Livelihood centered approach to disaster management: a policy framework for South Asia

This publication links disaster management issues with sustainable livelihoods, within the context of governance in South Asian countries. On the basis of these linkages, it provides policy guidelines and identifies good practice to make disaster management more effective and efficient in South Asia.

It also looks for ways of optimising opportunities such as Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs), disaster risk reduction programmes led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other donors' initiatives in the best interests of the region's at-risk communities.

The core objective of the policy framework outlined in the publication, aims at, guiding the redirection of emphasis in disaster management towards vulnerability reduction, instead of emergency response. The framework is based on first-hand information from a recent regional programme, Livelihood Options for Disaster Risk Reduction.

It is aimed at international disaster, relief and development organisations, multilateral and bilateral donors, and national governments in South Asian countries.