What We Do
We work with our partners to build better disaster responses—responses that are locally led, efficient, and timely.
Building Better Responses
Better disaster responses save lives and lay the foundation for effective recovery. We focus on filling critical gaps and driving innovations that reinforce and enhance existing systems—especially in the crucial first weeks after a disaster, when urgent needs are greatest.
We invest in readiness: from maintaining on-call teams and our humanitarian vessel MV DAWN, to developing national capabilities that ensure our partners can respond swiftly and confidently.
We prioritize the critical moments immediately after a disaster when timely support can stabilize communities and enable national systems to lead a coordinated, effective recovery.
Areas of Impact
Our areas of impact span delivering rapid disaster response, supporting national systems to enable informed decision-making through timely and accurate information, and strengthening capacities for coordinated, context-driven disaster response.
Immediate Needs
Immediately following a sudden-onset disaster, communities often require life-sustaining support. GSD works with national authorities to deliver water and essential relief supplies that meet immediate needs and prevent disease among the most vulnerable.
Water Program: Our water program seeks to mitigate water-related morbidity and mortality during rapid response by delivering safe water, with speed, at scale. This includes the production, delivery, and distribution of potable water.
Non-Food Items (NFI) Program: Our NFI program aims to help partners reduce post-disaster disease risk by providing affected communities with immediate access to household water treatment, hygiene, cleaning, shelter, and vector control supplies.
Information &
Awareness
In sudden-onset disasters, decision-makers need fast, reliable information to lead effectively. We focus on supporting national response actors with systems that enhance their access to timely data and analysis, to support coordination and decision-making.
Information Management Program: Our information management program equips partners to make timely, data-driven decisions for effective disaster preparedness and response.
Maritime Access Program: Our maritime access program equips key maritime stakeholders like port authorities with the information needed to make informed decisions and, when necessary, marks, moves, or removes hazards obstructing maritime access.
National Response System Effectiveness
GSD works with national actors to enhance the capacity and systems needed to lead and coordinate rapid, effective responses—from response coordination and mental health and psychosocial support to capacity development and port preparedness.
Response Coordination Program: We provide key actors with critical support and equipment needed to ensure emergency operation centers at various levels remain functional even during the biggest disasters.
Mental Health Psychosocial Support Program: One of the most important but often overlooked components of disaster response is mental health and psychosocial support. We support training for first responders to deliver psychological support through Psychological First Aid (PFA), while also helping them care for their own mental and emotional well-being during emergencies.
Maritime support
GSD has a range of maritime capabilities, the centerpiece of which is our Humanitarian Vessel, MV DAWN. Committed to supporting operations in the Caribbean, it is configured to provide mobile and flexible support to GSD’s mission.
Explore maritime supportInterested in partnering with us?
Please get in touch with us if you are interested in learning more about partnering with GSD.