Why Resilience Matters

3. What is resilience? Definitions

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  A definition of resilience Interactive Content
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  Ingredients of a good definition

  We will not give you one standard definition, there are so many, and they are often good! We rather provide you the “3 key ingredients”  that make a good definition.
  

  A good definition of resilience should include:

  1. Shocks and stressors (the risks, the threats we face)
     
  2. Power, capacities (to adapt, to absorb, to transform)
  3. Rights!
     

  
  

  A good definition could, for example, be:
  

  "the power of individuals and/or communities to realize their rights 
  and improve their well-being despite shocks and stressors."
  

  But any definition will do, really, if it covers all the ingredients!
  

  Do you want to play a little game now, to memorize words linked to the 
  "ingredients of resilience"? It is optional but can be fun! 

  
  
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  INGREDIENT 1: SHOCKS AND STRESSORS

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Shocks and stressors (or words expressing the same concept) are essential ingredients
  of a good definition of resilience.
  

  
  

  • "shocks" are things that can suddenly go wrong. For example, an earthquake.
  • "stressors" are things that get worse gradually. For example, degrading soil fertility.

  Please do not confuse shocks and stressors with the problem that people already have!
  Shocks and stressors require us to think ahead: what is also threatening us? 
  What else can go wrong?
  

   

   
  

  
  

  Other similar words that could be used are "risk", "threats".
  All these words convey the same idea: that resilience is about dealing with things
  that (might) go wrong. But there are important differences. We will explore them 
  in the next section.
  

  
  

  Root causes of shocks and stressors

  It is important to understand what causes shocks and stressors. And not to stop 
  at a first guess! The root causes of shocks and stressors can be natural or people-
  made, or a combination of both!
  

  
  

  Some threats arise and disasters happen as a result of human action.
  Think about the threats posed by pollution, conflict, global warming.
  

  Sometimes, "natural" causes might be at play. 
  For example floods, earthquakes, and pandemics.
  

  But let's not fool ourselves! We, the humans, often have responsibilities also in 
  making "natural" disasters happen! Floods, for example, could be a result of 
  deforestation! But let's look at the silver lining: if we have responsibilities in making 
  them happen, we can also do something to avoid them or reduce their effects.
  

  
  

  Shocks and stressors coverage

  Shocks, stressors can impact at different scales.
  

  
  

  • individual: for example, a road accident - affecting the people involved and those                            depending on them for their livelihoods and emotional support;
  • local communities: for example, local unrest; localized droughts;
  • the whole world: for example, a pandemic threat, a major economic crisis.
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  Shocks & stressors: examples at the local scale Interactive Content
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  Reflect and write #1 Interactive Content
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  Ingredient 2: CAPACITIES

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Resilience is achieved when capacities to witdstand shocks and stressors are achieved.

  There are 3 main capacities.
  

  • ADAPT

  • ABSORB

  • TRANSFORM
    

  
  

  You might already have a good idea of what they are. Check it out in the next exercise!
  
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  Drag the Resilience Capacity boxes to the correct image: Interactive Content
• You can now watch a little video, to understand better what are capacities and how they relate.
  

  
  

• Imagine this...

  You are visiting a community. It has successfully improved its resilience, in many ways.
  Can you tell what capacities have been increased?
  

  Go through the 10 strengthened capacities below and choose the answer you think is correct:

  
  

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  The strengthened capacities Interactive Content
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  Reflect and write #2 Interactive Content
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  Ingredient 3: rights

  
  

  
  

  
  

  We will not look deeply into this ingredient, because you are probably already 
  familiar with "rights-based approaches"! Everyone has the right to live a life free 
  from need and free from fear. And should have the power to achieve it.
  

  Looking at resilience with a rights perspective means to remember that:

  - having a safe, secure right is not optional: everyone is entitled to it! 
    Resilience, itself is a process of empowerment.

  - human rights, increasingly encompass broader dimensions. 
    Environmental rights are gaining recognition:   

  "Human rights and the environment are intertwined; human rights cannot 
  be enjoyed without a safe, clean and healthy environment; and sustainable 
  environmental governance cannot exist without the establishment of and 
  respect for human rights". [UNEP]
  

  
  

  Keeping this in mind will shift our attitudes and work in supporting resilience.  
  Resilience will then be an essential part of a quest for a better, more just world. 
  For us, as the human community, and for the planet as a whole.
  
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  PART 1: SUMMARY
  

  
  

  Well done! You have complete the first part of the training.

  You should have now a better understanding of:
  

  • what is resilience
  • what are shocks and stressors
  • what are "capacities" (to adapt, to absorb, to transform)
  • why it matters to have a rights-based approach to resilience

  Remember: there is not a perfect definition, and you surely will evolve 
  your own understanding with experience. But whatever the definition 
  or the understanding, it should incorporate the following ingredients:

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  Summary: Key ingredients of resilience Interactive Content