From risk to action: A systems diagnostic of disaster and climate risk management in Asia-Pacific

This report examines how disaster and climate risk management systems across Asia-Pacific convert risk knowledge into action. Developed by NORCAP and iMMAP, the study applies a "risk-to-action chain" framework to identify recurring structural bottlenecks that prevent risk information from translating into effective decisions, financing, interventions and measurable outcomes. Rather than assessing individual countries, the publication identifies common patterns across diverse national systems.

The report finds that many countries have improved risk information, forecasting and early warning capabilities, but continue to face challenges at the institutional handovers between information, decisions, finance and action. Key themes include decision-grade risk information, risk quantification, anticipatory action, risk-informed financing, adaptive social protection, community-level implementation and outcome measurement. The analysis argues that system failures often occur at the interfaces between institutions rather than within individual technical components. The publication concludes that strengthening coordination, improving risk quantification, pre-arranging finance, measuring avoided losses and enhancing local implementation capacities could significantly improve disaster and climate risk management outcomes. It also outlines opportunities for embedded advisory and information-management functions to support national systems.