The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) gives the following definition:

The conceptual framework of elements considered with the possibilities to minimize vulnerabilities and disaster risks throughout a society, to avoid (prevention) or to limit (mitigation and preparedness) the adverse impacts of hazards, within the broad context of sustainable development.

The disaster risk reduction framework is composed of the following fields of action, as described in ISDR's publication 2002 "Living with Risk: a global review of disaster reduction initiatives":

• Risk awareness and assessment including hazard analysis and vulnerability/capacity analysis;

• Knowledge development including education, training, research and information;

• Public commitment and institutional frameworks, including organizational, policy, legislation and community action;

• Application of measures including environmental management, land-use and urban planning, protection of critical facilities, application of science and technology, partnership and networking, and financial instruments;
   
• Early warning systems including forecasting, dissemination of warnings, preparedness measures and reaction capacities.

For more information about Disaster Risk Reduction, see the DEFINITION pages on this website, the UNISDR website or the PreventionWeb website.
 

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is Switzerland’s international cooperation agency within the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). In operating with other federal offices concerned, SDC is responsible for the overall coordination of development activities and cooperation with Eastern Europe, as well as for the humanitarian aid delivered by the Swiss Confederation.

The goal of development cooperation is that of reducing poverty. It is meant to foster economic self-reliance and state autonomy, to contribute to the improvement of production conditions, to help in finding solutions to environmental problems, and to provide better access to education and basic healthcare services.

SDC carries out its activities with an annual budget of CHF 1.57 billion (2010) and a staff of some 600 people in Switzerland and abroad, as well as 1000 local employees. The Agency engages in direct operations, supports programmes of multilateral organizations, and helps to finance programmes run by Swiss and international relief organizations in four operational areas:

• Regional Cooperation steers SDC’s bilateral cooperation with countries in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

• Global Cooperation is primarily active in the multilateral domain, cooperating with the organizations of the UN system and with the World Bank. By fostering programmes in the domain of climate change, food security, and migration, global cooperation makes its contribution to tackling global challenges.

• Humanitarian Aid aims at saving lives and alleviating suffering. Direct relief is provided in the wake of natural disasters and in the context of armed conflicts, while humanitarian partner organizations can be the recipients of both manpower and financial support.

• Swiss Cooperation with Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) supports democratic and market economy reforms in partner countries of Southeast Europe and the former Soviet Union.

For more information, visit the SDC Website

The DRR Network is a community of practitioners counting SDC's staff engaged in Disaster Risk Reduction projects or programmes and SDC's operational partners in the field of DRR.

The DRR Network helps its members to "make work easier, make it better, together and accountable".

The purpose of the DRR Network is to strengthen the performance of its members' work and to influence SDC's vision on DRR. This is achieved through the exchange of information, the sharing of knowledge and the capitalization of experience.

Main tasks of the DRR Network are:

• Build further awareness of DRR within SDC and operational partners
• Exchange knowledge on DRR within SDC and operational partners
• Train SDC staff and operational partners in DRR-related competencies
• Provide policy advice and technical support in DRR
• Facilitate referrals to DRR experts
• Support the implementation and monitoring of the SDC Guidelines on DRR
• Refine or develop tools
• Explore synergies with related fields (climate change, environment, food security, ...)
• Link with other networks (Climate Change & Environment, Agriculture & Rural development,Water, ...)

For more information about the DRR Network, see the NETWORK pages on this website.
 

To become a member of the SDC DRR Network, you have to be either SDC staff, SDC Secondee or staff of a partner organization.

Please read the Membership criteria and if you are eligible, fill in the Membership request form and send it to the DRR Network Secretariat. (link to the Membership request form will be added soon)

You can create a user account if you are member of the SDC DRR Network (see FAQ: How can I be member of the DRR Network?).

On the left side of the web page, click on the link "Create new account". Then enter a username (preferably your first name) and your email address.

The Network Secretariat will then check wether you are member of the DRR Network or not. If you do, you will recieve an email with your password and a link to log in to the website.