Fund Resilience, Not Disasters

acharya87
Oct 10
2 min read

Today is International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR), commemorated annually on October 13.

This year’s IDDRR theme, Fund Resilience, Not Disasters, highlights the urgent need to address the rising costs and impacts of disasters by shifting focus from reactive response to proactive investments in risk reduction.

While countries are facing more and more record-breaking disasters, international assistance is declining. An increase in extreme weather events and risk-blind development means more people and assets are at risk. Those with fewer resources bear the brunt of the impacts.

We see it across the news, but also hear it directly from our global team. In just the past two weeks, our teams in Nepal, Bhutan, and the Philippines shared how heavier than normal rainfall was affecting their countries, causing landslides, washing away bridges, and cancelling school. The heavy rainfall also significantly obstructed rescue operations following the September 30, 2025 M6.9 earthquake in the Philippines, leading to more victims and suffering.

While we have a long way to go, we wanted to recognize those who support our efforts by Funding our work on disaster Resilience. Here are some current examples:

With the support of Arch Group Foundation and Peak Re, we are partnering with Filipino communities to protect their mangrove forests, which act as a natural barrier to coastal hazards and flooding. As a result, the local government has committed to mangrove conservation efforts and to integrating this nature-based solution in their disaster risk reduction plans.

Signs recently put up by the local government in the Philippines, sparked by our ongoing program.

With the support of Verisk, Thornton Tomasetti Foundation, Vanguard Charitable, Arup and others, we are equipping Nepalese masons, engineers, and manufacturers with techniques to protect the lives of schoolchildren. This includes training on disaster resilient school construction and manufacturing Earthquake Desks as an interim solution. Trainees applied their skills on a new school building serving 180 students and continue applying them across other construction. In parallel, we’re on track to co-produce Earthquake Desks to protect 170+ schoolchildren in the near term.

Training for local masons (left) and local manufacturers (right).

In partnership with Verisk, we developed an earthquake building losses scenario to inform planning for the capital city of Thimphu. Equipped with this, local leaders developed an action plan, identified safe earthquake evacuation centers, and integrated the findings into their planning.

Recently updated Thimphu’s Disaster Management & Contingency Plan that incorporates findings from our technical work.

Underpinning all of this work is our Anchor Sponsor Computers & Structures, Inc. (CSI) and our Founding Partner OYO Corporation. They along with TYLin, Gilsanz Murray Steficek (GMS), wh-p Ingenieure, and Other Corporate Sponsors provide the general operating support that enables our longevity and continued presence in at-risk communities.

General operating support means we can remain a steady trusted resource for communities most at risk.

By investing in disaster resilience, we can prevent avoidable deaths, lessen humanitarian crises, and reduce the costs of future disasters. Their support and yours makes our efforts towards this possible.

Thank you for being a part of this journey.

With deepest gratitude,