their own housing conditions and thereby significantly reduce their vulnerability to climate risks. Incremental, small scales changes help to gradually build more robust and resistant homes and stay within limited budgets. By making accessible financing available families can purchase materials and slowly improve their homes by themselves, not waiting to rely on government projects or the accumulation of large amounts of savings. Small improvements, such as better 109 roofing for example, can significantly reduce vulnerability in a place that is prone to cyclones and heavy winds. Neighborhood Vulnerability Index: A number of communities have been identified as possessing qualities that make them highly vulnerable to climate change. Through progressive investments in projects and improvements some of these qualities can be reduced over time and thereby reduce the neighborhood’s vulnerability. It would be useful to see how progress is being made over time, this would allow groups to know what strategies are working and what areas needs more targeted assistance. By compiling a database which can monitor progress in time and space the neighborhood would have a gauge of how it is doing to reduce its vulnerability, and how it may compare to other areas in this regard. Detailed maps for local neighborhood government use: The neighborhood government Kelurahan of Tandang demonstrates a useful disaster preparedness and response measure. By keeping detailed maps at hand that identify assets, populations and categorize hazards they can better prepare for a climate related disaster, such as for example setting up early warning systems. Such maps would be also be a vital resource for disaster response: in the event of a landslide for example as they could provide an instant database of community assets from which to launch a rescue or reconstruction initiative. Access to information, in a clear and accessible format is essential to reducing vulnerability and strengthening resilience; maps and a community database can help provide this. Alternative social safety nets: At the moment there is little in the way of a consolidated policy which serves as a social safety net disaster for those families whose homes and property damaged are extreme weather event which leaves. Local government can only provide scarce resources that are generally described as insufficient. Affected communities end up relying upon private foundations and charity, or their own survival skills. However other social safety nets could be explored which may keep in store resources in reserve. A city warehouse that could collect and hold items, or a bank account that could store donations, are possible models that put away resources in a fund for future events. A city Task Force would be charged with managing such a fund and determining its use. Broad based coalition to deal with climate change issues: It might be thought that climate change concerns only the urban poor, but there are many more constituencies who are potentially affected with which to create large coalitions and push for government response to the issue. This is the case in Semarang where large industries and urban poor populations would form an unlikely ally as both live in the highly affected port area of the city. But articulating such broad based coalitions may garner greater visibility and political support.