Participatory Approaches for Disaster Preparedness and Response Planning - principles and practice

Participatory approaches in disaster preparedness and response planning are increasingly recognised as a cornerstone of effective disaster risk management. Technical solutions alone are not enough if they are not aligned with local knowledge, capacities, and needs.
This course introduces the Participatory Approaches for Disaster Preparedness and Response Planning, developed by CIMA Research Foundation within the MedEWSa project. It is a structured yet flexible framework that places communities at the centre of preparedness and response planning processes. You will explore why participation matters, how it can be meaningfully implemented, and how its results can be evaluated and sustained over time.

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Fundamentals

Level

1 hour

Estimated duration

Multi-lesson course

Type of learning resource

What you'll learn

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
• Understand the rationale and value of participatory processes
• Apply the 9 guiding principles for inclusive and effective participation
• Design, implement, and evaluate a participatory disaster preparedness and response
planning process
• Translate community inputs into practical recommendations

Prerequisites

Target audience
• Local authorities and civil protection officers
• NGOs and community-based organisations
• Practitioners working on DRM, DRR, and climate adaptation
• Researchers and students in disaster risk management with interest in participatory
approaches

Description

Course structure
• Module 1: Why Participatory Disaster Preparedness and Response Planning Matters?
• Module 2: Foundations of Participatory Approaches Disaster Preparedness and
Response Planning
• Module 3: The 9 Guiding Principles for Participatory Disaster Preparedness and
Response Planning
• Module 4: Before a Participatory Process - Assessing feasibility in a specific context
• Module 5: During a Participatory Process - Engage your community
• Module 6: After a Participatory Process - Communicate the outcomes to the wider
community

Course Content

General

Announcements

0 - Introduction

Introduction

1 - Why does it matter

Module 1: Why Participatory Disaster Preparedness and Response Planning Matters?

2 - Foundations

Module 2: Foundations of Participatory Approaches Disaster Preparedness and Response Planning

3 - Guiding Principles

Module 3: The 9 Guiding Principles for Participatory Disaster Preparedness and Response Planning

4 - Before the Process

Module 4: Before a Participatory Process - Assessing feasibility in a specific context

5 - During the Process

Module 5: During a Participatory Process - Engage your community

6 - After the Process

Module 6: After a Participatory Process - Communicate the outcomes to the wider community