Decoding Key Elements of the Grand Pathways Framework

Definitions of Key Framework Elements

The Grand Pathways Framework is constructed to be conscious of (and responsive to) the contextdependent nature of community and the variety of actors that must work together to build resilient communities. The Grand Pathways Framework also identifies systemic factors that increase vulnerabilities in segments of a community and thereby reduce resilience overall, and seeks to highlight opportunities where science and technology can inform communities and support equity and resilience across societal dimensions.

Different communities have different responsibilities when it comes to building resilience. For example, Federal and Tribal governments may have more responsibility for policy and funding. State/Territory and local governments typically have greater focus on emergency response exercises and implementation. Individuals and families may take their own steps to plan and prepare. Nongovernmental organizations, academia, and private sector organizations often drive science and technology innovation. These roles, however, are fluid; local governments may create policy and both the Federal and Tribal governments, and private sector organizations certainly conduct exercises to evaluate their own resilience. These roles and responsibilities illustrate the requirements for specific actions at and across each level to build more resilient communities.

The intent of the Grand Pathways Framework is to identify and advance resilience science and technology capabilities that are broader than the single-service capabilities. Resilience science and technology is the study, research, engaged scholarship, analysis, experimentation, innovation, coproduction of knowledge, and other activities and applications that contribute to society’s ability to anticipate, avoid, adapt to, withstand, and build back better from acute shocks and chronic stresses. This means that any ideal solution identified informs multiple societal dimensions and could be used in the context of multiple key functions and cross-cutting enablers.