The overall purpose is to examine from an expert external perspective, if this policy focus has had tangible impacts that have left communities and nations in a better position to cope with disasters. Due to different factors (e.g. increased poverty, climate variability and change) disasters are becoming more common. Frequent disasters push poverty and environmental degradation further down to complete a vicious cycle that begins with poverty linked enhanced vulnerability to natural hazards. Recognition of these linkages is a key factor in making a sustained impact through aid interventions, particularly in the context of climate change scenarios of enhanced incidence of adverse weather events.