From Crisis to Resilience: Transforming Disaster Management into Disaster Resilience

Inter-American Development Bank March 27, 2025

Latin America and the Caribbean is the second-most disaster-prone region globally, with 1,422 disasters affecting over 176 million people from 2000 to 2023. Disasters can reduce economic production by 2-4% and exacerbate poverty, especially in marginalized areas. The region faces significant yearly losses in public infrastructure, undermining development investments. As 85% of disaster losses between 1986 and 2015 were uninsured, proactive risk management and resilience investments are crucial. The private sector, particularly SMEs, is vital in building resilience and ensuring economic stability. This session will discuss our understanding of disaster risk, regional management mechanisms, innovative risk-reduction tools, and private-sector engagement to enhance resilience and sustainable development.