Capacity Development for Hazard Risk reduction and Adaptation – CATALYST

The CATALYST Coordination action – funded by the European Commission under the Seventh Framework Programme – brings together scientists, stakeholders and networks to identify and share the best of knowledge, know-how and practices related to natural hazard and disaster risk reduction (NH/DRR), including adaptation. Its ultimate objective will be the strengthening of capacity development in this area. Strengthening of capacity development will be achieved by facilitating knowledge exchange and improving the science-application interface; deepening and adding value to the body of integrated knowledge on NH/DRR; identifying key gaps in current NH/DRR knowledge and research; reinforcement of existing European and International network capacity; increasing the capacity of NGOs and SMEs to mainstream NH/DRR in their activities; the effective dissemination of the findings of the coordinating action; and the development of an enduring NH/DRR reference website and online discussion forum. A core activity of CATALYST is the convening of stakeholders including researchers and practitioners in a think tank allowing virtual and face-to-face exchange on areas of concern such as methodological limitations and data gaps, as well as best practices. This coordinating action will also establish and maintain during the project’s duration an information archive (as part of the project website) that is easily accessible to the research community for finding out more about existing NH/DRR resources and research work. The archive will be transferred together with the website to an existing organisation or SME concerned with NH/DRR to ensure that it is maintained and enhanced.