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Appendix to the Sphere DRR thematic sheet
This page provides additional resources to the Thematic sheet on Disaster Risk Reduction.
Download the Disaster Management Cycle table
Definitions
(also see the Sphere glossary)
Capacity-building: The strengthening of knowledge, ability, skills and resources to help individuals, communities or organizations to achieve agreed goals. In the context of Sphere Handbook, capacity-building refers in particular to disaster-affected populations. “Capacity” is the combination of all those attributes available to achieve agreed goals.
Climate Change Adaptation: Climate change pushes at-risk people beyond their capacity to cope and makes more people vulnerable to the effects of disasters. Climate change adaptation relates to interventions that seek to identify, reduce and manage risks associated with more frequent, severe and unpredictable weather events.
Crisis (→ Disaster): A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts that exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources and therefore requires urgent action. terms can refer to slow- and rapid-onset situations, rural and urban environments and complex political emergencies in all countries. Related terms are “disaster”, mostly referring to natural disasters, conflict, and emergency.
Disaster: a calamitous event resulting in loss of life, great human suffering and distress, and large scale material damage. (Sphere Handbook 2018, p. 386)
Disaster risk reduction (DRR): The concept and practice of reducing the risk of disaster through systematic efforts to analyse and manage causal factors. It includes reducing exposure to hazards, lessening the vulnerability of people and property, wise management of land and the environment, and improving preparedness for adverse events. Risks can be caused by both climate (e.g. drought, floods and landslides) and non-climate related disasters (e.g. earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis). DRR contributes to strengthening resilience and therefore to the achievement of sustainable development (see also Disaster preparedness).
Hazard: A potentially damaging physical event, natural phenomenon or human activity that may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social and economic disruption or environmental damage.
Preparedness: Activities and measures taken in advance of a crisis to ensure an effective response to the impact of hazards, including issuing timely and effective early warnings and the temporary evacuation of people and property from threatened locations. It can also apply to the state of readiness to respond as demonstrated by organisations, NGOs or government departments (see Disaster risk reduction, Hazard, Risk).
Resilience: The ability of an individual, community, society or country to anticipate, withstand and recover from adversity – be it a natural disaster or crisis. Resilience depends on the diversity of livelihoods, coping mechanisms and life skills such as problem-solving, the ability to seek support, motivation, optimism, faith, perseverance and resourcefulness.
Vulnerability: The extent to which some people may be disproportionately affected by the disruption of their physical environment and social support mechanisms following disaster or conflict, resulting in an increased risk of exploitation, illness or death. Vulnerability is specific to each person and each situation. However, some groups commonly liable to increased vulnerability include unaccompanied children, persons with disabilities, older people, single-headed households, children formerly associated with armed forces and armed groups, and people suffering from ill health (including HIV and AIDS). (See also Risk).
Risk: A risk is the likelihood of harm occurring from a hazard and the potential losses to lives, livelihoods, assets and services. It is the probability of external and internal threats (such as natural hazards, HIV prevalence, gender-based violence, armed attacks etc.) occurring in combination with the existence of individual vulnerabilities (such as poverty, physical or mental disability or membership of a marginalized group). Risk is mitigated by protection against physical hazards, reduction of structural and non-structural risks, resources and skills for disaster-preparedness, and resilience and coping skills. At-risk groups are, for example, persons with disabilities, street children or people living in less accessible regions (see Hazard).
Further terms and definitions related to Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation can also be found at:
- UNDRR Terminology: https://www.undrr.org/terminology
- UNFCCC Glossary of Key Terms: https://www4.unfccc.int/sites/NAPC/Pages/glossary.aspx
For more information, please contact handbook@spherestandards.org.