ProVention Consortium
The overall goal of ProVention is to reduce the risk and social, economic and environmental impacts of natural hazards on vulnerable populations in developing countries in order to alleviate poverty and contribute to sustainable development. This is achieved through: forging linkages and partnerships among key actors and sectors involved in disaster risk management; advocating for greater policy attention and commitment to be given to disaster risk management by leaders and decision makers; developing and promoting innovative approaches and applications for reducing risk; sharing knowledge and information from ProVention partners and projects about good practices, tools and resources for disaster risk management. All ProVention project activities are intended to contribute to these four overarching and interconnected objectives and to the Hyogo Framework for Action.
Sphere Project
The Sphere Project was launched in 1997 by a group of humanitarian NGOs and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Sphere is based on two core beliefs: first, that all possible steps should be taken to alleviate human suffering arising out of calamity and conflict, and second, that those affected by disaster have a right to life with dignity and therefore a right to assistance. Sphere is three things: a handbook, a broad process of collaboration and an expression of commitment to quality and accountability. The project has developed several tools, the key one being the handbook.
Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response
The Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR), created in 1972, is an alliance for voluntary action of currently nine major international humanitarian organizations and networks. Its vision is a more just and humane world, where the poorest and most vulnerable are placed at the centre of their concerns. The SCHR mission is to bring together the major international humanitarian networks with common values to make this vision reality.
Inter-Agency Standing Committee
The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) is a unique inter-agency forum for coordination of humanitarian assistance, policy development and decision-making involving the key UN and non-UN humanitarian partners.
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) aims at building disaster resilient communities by promoting increased awareness of the importance of disaster reduction as an integral component of sustainable development, with the goal of reducing human, social, economic and environmental losses due to natural hazards and related technological and environmental disasters.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was founded on 16 November 1945 and works through education, social and natural science, culture and communication to further the goal of building peace in the minds of men. Today, it functions as a laboratory of ideas and a standard-setter to forge universal agreements on emerging ethical issues.
World Food Programme
As the food aid arm of the United Nations, the World Food Programme (WFP) uses its food to meet emergency needs and support economic and social development. The agency also provides the logistics support necessary to get food aid to the right people at the right time and in the right place. WFP works to put hunger at the centre of the international agenda, promoting policies, strategies and operations that directly benefit the poor and hungry.
