Localising the humanitarian toolkit: lessons from recent Philippines disasters

This paper explores some of the issues highlighted by recent disaster responses in the Philippines, with a focus primarily on Tropical Storm Washi in 2011 and Typhoon Bopha in 2012. It assesses the gap between policy and practice and calls on local governments to ensure that disaster risk reduction and management efforts are well targeted so as to minimise the disproportionate impact of disasters on the poor and vulnerable groups.

The overall document considers the actions taken by national and local government authorities to manage disaster risk, as well as the facilitation and coordination of regional and international assistance. It concludes with recommendations aimed both at improving disaster management in the Philippines, and encouraging the sharing of lessons learned amongst actors engaged in humanitarian response across the region.