ABSTRACT
This chapter explains how the Pacific region receives international development programmes on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), providing a number of explanations for the global–local implementation gap as well as successful examples of localising DRR. It describes the main features that have contributed to the resistance or the localisation of international DRR programmes in the Pacific. Based on the empirical findings, the chapter provides a first-cast typification of Pacific resilience; a description of the main features that not only condition how Pacific Islanders understand resilience, but also determines how new ideas on DRR and resilience will be received. The geographic, geological and meteorological aspects of the Pacific present many islanders with a high risk from natural hazards. But this risk is less likely to contribute to a disaster when communities are well prepared and exhibit a high degree of resilience. Different approaches to risk reduction and resilience in Kirbati further demonstrate the importance of leadership for risk reduction.
