For many years, the concept of community risk reduction has been a priority in the Red Cross programmes in the Pacific. Some National Societies have, however, been struggling to find an effective way to turn this priority into meaningful community-based risk reduction projects and actions. In order to overcome this difficulty, since 2003, the Solomon Islands Red Cross (SIRC) has piloted a community-focused, action-based approach to reducing vulnerabilities in communities through the implementation of a vulnerability and capacity assessment (VCA) .The following case study illustrates clearly the different phases of and leanings from the process. Published in 2005.