Natural and human-induced disasters adversely affect hundreds of millions of people every year. In an effort to minimize the impact on vulnerable populations, the Global Bank Disaster Risk Reduction and Reconstruction Fund – An Umbrella Trust Fund (the “Trust Fund”, “GB DRRRF” or “DRRRF”) supports various disaster risk reduction (DRR) programs aimed at saving lives; protecting livelihoods, assets, and infrastructure before, during, and after a disaster; and increasing communities’ resilience to natural hazards. The DRRRF programs promote self-sufficiency in disaster risk reduction by strengthening the capacity of governments at all levels and communities to identify, manage, and reduce the impacts of natural disasters through sustainable, multi-sectoral programs, as well as to prepare for and respond to potential crises in a timely and efficient manner.

The Global Bank Disaster Risk Reduction and Reconstruction Fund – An Umbrella Trust Fund and implementing partners engage communities, national and local governments, international and regional organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to develop effective disaster risk reduction strategies tailored to the needs of at-risk populations. The DRRRF promotes dialogue and coordinated action among stakeholders to address disaster risk reduction in an integrated and comprehensive manner. In addition to supporting regional and country-level programming related to floods, droughts, cyclones, extreme weather events, tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanoes, the DRRRF provides technical assistance and supports global disaster risk reduction initiatives. These initiatives will reduce vulnerability to natural hazards affecting the community or household, as well as build the resilience of the community.

The Global Bank Disaster Risk Reduction and Reconstruction Fund – An Umbrella Trust Fund is among the global leaders in supporting worldwide disaster risk reduction activities, as well as participates in larger Global Bank Group efforts. The DRRRF participates in disaster risk reduction globally through membership on governing boards, influencing the development of sound disaster risk reduction policies among key partners, such as U.N. humanitarian agencies. In addition, the DRRRF disaster risk reduction and sectoral experts contribute to the development of technical guidelines and provided technical expertise to host nations on disaster risk reduction.

Many countries face a wide range of challenges and constraints in their efforts to reduce disaster vulnerability. The Global Bank Disaster Risk Reduction and Reconstruction Fund – An Umbrella Trust Fund is implementing activities in various sectors to assist in preparedness for and reduction of disasters worldwide, including agriculture and food security, health, nutrition, economic recovery and market systems, protection, shelter and settlements, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). The DRRRF’s efforts focus on reducing the impact of natural hazards in vulnerable regions by enhancing local and regional early warning systems; improving local disaster planning and response, including search and rescue activities; strengthening conceptual and implementation models for improving food security; and building the capacity of international and local partners to reduce countries’ vulnerability to disasters.

Each of the Global Bank Disaster Risk Reduction and Reconstruction Fund – An Umbrella Trust Fund disaster risk reduction program promotes at least one of the five priorities identified by the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA). Those are:

• PRIORITY 1 – Ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and a local priority with a strong institutional basis for implementation.

• PRIORITY 2 – Identify, assess, and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning.

• PRIORITY 3 – Use knowledge, innovation, and education to build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels.

• PRIORITY 4 – Reduce underlying risk factors.

• PRIORITY 5 – Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels.

To learn more about the Global Bank Disaster Risk Reduction and Reconstruction Fund, what we do and how we do it and Management and Organisation, visit the About DRRRF Section of the DRRRF Website.

For information about the Global Bank, please visit http://gbdrrrf.org/about-us/who-we-are