KCDI strives to accomplish it's mission and become a regional center of excellence, KCDI will be imbued with the core values of:

• Community participation at all levels of policy/program/project formulation, development and implementation for post-disaster reconstruction
• Enrichment of the educational experience of our students
• Contribution to basic and applied knowledge that enhances global disaster studies and the dissemination of this knowledge through teaching, community outreach and service activities
• Excellence in every facet of its activity (such as multidisciplinary, trans-disciplinary and multi-sectional research-based information generation; appropriate and culturally sensitive educational programming; continuing education offerings; technology transfer, amongst others)
• Collaboration with local, national and international agencies as well as the victims of disasters to develop bold, creative, innovative and practical long-term solutions to the social, economic and environmental consequences of disasters
• Promotion of human dignity, social justice and a humiliation-free working environment characterized by mutual respect, mutual empathy and courtesy as Teamwork with local, national and international partners
• Flexibility/adaptability in working with local rebuilding programs in different social and cultural contexts globally
• Diversity as this facilitates the building of a high quality educational environment
• Accountability to our stakeholders and community partners
• Openness to all

Core Competencies

KCDI staff, faculty, research fellows, affiliates and consultants will have a knowledge mix that is technological, practice-based, cross-cultural, and entrepreneurial in nature. They will also be proficient in the following areas:

• Leadership
• Change facilitation
• Communication
• Decision-making
• Program development and implementation
• Resource organization
• Community outreach
• Farm Management Training