Frameworks
Complex Adaptive Disaster and Emergency Management (CADEM) Framework
Disasters and emergencies are increasingly complex, interconnected, and unpredictable. Traditional models of disaster and emergency management (DEM) often rely on structured, hierarchical responses that assume a linear progression from hazard to impact, response, and recovery. However, the reality of disasters is far more dynamic - characterised by cascading and compounding effects, emergent behaviours, and rapidly shifting conditions.
The CADEM Framework is designed to help practitioners move beyond rigid command-and-control structures towards adaptive, networked, and learning-oriented approaches to DEM. This Factsheet series provides a practical guide for applying CADEM principles in real-world DEM settings. It offers tools, case studies, and actionable insights to help practitioners understand, navigate, and influence the complex systems in which disasters unfold.
