Building Resilience from the Grassroots: The Cyclone Preparedness Programme at 50

As Bangladesh's Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) celebrates its 50th anniversary, we reflect on its legacy, the gains made, and progress that still lies ahead. The CPP is unique among disaster risk-management agencies, as more than 90% of its staff consists of community volunteers. This unique institutional design influences its functioning. An important part of its growth has included the expansion of the involvement and leadership of women in the CPP, so that today, women constitute about 50% of the volunteer corps. We reflect on the improvements made, since Cyclone Bhola of 1970 (the deadliest natural tragedy on record) and analyze institutional features of the CPP that other countries can learn from. Lastly, we reflect on remaining challenges for the years ahead.

Automated summary

As Bangladesh's Cyclone Preparedness Program (CPP) celebrates its 50th anniversary, the unique institutional design that involves more than 90% of community volunteers has greatly contributed to its success. With a focus on involving and empowering women, the CPP has made significant progress since the devastating Cyclone Bhola in 1970. Other countries can learn from the institutional features of CPP. However, challenges still remain for the future.