Challenges for professionalism in civil defense and protection
Disaster Prevention and Management
ISSN: 0965-3562
Article publication date: 5 August 2022
Issue publication date: 11 November 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This article discusses the professional status of civil defense and protection agents and coordinators in Brazil, their working conditions and demands for professionalization in disaster risk management.
Design/methodology/approach
Two online surveys with operators and civil defense and protection managers and documentary analysis based this research. The first survey engaged 1,933 participants who provided information about the working conditions at municipal civil defense, while the second involved 1,344 civil respondents who assessed their roles and duties in disaster risk management.
Findings
Civil defense and protection agents pointed to the high turnover in these positions as the main factor for setbacks in disaster risk reduction, allied to precarious working conditions, lack of training, and unclear responsibilities in disaster risk management.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the international debate on the professionalization of civil defense and protection and disaster risk management, bringing some insights from the sociology of professions. It has a policy impact of suggesting pathways to the inclusion of civil defense and protection in the Brazilian Occupational Classification to advance professional patterns and public recognition of disaster risk management careers.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the National Secretariat for Civil Defense and Protection (SEDEC), the United Nations Development Program and the research partners. Maria da Gloria Bonelli acknowledges the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) (No: 302734/2019-8). Victor Marchezini acknowledges the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) (No: 2018/06093-4).
Citation
Bonelli, M.d.G., Damacena, F., Silveira Viana, A., Gambardella, A.D. and Marchezini, V. (2022), "Challenges for professionalism in civil defense and protection", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 31 No. 5, pp. 565-580. https://doi.org/10.1108/DPM-03-2022-0057
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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