Roadmaps for resilience: Navigating risks and crises in an age of uncertainty

In a world of multi-dimensional shocks and stress — including climate change, conflict, health crises, malnutrition, and economic instability — many are at risk of being left behind. But traditional, siloed approaches to resilience, such as focusing solely on food security or disaster risk reduction, no longer suffice. Global economic losses from disasters exceeded $350 billion in 2023, while intersecting crises have driven over 672 million people into hunger and pushed millions more into extreme poverty. Those most exposed include marginalized groups — women, Indigenous populations, rural poor — who face structural inequalities that exacerbate their vulnerability. This compounded marginalization underlines the critical need for resilience strategies that are cross-sectoral, inclusive, and equity-focused.

Countries that embed resilience beyond individual silos see significantly better outcomes: For instance, every USD 1 spent on adaptation can yield up to USD 12 in economic benefit — through strengthened infrastructure, diversified livelihoods, and reduced disaster losses. A cross-sector, resilience-based approach can enable long-term growth and poverty reduction, avoid losses and save lives during catastrophes, and address historic patterns of marginalization that expose some groups and populations to greater vulnerability in face of converging risks and overlapping crises.

Hosted by Devex in partnership with Food for the Hungry, this conversation will spotlight how government and partner collaboration can advance inclusive, systems-based resilience strategies that catalyze long-term impact. By strengthening resilience to deal with overlapping, intersecting crises and risks, these efforts can promote growth, inclusion, and poverty eradication — transcending sectoral silos and embedding resilience across communities, markets, systems, and institutions.