# Program on Resilient Communities ![resilient_communities](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2025-01/untitled_design.png?itok=qBv8152y) **Founded:** 2015 **Faculty Lead:** Vincenzo Bollettino, PhD **Status:** Active Program **Regions of Focus:** Southeast Asia (Philippines), South Asia (Nepal, Bangladesh) **Research Theme:** Disaster and Climate Resilience ![Logo of HHI Resilient Communities](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/new_rc_logo_2020_01.png?itok=M52QJoI-) The Program on Resilient Communities (HHI RC) conducts research at the intersection of climate change and human society. At present, we work in the Philippines and Nepal, and previously, in Bangladesh. We seek to deepen our impact in these contexts and expand our programming in the coming years to support the South and Southeast Asia regions more broadly. ## Mission HHI RC strengthens climate and disaster resilience in South and Southeast Asia through collaborative research, meaningful engagement, and translation of evidence into action. ## Vision We envision a world where all communities adapt and thrive in the face of a changing climate. ### Focus Areas ![Forus Areas of HHI Resilient Communities](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/word_cloud_01.png?itok=LjltIiwU) ### What We Offer **Resource and information hub** **Workshops** **Conferences** **Tailored datasets** **Mixed methods research** **Quantitative and qualitative analysis** **Multimedia data storytelling** ## Our Theory of Change ![Our Theory of Change Graphic](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/our_theory_of_change.png?itok=Qs2cO4gU) ## Featured Outputs [### Nationwide Disaster Preparedness Data ](/program-resilient-communities/surveyph) ![nationwide_disaster_preparedness](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-01/constant_flooding_in_brgy._coloong_valenzuela_city_2.jpg?itok=CGaY4RA8) [### Knowledge Products ](/program-resilient-communities/knowledge) ![Elderly woman reading printed material on the wall](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/an_elderly_reading_hhis_tarpaulin_in_brgy_ipil_buhi_camarines_sur.png?itok=Wg4HJpqM) ## A Decade of Impact ![A Decade of Impact_HHI Resilient Communities](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/a_decade_of_impact.png?itok=5Yupnl3a) ## Global Reach ![Global Reach of HHI Resilient Communities](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/global_reach_rc.png?itok=O0bsJB4i) ## Team [### Ganesh Dhungana, MARD, MPhil ](/people/ganesh-dhungana-mard-mphil) Project Lead, Nepal, Program on Resilient Communities Ganesh is the Project Lead - Nepal for the Program on Resilient Communities at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. Prior to joining HHI, he served as a researcher at the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. He was also the Executive Director of... ![Ganesh-dhungana](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-02/Staff%20Ganesh%20Dhungana%201-2.jpg?h=ff1b6cc4&itok=HbQcDD5A) [### Hannah Stoddard, MPA ](/people/hannah-stoddard-mpa) Strategy and Program Manager, Program on Resilient Communities Hannah is the Strategy and Program Manager for the Program on Resilient Communities at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. In her current role, Hannah leads the program’s strategy development and works closely with the team to implement research that... ![Hannah Stoddard Headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/headshot_hannah_stoddard.jpeg?itok=-uGGaj08) [### Juan Chaves-Gonzalez, MA ](/people/juan-chaves-gonzalez-ma)Visiting Scientist, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Juan is a political scientist who has worked for the past 20 years in conflict prevention and recovery, peacebuilding, development, and humanitarian action. He works at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in New York... ![Juan Chaves-Gonzalez headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/juan_chaves-gonzalez.jpg?itok=JMrbs6O5) [### Keanu Costales ](/people/keanu-costales) Grants and Communications Specialist, Program on Resilient Communities Keanu is the Grants and Communications Specialist for the Program on Resilient Communities at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. Prior to joining HHI, he served as a project development officer at his alma mater where he helped craft high-level... ![keanu headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-02/Staff%20Keanu%20Costales.JPG?h=d5917de0&itok=exbv7NQw) [### Mark Anthony Daza ](/people/mark-anthony-toldo) Project and Communications Manager, Program on Resilient Communities Mark Daza joined the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative in 2019. He leads the overall strategic communications and manages the research and project activities in the Philippines of the Program on Resilient Communities. Prior to joining HHI, Mark worked as a... ![mark-daza-headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-02/Staff%20Mark%20Daza_3840x1650.jpg?h=8ce32850&itok=b_YEqFfL) [### Nicolas Rost, PhD, MA, MS ](/people/nicolas-rost-phd)Visiting Scientist, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Nico’s research as Visiting Scientist at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative focuses on early warning signs of humanitarian crises. This is closely linked to his work as head of programme for the UN’s global humanitarian fund, CERF . At CERF, Nico has... ![Nicolas Rost headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/nico_aug2022_2.jpg?itok=e2mH-SYH) [### Patrick Vinck, PhD ](/people/patrick-vinck)Director of Research Patrick Vinck, Ph.D. is the Research Director of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. He is assistant professor at the Harvard Medical School and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and lead investigator at the Brigham and Women's Hospital. His... ![patrick-vinck](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/patrick-vinck.jpg?itok=hJSvlAbq) [### Vincenzo Bollettino, PhD ](/people/vincenzo-bollettino)Director, Program on Resilient Communities Director, National NGO Program on Humanitarian Leadership Dr. Bollettino is the Director of Resilient Communities Program at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. He also leads HHI’s engagement in the National NGO Program on Humanitarian Leadership. Prior to his current academic appointment, Dr. Bollettino served... ![vincenzo-bollettino](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-02/Vincenzo%20Bollettino.jpg?h=93697492&itok=hh9i3-mO) [### Yvonne Su, PhD, M.Sc ](/people/yvonne-su-phd-msc)Visiting Scientist, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Dr. Yvonne Su is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Rights and Equity Studies at York University, a Visiting Scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and a Research Fellow at Oxford’s Centre on Migration, Policy and... ![Yvonne Su](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-12/Square%20headshot.png?itok=Gpp5kHOc)