The release of the Global Report, “Recognizing and Strengthening the Ties That Save Us,” offers a cross-cutting analysis of mutual aid mechanisms in times of crisis. The study is based on six field studies conducted between 2023 and 2025 in contexts affected by various forms of crisis: natural disasters in the Roya Valley, Réunion, Chad, and Australia; the conflict in Ukraine; and the crisis surrounding the reception of exiles in Briançon.
Six webinars complemented this fieldwork, addressing cross-cutting themes (gender, public policy, mental health) and other situations: Valencia, Japan, and Sudan. A review of nearly 300 academic references also contributed to the analysis.
Reflection on mutual aid and collective resilience is now at the heart of our regions. This is precisely why Groupe URD participates in meetings organized by regional and local stakeholders.
On June 18 in Guillestre (05), Véronique de Geoffroy and Jérôme Faucet participated in the Technical Days on Integrated Natural Risk Management (GIRN) organized by the Alpine Natural Risks Cluster (PARN). Véronique presented a discussion on mutual aid, and Jérôme explored the applicability of humanitarian approaches to the Alpine region, particularly vulnerability and capacity analysis and proactive measures. The intersection of humanitarian expertise and natural risk management opens up avenues for further experimentation regarding the social aspects of crisis management in our regions.
On July 11, Véronique also participated in a roundtable discussion as part of the event “One Year After the Fire,” co-organized in Marseille by the GR 2013 Guides Office, the Hôtel du Nord cooperative, and the July 8 Fire Collective as part of the École du Feu, along with the 15th-16th District City Hall. One year after the fire that ravaged the hills of L’Estaque in Marseille, this artistic and community-driven event explored what it means to live in an area scarred by a fire.
Bringing together researchers and practitioners, the roundtable discussion “What Comes Next? When? What Does It Look Like?” aimed to explore issues related to the post-disaster period: How should we organize ourselves? How can we engage with public authorities? How should we think about the aftermath? From changes in the landscape to shifts in perceptions of fire, neighborhoods, and collective responsibility, the discussion drew on concrete experiences from the Aude region, Marseille, and elsewhere to share practical and conceptual tools for coping