Florida International University
IN-4: Innovation 4

The Disaster Risk Reduction Program (DDR) is world-class project designed to advance disaster risk reduction by influencing the drivers of existing risks and their consequences as well as helping avoid the creation and accumulation of new risk, and developing capabilities and mechanisms for building resilience. Many projects within the program have a focus on climate change adaptation in developing nations. FIU's Disaster Rick Reduction Program works closely with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of U.S Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). The Program strives to promote and strengthen “Communities of Practice” (CoPs) in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region; identifying and supporting the educational and professional development of the next generation of “thinkers” and “agents of change” in the LAC region; identifying and cultivating key individuals and stakeholder groups; and facilitating exchange and coordination between organizations and key individuals and stakeholder groups involved. The Program also offers online, short-term, non-credit courses available students all around the globe such as Cost Benefit Analysis in Disaster Risk Reduction, Political Economy of Disaster Risk Reduction, Governance and Disaster Risk Reduction.

Positive outcomes associated with this project include developing capabilities and mechanisms for building resilience as well as training our students to help their community in avoiding the creation and accumulation of new risks. More specifically the Program has partnered with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to develop a storm surge database for Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The database is designed to help government agencies make informed decisions when hurricanes approach, including large-scale evacuations. Miami Based DRR Pasantia The Latin American and Caribbean Center of Florida International University (LACC/FIU), with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of U.S Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID /OFDA) presents a one week Miami based Pasantía on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA). The Pasantía brings together professionals, technicians and leaders working in public administration, project management, non-government and international organizations, and academic institutions who have disaster risk reduction and/or climate change management responsibilities. Special consideration is given to candidates who could guide or influence their institutions toward improved disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. http://drr.fiu.edu/activities/miami-based-drr-pasantia/