On March 30, 2025, a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake rocked Myanmar. Among the survivors was Ma Phyu Sin Win, who clutched a relief package filled with essentials food, medicine, hygiene supplies, and solar lamps. “Every little item helps,” she said, highlighting the harsh reality many face when disasters strike.
Around the globe, disasters are growing more frequent and intense. From cyclones and floods to earthquakes, the impacts are devastating not just in the moment, but for months and years that follow. In 2024 alone, extreme weather caused 93% of all economic damage worldwide, totaling $320 billion. The road to recovery is long and often diverts critical resources away from education, health, and infrastructure.
But disasters aren’t “natural” by default. They happen when natural hazards collide with vulnerabilities like poorly built homes, poverty, or degraded ecosystems. In short, the difference between a hazard and a disaster is how prepared a community is.
In Myanmar earthquake, around 1.6 million buildings were located in high-risk zones, many unable to withstand the tremors. Similarly, during Cyclone Freddy in Malawi in 2023, unplanned development led to deadly mudslides that destroyed over 260,000 homes most in informal settlements built on risky terrain.
The key to preventing such destruction lies in what experts call “risk-informed development.” It’s a simple idea with powerful results: design all development urban planning, health services, education, infrastructure with the risks of disasters in mind. Every dollar spent on disaster preparedness can save six dollars in damage and another seven in recovery.
Here are five ways risk-informed development can change the future:
Stronger Early Warning Systems
Disasters don’t have to be deadly. With early warning systems in place, governments and communities can evacuate, protect critical services, and mobilize aid before catastrophe strikes. In Georgia, these alerts now help protect 1.7 million people from floods, landslides, and avalanches.
Inclusive Disaster Response
Not everyone is affected equally. Women, people with disabilities, and marginalized communities often face higher risks. In Bangladesh, local governments have been trained in inclusive planning. Today, cyclone shelters feature wheelchair ramps, and thousands of women are trained as emergency responders. The result? A dramatic drop in storm-related deaths from 300,000 in 1970’s Cyclone Bhola to just 17 in 2024’s Cyclone Remal.
Resilient Urban Growth
Cities are economic engines but 90% of new urban development is happening in areas vulnerable to natural hazards. A joint UNDP and UN-Habitat initiative is helping African cities grow smarter with digital data tools, ecosystem restoration, rainwater harvesting, and safer jobs for the urban poor.
Recovery That Rebuilds Better
Prepared communities don’t just bounce back they build back stronger. After the 2023 earthquake in Herat, Afghanistan, a detailed recovery plan identified $402 million in needs. Investments focused on creating earthquake-resistant housing, flood protection, and jobs through cash-for-work programs.
Integrated Risk Planning
Disasters rarely happen in isolation. Climate change, public health crises, and conflict often overlap. Addressing one without considering the others leaves gaps. Since 2022, more than 250 government officials from 15 countries have been trained to design policies that integrate climate and disaster risks across sectors like finance, agriculture, housing, and water.
The Way Forward
The rising toll of disasters is a wake-up call. But there is hope. Smarter, risk-informed development reduces damage, protects lives, and helps communities recover faster. By investing in resilience today, we can create a future where people are safer, stronger, and better prepared for whatever comes next.