Students of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College recently received training in survey techniques  in order to conduct Structural Vulnerability Assessment Surveys as part of the World Bank's Disaster  Vulnerability Reduction Project (DVRP).

The surveys examine the features which make households vulnerable during a natural disaster.

Senior Data Management Specialist with the world Bank, Biswa Panday, said vulnerability surveys help countries deal with natural disasters more effectively.

“If we are thinking of reducing vulnerability, we need to know what the factors leading to vulnerability are, and if we are thinking of investing money to reduce the risks, we really need to nail down the vulnerability factors and come up with recommendations and solutions.”

Panday said capacity building was the main reason for choosing students.

“We could have done this survey much quicker, and much faster if we had hired a consulting firm but then the capacity doesn’t remain in the country," he explained. "The students from SALCC were chosen because they are associate engineering degree students so they know the concept very well."

The surveys are expected to be completed by September.