Integrated Disaster Risk Management (IDRM) aims at mitigating the impact of disasters caused by natural hazards which are linked to human intervention in communities and the environment. IDRM is a continuous process that involves the identification of the risk factors, the study and assessments of the root causes that generate them, the implementation of prevention and mitigation actions, emergency preparedness, and post disaster recovery. This process reduces human and economic damages and losses, and its effectiveness is plausible insofar as protection and recovery are prioritized.

In its origins, disaster risk management was focused on response during a critical situation. Currently, the disaster risk reduction paradigm prioritizes prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery as well as the elimination and reduction of risk factors. In this sense, it entails the participation of many additional institutions and sectors than those traditionally associated with the immediate response during disaster crises.

All disasters impact on the welfare of communities. They are commonly associated with loss of livelihoods and severe constraints on development. They also represent a setback for growth and development models which aim to transform those societies that are exposed to institutional, cultural, social, economic, and political impacts caused by disasters.

Disaster risk management with a social protection approach is aimed at strengthening the participation of organizations, institutions, and key stakeholders from multiple sectors responsible for social policies, which, alongside risk management policies, contribute to putting people first. In the context of climate change, natural hazards, especially hydrometeorological ones have become more severe while extreme weather events are more frequent. This implies continuing to develop adaptation actions, i.e., in the face of natural hazards that cannot be eliminated, social policies are aimed at reducing social vulnerabilities and strengthening social recovery.

In this sense, all those involved in multisectoral coordination need to develop preparedness and specialization tools in disasters risk management, in order to guide IDRM public policies and strategies towards the social and economic recovery of the countries.

Disaster risk management with a social protection approach is complementary to the management physical and environmental risk factors. This approach favors the resilience of people in vulnerable situations before crises occur, as well as the recovery of affected people in the aftermath of crises. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was made explicit that social protection is an essential public policy instrument to address economic, health and medical service impacts, among others, and that its effectiveness is associated with multisectoral participation and coordination -for example, through regional disasters risk management and civil protection systems.

The Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA) and the Inter-American Conference on Social Security (CISS) are pleased to offer the workshop on "Disaster Risk Management with a Social Protection Approach". Its objective is building skills and capacities in disaster risk management with a social protection approach for decision makers and technicians of the social protection and risk management system in Belize. The themes of the workshop are disaster assessment, registration of affected people, and integration of disaster risk management approaches.

1. Disaster assessment has a multisectoral approach to its effects and impacts on economic and social activities in order to quantify losses and damages, which facilitates the prioritization of investments and resources necessary for prevention and recovery;
2. The registry of affected people, which is useful for the implementation and, in other cases, for the adaptation of social programmes to the needs of household and population groups affected by hazards. Administrative registries are generated and kept by multiple public entities and organizations;
3. Integration of disaster risk approaches, facilitating the orientation of disaster risk reduction policies to promote the implementation of economic and social recovery actions aimed at protecting the income households, and access to social.

An introduction by the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), as well as the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction, Social Security Board, the Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous People’s Affairs and the Ministry of Economic Development on the measures taken during the COVID-19 health emergency and other institutional experiences throughout disasters will be presented.

• Format: in-person, duration of 10 -15 h
• Number of Assistants: 20-25 people
• Dates: September, 2023
• Instructors: officials from the CISS, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and the Social Studies Network for Disaster Prevention in Latin America and the Caribbean (LA RED).

• SELA – Gustavo Herrera, Social Development Coordinator
  gherrera@sela.org
  
  
• Sayed Duran, Relations Analyst
  sduran@sela.org
  
  
• CISS – Verhonica Zamudio, Social Security Researcher
  zamudio@ciss-bienestar.org

Participants list