White Helmets Initiative

    The task of managing disasters and complex emergencies, including preparation, response, and humanitarian assistance, requires an extensive inter-institutional coordination, which in turn can only be achieved through the formation of functional and organically structured networks and with the participation of all sectors of Government and Civil Society at all levels of political and administrative organization. The formation of such networks entails a thorough understanding by all parties involved of a given network’s mission, role, needs, and capacity to effectively communicate and coordinate efforts. Only functional and structured networks, through optimizing available resources, can assure effective and efficient action when faced with complex emergencies and catastrophes.

    Furthermore, risk management - whether it involves the vulnerability towards natural disasters or the inherent vulnerability of a society due to its socio-economic conditions - from identifying vulnerabilities and risk evaluation to the prevention and mitigation of adverse impacts to the transfer of residual risk, requires significant coordination and cooperation, given that it involves such a wide range of sectors, levels of government, and civil society groups. In this light, only the formation of networks may permit the exchange of knowledge and information necessary to implement effective and efficient measures in order to reduce the vulnerability of both communities and their socio-economic infrastructure, through institution strengthening and capacity building, the establishment of effective cooperation, and the optimization of scarce resources that avoids any kind of overlap or duplication.