The ReBuS – Resilience Building Strategies Toolkit is a strategic instrument developed by the Council of Europe to support public authorities in assessing and strengthening community resilience, integrating emergency management with principles of good democratic governance.
Map
ReBuS - Resilience Building Strategies Toolkit
General information
ISIG
ReBuS provides a structured methodological framework and operational tools to assess community resilience and to guide strategic planning and public action in the context of crises, emergencies, and systemic change, through a holistic, participatory and multi-level approach.
The Toolkit was developed in response to complex and multi-hazard crises, notably the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted the need for resilient, flexible and participatory multi-level governance. ReBuS is embedded within international Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) frameworks, including the Hyogo Framework for Action and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Status
Purpose
Topics For Preparedness
Hazard Type
Geographical Scope - Nuts
Population Size
Population Density
Needs Addressed
Lack of integrated instruments enabling public authorities to assess and strengthen community resilience beyond sectoral and vulnerability-focused approaches, and to embed democratic governance, participation and adaptive capacity into disaster risk management.
Vulnerable groups are identified based on social, economic and institutional factors, in line with the Toolkit’s holistic approach to community resilience.
Governance is grounded in the 12 Principles of Good Democratic Governance of the Council of Europe, with strong emphasis on participation, transparency, accountability and multi-level coordination.
Resilience is integrated across the entire disaster management cycle, with particular focus on prevention and preparedness phases.
Infrastructure readiness is considered as one of the five core areas of resilience, alongside society, economy, governance and environment.
To involve citizens and stakeholders in resilience assessment, priority-setting and co-design of resilience strategies.
- Stakeholder mapping and assessment
- Establishment of a Community Resilience Taskforce
- Participatory workshops
- Guided self-assessment through indicators and benchmarks
Progressive stakeholder involvement leading to structured partnerships in decision-making processes related to resilience strategies.
Strengthening institutional and local capacities through continuous learning, self-assessment tools and integration of resilience into long-term strategic planning.
Vulnerable Groups
Governance
Emergency Preparedness
Infrastructure Readiness
Engagement Level
Empowerment Level
Implementation
- Holistic and multidimensional approach to resilience
- Integration of resilience with good democratic governance
- Standardised yet adaptable self-assessment framework
- Strong focus on participation and institutional learning
English
- Local and regional public authorities
- Emergency services
- Civil society organisations
- Local stakeholders and community representatives
- Establishment of a Community Resilience Taskforce
- Community resilience assessment
- Definition of resilience objectives
- Action planning and monitoring
Primarily local resources, complemented by methodological and capacity-building support.
Implementation is structured around four standard phases, adaptable to local contexts.
Experience of the Implementing Organisation in DRM
Target Audience
Resources Required
Timeframe & Phases
Participation Results
Resilience is most effective when embedded in everyday governance practices and supported by participation, institutional trust and collective learning.
Adapting the Toolkit to diverse territorial, cultural and administrative contexts, and ensuring sustained multi-stakeholder engagement.
Preventive and adaptive approach based on continuous assessment and integrated planning.
Risk & Mitigation Plan
Scalability and Sustainability
Mainstreaming resilience into local policies and strategic plans to ensure continuity beyond individual emergencies.
High scalability and adaptability across governance levels and territorial contexts.
Use of digital self-assessment tools and dashboards to support analysis, monitoring and evidence-based decision-making.
Limited direct costs, mainly related to training and coordination activities.
Operational costs are integrated into routine public administration activities.
A holistic, participatory and governance-oriented approach significantly enhances the long-term resilience of communities.