The Disaster and Community Resilience Programme is the largest of our key technical pillars within the GEM Division. It develops, implements and supports coordination of innovative applied science and technical action to respond to some of the greatest challenges facing Pacific Island countries and territories. It also helps drive critical partnerships for action by using science to better inform decision making.
The programme does this through targeted work in disaster risk reduction initiatives alongside climate change adaptation, water security and sanitation, hazard and risk understanding, Ridge-to-Reef solutions and natural resource management. It also leads our efforts in operationalising the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific (FRDP) through the provision of coordinated technical support to our members.
The programme supports Pacific countries and territories to achieve sustainable development through evidence based action & partnerships for resilience, demonstrated through integrated action on disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, natural resource management & increased access to water and sanitation.
Key Objectives
Key areas
Disaster & Community Resilience Programme (DCRP) towards a Resilient Pacific
The programme recognises that every $1 spent in preparing communities and countries for climate change and disaster impact, saves up to $15 in response when disaster strikes.
Recognising the critical aspect of preparedness across our key areas, this programme supports Pacific countries and territories to achieve sustainable development through evidence based action & partnerships for resilience. This is demonstrated through integrated action on disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, natural resource management & increased access to water and sanitation.
The Disaster and Community Resilience Programme (DCRP) brings together the previously named Water and Sanitation Team, Disaster Risk Programme, Ridge to Reef Programmes, together with several Climate Change Adaptation projects to form a fully integrated team of specialists, practitioners and project managers.
It supports every stage of disaster risk management including increasing preparedness of our members and communities through investments in resilience, disaster reduction, capacity development, and policy development. This also supported increased preparedness for response to ensure the region continues to become more resilient to the hazards and risks posed by disasters and climate change and is based on the priorities of countries and our Blue Pacific region.
This programme is also the mandated regional agency supporting efforts in water, sanitation and hygiene for Pacific SIDS and Disaster Risk Management for the region.
As these areas of work are inextricably linked, the newly merged DCRP Programme ensures effective integrated based solutions to support increased resilience before, during, and after disaster whilst supporting long-term climate change adaptation.