This page outlines the crisis prevention and recovery programme areas that are situated in Geneva. For more detailed information on what UNDP is doing to prevent violence and support recovery efforts, please visit the primary website of the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery.

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Created in 2001 by UNDP's Executive Board, the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery works around the world to restore the quality of life for men, women and children who have been devastated by natural disaster or violent conflict. Operating through some 100 country offices, the Bureau provides a bridge between the humanitarian agencies that handle immediate needs and the long-term development phase following recovery. Carving stability out of chaos, BCPR continues to seek new ways of preventing conflicts and of doing business - faster, earlier and in riskier situations. In short, BCPR works to:

• Help countries to address the factors that contribute to violent conflict;
• Help countries to prepare for and respond to natural disasters;
• Protect women in crisis and promote gender equality; and
• Establish foundations for sustainable peace and recovery.

BCPR is headquartered in New York. It also maintains an office in Geneva, which interacts closely with the wide range of key partners present there (international organizations, permanent missions, NGOs, research institutions, etc.). BCPR’s presence in Geneva focuses primarily on technical work (on early recovery, conflict prevention and recovery as well as disaster risk reduction and recovery), on the provision of operational and programme support to the field as well as on inter-agency relations.

The Early Recovery Team provides leadership and capacity-building to support inter-agency early recovery action at the country level.  Early recovery addresses a critical gap in coverage between humanitarian relief and long-term recovery—between reliance and self-sufficiency. While working within a humanitarian setting, early recovery team workers have their eyes on the future—assessing damages to infrastructure, property, livelihoods, and societies. Their goal is to enable a smoother transition to long-term recovery—to restore livelihoods, government capacities, shelter—and offer hope to those who survived the crisis.

Watch a short video on early recovery with Jennifer Worrell, Team Leader for Early Recovery.

The Conflict Prevention and Recovery Team works to strengthen the capacity and resilience of national partners and communities in conflict-prone countries to prevent conflict, but also to build foundations for recovery from conflict and crisis.  This team helps address the structural causes of violent conflict through development programmes that promote participation, dispute resolution and gender equality. UNDP takes a three-pronged approach to conflict prevention: 1) integrating conflict prevention into development programmes; 2) Building national processes and institutions for conflict management; and 3) Building consensus through dialogue.

Watch a short video on Conflict Prevention with Peter Batchelor, Team Leader for Conflict Prevention & Recovery.

The Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery Team advances development by strengthening capacities for gender-sensitive disaster risk and recovery from natural disasters. Disaster risks need to be effectively managed as an integral part of development. This entails understanding and identifying the risk factors that cause disasters, such as the exposure and vulnerabilities of society to natural hazards. This team supports national counterparts to develop both a disaster risk perspective and the human, financial, technical and legislative capacity; civil society preparedness; and coordination systems required to effectively manage and reduce the risks associated with natural disasters.

Watch a short video on Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery with Max Dilley, Team Leader for Disaster Risk Reduction & Recovery.

 

Contacts for BCPR in Geneva

Miguel Bermeo	Senior Deputy Director miguel.bermeo@undp.org
Jennifer Worrell	Team Leader for Early Recovery jennifer.worrell@undp.org
Max Dilley	Team Leader for Disaster Risk Reduction & Recovery maxx.dilley@undp.org
Peter Batchelor	Team Leader for Conflict Prevention & Recovery peter.batchelor@undp.org

To contact members of the BCPR team in New York, please visit the primary BCPR website.