Developing a multi-organisational strategy for managing emergencies and disasters

The challenge of coping with disasters, risks and emergency situations must be seen as a permanent management process with clearly defined tasks, responsibilities and resource allocations. This process requires a continuous effort, including periodic identification, analyses and assessments of the critical stages along the risk circle, thus considering prevention, intervention and recovery. To cope effectively and efficiently with disasters demands a clear strategy, involving all stakeholders and risk scenarios. This paper outlines the importance of an integral risk management process and public–private partnership and — taking Switzerland as an example — describes the process of developing and establishing a widely supported vision and strategy to cope with risks due to natural hazards. The paper also elaborates some ideas on how to expand the strategy to other risks and stakeholders. The Swiss approach involves public and private sector representatives, assembled in an extra-parliamentary commission as a national platform to cope with natural hazards. This multi-stakeholder strategy development process has resulted in an action plan for implementing the strategy. Major progress has been achieved, with all stakeholders committing to a commonly established risk concept, to allocate substantial resources for the improvement of the risk dialogue and, finally, to accept a periodic audit to evaluate the status and success of the strategy.