Community resilience
“Public resilience is the fourth era of security, focusing on global and regional risks, networking at all levels, policies as security processes and security-related decision-making." | Torgeir K. Haavik, PhD (2020)
Since 2013, LAPAS has been working on the topic of human security, integrating it into its global education and development cooperation projects.
Human security is freedom from fear and freedom from want. A person cannot develop if he is very afraid of himself and his future. A person cannot develop if he is forced to live in a deprivation that cannot meet his basic needs. Therefore, if we want to live a full life, we need skills and a willingness to improve the safety of our (and others’) people. Human security is the feeling of security of every individual, which also affects the county, region and country where the person lives. Human security looks at each person’s private sphere, paying attention to exactly what is missing from a particular person living in a certain place and time.
Abroad, human security is much more talked about in countries devastated and threatened by war, unrest, deprivation and natural disasters, but regardless of the geographical location, it is important for a peaceful and predictable life in which one feels respected and valued. Therefore, people often agree on joint action to reduce their insecurity.
The crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need to build societal resilience by reducing security risks. The OECD’s triple nexus concept of development cooperation also integrates development, humanitarian aid and peace as a basic framework.
Work on community resilience integrates LAPAS multidimensional development experience.
To implement the concept, LAPAS cooperates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, Vidzeme University College and international partners.