Research Alliance for Disaster and Risk Reduction
Disasters, associated with both natural and human-induced hazards, are increasing globally. Disasters harm lives and livelihoods and erode development gains. As we begin to feel the effects of climate change, reducing the risk of disasters is critically important for all aspects of development in South Africa and the continent.
The Research Alliance for Disasters and Risk Reduction (RADAR) is a research and teaching centre based at Stellenbosch University South Africa. RADAR works to support risk reduction in South and Southern Africa by advancing capacity building and knowledge generation in the disaster risk field. We achieve this through our academic programmes and short courses, as well as applied, interdisciplinary research.
Our work starts from a recognition that disasters are not inevitable and can be prevented by tackling the development problems that underlie them. We focus on understanding the risk environment, the factors driving the risk of disasters and how to address these, as well as strengthening capacity to reduce risk and respond more effectively to disasters when they occur.
RADAR is a member of the PeriPeri U (Partners Enhancing Resilience for People Exposed to Risks) consortium, a partnership of research units and departments from 12 African universities which focus on advancing research and capacity building in risk and vulnerability reduction action on the continent.
Postgraduate Programmes
Postgraduate Diploma in Disaster Risk Studies and Development
This inter-disciplinary 18-month programme aims to equip students with an integrated understanding of disaster risk and the intersections with development, common hazards and community-based risk assessment. The programme does not focus on disaster and emergency management but instead reducing the likelihood and impact of disasters.
It introduces students:
To basic concepts, terminology and developments in the field
The interactions between social and physical risk producing processes and the linkages between risk and development
Common hazards and the processes underlying them
Community-based risk assessment
The one-year programme can be taken as a stand-alone postgraduate degree but also serves as a bridging qualification that equips students to progress to RADAR’s MPhil in Disaster Risk Science and Development.
MPhil in Disaster Risk Science and Development
This inter-disciplinary 18-month programme introduces students to the field of disaster risk studies. Our programme does not focus on disaster and emergency management but rather working to reduce the likelihood and impact of disasters. It is distinguished from the postgraduate diploma by a stronger focus on research and a thesis component on a topic of students’ choice. It equips students with the skills to investigate and understand complex risk environments and make a meaningful contribution to risk reduction in South Africa, southern Africa and comparable contexts elsewhere.
Focus areas include:
The conceptualization of disaster risk and risk reduction
Risk reduction tools
Disaster risk assessment, including interdisciplinary risk research approaches and methods
An introduction to spatial data and analysis