Integrating human security in development programming for building resilience to address multi-dimensional risks in Asia and the Pacific​

The Asia-Pacific region is highly exposed to natural hazards such as storms, floods, earthquakes, and droughts. These challenges are exacerbated by structural and social vulnerabilities, including in countries like Nepal and Bangladesh, where disasters disproportionately affect poor and marginalized communities. The resulting impacts – heightened food insecurity, poverty, and resource scarcity – can limit opportunities and drive large-scale displacement to informal settlements in urban areas. These interconnected challenges place significant demands on local governments, requiring them at times to allocate resources to disaster response and recovery, delaying progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ​

The programme aims to promote the application of the human security approach to build resilience and address multi-dimensional risks in the Asia-Pacific region. To this end, it will: (i) develop a replicable methodological framework that can be applied by governments, UN agencies, and development partners to operationalize the human security approach; (ii) enhance the institutional capacity of two pilot countries, Nepal and Bangladesh, to apply the framework in their development programming; and (iii) increase awareness and interests in the wider Asia-Pacific region to integrate human security in development planning​.

KEY MATERIALS
Programme summary