Comparative Analysis of Disaster Risk Management Practices in Seven Megacities

he results of a comparative analysis of disaster risk management (DRM) practices in seven large cities in developing countries are presented. The cities are Metropolitan Manila, Mumbai and Kathmandu in Asia; Bogotá and Quito in the Americas; and Tehran and Istanbul in the Euro-Mediterranean region. The objective is to identify parameters of sound practice and assess impediments to the implementation of DRM in complex urban areas (i.e. megacities). Because they are most relevant to the city-level conditions, three thematic areas out of five suggested in the ISDR1 approach were used in this study. These are: Political Commitment, Risk identification and Institutions, and Knowledge Management. The analysis shows that all seven cities have expended considerable effort in risk analysis, particularly earthquake risk. However, serious limitations in comprehensive DRM implementation in the other two areas were identified. The authors also offer alternatives drawn from existing practices collected through the implementation of the EMI’s Cross-Cutting Capacity Development (3cd)2 Program that can improve DRM efforts if adapted to specific needs and culture of the cities.