Fund resilience, not disasters
Investing in resilience pays off: every dollar spent on preparedness and risk reduction saves multiple dollars in avoided losses
As the world’s largest network of civil society organisations working increase the resilience of communities most at risk of disasters, we’re proud to mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2025.
Disasters are never natural – they are the outcome of choices that we make. When we under-invest in resilience, the costs escalate, affecting lives, livelihoods, and development for years to come.
Our members – civil society organisations on the frontlines – witness daily how lack of preparedness, weak systems, and risk-blind development deepen vulnerability. They carry the knowledge, expertise, and local insight required to implement effective disaster risk finance solutions.
This International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, GNDR calls on governments, donors, the private sector, and financial institutions to act decisively: prioritise funding for resilience, not just for response when disasters strike. By investing in local leadership, strengthening systems, and amplifying the voices of those most at risk, we can build communities that are safer, stronger, and more prepared for the future.
GNDR members from around the world have shared their Stories of Resilience that prove that when civil society is properly funded, it has the experience, knowledge and expertise to prevent hazards from becoming disasters.
Stories of ResilienceAn Organization for Socio-Economic Development (AOSED) – Bangladesh
In flood-prone Ramnathpur, small-scale finance turned a recurring disaster into a local innovation. Floating seedbeds, introduced by AOSED’s Climate Field School, enabled farmers to protect their rice crops from monsoon flooding – preserving yields, reducing debt, and building long-term resilience.
Read their storyADRA – Togo
Civil society organisations like ADRA Togo are proving that with knowledge, trust, and inclusive leadership, even the smallest communities can design their own protection against disaster.
Read their storyPractical Action Bolivia
Practical Action Bolivia’s project in Puerto Yumani demonstrates how local financing and community coordination can build sustainable flood resilience.
Read their storyRead our IDDRR Stories of Resilience
To mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2025, GNDR members from across the world have shared their stories of resilience. Read them here.
Read their story