This session will offer participants a chance to embark on an immersive journey into disaster preparedness, seamlessly blending scenario planning, coordination and decision making before and during crisis. Using a serious game methodology, participants will have the chance to role-pay core functions for multi-risk, multi-stakeholder preparedness planning including sharpening foresight tools for preparedness, designing anticipatory actions ahead of disaster response and empowering holistic grassroots action at the community level.

This event will target participants from national and regional governmental entities as well as preparedness practitioners from international organizations, civil society and private sector attending the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week (HNPW) in Geneva.

The event is co-organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the context of a joint global initiative aimed at strengthening national and local capacities for response (“Immersive Preparedness Practitioner Experience: A Joint UNDP-IOM Capacity Building Initiative Leveraging Serious Gaming in Support of Effective Preparedness and Anticipatory Action”). Launched in 2024, the initiative spearheads innovative serious gaming expertise from Imaginetic. Additionally, this initiative complements the training game on “The Framework for Diaspora Engagement in Humanitarian Assistance” developed by IOM Washington with Imaginetic.

Backgound:

In an era where the frequency and severity of disasters continue to escalate, effective preparedness is more critical than ever. The global landscape has witnessed a surge in natural hazard-induced and human-made crises that place immense pressure on the resilience of communities and states. This trend underscores the necessity for robust preparedness measures to mitigate the impacts and to help prevent further escalation. Additionally, it stresses the urgency to close the broader protection gaps faced by migrants at risk, as they grapple, among others, with language barriers, confiscated or lost identity or travel documents, limited social networks, isolation, and attacks and discrimination.

Less Funding, More Disasters: Despite the growing need for disaster response, funding for preparedness remains limited. Many countries face financial constraints that affect their ability to invest in comprehensive disaster management strategies. This disparity between the frequency of disasters and the availability of resources call for innovative approaches to maximize efficiency and effectiveness in preparedness efforts.

Efficiency and Effectiveness: Preparedness is not merely about having plans in place; it is ensuring that these plans can be executed effectively when disaster strikes. Emphasizing preparedness enables practitioners and decision-makers to respond swiftly and competently, thereby reducing the overall impact on affected communities.

Whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach: In moments of crisis, we realize again and again that one cannot do it alone–governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society must prepare and come together to assist populations at risk and migrants alike quickly and flexibly: to save lives, increase protection, decrease vulnerabilities, and improve responses.

Enhancing capacities through Innovation in Learning Approaches: The dynamic nature of contemporary and evolving disasters necessitates a shift in how we approach learning and awareness-raising. The evolution of educational methodologies is imperative to keep pace with the complexities of contemporary disaster risk management. As the nature of disaster evolves, so too must our methodologies. Serious gaming emerges as an engaging and immersive tool. By simulating real-life scenarios, serious games provide a contextual, hands-on practice that enhances learning retention and application. They offer an interactive and immersive experience that traditional methods often lack, making them particularly effective for complex and dynamic fields like disaster preparedness.