Inclusive Disaster Risk Management and Gender Equality

Promoting Inclusion & Scaling Impact

By understanding the preconditions, context, and the built environment of communities, the Inclusive DRM and Gender Equality Cross-Cutting Priority Area will further advance and strengthen social resilience among communities to ensure that the most vulnerable are protected against disaster impacts, while also supporting the empowerment of these communities. GFDRR promotes inclusion and gender equality in DRM activities across the World Bank and with partners by producing knowledge products and analytics, conducting workshops and events, and facilitating knowledge sharing activities with partners, communities, and other stakeholders.

Developing an Evidence Base

By employing a diverse set of tools, methods, and data, GFDRR collaborates with partners to gather high quality disaggregated data and conduct analysis to inform future projects, improve monitoring and evaluation processes, and develops new tools to better assess the vulnerabilities experienced by marginalized groups. The evidence base strengthens the case for inclusion and sheds light on the multidimensional factors increasing people’s vulnerability and exposure to disasters. To support intersectionality and inclusion of all members of society, assessments need to account for the diverse socio-economic, demographic, political, and cultural characteristics in developing robust DRM activities.

Supporting Implementation of Inclusive Approaches in DRM

Through its grant-funding mandate, GFDRR has consistently supported the implementation of activities that promote inclusive DRM and gender equality by providing technical expertise and analytical support to ensure inclusion is a central component and consideration in DRM. Some areas that GFDRR may support implementation of inclusive DRM activities are related to (1) governance; (2) institutional arrangements; (3) data and information; (4) programs and delivery systems; and (5) finance. Over the years, GFDRR has demonstrated leadership in championing inclusion through its partnerships with a variety of stakeholders. The Inclusive DRM and Gender Equality Cross-Cutting Priority Area provides a framework to systematically progress GFDRR’s ongoing work for inclusive development.

Community participation and citizen engagement are the foundation for inclusive DRM: without proper consultative processes and facilitation of community involvement, the most vulnerable will continue to be excluded throughout the DRM cycle. By bringing DRM into large-scale country investment operations, GFDRR helps to channel risk management resources directly to poor households and communities. Because DRM interconnects with a wide range of sectors and domains, there is great potential for public participation and diverse stakeholder involvement. However, there is a gap in how implementation of participatory strategies occurs, as well as the depth, scope, and frequency of citizen engagement.

Rather than out-of-the-box approaches, localized approaches are critical to define how citizen engagement activities can foster participation and contribute to building trust on the ground as well as to inform the needs of the community, aligned with their cultural norms. Participatory elements are all too often limited to national consultations; however, through comprehensive engagement of communities at the local levels, DRM interventions can be more inclusive of marginalized groups, increasing their visibility in the process and building on their existing capacities and knowledge about localized disaster risks and potential mitigation measures. Local engagement increases resilience and helps to channel risk management resources directly to the community.