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The adoption by DFID of the 1997 White Paper priorities has brought a new determination to focus on poverty reduction in UK assistance to developing and transition countries. The White Paper recognised the significance of socio-economic factors in making people vulnerable to disaster. It sets out the objectives of protecting and rebuilding livelihoods and communities after disasters, and reducing vulnerability to future disasters. It also promises that ‘Disaster preparedness and prevention will be an integral part of our development cooperation programme’.(p. 44). A key component of this is the promotion of sustainable livelihoods as the means by which people–especially the poor–improve their living conditions.