The vulnerability of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands is on the rise due to the impeding effects of climate change and natural disasters coupled with a high population density, poverty, remoteness of the islands and limited fresh water resources. The lack of resources and absorption capacities to support the disaster risk reduction (DRR) and disaster risk management (DRM) initiatives does not allow the countries to develop optimal institutional arrangements for disaster coordination and risk management.
The Disaster Preparedness for Effective Response Project (PREPARE), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is part of the long-term assistance to strengthen the institutional structures and improve resilience of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands in mitigating the effects of natural disasters through enhanced national and local capacities for disaster preparedness, response and recovery.