IRMA has started a partnership with St. Germain Institut d’études politiques (IEP) in France since 2021. IRMA co-founders and associates have been teaching cohorts of 5th Year Master’s students, as part of their Master Politiques de coopération internationale.
This 20-hour course provides students with a comprehensive introduction to integrated disaster risk management (RM) spanning both climate and crisis. The curriculum was thoughtfully designed around the four interconnected strands of RM—prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery—and the three key components of risk—hazard, exposure, and vulnerability. Together, these frameworks gave students a solid foundation for understanding and addressing complex risk scenarios.
To enhance their learning, students are divided into teams, each representing a donor organization tasked with designing an effective 10million Euro RM program for a specific country, spanning four continents. Previously, each team focused on one primary hazard type—natural, conflict, health, or technological—while navigating the realities of multi-hazard dynamics. In the most recent year, we introduced the Humanitarian Development and Peacebuilding nexus and grouped the students into teams each representing one donor planning to contribute to one pillar. The aim is for them to experience “live” the challenges characteristic of and seek cross-pillar synergies required by the HDP nexus.
The culmination of the course is typically student showcase presentations evaluated by a panel of experts including IRMA associates Isabelle Bremaud, Carlos Mansilla Caceres, and Martin Krottmayer. These final assessments not only test students’ understanding but also demonstrate their potential to tackle real-world challenges in risk management with professional flair.
At IRMA, we are committed to fostering knowledge and building capacity in risk management. We are proud to contribute to the education of these talented students, equipping them with the tools to make a meaningful impact in global risk reduction and resilience. Regularly, one or two graduates become virtual research associates for IRMA.
