Disaster risk management is a fundamental process for assessing, preventing and mitigating the adverse effects of disasters caused by natural or human-induced hazards. Disasters mainly affect poor and vulnerable people. Climate change increases vulnerability to disasters, especially in impoverished communities.

The World Bank has reported that economic and human losses caused by disasters worldwide are high. By 2022, estimated losses from natural catastrophes will reach USD 270 billion globally. Another interesting statistic is that provided by the United Nations on all deaths caused by weather, climate and water-related hazards. Since 1980, worldwide, disasters caused by natural hazards have resulted in more than 2.5 million deaths and losses, with 82% of deaths occurring in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

In particular, insufficient uniformity in public policies related to disaster risk management in Latin America and the Caribbean, despite some advances in civil protection, the absence of coherent public policies based on scientific and traditional knowledge has contributed to the increase in disasters, affecting economic competitiveness and reducing investments in infrastructure.

In this context, the “Second Diploma Course on Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management in Latin America and the Caribbean” will be held, in partnership with the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil (UCSG), with the aim of continuing to stimulate reflection among participants on the progress and scope of disaster risk management in our region. It will focus on strengthening resilience in the face of climate change.

This programme is a response to one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century that impacts communities and ecosystems around the world. At present, several countries in the region are facing energy crises, floods, droughts and uncontrollable fires. This diploma course is designed to train professionals in identifying and managing disaster-related risks, promoting resilience and integrating climate adaptation strategies in their communities.

This specialised training will provide continuity to its first edition, which took place in the last quarter of 2024. It will also provide the necessary tools and knowledge to offer greater uniformity in public policies related to disaster risk management in LAC. This training is essential in a context where extreme events are becoming more frequent and intense, especially in our region. With the tools and knowledge acquired, policy makers and implementers will be in a better position to face and mitigate the effects of disasters.

This initiative responds to the critical need to address comprehensive land management in the region and improve civil protection by strengthening comprehensive disaster risk management (DRM) systems.

The UCSG, through the Continuing Education System, has maintained this important line of training for a decade, providing practical and updated knowledge to the community, as part of its support for the assertive training of human talent in this area of knowledge. It proposes a critical review of the National Civil Protection Systems in the region in order to assess their effectiveness and relevance.

To provide the necessary knowledge to stimulate reflection among participants on the current risk management situation in Latin America and the Caribbean.

To deliver knowledge on the planning and implementation of measures that promote safer and more sustainable communities.

Based on a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach, the course aims to empower participants to address current and future challenges associated with climate change in the region.

1. To learn about and stimulate reflection among participants on the progress and scope of disaster risk management in Latin America and the Caribbean.
2. A collaborative approach to strengthening resilience to climate change.
3. To analyse the formulation of public policies on comprehensive DRM systems at the global level and particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean.
4. To review the different management models of comprehensive DRM systems implemented in Latin America and the Caribbean: typologies, effectiveness and obstacles in their application.
5. To analyse the policies of innovation and transformation of knowledge in comprehensive DRM systems.
6. Resilience and strategies for adaptation to climate change.
7. Comprehensive risk management in the territory, with a focus on sustainability and planning at various levels.
8. To conduct a project on comprehensive DRM, incorporating an innovation that strengthens it.

• Hours of study: 80 hours
• Months to be completed: 18 June to 04 September 2024
• Number of modules: 5 modules.
• Modality: online (synchronous classes on Zoom and asynchronous classes on Moodle platform).

This diploma course will be delivered only in Spanish for both synchronous classes on Zoom and asynchronous classes on the Moodle platform.

The methodological process will consist of lectures with live sessions and tutoring guided by the facilitator, analysis and case studies, practical application exercises and individual research for the final project.