Impact Trust • Working glossary

General resilience measures

Interventions that strengthen capacity across multiple types of shock, not tailored to one specific risk.

Details

Our Take
Historically grounded: the post-WWII settlement -- Bretton Woods, welfare states, international humanitarian law -- addressed the general fragility revealed by polycrisis. The concept bridges to 'prepared for surprises' thinking and to Preparedness 3.0. Reframes the question: rather than 'what specific shock are we preparing for?', ask 'what general capacities make communities resilient regardless of the shock?'
Examples of Use
Laurie Laybourn / SCRI, resilience theory, historical analysis
Synonyms/Variants
All-hazards preparedness; System-wide resilience; Non-specific resilience
Typical everyday wording
Building strength that works no matter what hits you