Most of the IDB’s member countries are vulnerable to natural hazards, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, floods and other events that can cause loss of life and damage to their physical and social infrastructure. These catastrophes often reverse development achievements. In order to reduce the impacts of natural hazards, the Bank provides assistance to countries to better identify and understand country-specific risks, prevent and mitigate potential disaster impacts, and improve financial planning to cope quickly and effectively with an emergency once it occurs.

The Disaster Risk Management Network is constituted by high-level policymakers responsible primarily for the disaster risk management public entities in the region. The purpose of the network is to share an innovative technical inputs with member countries. Some of the products include technical notes and hemispheric or sub-regional meetings. Topics covered in recent activities include the incorporation of disaster risk management in national public investment systems and the integration of climate change adaptation and disaster risk management in development policy and planning.

The network´s objetive is to have member countries incorporate disaster risk management into development policies, strategies, planning and actions so that the Latin American and Caribbean countries can reduce risks associated with natural disasters.