The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)

Background

• The idea behind the CDRI was announced by Mr Modi in 2016 at the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR).
• The CDRI was launched by Prime Minister Modi in September 2019 at the UN Climate Action Summit.
• There, he declared India’s intention to work with partner countries and important stakeholders to create a coalition to work towards the ambition of improving the disaster resilience of infrastructure.

What is CDRI?

• The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is a partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, and knowledge institutions.
• Its Secretariat is in New Delhi.
• It is a platform for knowledge generation and exchange and will also develop country-specific as well as global plans.
• CDRI will give member countries technical support and capacity development, research and knowledge management, and advocacy and partnerships to enable and boost investment in disaster-resilient infrastructure systems.
• It aims to promote the resilience of new and existing infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks in support of sustainable development.
• CDRI promotes rapid development of resilient infrastructure to respond to the Sustainable Development Goals’ imperatives of expanding universal access to basic services, enabling prosperity and decent work.

The following are CRDI’s strategic priorities:

• Technical Support and Capacity-building: This includes disaster response and recovery support; innovation, institutional and community capacity-building assistance; and standards and certification.
• Research and Knowledge Management: This includes collaborative research; global flagship reports; and a global database of infrastructure and sector resilience.
• Advocacy and Partnerships: This includes global events and initiatives; marketplace of knowledge financing and implementation agencies; and dissemination of knowledge products.

CDRI Funding

• A major part of the funding required to cover costs for the first five years has been provided by India.
• The members are not obliged to make any financial contributions to the coalition.
• However, they can voluntarily contribute financially or in other ways such as assigning experts to the CDRI Secretariat, hosting meetings and workshops and travel support.

Members of CDRI

• Afghanistan, Australia, Argentina, Bhutan, Chili, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia, Nepal, Netherlands, Peru, Sri Lanka, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States of America.
• Partner organisations of the CDRI: Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank Group, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), ARISE, The Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies and Coalition for Climate Resilient Investment.