A new report authored by Development Initiatives, and launched by the UNISDR agency, is in the words of Margareta Wahlström, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, "a very timely examination of funding for disaster risk reduction when it is now clear that we have broken through the trillion dollar ceiling for economic losses so far this century. As of the end of 2011 we can conservatively state that disasters so far this century have cost over $1,380 billion." The report highlights the fact that between 2000 and 2009 "the top 40 recipients of humanitarian aid," received " about 30% of total development aid ($363 bn out of $1,229 bn) compared to 90% of all emergency aid. And just $3.7 billion was spent on disaster risk reduction in the 40 countries surveyed in the report."

Ms. Wahlström went on to say: The disparity that exists in the allocation of development aid can be partly explained by geo-political strategic interests but it is doubly surprising to find that so little of that allocation of development aid is actually for disaster risk reduction.Thanks to Development Initiatives we know that just $3.7 billion went to 40 of the poorest countries on earth for disaster risk reduction, which represents about 1% of their development aid allocation of $363 billion."

Jan Kellet, one of the co-authors of the report said: "at a time when humanitarian needs are at an historic high, and donors are under considerable pressure to spend less and prioritise value for money, a reassessment of spending is imperative. This report reveals the critical need for a revised financing model which places greater emphasis upon the reduction of risk, based on comprehensive assessments of need and appropriate prioritisation of funding, as well as improvements in the quality of reporting".