Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure Society (CDRIS)

The Government of India (on 28.08.2019) approved establishment of an international Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI, as a Society, along with its supporting Secretariat office in New Delhi, at an outlay of Rs. 480 crore (approx. USD 70 million) for a corpus required to fund technical assistance and research projects on an ongoing basis over a period of 5 years from 2019-20 to 2023-24.

The Prime Minister announced CDRI at the United Nations Climate Action Summit, in New York City on 23rd September 2019. Memorandum of Association (MoA) and Bye-laws for establishing the Secretariat of CDRI as ‘CDRI Society’ have been finalised. On 03.02.2020, CDRI Society has been registered.

The aims and objectives: The CDRI Society is being established to fulfil the following aims:

• To act as a global partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, academic and knowledge institutions, that aims to promote the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks, thereby ensuring sustainable development.
• To support countries, including India, to upgrade their systems to ensure disaster and climate resilience of existing and future infrastructure through its programmes, while aligning with the Sustainable Development Coals, the Paris Climate Agreement and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
• To provide a global mechanism for financing and coordination of the effective implementation of the aims of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (here-in-after referred to as the "Coalition" and/or "CDRI") as enshrined in the Charter.
• To act in accordance with the Charter of CDRI, ensuring that the principles which led to the Coalition's formation, and the spirit and values core to its operation, are respected and embodied.

The objectives of establishing the Society are as follows:

• The Society is being established to act as the legal entity of the global Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). The Society shall continue to act as the coalition till the formation of a formal international Secretariat in New Delhi. If required, the Society may be restructured to fulfil the aims of CDRI, with approval of its Governing Council.
• The Society will work to rapidly expand the development and retrofit of resilient infrastructure to respond to the Sustainable Development Goals imperatives of expanding universal access to basic services, enabling prosperity and good quality work. This will need to be implemented simultaneously with accelerated and expanded climate action and disaster risk reduction, from the local and national to regional and global scale.

CDRI hosted a consultation meeting with selected member countries and partner organisations on the proposed Work Programme of the CDRI for the first three years on 23rd and 24th January 2020. Representatives from 3 member countries and 10 organisations participated and gave their inputs on the Work Programme. The Work Program will be adopted at the first meeting of the Governing Council of CDRI. First meeting of the Governing Council of the CDRI was held on 20th March 2020 and chaired by Dr PK Mishra on behalf of Government of India. United Kingdom has been nominated as Co-Chair of CDRI for two years.

Countries joined:

The Charter of CDRI has been shared with 37 countries including G20 and non-G20 nations. So far 18 countries and 03 international organizations conveyed their intention to become a member of CDRI. Most other countries have indicated that they are considering the proposal positively and will revert on it shortly.

The first meeting of the Executive Committee of CDRI was held on 29th June 2020. Mr Kamal Kishore, Member NDMA and Sir Philip Barton KCMG OBE British High Commissioner to India were nominated as the two Co-Chairs of the executive committee of CDRI for a period of two years. The committee approved the three planned projects in Power, Airport and Health Infrastructure.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)

In 2017 India got SCO full membership and Hon’ble Prime Minister attended its annual Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit meeting in Astana in June, 2017.

Government of India organized a Joint Urban Earthquake Search and Rescue exercise of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States to improve collective preparedness from 4-7 November, 2019 in New Delhi. All the Member States of SCO viz. China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan participated in this exercise, Mongolia participated as an observer. In addition, representatives from INSARAG, UNDP, UNICEF, WHO and SDRF also participated.

This exercise provides an opportunity to enhance the co-ordination & co-operation involving multi-agency operations in an earthquake of large magnitude.

Tenth SCO Meeting of the Heads of Departments of Member-States of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, dealing with prevention and elimination of Emergency Situations was held in New Delhi on 08th November, 2019. The event was chaired by the Union Minister of Home Affairs of India, Shri Amit Shah.

The parties approved the Action plan to implement the intergovernmental SCO agreement on emergency relief cooperation in 2020-2021, the Action plan will contribute to stepping up joint efforts in dealing with the prevention and elimination of emergency situations among SCO Member-States. Following the meeting, Heads of the Departments of Prevention and Elimination of Emergency Situations of the SCO Member-States signed a protocol. parties agreed on the need to step up their joint efforts to strengthen cooperation and provide assistance in the field of Prevention of Emergency Situations and provide assistance.

