Resource capability for local government in mainstreaming gender into disaster risk reduction: evidence from Indonesia

Understanding how local government responds to gender vulnerability and gender capacity is
important to make cities safer both for women and for men. However, little is known on how local
government is empowered in terms of provision of capacity, resources and abilities to mainstreaming
gender into disaster risk reduction and community resilience. The case of Indonesia pinpoints district government capability is vital to promote gender equality within local disaster risk reduction and resilience. The district government capability means the ability of local government to organise resources, competence and knowledge to meet the needs and concerns of women and men within disaster risk reduction process. This capability has been transformed into their ability in institutional and human resources policy and for providing financial, technical and leadership capabilities to promote gender equality into local disaster risk reduction and resilience. Experience of Bantul earthquake reconstruction shows a significant achievement has been made by this district in terms of local capability in mainstreaming gender. Among the most important factors related to district capability are women leadership, support from non-government organisations, women participation, financial resources and capacity of local gender institutions.