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Case studies

This collection of case studies from across the globe showcases practical, real-world examples of disaster risk management and disaster risk reduction in action.

The need to understand, adapt to, and mitigate disaster risks is greater than ever. These case studies are in-depth studies of a particular case in a real-world context. Each case study highlights unique challenges, innovative solutions, and impactful outcomes, providing insight into the strategies that communities, organizations, and governments have implemented to protect lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems.

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Case study
Africa
Drought, but not famine: 1991-1993
This case study highlights how the Southern Africa drought response of 1992-1993 demonstrated how coordinated and timely action was effectively able to avert disastrous famine consequences – even at regional scale.
  • Disasters avoided
Case study
Asia
Transboundary haze in Southeast Asia
This case study explores how transboundary haze in Southeast Asia has become a recurring intermittent problem in the region in recent decades.
  • Disasters avoided
Case study
The April 2024 Hualien earthquake: Preparedness for earthquakes is key
Despite the impact of the earthquake on people & on the physical environment of the local area, it could have been a lot worse were it not for the policies & measures that have been pursued in Taiwan over many years to reduce vulnerability to earthquakes
  • Disasters avoided
Case study
Ghana
Developing a participatory urban governance model to improve flood resilience in informal settlements in Accra
To better understand benefits and challenges in implementation in these communities, this study employs 40 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with municipal leaders, community leaders, and community members.
  • Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC)
Case study
Paraguay
Climate governance and risk management: Comparative institutional analysis in three key Paraguayan cities
This research addresses the critical problem of urban climate governance in Paraguay, a country highly vulnerable to climate change where cities concentrate environmental risks, socioeconomic inequalities and institutional limitations.
  • Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC)
Case study
India
Risk governance or risky governance? Delhi’s urban utility governance landscape and heatwaves
This report examines how routine utility governance produces differentiated heat risk in Delhi, focusing on the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and its interfaces with municipal bodies, revenue administration, and other corridor-owning agencies.
  • Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC)
Case study
Honduras
Trees4heatresilience: evaluating tree canopy coverage to reduce air conditioning demand in Honduran urban neighborhoods 
This research examines the neighborhood-level relationship between urban tree canopy coverage and air conditioning (A/C) usage in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, a rapidly growing city with high heat exposure.
  • Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC)
Case study
Children displaced in a changing climate: Using historical disaster impact data to understand and map child displacement risk for action and investment
This case study demonstrates how disaster losses and damage data can be applied to understand child displacement risk and inform forward-looking planning.
  • United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
  • United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
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