This technical annex describes the concepts, data and methods applied to achieve the Disaster Risk Index (DRI).
Among the different recommendations from the two previous GRAVITY reports, drought was the obvious significant missing hazard. In the first GRAVITY report (feasibility study) food insecurity was highlighted for producing the largest amount of casualties. Nevertheless, due to time restriction and complexity to model such hazard, this important issue was left unstudied. The problem for the UNDP World Vulnerability Report (WVR) was that if drought was not included, a global approach on vulnerability to human development would not be achieved: as most of Africa is deeply affected by such events.
This study presents the results from the second phase of the project Global Risk And Vulnerability Index Trend per Year (GRAVITY) developed by UNEP/GRID-Geneva for the UNDP/BPRD. At the end of the first phase - the feasibility study - which consisted on the identification of global data sets and indicators for explaining casualties from natural hazards, twelve recommendations were made. The second phase has concentrated on the delimitation of this physical exposure based on methodologies and collection of data sets previously developed at UNEP/GRID-Geneva [PREVIEW project, 2000], in order to highlight places of high natural hazard occurrences.
The objective of the present study is to provide UNDP/ERD with a statistical analysis, that aims to gather, prepare the information in order to highlight factors related to human vulnerability and allows the comparison between countries (thus requiring extensive normalisation). The tasks undertaken include the identification and treatment of the most accurate available data sets on geographical, and geophysical parameters to determine the exposure of the countries. As well as socio-economical factors that are connected trough a thorough analysis with the information recorded on human losses per event extracted from the International Disaster Database from CRED.
A one pager paper from UNDP/UNEP on using Vulnerability/Risk Assessments as Early Warning as prevention programming
A vulnerability index for the natural environment, the basis of all human welfare, has been developed by the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and their partners. The index was developed through consultation and collaboration with countries, institutions and experts across the globe. This index is designed to be used with economic and social vulnerability indices to provide insights into the processes that can negatively influence the sustainable development of countries.
The Centre's Disaster Studies and Management programme covers socio-economic vulnerability to disasters and disaster management (principally mitigation and preparedness).
The Vulnerability Network provides an online knowledge portal for different sectors and stresses, linking researchers and practitioners. Find interesting and useful reading and reference material - the Document Hotel contains hundreds of journal papers, reports, briefing notes, etc.
IVIMS helps countries carry out a more careful characterization of the food insecure and vulnerable population groups, improving understanding through cross-sectoral analysis of the underlying causes, and using evidence-based information and analysis to advocate for the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes enhancing food security
Resources to strengthen the capability of CORE member organizations to minimize human morbidity and mortality due to an influenza pandemic in high-risk, vulnerable areas. Lessons learned and pandemic preparedness guidelines.
