Francis, J.Zuwarimwe, J.Sibanda, Simbarashe2025-09-122025-09-122025-09-05Sibanda, S. 2025. Effectiveness of flood response mechanisms for enhancing resilient livelihoods in Tsholotsho District of Zimbabwe. . .https://univendspace.univen.ac.za/handle/11602/2929PhD (Rural Development)Institute of Rural DevelopmentFlooding is a recurrent natural disaster that disrupts livelihoods, damages infrastructure and affects economic stability, particularly in vulnerable communities. Due to geographical and environmental factors, Tsholotsho District in Zimbabwe is highly susceptible to flooding. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of flood response mechanisms for enhancing resilient livelihoods in Tsholotsho and provide actionable insights for policymakers and rural development practitioners. The research used an exploratory sequential mixed methods design, combining qualitative (semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and document analysis) with quantitative methods (closed-ended questionnaires) This approach gave a understanding of flood response challenges by triangulating findings from various sources. The study focused on flood victims who received aid from organizations, as well as key stakeholders in disaster response, including government departments, NGOs and community leaders. The study specifically targeted wards 6, 7 and 8, in the district which all have a history of severe flooding. Tsholotsho’s vulnerability is heightened by its location on the low-lying Gwayi River, the prevalence of Kalahari and clay soils and the lack of water storage infrastructure. These environmental factors, coupled with climate variability, have resulted in recurrent floods, severely impacting livelihoods. Key findings included significant barriers to effective flood response, such as inadequate financial and technical resources. Government departments struggled to implement proactive measures and an overreliance on donor aid and centralized national funding mechanisms weakened preparedness and delayed recovery efforts. Institutional gaps, including poor coordination among stakeholders and the absence of context-specific disaster management policies, also undermined flood resilience. The study highlighted the need for localized, participatory approaches that integrate both indigenous knowledge and scientific expertise. Key recommendations included the establishment of resilient infrastructure, such as water storage facilities and the enhancement of early warning systems. Strengthening institutional capacity through improved coordination and capacity-building efforts was identified as critical for sustainable flood response. The study emphasized the importance of improving the capacity of local institutions, as government departments often lack the resources and expertise to implement disaster risk reduction strategies effectively. Additionally, better coordination between government, NGOs and communities is essential to ensure that flood response mechanisms are effective and equitable. The research underscored the role of community participation in disaster management. The lack of community involvement in decision-making has led to interventions that do not fully address local needs. Therefore, empowering communities to actively engage in disaster planning, response and recovery is crucial for long-term resilience. Through integrating local knowledge into flood risk management strategies, communities can contribute valuable insights that enhance disaster response effectiveness. This study challenges top-down disaster management approaches, advocating for inclusive, bottom-up frameworks that empower local communities. The proposed framework stresses the importance of integrated strategies that combine community participation and institutional strengthening. The findings provide valuable insights for flood-prone rural areas globally, offering a roadmap for transforming flood response mechanisms into sustainable development tools. The research contributes to rural development theory by highlighting the intersection of environmental vulnerability, institutional capacity and community participation in disaster resilience, offering a foundation for future research and policy innovation in disaster management.1 online resource (xiii, 171 leaves): illustrations (some color), color mapsenUniversity of VendaUCTD363.34936096891Floods -- ZimbabweNatural disasters -- ZimbabweWater -- ZimbabweFlood damage prevention -- ZimbabweFlood control -- ZimbabweThesisSibanda S. Effectiveness of flood response mechanisms for enhancing resilient livelihoods in Tsholotsho District of Zimbabwe. []. , 2025 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from:Sibanda, S. (2025). <i>Effectiveness of flood response mechanisms for enhancing resilient livelihoods in Tsholotsho District of Zimbabwe</i>. (). . Retrieved fromSibanda, Simbarashe. <i>"Effectiveness of flood response mechanisms for enhancing resilient livelihoods in Tsholotsho District of Zimbabwe."</i> ., , 2025.TY - Thesis AU - Sibanda, Simbarashe AB - Flooding is a recurrent natural disaster that disrupts livelihoods, damages infrastructure and affects economic stability, particularly in vulnerable communities. Due to geographical and environmental factors, Tsholotsho District in Zimbabwe is highly susceptible to flooding. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of flood response mechanisms for enhancing resilient livelihoods in Tsholotsho and provide actionable insights for policymakers and rural development practitioners. The research used an exploratory sequential mixed methods design, combining qualitative (semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and document analysis) with quantitative methods (closed-ended questionnaires) This approach gave a understanding of flood response challenges by triangulating findings from various sources. The study focused on flood victims who received aid from organizations, as well as key stakeholders in disaster response, including government departments, NGOs and community leaders. The study specifically targeted wards 6, 7 and 8, in the district which all have a history of severe flooding. Tsholotsho’s vulnerability is heightened by its location on the low-lying Gwayi River, the prevalence of Kalahari and clay soils and the lack of water storage infrastructure. These environmental factors, coupled with climate variability, have resulted in recurrent floods, severely impacting livelihoods. Key findings included significant barriers to effective flood response, such as inadequate financial and technical resources. Government departments struggled to implement proactive measures and an overreliance on donor aid and centralized national funding mechanisms weakened preparedness and delayed recovery efforts. Institutional gaps, including poor coordination among stakeholders and the absence of context-specific disaster management policies, also undermined flood resilience. The study highlighted the need for localized, participatory approaches that integrate both indigenous knowledge and scientific expertise. Key recommendations included the establishment of resilient infrastructure, such as water storage facilities and the enhancement of early warning systems. Strengthening institutional capacity through improved coordination and capacity-building efforts was identified as critical for sustainable flood response. The study emphasized the importance of improving the capacity of local institutions, as government departments often lack the resources and expertise to implement disaster risk reduction strategies effectively. Additionally, better coordination between government, NGOs and communities is essential to ensure that flood response mechanisms are effective and equitable. The research underscored the role of community participation in disaster management. The lack of community involvement in decision-making has led to interventions that do not fully address local needs. Therefore, empowering communities to actively engage in disaster planning, response and recovery is crucial for long-term resilience. Through integrating local knowledge into flood risk management strategies, communities can contribute valuable insights that enhance disaster response effectiveness. This study challenges top-down disaster management approaches, advocating for inclusive, bottom-up frameworks that empower local communities. The proposed framework stresses the importance of integrated strategies that combine community participation and institutional strengthening. The findings provide valuable insights for flood-prone rural areas globally, offering a roadmap for transforming flood response mechanisms into sustainable development tools. The research contributes to rural development theory by highlighting the intersection of environmental vulnerability, institutional capacity and community participation in disaster resilience, offering a foundation for future research and policy innovation in disaster management. DA - 2025-09-05 DB - ResearchSpace DP - Univen LK - https://univendspace.univen.ac.za PY - 2025 T1 - Effectiveness of flood response mechanisms for enhancing resilient livelihoods in Tsholotsho District of Zimbabwe TI - Effectiveness of flood response mechanisms for enhancing resilient livelihoods in Tsholotsho District of Zimbabwe UR - ER -