This document discusses the need to integrate disaster preparedness and prevention (DPP) initiatives into development policy, focusing on the European Union (EU’s) shortcomings in fully ascribing to this position in its aid policy. Currently there is no established legislation or legal basis in the EU in line with this approach. The European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) carries out DPP initiatives through three mechanisms: (1) DIPECHO, which is directly in charge of disaster risk reduction (DRR); (2) advocacy; and (3) mainstreaming DPP initiatives into humanitarian aid. While the EU has other external bodies integrating DPP into their activities, these initiatives are in many cases applied in an ad hoc or piecemeal manner. The document outlines ways in which ECHO can coordinate long term initiatives so that there will be not be any duplication of plans. This requires the development of a consistent theoretical framework for DPP; identification of the most vulnerable states, peoples, and areas; establishment of clearly defined roles for Commission bodies; and the outlining of clear procedural approaches and schedules. The section on defining the roles of commission bodies is the most comprehensive because it outlines how the bodies will complement each other, while ECHO carries out most of the DPP objectives. While the other bodies will focus on DPP at the national and regional levels, ECHO’s focus will be community-based DPP. Thus, the way forward would be for EU aid to facilitate balance and eventual integration of efforts at the regional and local levels.
General Risk Management
General Risk Reduction