The growing recognition of the vulnerability of children to disasters has added a
new im petus to the concept of their involvem ent in disaster risk reduction
program s. I nvolving children in disaster risk reduction is am ong those aspects
prom oted in the Hyogo Fram ework for Action 2005–2015 to enhance the resilience
of disaster-affected com m unities. This article presents the results from a research
study which investigated the involvem ent of children in disaster risk reduction
program s in Binga District, Zim babwe, focusing on food security. The results
suggest that children are an invaluable part of hum an agency in disaster contexts,
especially in view of increasing num bers of children orphaned by HI V and AI DS. Yet
their involvem ent is still contested. Unless fam ily and cultural pressures im posed on
children are recognized and m anaged in disaster risk program m ing, the potential of
children’s involvem ent is likely to be m issed in building disaster-resilient
com m unities.