The inability to manage risk properly leads to crises and missed opportunities.The World Bank's Mananging Risk For Development report demonstrates that effective risk management can be a powerful instrument for development—it can save lives, avert economic shocks, and help people build better, more secure futures. This report calls for individuals and institutions to move from being “crisis fighters” to becoming “proactive and systematic risk managers.” There is substantial evidence that recognizing and preparing for risk can pay off abundantly.