Principles of UDAF

Seven principles for resilience analysis, responsible decisions and transparent use of knowledge.

Threat → Response → Adaptation → Preservation of Function → Recovery → Development.

1. Function matters more than formal existence.

The presence of an institution, building or resource does not establish that a system performs its task. Assess actual function, accessibility and the minimum acceptable level.

2. Adaptation is active change.

Resilience requires reconsidering behavior, rules or structure. Evaluate changes by their consequences, including new dependencies and losses.

3. People are not unlimited resources.

Load, exhaustion and recovery time have limits. Decisions must account for human dignity, safety and long-term consequences.

4. Risk must be understood and managed.

Identify who bears the risk, who makes decisions and what is acceptable. Do not replace unknown quantities with confident numbers.

5. Recovery is part of protection.

Preserving function today must not conceal exhaustion tomorrow. Plan resource and reserve recovery alongside response and adaptation.

6. Resource distribution and redundancy improve resilience.

Distribution can reduce dependence on a single point of failure. Assess its benefits against costs, interdependencies and coordination demands.

7. A hypothesis is not established knowledge.

Distinguish data, interpretations and assumptions; identify sources, uncertainty and limits of application. An analogy across disciplines is not evidence in itself.