Introducing CREA: An Open Science Approach for Building Community Driven Disaster Risk Reduction

Increasingly communities around the world are facing insurmountable risks due to changing climate, urbanization, and lack of appropriate risk-reducing measures. At the same time, communities are asked or even required to take a more active role in disaster risk reduction. However, these calls do not require
communities to be informed and empowered to make decisions, which is often lacking.

Citizen Science has the potential to put the community in the driver’s seat while providing them with the necessary tools and capabilities. Nevertheless, traditionally Citizen Science often limits the engagement of communities and citizens in data collection or dissemination activities. This restricted engagement also limits the transfer of capabilities, agency, and most importantly ownership.

In this use case, we introduce CREA: Community-Based Risk Evaluation Approach. Central to this methodology is the joint design and execution of all aspects of the scientific project with the community. This collaborative approach not only puts the community in the driver’s seat but also aids in the transfer of scientific knowledge and the building of local capabilities.