The Virtual Meeting on International Cooperation and Rescue among Departments of Member-States of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, dealing with Prevention and Elimination of Emergency Situations hosted by China was held on December 3rd, 2020. This meeting was attended by SCO member States including India.

During the meeting, all parties agreed to strengthen the experience sharing in prevention of COVID-19 pandemic and the prevention, mitigation and relief of major natural disasters among emergency management departments; promote cooperation in emergency management under the framework of the SCO.

Cooperation with BRICS countries

MHA/NDMA hosted the meeting of BRICS Ministers for Disaster Management on 22-23 August, 2016 in Udaipur, Rajasthan. Due to India’s initiative, Udaipur Declaration agreed for setting up a JTF on Disaster Risk Management for regular dialogue exchange, mutual support and collaboration among BRICS countries.

The meeting discussed the advances in technology and knowledge sharing amongst member countries to enable them leverage it to reduce disaster risk.

NDMA had attended the meeting of the BRICS Ministers for Disaster Management and Joint Task Force held in East London, South Africa from 9.6.18 to 01.7.2018 hosted by South Africa.

Meeting of BRICS joint Task Force (JTF) on Disaster Management organized by Russian side held on 31.07.2020 via virtual platform. From India NDMA & IMD had attended the meeting and the following issues were discussed:

• Issue of using modern technologies as main a tool for preventing and forecasting evolution of emergencies;
• Issue of organization of communication at interaction of fire and rescue units;

During the Presidency period with India in 2021, India proposes to organize a Meeting of the BRICS Ministers for Disaster Management and a BRICS Expert Level Workshop on Disaster Management in the 3rd quarter of 2021.

India-Japan Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction

The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India had organized the first India-Japan Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction on 19-20 March 2018 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The workshop was attended by 150 domain experts from Japan and India. The two-day workshop was the follow-up of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed between the Government of India and the Government of Japan on Cooperation in the field of Disaster Management, which was signed during the visit of Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinjo Abe to India in 2017. The workshop deliberated on various themes viz. disaster management policy framework, risk assessment, disaster resilient infrastructure, early warning system, preparedness by sub-national governments and approaches by the private sector.  

2nd Indo-Japan Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction was held back-to-back with National Conference for promoting Disaster Risk Reduction (NCPDRR) from 13th-15th October, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan. The theme of the workshop was “Preparing for large-scale disasters- Strengthening a network of collaboration in a community”.  

Ministry of Home Affairs has successfully organized the 3rd Indo-Japan Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction on 18th March 2019 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The workshop was attended by about 140 delegates from Japan and India including experts from both the governments, top premium research institutes, city administrators, specialized disaster management agencies and private sector. The objective of the workshop was enhancing collaboration between research institutes, cities and the private sector in the field of Disaster Risk Reduction.  

International Workshop on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (IWDRI)

The Hon'ble PM in his 10 point Agenda on DRR during AMCDRR-2016, proposed to set-up a “Coalition on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)” among the partner countries. A Task Force set up under the chairpersonship of Secretary (East), MEA on 18th August 2017 to prepare a plan for the establishment of CDRI. Task Force submitted its report in May 2018. Two International Workshop on “Disaster Resilient Infrastructure” (IWDRI) have been organized on 15-16 January 2018 and 19-20 March 2019 in New Delhi.

2nd IWDRI was held on 19-20 March, 2019 in New Delhi. More than 200 delegates including experts from 33 countries, multilateral development banks, the United Nations, the private sector, academics and national representatives of Central Government and State Governments attended the event. Deliberation held on best global practices prevailing in the resilient infrastructure, key challenges and gaps in existing practices, potential areas for collaboration.

As announced in the Union Budget, a proposal of Rs. 60 crore for different activities for setting up of CDRI has been approved. A Personal Deposit (PD) Account for setting up of CDRI has been opened in NDMA and Rs. 12.1660 crore for CDRI has been transferred to PD Account. NDMA is preparing a blue print on the structure, schedule and funding pattern of CDRI.”.

