Enhancing Institutional Capacity to Address disaster-related Displacement

forthcoming

Disaster-related population displacement is a critical and underdeveloped dimension of disaster risk management. While often treated as a secondary effect of disasters, displacement itself can generate significant cascading impacts—particularly when institutions and communities are unprepared to manage its complex dynamics. Recent analyses by international bodies, including the UNDRR, underscore the need to strengthen institutional capacity to prevent, anticipate, and manage displacement scenarios - understood here as uncontrolled population movements - especially in the context of increasingly frequent and severe disaster events. The EICAD project addresses this gap by enhancing Romania’s institutional capacity to manage disaster-related displacement as a distinct and growing risk. Through the update of the National Concept for the Effective Management of Population Displacement and the development of a risk-specific Action Plan, EICAD will support the development of a coherent and forward-looking policy and operational framework aligned with emerging challenges such as climate change, geopolitical instability, and technological hazards. Once the institutional preparedness dimension is addressed, the project will further reinforce prevention and preparedness at the community level. It will do so by improving public awareness—particularly among vulnerable groups—through the development of a person-centred Practical Guide for Evacuation and Protection. By combining institutional planning with community empowerment, EICAD fills a critical gap in Romania’s disaster preparedness architecture and contributes to a more resilient and inclusive national system.