Magnitude board game

The board game was developed as part of the 2011 Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR11) in collaboration with the Parsons New School of Design. Their purpose is to help educators, disaster risk reduction (DRR) trainers, students, and the general public understand key concepts related to disasters and risk reduction. The resources include a board game called Magnitude and a short animation titled The Last Straw, both designed to introduce fundamental DRR concepts such as hazards, vulnerability, risk, and disaster management in an accessible and engaging way. 

The Magnitude board game uses a simulation-based approach to demonstrate how disasters can affect national development and policy decisions. Players take on the role of government ministers and must make strategic choices to maximize progress toward development goals while managing the impacts of disasters. The resource highlights the close relationship between disaster risk and sustainable development, showing that disasters can significantly hinder social and economic progress if risk reduction measures are not incorporated into planning and decision-making. Overall, the educational tools emphasize the importance of understanding disaster risk and integrating resilience into development strategies.