The Princess Margriet Fund supports projects which are innovative and aim to sustainably improve community resilience to natural hazards. Additionally, we realize that disasters are multifaceted. They affect all sectors of society and so should our preparation.
For this reason, we don’t just train disaster response teams. We also take into account the role of factors such as water and sanitation, agriculture, business and livelihoods, and the natural environment. This holistic approach, which takes into account as many problem-contributing factors as possible, is key to our work.
Many disasters can be traced back to (sometimes unavoidable) mismanagement of natural resources. Deforestation, for instance, increases the risk of floods, landslides and even drought, as rootless soil absorbs less water. Landscape restoration is therefore crucial to sustainably improve community resilience. To achieve this, we work together with partners such as Commonland and Red Cross data team 510.
The local population is involved in the design, execution and continuation of each project. After all, nobody knows the risks that a community faces as well as the inhabitants themselves. And by providing the community with materials, skills and knowledge, they can continue building their resilience after the aid workers have left.
Finally, climate change adaptation has a central role in our work. Vulnerable communities in countries such as Mali are already experiencing the consequences of changing weather patterns. If we want to prevent big disasters in the future, we need to take action before it is too late. To make a difference on this front, we look for projects that have potential for scalability and collaborate with knowledge partners such as the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre.
Take a look at the selection of ongoing projects below to see how we turn this vision into reality.