Theoretical and real effects of disaster risk management reform processes at the national and local levels in Mexico and Colombia

Mexico and Colombia are vulnerable to natural hazards (including earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods) that can cause loss of life and damage to their physical and social infrastructure.

The objective of the study was to empirically assess the relationship between the reform of national disaster risk management processes and the impact on risk and loss reduction, and to identify cost-effective risk reduction measures.

To this end, country-specific risks were identified and analysed. The team also assessed the social and economic losses caused by natural hazards in Mexico and Colombia, and the relationship between national policy reform processes and the impacts on losses generated by extreme events. To this end, both quantitative (econometric analysis) and qualitative (literature review and in-depth interviews) research methods were used.

Finally, the consultancy identified risk reduction measures to prevent and mitigate floods, earthquakes and hurricanes, and applied a probabilistic cost-benefit analysis to the cases of Bogota and Mexico City to estimate the benefit-cost ratio of the selected disaster risk reduction measures.