Disaster Risks Reduction and Management

By Prof. Shahab Fazal, Prof. Saleha Jamal | Aligarh Muslim University

Learners enrolled: 48

ABOUT THE COURSE:

‘Disaster Risk Reduction and Management’ is an important for safeguarding our communities from the devastating impact of natural and man-made disasters. Reduction aims to minimize disaster management and focuses on preparedness response recovery and rehabilitation efforts. Together, these two strategies are essential for reducing loss of life, property, and livelihood and enhancing community resilience. This course will focus on reducing loss of life and property and preparing for natural and man-made disasters. It will also improve community, infrastructural, and ecological resilience. This course raise community awareness at the local and national levels, and this course also discusses improving the early warning system, which will assist in reducing catastrophe risk and aid recovery. Recovery will include quick steps. Long-term healing will include psychological support for the impacted people. This course will discuss risk-sensitive development and strengthening governance while coordinating policy development and resource allocation. sustainable development and male streaming catastrophe risk reduction in development Disaster risk production management are interrelated and focus on prevention, readiness, and resilience to produce more sustainable, safer, and better-equipped communities. Effective disaster risk management requires government action, community participation, participation from the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and participation from international party partners to reduce disaster risk and improve recovery outcomes. With the 30-hour post content divided into 12 weeks, we're sure students will join the course to protect the community from the ever-increasing frequency and intensity of disasters caused by climate change.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: This "Disaster Risk Reduction and Management" course is specifically designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students interested in understanding and addressing the challenges posed by natural and man-made disasters. It aims to equip students with disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and rehabilitation knowledge, focusing on building community resilience. The course integrates sustainable development, governance, and risk-sensitive planning, preparing students to contribute effectively to disaster risk reduction initiatives. By exploring early warning systems, psychological recovery, and policy coordination, students will gain practical insights to create safer, more resilient communities. This program is ideal for students studying geography, environmental science, urban planning, and related fields.

PREREQUISITES: 12th for UG

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: The "Disaster Risk Reduction and Management" course is valued by industries such as construction and infrastructure, including companies like Larsen & Toubro and Tata Projects, for its focus on resilience. Environmental consulting firms like ERM, AECOM, and technology leaders like Esri India and Google Crisis Response recognize its relevance in disaster preparedness. It is also valued by organizations like the Red Cross, NDMA, and UNDP for its role in humanitarian and recovery efforts. Additionally, insurance firms, energy companies, and logistics providers find this course essential for mitigating risks and ensuring business continuity.

Summary

Course Status :	Upcoming
Course Type :	Core
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	Geography
Credit Points :	4
Level :	Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Start Date :	21 Jul 2025
End Date :	10 Oct 2025
Enrollment Ends :	28 Jul 2025
Exam Registration Ends :	15 Aug 2025
Exam Date :	25 Oct 2025 IST
NCrF Level	6.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1: Disaster: Meaning, concept, definition disaster, understanding the different types of disasters (natural vs. man-made, sudden vs. slow-onset, etc.,), paradigm shift in disaster management, characteristics and distinctions between different types of disasters

Week 2: Hazards, Risk, and Vulnerability: Defining hazards, risks, and vulnerability, the relationship between these concepts in disaster management

Week 3: Disaster Management Plans: The importance of disaster management plans, key components, and stages of disaster management planning

Week 4: Managing the Environment in Disaster Context: Environmental management before, during, and after disaster, the role of environmental sustainability in reducing disaster risks

Week 5: Disaster Effects on Different Social Groups: How disasters impact various social groups (e.g., children, elderly, women, and marginalized communities), social inequalities and vulnerability to disasters

Week 6: Poverty and Vulnerability in Disasters: Understanding the link between poverty, vulnerability, and disaster impacts, how poverty exacerbates disaster risks and recovery challenges

Week 7: Disaster Risk Reduction: Prevention, preparedness, and mitigation, key strategies for preventing, preparing for, and mitigating disasters, the importance of a proactive approach in disaster risk reduction

Week 8: Natural Disasters: Earthquakes, floods and droughts, causes, consequences, and mitigation measures, examples of significant earthquake, floods and droughts worldwide and in India, case studies

Week 9: Natural Disasters: Global warming, the role of global warming in exacerbating natural disasters, mitigation measures to reduce the impact of climate change on disasters

Week 10: Man-Made Disasters: Types and causes, technological and industrial disasters (e.g., chemical spills, nuclear accidents), Social disasters (e.g., conflicts, terrorism), causes, consequences, and mitigation strategies, examples from India, case studies

Week 11: Disaster Management: Relief, response, reconstruction, and rehabilitation, role of technologies in DRR, Overview of relief and response efforts during a disaster, the process of reconstruction and rehabilitation after a disaster, long-term recovery strategies

Week 12: Disaster Management: Strategies for survival and importance of information, disaster management policies: principles and significance, types of strategies for disaster survival, the significance of information and communication in disaster management, the role of remote sensing and GIS in planning and response

Books and references

1. Singh, R. B. (2009). Disaster management: From crisis to opportunity. New Age International.

2. Bhandari, R. K. (2012). Disaster management in India: Perspectives, issues, and strategies. I.K. International Publishing House.

