Disaster risk reduction and development: towards mainstreaming disaster risk reduction in development efforts

This document describes Helvetas' approaches and experiences in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and development. It links poverty reduction, sustainable development and DRR and presents them as mutually supportive objectives. It asserts that, even if natural hazards can not be fully avoided, disasters to a large extent can be avoided by reducing the exposure of communities to the hazard, increasing their capacities to withstand it and/or by reducing their vulnerability.