The Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, a regional economic body comprised of 16 member states, is one of our planet’s most vulnerable regions to natural hazards, and has a complex disaster risk profile. The region has sustained several disasters over the past decades. These events include annual floods in 2004–2019 and extreme droughts (1990–1993); other climate-induced disasters, such as cyclones, also have had devastating impacts, particularly on the Indian Ocean island states and east coast countries. To reduce the risk and impacts of disasters, governments must invest in disaster risk reduction (DRR). However, interventions aimed at reducing social and economic vulnerability and investing in long-term mitigation activities are often few, poorly funded, and insignificant in comparison with money spent on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and post-disaster reconstruction. This study investigated whether DRR is adequately funded within SADC member states in light of the high stakes in human life, infrastructure, and economic losses and the potential savings involved. The study applied a qualitative research design with data collected through semistructured interviews and focus group discussions. Respondents were selected purposefully and through snowball sampling with a total of 67 respondents from Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe participating in the study. The study findings reveal that DRR is inadequately funded in all the member states consulted in comparison to funding allocated to disaster response. In light of the underfunding experienced by DRR activities, this study provides a platform for lobbying and advocacy for adequate funding for DRR.

南部非洲发展共同体 (SADC) 地区是一个由 16 个成员国组成的区域经济机构，是地球上最容易遭受自然灾害的地区之一，灾害风险状况复杂。过去几十年来，该地区遭受了多次灾难。这些事件包括2004年至2019年的年度洪水和极端干旱（1990年至1993年）；气旋等其他气候引发的灾害也造成了破坏性影响，特别是对印度洋岛屿国家和东海岸国家。为了减少灾害的风险和影响，政府必须投资于减少灾害风险 (DRR)。然而，旨在减少社会和经济脆弱性以及投资于长期缓解活动的干预措施往往很少、资金不足、与用于人道主义援助、救灾和灾后重建的资金相比，微不足道。鉴于对人类生命、基础设施、经济损失和潜在节约的重大影响，本研究调查了南部非洲发展共同体成员国内 DRR 是否有充足的资金。该研究采用定性研究设计，通过半结构化访谈和焦点小组讨论收集数据。受访者是通过滚雪球抽样有目的地选择的，共有来自博茨瓦纳、斯威士兰、纳米比亚、南非和津巴布韦的 67 名受访者参与了这项研究。研究结果显示，与分配给救灾的资金相比，所有接受咨询的成员国的减灾资金不足。鉴于 DRR 活动资金不足，