Adapting to Change

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has offices in 17 countries across Asia, the most disasterprone region of the world. ADRA recognizes the importance and urgency of increasing resilience to disasters through an inclusive, integrated community-managed disaster risk reduction (DRR) approach with a common focus: reducing the vulnerability of communities and contributing to sustainable development.

Asia leads the global statistics on disaster-related economic losses and loss of human life, with seven of the ten disasters with the highest death toll since 1980 having occurred in Asia (ADB, 2013). In 2015, the Asia-Pacific region represented half of the total worldwide disasters, and over 70% of the deaths attributed to disasters.

With growing evidence of an increase in observed frequency and intensity of weather and climate-related hazards, ADRA takes the approach to integrate DRR and climate change adaptation (CCA) in its work, easingthe burden on development programs and minimizing duplication of effort and redundancies. We recognize the threat of climate change and its disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable, and are committed to addressing climate change and helping communities adapt. Inclusive DRR addresses various forms of exclusion related to gender, ethnicity, caste, religion, economic status, age, ability, and geography. This approach is essential to addressing vulnerability in DRR.

ADRA’s approach aligns with the Sendai framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, to work towards a substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods, and health, and in the economic, physical, social, cultural, and environmental assets of persons, businesses, and communities.