For every £1 of work spent on disaster risk reduction, £7 is saved in emergency response.

300 million people are affected by natural disasters or conflict every year. We know that many of these disasters are not one-offs. Our work supports the most vulnerable communities, providing vital emergency supplies but importantly, working over the longer term to strengthen the resilience of communities against future crises.

This life-saving work can be supported in two ways:

• When disaster strikes
• Disaster risk reduction

Support us when disaster strikes

Financial services firm ICAP recently supported our emergency work in Pakistan following the catastrophic flooding. Their generosity supported 600 people with shelter, cash for work and sustainable agriculture programmes.

Supporting Disaster Risk Reduction

Reducing vulnerability to disasters is at the heart of ActionAid’s emergencies work. Disasters cost lives, destroy communities and affect people’s ability to make a living. We work to strengthen the resilience of communities to create long-term, sustainable change. Such proactive work is a sound investment – for every £1 of work, £7 is saved in emergency response.

A sound investment 

“Before I only grew maize and beans, but now I grow bananas, sweet potatoes, onions, avocados and berries. I grow enough food to feed myself and have even managed to install electricity in my house.”

Gladys’ village in Eastern Kenya has been part of a project to strengthen the community against drought, through hardy seeds, local irrigation and crop diversification.