Employment & entrepreneurship opportunities in the disaster risk reduction sector

On the occasion of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR), 13 October 2026, we invite you to join a special live online podcast exploring how disaster risk reduction and resilience can translate into meaningful career pathways, entrepreneurship and social innovation.

Aligned with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)'s 2026 global theme, “Resilience Starts at Home,” the session will connect the urgent need for safer homes and resilient communities with emerging opportunities for young professionals, researchers and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Session theme

Employment & Entrepreneurship Opportunities in the Disaster Risk Resilience Sector

Featured Speaker

Ms Saumya Kumar, Assistant Professor, Centre for Disasters and Development, Jamsetji Tata School of Disaster Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai.

Ms Saumya Kumar works with the IFRC–TISS Programme in Disaster Management, contributing to teaching and programme coordination for humanitarian professionals worldwide. Her academic and research interests span disaster governance, disaster recovery, international and comparative law, peace and conflict studies, and climate change litigation. She is a Fellow of the Commonwealth Futures Climate Research, awarded by the Association of Commonwealth Universities. Her experience across disaster management education, research and institutional engagements will offer students a valuable perspective on this evolving professional ecosystem.

Host

Sauraveswar Sen, Founder, Catalyst Learning Services.

Established in 2011, Catalyst Learning Services accelerates careers in social impact, climate action and sustainable development through mentorship, advisory and consulting. Led by Sauraveswar Sen, Catalyst has supported aspiring professionals through career development, experiential learning, institutional engagements and connections with organisations working across the development sector. Its work focuses on helping students translate academic knowledge into practical capabilities, professional opportunities and measurable social impact.

What will the conversation explore?

• Emerging career pathways: Opportunities in disaster risk reduction, disaster management, climate adaptation, humanitarian response, recovery and resilient infrastructure.
• Interdisciplinary opportunities: How students of social sciences, law, public policy, development studies, environmental studies, management and allied disciplines can contribute.
• Entrepreneurship and social innovation: Potential ventures in resilient housing, disaster preparedness, risk communication, community resilience, disaster technology and recovery solutions.
• Institutional and industry engagement: The roles of government agencies, international organisations, NGOs, CSR initiatives, research institutions and private enterprises.
• Preparing for the sector: Essential skills, field exposure, research capabilities, networking and professional development strategies for aspiring practitioners.

A learning opportunity that continues beyond the session

At Catalyst Learning Services, we believe that awareness should lead to action. Accordingly, we intend to extend the learning experience beyond the live conversation.

All active participants will be supported with:

1. Certificate of participation recognising their active engagement in the session.
2. Follow-up pilot project opportunities to explore practical, locally relevant disaster risk resilience challenges and potential solutions.
3. Mentorship and guidance from Catalyst Learning Services and participating stakeholders, subject to project scope, mentor availability and mutual confirmation.
4. Opportunities for experiential learning and collaboration to help innovators develop practical insights, project portfolios and a stronger understanding of careers in the sector.

The proposed pilot projects could explore household preparedness, inclusive risk communication, community-level resilience, climate-sensitive livelihoods or other locally relevant challenges aligned with the IDDRR theme. Project selection and implementation will depend on stakeholder participation, feasibility and available support.

We warmly encourage you to circulate this invitation among your peers, students, research scholars, student clubs and relevant academic departments, particularly those engaged in social sciences, disaster management, law, public policy, climate action, sustainability, environmental studies and entrepreneurship.

By bringing together academic insights, professional guidance and practical action, we hope to inspire young people to see disaster risk resilience not only as a critical development priority but also as a field offering opportunities for purposeful employment, research and enterprise.

The session is being conceptualised in alignment with the global observance supported by UNDRR. This invitation does not imply that UNDRR is a formal organiser, sponsor or endorser of the podcast unless separately confirmed.

We look forward to your participation and to engaging your students in a conversation that connects knowledge, careers and community resilience.