Disaster risk management : working concept / [written by Wolfgang Garatwa, Dr. Christina Bollin].

Includes bibliography (p. 37-40).

1. Disasters - a challenge for developing countries and development cooperation -- 2. Approach and definitions -- 3. From disaster relief to disaster risk management -- 4. GTZ activities in disaster risk maangement.

Natural disasters are closely bound up with the development status of a region: they disrupt or impair development and, at the same time, a low level of development increases the chances of them occurring. Supported in part by bilateral and multilateral donors, many countries are stepping up their efforts to prevent disaster. The idea is that effective precautions will avert future disasters or at least mitigate them. This in turn will help stabilize development in partner countries. We can lower disaster risk by containing the hazards and reducing vulnerability. The general economic and social conditions in a country are a major determinant for both factors. All measures must therefore be assimilated into the 'normal' institutional, regional and sectoral development strategies employed in threatened regions. Mainstreaming this issue in development cooperation sectors is a major challenge. Cooperation with projects for decentralization and/or community development, rural development, environmental protection and resource conservation, housing, health and education are of particular importance. Based on the German Federal Government's policy papers on BMZ emergency-oriented development aid (1996) and global poverty alleviation (2001)1, GTZ has put together a service package for disaster risk management. It has identified five activity areas for cooperation with partner countries: Risk assessment; Disaster prevention and mitigation; Disaster preparedness; Disaster risk management as part of rehabilitation and reconstruction; Mainstreaming disaster risk management in development cooperation sectors. In addition to this, two multisectoral strategies are described for supporting measures in disaster risk management. Firstly, we outline ways of raising awareness amongst endangered populations and policymakers as a precondition for sustainable efforts in disaster risk management. Secondly, we discuss the role of local resources for disaster risk management and the practical experience gained. The working concept concludes with a summary of GTZ services for disaster risk management.