Disaster Risk Management

ADB and Disaster Risk Management

ADB's Disaster and Emergency Assistance Policy (DEAP) was approved on 1 June 2004. The DEAP is a comprehensive policy encompassing natural, technological, and environmental hazards; health emergencies; and country conflict situations. The Policy establishes a series of objectives focusing on:

1. strengthening support for reducing disaster risk in developing member countries (DMCs),
2. providing rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance following disasters, and
3. leveraging ADB's activities by developing partnerships.

An accompanying DEAP Action Plan was approved by management in April 2008. The Action Plan develops an approach that will embed disaster risk management (DRM) within ADB's operational practices. A practical way for ADB to approach DRM as an investment in sustainable development is to pursue three interrelated objectives over the next 3–5 years:

1. strengthen ADB effectiveness in supporting DMCs' efforts to identify and manage risks from natural hazards through risk assessment, risk transfer, vulnerability reduction, and risk-reduction strategies, and strengthen key DMC institutions involved in DRM and DRR;
2. facilitate assistance to DMCs following disaster impact to help address immediate needs, assist early recovery measures, build greater resilience into post-impact reconstruction efforts, and identify safer sites for relocation of essential infrastructure; and
3. encourage and participate as a full partner in actions that assist greater regional disaster risk management cooperation, coordination, and institutionalization.

The DEAP also states that training in disaster management will be included in ADB's annual staff development program. Hence, the Action Plan includes this important component.