Since the 1960s, disasters like tsunamis, hurricanes, and wildfires have increased tenfold, largely driven by the worsening climate crisis – putting millions at risk, especially those with limited resources and infrastructure making recovery difficult. The rise in global conflicts exacerbates and intersects with these disasters, intensifying the dangers of death and displacement. Philanthropy and strategic giving have a unique role in supporting sustainable recovery efforts in regions most vulnerable to disaster.

A new research paper from GlobalGiving examines the role of data, media, and traditional philanthropy in overlooking the impact of intensifying disasters on the most vulnerable communities. The research illuminates the uneven impacts of intensifying disasters on the most vulnerable communities and charts a tested path for funders to forge a safer future for all.

Breaking the cycle of risk

Vulnerable and marginalised communities are disproportionately affected by disasters, and often face risk and vulnerability perpetuated by insufficient investment in disaster preparedness and mitigation, due to government funds being prioritised for immediate relief or a reduction in international aid budgets. Pre-existing socioeconomic challenges – often compounded by the deep-rooted impacts of colonialism, entrenched historical harm and powerful media narratives – leave communities with prolonged recovery times and deepening poverty due to insufficient resources and infrastructure.

The lack of proactive investment ensures that each disaster not only causes immediate harm, but also leaves lasting scars making recovery increasingly difficult. The UNDRR show that every $1 invested in risk reduction and prevention can save up to $15 in post-disaster recovery. Every $1 invested in making infrastructure disaster-resilient saves $4 in reconstruction. The cost benefits of investing in prevention and preparedness are clear, yet for every $100 of disaster-related Official Development Assistance (ODA), only 50 cents are invested in protecting development from the impact of disasters.

Investing in local leadership

Despite the crucial role local organisations play in disaster recovery and preparedness, they often face significant funding shortfalls. A large portion of disaster relief funds is directed towards large, well-known nonprofits or immediate response efforts, leaving community-based organisations underfunded. In fact, $30-40 billion is devoted every year to international humanitarian aid, but only 2 per cent goes to local changemakers.

Local groups, possessing intimate knowledge of their communities and their unique challenges, struggle to secure the resources to implement effective and sustainable recovery solutions. This lack of funding perpetuates the cycle of risk.

Community-led initiatives play a critical role in disaster response and recovery. Local leaders and organisations have a deep understanding of their communities’ specific needs and cultural contexts – crucially due to proximity, they have the trust and deep access into communities that international organisations often do not, allowing them to tailor recovery efforts more precisely. When rebuilding is driven by those directly affected, it ensures that the recovery process is embedded in local needs and cultural contexts. Local ownership of recovery initiatives strengthens the knowledge, skills, and capacity of communities and supports long-term sustainability. Local ownership of recovery projects empowers communities and fosters long-term preparedness by building local capacity and knowledge.

When Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico September 2017, killing more than 2,975 people and causing devastation to the entire population of 3.4 million individuals, citizens found themselves displaced and left without power with 80 per cent of their agriculture being totally decimated. The low-income families who were unable to leave the island were faced with leaky roofs, mould-infested walls, intermittent power, rat infestations, and a range of related health issues.

With large amounts of funds tied up with bureaucratic and political red tape, vulnerable communities were forced to predominantly rely on the support of philanthropic and mutual aid initiatives. Local nonprofit G-8: Grupo de las Ocho Comunidades Aledañas al Caño Martín Peña went about fixing roofs to better resist future storms. They also planned to build a land trust with the aim to give more than 2,000 people collective legal rights to over 200 acres of land on which their houses are built and guarantee their right to affordable housing. By helping to solve immediate and basic needs of the community, they’re empowering community members to take part in the collective rebuilding effort needed for the long-term recovery of their communities and Puerto Rico.

The argument for disaster preparedness

Disasters that dominate headlines are more likely to attract immediate funding and support, while those that receive less attention often struggle to secure the necessary aid. This disparity in media coverage results in uneven resource distribution, leaving many marginalised communities without the support they need to recover and break the cycle of risk. While a decrease in disaster-related deaths may initially seem like progress, this statistic can be misleading. It often fails to capture the uneven distribution of disaster impacts. If we look at the effects of Hurricane Maria (2017) and Hurricane Fiona (2022) on Puerto Rican communities, though Fiona’s death toll was much lower, the effects were still as extensive as Hurricane Maria.

This isn’t to say that immediate relief isn’t crucial to preserving life, but there is also an urgent need for collaborative, multi-sectoral funding and investment strategies for disaster risk management. The public, private, and philanthropic sectors need to model investing in equitable, community-centred approaches to protect those most vulnerable to the impacts of disasters and advance holistic prevention and mitigation measures.

Take what’s happening in Pakistan as one example. It is the fifth most climate-vulnerable country in the world. Every year in the village of Baria Panhwar, floods put thousands of people’s lives and livelihoods at risk. The local Network for Human and Social Development is raising funds on GlobalGiving to launch an early warning system and purchase life-saving boats to keep villagers safe from the flood waters. The team has yet to raise the funds they need to fully move forward with their plans. 

The role of philanthropy in disaster preparedness

The widening gap between humanitarian needs and available funding has become increasingly apparent, made more acute by dwindling government aid. This reduction in public funding places a greater emphasis on philanthropy, which is now expected to fill the gap. Despite the significant funds allocated for disaster-related efforts, the distribution of these resources remains skewed.

In 2022, a mere $3.6 million (just one per cent) of the $365.2 million allocated to disaster efforts was directed toward disaster preparedness, mitigation, and risk reduction. Although 2023 saw a slight improvement with $123 million (4.1 per cent) of total funds invested in disaster preparedness remained stagnant at only $31 million, continuing to represent just one per cent of total funds spent.

While disasters demand immediate action, real impact is found in our ongoing commitment to preparedness, risk mitigation, and long-term recovery, which involves ensuring that funds reach the most effective hands – those in the communities themselves. While significant funding is rightly dedicated to immediate response, there’s a notable shortfall in funding prevention efforts.

The emergence of more frequent, wide-reaching, prolonged climate-related disasters and crises has begun to motivate some philanthropists to focus more on addressing long-term vulnerabilities and prevention and resiliency efforts to mitigate future disasters, in addition to treating acute crises. But more unrestricted donations are needed from philanthropists all over the world to support a truly transformative approach to disaster preparedness and breaking the cycle of perpetual risk. In the future, if more philanthropists embrace this approach in their giving, they can ensure that more funds reach trusted local, community-led organisations who have a better contextual understanding of the communities they serve. With this level of knowledge and trust they can be more responsive to emerging demands and where they are needed most.

Find out more at globalgiving.org/learn/disaster-preparedness-illusion

Allison Conroe is Senior Disaster Response Associate at GlobalGiving. Catherine Crowfoot heads up the UK Growth Team at GlobalGiving.