Cabinet has approved the categorization of the Coalition of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) as an international organization and the signing of the Headquarter Agreement (HQA) on Wednesday.

Classification of CDRI as an international organization and signing of the Headquarter Agreement (HAQ) will help to regulate the headquarter of the organization with a fixed residence. Further, it provides exemptions, immunities and privileges which are designed under Section-3 of the United Nations (Privileges & Immunities) Act, 1947.

The Act will provide it with an independent and international legal identity that can help it carry out business effectively and efficiently around the globe.

CDRI functional advancement after the decision

The CDRI can deploy experts to other countries that are particularly vulnerable to disaster risk and/or require support for post-disaster recovery and India can also seek experts from member countries for the same purpose.

The organization can also distribute funds globally for the purpose to fund disaster-related activities and can collect funds from member countries.

It can provide technical expertise to member countries to build disaster-resilient infrastructure with consideration of their climate and disaster risk and resources. It will also assist countries in adopting appropriate risk governance arrangements and strategies for resilient infrastructure.

The organization will collect all possible support for member countries in upgrading their system to ensure disaster-resilient infrastructure in the contemporary time and for the future following current and future disaster and climate situations and due consideration of the SDGs goals, the Paris Climate Agreement and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Therefore, it will also gives an opportunity to India’s scientific and technical institution and infrastructure developers to interact with global experts that help build India’s own capacities and mechanisms, both in the public and private sectors.

The Coalition of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) has been 39 members since its launch in September 2019, including 31 Countries, 6 International Organizations and two 2 private sector organizations.

The initiative was launched by Prime Minister Modi during the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York. CDRI is an international partnership of National Governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, and academic and knowledge institutions.