World Bank steps up support for disaster risk management

Minimising increasing disaster and crisis impacts is a joint humanitarian and development responsibility and more needs to be done to improve coordination among actors.

World Bank Group's (WBG) Vice President for External and Corporate Relations, Cyril Muller who participated in the Principals' Meeting of the Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC), held in Geneva recently, underscored the Bank Group's commitment to partner with the humanitarian community.

It is clear that response, recovery and development tend to happen in parallel, as such coordination, discipline and flexibility are more important than ever.

The WBG has been stepping up its engagement in crises and disasters, contributing to humanitarian action through financing, partnerships and innovation.

In fact, crises and disasters undermine sustainable development and while the WBG does not deliver humanitarian aid, it supports national and international capacity building for a more holistic response and resilient recovery.

Attended by other Principals of the IASC - the heads of UN and other agencies - the meeting focused on the issues of politisation and the challenges in operating in politically-sensitive environments. The Principals also emphasised and discussed the need for greater protection of vulnerable and affected populations. The next Principals meeting is due on May 21, 2015.