Helping Latin America and the Caribbean manage disaster risks and foster resilience in the region
We seek to fully mainstream disaster-risk management into sustainable economic development planning in Latin America and the Caribbean. We create knowledge that generates awareness and tools for informed decision-making.
There are two complementary approaches to disaster-risk management: a preventive approach before the disaster and a responsive approach after the disaster occurs:
- Preventive approach: The purpose is to prevent or minimize the impact of natural hazards on the population, physical assets, natural capital, and economic activities. Actions under this approach include four categories: (1) understanding disaster risk; (2) strengthening governance; (3) investing in resilience; and (4) enhancing preparedness for response and resilient recovery.
- Responsive approach: Aims to channel effective humanitarian assistance, ensuring a rapid restoration of essential services, and achieving a resilient recovery of the affected physical assets, natural capital, and economic activities. These actions include three categories: (1) response; (2) rehabilitation; and (3) recovery.
We conduct disaster-risk assessments and develop disaster-risk indicators to help countries identify their level of risk to natural hazards, prioritize the most effective policy actions to reduce their vulnerability, and monitor and evaluate their performance in disaster-risk management.
We work with countries to better prepare for emergencies and improve their emergency response. We play an important role in helping them to revitalize their development efforts post-disaster and avoid rebuilding vulnerability.
We assist countries by designing and implementing disaster-risk management plans focused on risk identification, risk reduction, disaster preparedness, and financial protection.
We help countries improve their fiscal and budgetary planning to invest in resilience and respond to natural hazards.
We contribute with technical expertise, sharing of best practices, and specialized training to develop institutional capacity within the public sector to improve the financial management of contingent public liabilities associated with disasters.
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, such as through variations in the solar cycle. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.
Discover the topics in which we work to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Explore our offices across countries and the work they do to improve lives.