Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Disaster Management: A Review of Initiatives, Challenges, and Opportunities

In an era marked by a rapid increase in the number, frequency, and severity of climate hazards, the significance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in disaster management (DM) and policymaking cannot be overstated. Demographic shifts coupled with asymmetric population growth have created new challenges for local jurisdictions, that are already under-resourced, to properly identify and respond to community needs and expectations particularly when disasters strike. Research underscores the urgency of addressing DEI in DM, as marginalized and underserved communities often bear the brunt of disaster impacts due to systemic inequalities in access to resources, infrastructure, and decision-making processes. This paper will discuss the background of DEI and its introduction to the DM domain. It will also review the importance of DEI, current initiatives in place to further DEI in DM, the challenges that need to be addressed as DEI is introduced or reintroduced to different phases of DM, and opportunities where DEI will strengthen DM. This work is informed by and strives to provide examples from the national-level DEI landscape as well as global initiatives and efforts such as those by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).