About Us

It is now well-established that disasters have a disproportionate impact on socially and historically marginalized populations[1], including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), rural, and low-income communities. In the United States, marginalized communities are more likely to live in areas that are vulnerable to climate change impacts, such as poorly connected rural areas, the wildland-urban interface, coastal regions, and areas prone to flooding and extreme weather events. Additionally, marginalized communities often have fewer resources and less access to financial assistance and insurance to recover from disaster impacts. These systemic disparities often result in exacerbated social and economic vulnerabilities, especially among older adults, people with disabilities, children, women, LGBTQQIA+, and unhoused people. 

Guided by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030)*, The Agenda 2030’s Sustainable Development Goals, and the UNFCCC Paris Agreement, the ARISE-US network, the United Nations-led private sector alliance for disaster resilient societies, is committed to reduce systemic barriers to disaster resilience and increase opportunities for a sustainable and resilient future for all. We do this by:

 1.     Collaborating with research and program partners to understand root causes and systemic barriers to achieving equitable disaster risk reduction (DRR) outcomes.

2.     Working to promote equity in DRR policy, programs, and practices, aligned with FEMA's 2022-26 Strategic Plan and Equity Action Plan.

3.     Developing and/or supporting policies and programs that contribute to equitable outcomes in member operations and work.

[1] In the US, the following are examples of systems that have contributed to marginalization of some communities over others:

• Redlining

• Segregation

• Housing in Hazard Areas/Flood Zones

• Urban Renewal Plans

• Use of Eminent Domain to Build Infrastructure (e.g. highways)

• Restrictive Covenants

• Exclusive Single-Family Zoning or Anti-Density

• Private Homeowner Associations Rules

• Rules, Regulations, Laws and Ordinances (such as Jim Crow Laws (until the 1960s), immigration restrictions and anti-LGBTQ+ laws)

• Lack of access to finance and legal services

• Uneven Code Enforcement

Historically marginalized communities are groups of people who have been systematically and consistently disadvantaged and oppressed by dominant societal structures and institutions throughout history. These communities have been subjected to discrimination, exclusion, and violence based on various aspects of their identity, such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, and socio-economic status. Marginalized communities have been denied equal opportunities, resources, and representation, and have had to struggle to gain recognition and respect. Examples of historically marginalized communities include people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, refugees, indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, and low-income communities.

4. Helping ARISE-US members and partners to understand the need and benefits of centering equity in their DRR work.

5. Ensuring that all ARISE US initiated activities follow core equity principles and cause no harm.

6. Using social media and outreach efforts to elevate the voices and experiences of socially and historically disadvantaged, underrepresented, and underserved people.

7. Co-creating events, discussions, symposia, and projects in ways that ensure an equitable representation of socially and historically marginalized perspectives and lived experiences.

* The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030) outlines guiding principles for advancing inclusion, participation, and accessibility across its four Priorities for Action, highlighting that “disaster risk reduction practices need to be multi-hazard and multisectoral, inclusive and accessible in order to be efficient and effective... Governments should engage with relevant stakeholders, including women, children and youth, persons with disabilities, poor people, migrants, Indigenous peoples, volunteers, the community of practitioners and older persons in the design and implementation of policies, plans and standards” and that "women and persons with disabilities should publicly lead and promote gender-equitable and universally accessible approaches during the response and reconstruction phases". In 2023, the midterm review of the Sendai Framework recommended the need for advancing equity principles by highlighting "the importance of governing and managing risk in a manner that develops 'all-of-society engagement and partnership' for the effectiveness and equity of disaster risk reduction actions"; and that "disaster recovery plans at the national and local levels must systematically include build back better principles and be accompanied by legal frameworks that require and guide the application of principles of equity and inclusion of vulnerable populations."