Enabling an ambitious agenda for transformation in development and disaster risk

This brief discusses the challenges for disaster risk reduction in the context of development. It introduces a transformational approach as a means of addressing the gaps between disaster risk and development. As a boundary concept, transformation challenges dominant values and goals in current development practice, and examines the underlying failures of development and DRR to call for radical policy changes.

There is currently a gap in identifying clear, practical entry points for transforming the relationship between development and disaster risk. To help address this gap, this brief identifies three opportunities that can lead to transformation: (1) exposing development-disaster risk trade-ofs in development policy and decision-making; (2) prioritizing equity and social justice in approaches to secure resilience; and (3) enabling transformation through adaptive governance.