1. Home
  2. Understanding disaster risk

DRR Solutions space

Disaster risk solutions

Scalable and replicable success stories to prevent disasters.

illustrative image

A catalogue of evidence-based practices to reduce disaster risk.

Concrete innovations, inventions, and strategies are reducing the impacts of disasters worldwide. These practical success stories and proven strategies address various aspects of disaster risk.

The documented successes, measurable achievements, avoided disasters, and tangible outcomes serve as lessons for those planning actions to enhance resilience, reduce vulnerability, and protect communities from the adverse effects of disasters.

The stories you will find below encompass a wide range of practical DRR measures, including early warning systems, community-based initiatives, green and grey infrastructure improvements, policy implementations, and innovative technologies that have been applied and proven effective in real-world scenarios.

Find your solution

Search by theme, hazard and country, or use specific keywords.

Uploaded on
Case study
Malawi
Strengthening urban climate resilience: Socio-economic and institutional drivers among refugee populations in Lilongwe, Malawi
Urban refugees face compounded climate vulnerabilities that remain poorly understood.
  • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Case study
Ghana
Assessing village and savings associations (VSLA’s) contribution to urban resilience: Evidence from Northern Ghana
This study explores the role of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in enhancing urban resilience to climate change in Northern Ghana, focusing on the cities of Tamale and Bolgatanga.
  • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Case study
Tanzania, United Rep of
Evaluating the multiplier effect of micro-insurance on climate resilience among motorcycle taxi drivers in Dar es Salaam
This study investigates the multiplier effect of micro-insurance on climate resilience and socio-economic stability among motorcycle taxi (boda-boda) drivers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Father carrying daughter on his back seeking shelter after the destruction of their home by a typhoon in the Philipinnes
Update
Turning the tide on typhoon havoc in the Philippines

Communities in Cagayan, Philippines use anticipatory action—moving boats, securing farms and assets—to reduce typhoon damage. With FAO support, early preparation boosts resilience and speeds recovery from severe storms.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Case study
Korea, Rep of
Seoul, Korea helps avoid flood disasters
An elevated expressway was turned into the Cheonggyecheon stream. Riverside paths are closed in heavy rain and are social spaces at other times. Air quality improved and traffic reduced, but the project remains controversial.
  • Disasters avoided
Case study
Viet Nam
Managing flooding in Viet Nam
Good national to local government links exist, with good governance a key focus. Earth observations provide data and forecasting for people to take proactive action. Local community groups ensure key information and data are reviewed and acted upon.
  • Disasters avoided
Uploaded on
illustration
Submit a solution
Do you have a solution to share with the DRR community? Submit published content on a disaster risk reduction solution in the form of a news article or a publication. See our content submission policy. PreventionWeb editors will review your content and get back to your promptly.
Coloured houses on a windy day
Disaster risk reduction and disaster risk management
The policy objective of anticipating and reducing risk is called disaster risk reduction (DRR). Disaster risk management (DRM) can be thought of as the implementation of DRR, since it describes the actions that aim to achieve the objective of reducing risk.

Featured stories

Houses that can float could protect vulnerable people from flooding

This concept retrofits houses with flotation devices and tethers them to poles - allowing the house to rise with floodwaters and descend to their foundations when the flood subsides.

Can wildfire prevention offer sustainable business opportunities?

Because of climate change, wildfires are becoming more intense and frequent. Prevention measures often come with a hefty price tag. Across Europe, fire-smart solutions make wildfire prevention more sustainable, by offering ecological, economic and social benefits.

Rain-related early warning in Japan

“The risk is imminent” translates as KiKIKURU in Japanese. It’s the name of an innovative early warning system for rain-related hazards in Japan. KIKIKURU was developed by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The system provides real-time hazard updates using a high spatial resolution of 1 km.

View more videos

Developing local-level solutions

Is your city resilient? Does its resilience help its citizens to prosper and flourish? Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) is a unique cross-stakeholder initiative for improving local resilience. See how cities around the world build their capacities to tackle disasters.

MCR2030 is a place where cities can find guidance and support to enhance understanding on risk reduction and resilience, to improve strategic planning to reduce risk and build resilience, and to take actions and progress along the resilience roadmap.

See below news from cities that have taken the leap to reduce disaster risk.

Join MCR2030