First Joint Disaster Management Exercise for BIMSTEC Countries, 2017

The Government of the Republic of India hosted the first Annual Disaster Management Exercise for ‘Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi- Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation’ (BIMSTEC) countries (BIMSTEC DMEx-2017) on 10-13 October 2017 in New Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).

BIMSTEC DMEx-2017 provided a very good platform for sharing best practices and experience to all member countries involving their response teams. During the simulation exercise, various components viz. Table Top Exercise (TTX), Field Training Exercise (FTX) and After Action Review (AAR) facilitate in demonstrating the important aspects of Disaster Risk Reduction, strengthening regional response and coordination for effective disaster management among the BIMSTEC member countries. About 200 disaster professionals from all seven BIMSTEC countries participated for the first time in tabletop and field exercises.

First Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2016 after the adoption of SFDRR

The Government of India, in collaboration with the United Nation International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), hosted the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) 2016 in New Delhi from 3-5 November 2016. Delegations from 41 Asia and Asia Pacific countries participated in the Conference. Besides, few countries were represented through their respective Embassies stationed in New Delhi. In addition, representatives of UN agencies, NGOs and other local stakeholders like Union Ministers, Deputy Chief Minister and Ministers of States/UTs, Secretaries of Union Ministries, Chief Secretaries, Director General of Police, Relief Commissioners, Secretaries of the States/UTs, Members of District Disaster Management Authorities, Senior functionaries of Zilla Parishads, Municipal Corporations and Municipal Councils and experts in the field of disaster management etc. also attended the Conference.

The theme of AMCDRR 2016 was “Risk Sensitive Development for Community Resilience”. The Conference had six Technical Sessions, three Featured Events, three Ministerial Sessions and 22 Thematic Events on various cross- cutting and impinging issues such as strengthening community resilience, risk resilient critical infrastructure, implementing the health aspects of Sendai framework, promoting educational continuity and resilience of children and communities, disaster risk identification and financing solutions etc. The Conference concluded with (i) a Political Declaration, reaffirming the government and stakeholders’ commitment to Disaster Risk Reduction, and (ii) Adoption of Asia Regional Plan for implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

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Cooperation with UNIDSR, 2016

The Government of India and United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction(UNDRR) signed a Statement of Cooperation in November 2016 during the second day of the AMCDRR 2016, in New Delhi. The Statement underlined the guiding principles, objectives and areas of cooperation between India and UNDRR towards the effective implementation and monitoring of the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), which was adopted at the Third World Conference on DRR at Sendai in Japan in March 2015.

India partnered with UNDRR to work towards strengthening the capacity of Asian countries in ensuring risk resilient development. It will also facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experiences, and collaborative efforts towards addressing critical regional challenges.

The cooperation aims to ensure effective implementation and monitoring of the Sendai Framework through training and capacity building for Asian countries; promoting international and regional cooperation to reinforce political commitment, facilitate knowledge sharing and strengthen the capacity of UNDRR for monitoring and review of the Sendai Framework.

The statement was officially signed by Shri. Bipin Mallick, Additional Secretary, Government of India and Mr. Robert Glasser, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Meeting of BRICS Ministers for Disaster Management, 2016

The Meeting of BRICS Ministers for Disaster Management was held on 22 - 23 August, 2016 in Udaipur, Rajasthan. The Udaipur Declaration agreed for setting up a Joint Task Force on Disaster Risk Management (DRM) for regular dialogue, exchange, mutual support and collaboration among BRICS countries. The joint Task Force is expected to initiate the actions as agreed in the Roadmap for implementation of the Joint Action Plan signed by the BRICS countries at the Udaipur Meet.

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First Disaster Management Exercise with SAARC Countries in 2015

The Government of India organized the South Asian Annual Disaster Management Exercise (SAADMex) from 23-26 November 2015, in New Delhi. The main objective was to synchronize efforts to institutionalize regional cooperation on disaster response among SAARC member countries.

All the SAARC member countries participated in first ever joint exercise conducted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) of India. The focus was to test the inter-governmental coordination and create synergy to synchronize efforts to institutionalize regional cooperation on disaster response among the member countries of the SAARC region.

It was followed by the SAARC Regional Workshop on sharing best practices and to deliberate upon the outcomes of SAADMEX 2015 on 27th November 2015.