Futureproofing Health: Developing a Center for Resilient Health in Disasters

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ABSTRACT: Overall The goal of the Center for Climate and Health glObal Research on Disasters (CORD) is to develop action-oriented strategies to protect health and build resilience in climate-related disasters. Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of disasters, and under-served populations of the Global South are most at risk for resulting health calamities. CORD will address the critical unmet need for data that accurately reports current climate-associated health outcomes and supports the development of feasible, actionable, culturally appropriate Anticipatory Action plans to prevent and/or ameliorate these health impacts in climate-related disasters. The objective is to build research infrastructure to enable cutting-edge research in 6 case studies conducted in under-served at risk communities in the Global South. The rationale is that this global, trans-disciplinary, virtual consortium of 7 universities from around the world will provide a unique and valuable source of data and perspectives that will inform policy, practice, and science relevant to under-served populations. The overall aims are to: 1) build transdisciplinary, transnational partnerships between academia, policy makers, community members, and practitioners; 2) build data analysis tools and methodologies for data collection, community-engaged research, compilation, analysis, and communication; and 3) build human capacity to effectively collaborate across disciplines, cultures, and geographies. CORD will have 4 operating cores. An Administrative Core will provide strategies and organizational structures to establish, manage and support CORD. A Research Project will study Anticipatory Action systems, differentiate health impacts, delineate community actions, and determine the role of health governance systems in the target communities. A Community Engagement Core will establish collaborations with community leaders, humanitarian practitioners, and policymakers in order to effect social change. An InnovatEd Leaders Network Core will build research capacity by developing and supporting the next generation of researchers, practitioners and policy makers in climate, health and disasters. The proposed work is innovative in its multi-national leadership design, its study of novel Anticipatory Action systems for disasters, and its commitment to Future Leaders and community engagement. The proposed work is significant because it will establish novel trans-disciplinary methodologies to work with communities to document health impacts on different populations and the contextual and governance foundation that is necessary for successful adaptation to climate change. These results will influence the design of climate programs by the collaborating partners and will set the stage for future research on these topics in the context of other adaptation interventions. The expected outcome is that the established partnerships will prevent negative health outcomes during disasters and promote health equity in under-served regions around the world.