The Understanding Risk (UR) community was born in 2010 out of the recognition that disaster risk assessment and identification were activities that cut across sectors and industries. What began with just five founding partners has grown into a community of over 6,500 experts and practitioners. This network has inspired innovation by sharing and applying best practices, developing technological solutions, and enabling cross-sector partnerships.
This vibrant UR community meets every two years, bringing together a diverse group of people from the private, public, nonprofit, technology, nongovernmental, and financial sectors. Every iteration of the UR Forum has produced new ideas and partnerships that have improved risk assessments and helped to integrate them into policy and development planning. UR2016, “Building Evidence for Action,” was held in Venice, Italy, from May 16 to May 20, 2016.