EU: Resilience Compendium: Saving lives and livelihoods
27 examples of existing best practices from around the world
European Union
March 2015 :: 116 pages
Introduction
In response to an increasingly critical need to protect lives and improve the livelihoods of vulnerable populations to rapidly changing risk environments, the European Union (EU) is committed to build resilience to stresses and shocks as a pre-requisite for reduced humanitarian needs, poverty reduction and sustainable development.

Adopting a resilience approach challenges existing ways of working and organisational systems. Although resilience concepts and policies are increasingly accepted and applied by a multitude of actors and stakeholders, uncertainty remains regarding implementation modalities in different contexts and how operating practices could be optimised to attain durable objectives. Aiming to identify good practice, to foster organisational learning and to reach a better understanding of how a resilience approach can lead to more effective assistance and transformational change for the most vulnerable, the EU has collected a number of examples of existing best practice.

This compendium illustrates how the resilience approach is being translated into reality by the EU, by governments, other donors, agencies, civil society organisations (CSOs) and vulnerable communities. Projects and programmes are presented from a variety of sectors, at different levels, with differing partners and a large spectrum of different contexts. Each demonstrates that successful and cost effective methods and approaches do exist, or can be developed, to address vulnerability and build resilience. They serve as a stimulus for further understanding and more widespread application of resilience-based action.

This compendium of good practice does not, and cannot, definitively explain how resilience can be applied to every imaginable context. It does, however, give a number of examples to show that systematic consideration of resilience options, early and sustained co-operation between different actors and, most importantly, putting people first, leads to more effective development and humanitarian support. Our assistance must be driven by what works best for vulnerable people in different contexts and our approaches and mechanisms should adapt accordingly. The compendium serves as a practical introduction to resilience good practice, providing contact details for further information and advice. As it is designed to be a living document, it will grow and develop over time, as experience

The EU is committed to building resilience to natural disasters. Increased resilience is a pre-requisite for reduced humanitarian needs, poverty alleviation and sustainable development. The European Commission has released a new publication showcasing examples of successful resilience projects.