Tip Sheet: Gender-Inclusive Disaster Risk Management

Abstract

The Asia and Pacific region is the world’s most disaster prone area. Between 1970 and 2010, the average number of people in the region exposed to yearly flooding increased from 30 million to 64 million, and the population living in cyclone-prone areas grew from 72 million to 121 million. Women—with their extensive knowledge of communities, social roles of managing natural environmental resources, and caring responsibilities—increasingly play a critical role in disaster risk management. Empowering women is the key to strengthening disaster resilience of communities.