Inclusive resilience: Inclusion matters for resilience in South Asia

This report is the result of analytical work initiated to enhance social inclusion in disaster risk management (DRM) in South Asia for improved resilience outcomes for all. Five projects were chosen to pilot this approach, in select DRM focus areas, in five South Asian countries: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. These projects were representative of the highly demanded DRM interventions in the region (on the basis of a project portfolio analysis) and covered a range of topics across the DRM cycle of disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

To further advance inclusive resilience in South Asia, the following overarching recommendations emerged from the project-specific action plans and can aid in the design of DRM projects with enhanced social inclusion:

• Acknowledge and discuss social exclusion in the context of DRM.
• Understand the differential needs and experiences of excluded groups.
• Mainstream the social inclusion concept into the DRM legal and policy frameworks.
• Develop the knowledge and evidence base required for effective policy and programming.
• Strengthen the capacity of relevant authorities responsible for implementing and maintaining DRM frameworks.
• Engage communities at every stage and make decision-making processes inclusive.
• Leverage emerging technologies that can help close gaps in risk communications.
• Join the cause to raise awareness of inclusive resilience.