DG ECHO guidance note on disaster preparedness

Over the past two decades, the nature of humanitarian crises has gradually become more protracted, unpredictable and complex. Crises are increasingly exacerbated by factors such as climate change, environmental degradation, rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, and by the overlaps between disasters, conflict and fragile situations.

Faced with these new challenges, the humanitarian community - including DG ECHO - needs to adjust its practices and tools in order to provide a more effective early response. As a result of these developments, and the changing humanitarian landscape, DG ECHO decided to review and renew its work on disaster preparedness and promote a risk-informed approach to humanitarian action. This Guidance Note presents DG ECHO’s new approach and its practical application. It is intended to be a dynamic document, and will be continuously updated to address changes in the operational environment.