TIEMS DREVS Initiative: Disaster Resilience Establishment for Vulnerable Societies

Abstract

Due to changing climate, population growth, and other factors the loss of life and damage to physical property has increased significantly in developing countries. The effects of these disasters can cause long term impacts on productivity and growth throughout the world. Although it is in the international community’s humanitarian and economic interests to provide aid to vulnerable populations, attempts to do this are often hampered by the challenges of coordination across cultures and organizations. It is estimated that $1 spent on preventative measures saves up to $7 in emergency response and rehabilitation; however coordination can be particularly difficult without the pressure of on-going emergency. Global preparedness can be improved by: (1) establishing a global pool of emergency management expertise, with shared frames of reference (terminology, knowledge base, models, frameworks, methodologies) and shared best practices; and (2) creating a foundation for better global collaboration by developing and testing models of local participatory governance in international collaboration for disaster preparedness.