All over the world about 200 million people are at risk from natural hazards, such as earthquakes, severe storms, floods or droughts every year. Although extreme natural events now claim fewer lives, economic losses have risen significantly. More and more people settle in densely populated and disaster prone areas, and also the risk of damage to public and private infrastructure and assets is increasing. Disaster risks are often not considered in the continuing rapid development of urban areas and economic zones. The consequences for the sustainability of public and private investments can be disastrous. In its Global Assessment Report (GAR) 2015, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) has found that worldwide economic losses due to disasters have risen to about 250 to 300 billion US dollars annually. It also estimates that an investment of 6 billion US dollars annually in disaster risk management would result in avoided losses of 360 billion US dollars over the next 15 years.
Effective disaster risk management requires not only financial investments, but also new partnerships between governments, civil society, academia and the private sector to respond to the challenges ahead.
OBJECTIVES
To help implement the international Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) and put regional and national action plans in place.
APPROACHES
In cooperation with its partners from the public and private sector, academia and civil society, GIDRM co-creates innovative solutions to meet the challenges posed by disaster risks. By fostering partnerships and providing a forum for new and innovative ways of collaboration in disaster risk management, Germany contributes to the global efforts of minimising losses and damages caused by disasters. To effectively reduce the impacts of disasters, risk factors have to be identified and tailor-made solutions developed. To achieve, this it is important to raise risk awareness, to encourage knowledge-sharing between experts and decision makers and to create space for innovation across regions.
The project offers a networking forum for German and international experts and service providers to match the global demand with sustainable solutions and innovative technologies in disaster risk management, combining well-proven national and international disaster risk management approaches with German services, products and technologies.
The Global Initiative has three priority areas:
- Disaster Response Preparedness and Civil Protection
- Critical Infrastructure and Risk-sensitive Economic Cycles
- Early Warning Systems
PROJECT DURATION
03/2013 – 07/2019