3. Sharma, B. K. (2003). Natural hazards and disaster management: The Indian context. APH Publishing.

4. Sharma, V. K. (2011). Disaster management: An integrated approach. I.K. International Publishing House.

5. McEntire, D. A. (2004). Introduction to international disaster management. Butterworth-Heinemann.

6. Twigg, J. (2004). Disaster risk reduction: A local government perspective. ProVention Consortium.

7. Kapur, A. (2010) Vulnerable India: A Geographical Study of Disasters, Sage Pub. , New Delhi.

8. Modh, S. (2010) Managing Natural Disaster: Hydrological, Marine and Geological Disas Macmillan, Delhi.

9. Singh, R.B. (2005) Risk Assessment and Vulnerability Analysis, IGNOU, New Delhi.

10. Singh, R. B. (ed.), (2006) Natural Hazards and Disaster Management: Vulnerability and Mitigation, Rawat Publications, New Delhi.

11. Stoltman, J.P. et al. (2004) International Perspectives on Natural Disasters, Kluwer Academic Publications. Dordrecht.

12. Singh Jagbir (2007) “Disaster Management Future Challenges and Oppurtunities”, 2007. Publisher- I.K. International Pvt. Ltd. S-25, Green Park Extension, Uphaar Cinema Market, New Delhi, India.

Instructor bio

Prof. Shahab Fazal

Aligarh Muslim University

Prof. Shahab Fazal is Professor of Geography. His research interests are in Resource Evaluation, Remote Sensing and GIS. Prof Fazal has published Sixteen books and more than seventy-five research articles in various national and international journals. Prof. Shahab Fazal has extensive collaborative research with some of the leading institutions from western world. His academic visits and research include United States of America; Great Britain; Canada; Germany; The Netherlands; Sweden; Belgium; France; Switzerland; Italy etc. He is recipient of prestigious fellowships such as-CSIR Fellowship (1991-93); Canadian Government-Shastri Faculty Research Fellowship (2003 and 2009); British Government-Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellowship (2004); DST-DAAD Fellowship (2000-2001); Netherlands Government- NWO-ICSSR Visiting Professor (2011); United States of America - Fulbright Fellowship (2013-14). He was also member of Indo -German Joint Research Team working for DST - DAAD Research Project. He has successfully completed four Major Research Projects sponsored by DST, ICSSR, DST-DAAD and SICI (Canada).

Prof. Fazal has also coordinated several Refresher Courses/Winter Schools on Disaster Management for UGC-Academic Staff College at AMU. He was also coordinator of DST Sponsored Winter School on Application of RS&GIS for Natural Resource Management.

Prof. Saleha Jamal

Prof. Saleha Jamal, Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Aligarh Muslim University completed her B.Sc. (2006), M.Sc (2008) and Ph.D (2012) from Aligarh Muslim University, India. Throughout she had a brilliant academic career having obtained University Gold Medal for first position in B.Sc and M.Sc. She has more than twelve years of teaching experience at UG and PG level.
She has been awarded with various prestigious scholarships (Post Graduate Merit Scholarship, INSPIRE Fellowship by DST, Government of India) and best paper presentation awards like “Young Geographer Award at Banaras Hindu University in 2010”, “Prof. N.P. Aiyyer Young Geographer Award at Punjab University in 2010”, “Nishi Gaur Young Researcher Award at DDU Gorakhpur University in 2012” and other academic awards like “Best Researcher Award at Aligarh Muslim University in 2011” and “Special Recognition Award in the World Wetland Day Conference at Thane in 2021” “1st Prize in oral presentation in the World Wetland Day Conference 16th National Conference on Wetlands “at Mumbai in 2022” “Best Geography Teacher Award, 2023” by the Deccan Geographical Society of India in XVII DGSI International Geography Congress, “Recognition for Contributions to Science in STEM disciplines” by the Indo-US APJ Abdul Kalam STEM Centre of the Ohio State University and Aligarh Muslim University of Education and Research etc.
She specializes in the field of Environmental issues, urban and related health issues etc. She is an active researcher and a prolific writer and has published seven books on issues like Indoor Air Pollution, Urban-Rural Linkages, Water Supply and Sanitation for the Urban Poor in India, Monitoring and Managing Natural Resources, Neighborhood concept, Climate change Vulnerabilities and Adaptation etc. and more than sixty research papers on issues related to land use land cover changes, environment, urban, and health in National and International journals of repute. She has completed one major project awarded by IMPRESS (ICSSR) entitled “Environmental and Health Consequences of Slaughter Houses: A study of slaughter houses located on the outskirts of Aligarh city” and presently she is working with another major project awarded by ICSSR entitled “Planning Wetland Management with Land Transformation Trends Using Geo-Spatial Approach: A Case Study of Aligarh District, Uttar Pradesh, India”

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.

The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

Date and Time of Exams: 25 October 2025 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.

Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.

The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.

Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup. It will have the logos of INI and AMU.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- INI Team