Regional disaster reduction
Practical Action works through regional networks to strengthen resiliance and reduce vulnerability to disasters.
LA RED
In 1992 ITDGPractical Action helped to set up LA RED, an alternative, open and independent network concerned with research, information, capacity building and education relating to the theme of risk and disaster management in Latin America .
Originally comprised of 16 people specialising in disasters, and representing 7 countries, the network has expanded to 32 people, based in 15 countries who work at different levels on the issue of risk and disaster prevention.
LA RED carries out research into disaster issues such as responses to earthquakes, national disaster preparedness systems, appropriate technologies and practices, historical information on disasters and the application of geographical information systems.
LA RED currently has a database that holds information for in excess of 30,000 disasters in 9 countries that can be accessed via, and downloaded from, the Internet.
Knowledge gained from research is also shared with other agencies through publications, seminars and conferences and LA RED have been developing agreements and working relationships with international (UNDP, WB, ECHO), regional (OAS, CEPREDENAC) and national organisations concerned with disaster prevention.
Duryog Nivaran
In 1994 a similar network Duryog Nivaran (literally meaning 'Disaster Mitigation' in Sanskrit) was established by ITDGPractical Action for South Asia.
Its members include agencies and individuals that specialise in disaster management or working closely with communities at risk to develop methods of protecting them against risk.
Research
ITDGPractical Action has been actively involved in researching communities' traditional methods of countering disasters and the effect of disasters on women and its Livelihood Options for Disaster Risk Reduction project promotes an 'Alternative Approach' to disaster mitigation.
This approach defines disasters as a part of the development process, and rejects the thesis that disasters are sudden events, which require emergency responses. It gives communities a significant role in defining threats and the best ways to plan against them.
The project is implemented in five South Asian Countries, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka involving many partner organisations. The messages and the lessons from the project need to reach a wide cross section of organisations including development planners and practitioners, donors and investors, and the communities who live with disasters.
ITDGPractical Action, together with Duryog Nivaran and LA RED, are carrying out research and devising training courses to assist organisations working in emergency situations to appreciate these issues and get them incorporated in mainstream disaster discourse and management.
