Core Course 1: Disaster Risk Management - From Theory to Practice

When the term “disaster” is mentioned there is an immediate assumption that it is about the hazard – earthquake/flood/volcanic eruption/landslide, etc. In actual terms, these are merely natural phenomena that only lead to “disasters” in the presence of certain conditions. Such conditions that lead to damage and fatalities are inherent vulnerabilities in both social groups and physical structures.

This course explores the contributions of social sciences to the development of disaster risk management as a field which are often overlooked in discussions, media representations and responses to disasters. It offers an examination of how the field of disaster risk management has evolved and introduces key debates on how concepts and theories should be applied. This will be undertaken by looking at factors contributing to vulnerabilities, capacities and resilience and how these factors interact globally and locally.

The course focuses on the socio-economic, political and human dimensions of disaster risk and it touches upon health, climate change, migration and humanitarian aspects. The course will provide an introduction to the following main content areas:

• Disaster risk as an interaction of exposure and vulnerability rather than the hazard per se
• Climate change adaptation and its impact on natural resources and livelihoods
• Key concepts, frameworks and debates in the developing field of disaster risk management and climate change adaptation
• Overview of the global landscape of actors and institutions within disaster risk management and climate change adaptation
• The disaster-development-climate nexus
• The role of health and health challenges in disaster risk management and climate change
• The complex interaction between disaster preparedness, response and recovery, prevention

The course is designed to engage students, including those who have no prior knowledge or experience in disaster-related work, to make sense of and apply the theory and concepts through practical cases and interactive activities. It encourages mutual learning, challenges preconceptions and explores the complexity of the professional and academic field. It draws on students’ experiences and areas of interest.