Disaster risk often comes to our attention only after the devastation has already occurred, but what if we began addressing disaster risk before the disaster struck? The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR), observed every year on October 13, offers a critical reminder to shift from disaster response to disaster prevention. As we reflect on this day, especially in a country so often at the mercy of natural calamities, we must concur that disaster risk reduction requires a multi-faceted approach, one that goes beyond the immediate aftermath of disasters to a more pre-emptive, resilient future.

In Pakistan, where floods, GLOFs, earthquakes, and other disasters are part of our reality, one realizes the profound need to rethink how we handle disasters. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, adopted in 2015, encourages nations to shift their focus from managing disasters to preventing them. But here’s the thing – policies like these often remain distant, almost academic. They’re crafted in global conferences and discussed by experts, yet they need to resonate with everyday people to truly work. As a policy analyst, I find myself grappling with this gap. How do we translate the Sendai Framework into something tangible, something that speaks to the farmer in........

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