Commonwealth, CDRI sign pact to enhance cooperation on disaster-resilient infrastructure
New Delhi, June 17
The Commonwealth Secretariat and the New Delhi-headquartered Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure have signed a memorandum of understanding ahead of the London Climate Action Week to enhance cooperation on climate- and disaster-resilient infrastructure across Commonwealth member countries, officials said on Wednesday.
The MoU was signed by Tanmaya Lal, Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General (Programmes), and Amit Prothi, CDRI Director-General, in Marlborough, the Commonwealth Headquarters in London.
The Commonwealth countries include many of the world's most climate-vulnerable nations, including 25 Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which face increasing risks from extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and other climate-related threats.
The MoU establishes a framework for collaboration in line with the global Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
It also supports the aims and objectives set out for CDRI and the Commonwealth Strategic Plan 2025-2030, particularly its priorities on environmental resilience.
Specific areas of collaboration under the agreement include capacity building, training, thought leadership on topics such as nature-based solutions for resilient infrastructure, technical exchanges, and engagement through expert groups and knowledge-sharing platforms.
The Deputy Secretary-General of the Commonwealth said: "The Commonwealth is joining hands with the CDRI to leverage our respective capabilities in supporting our members states, especially SIDS and more vulnerable states, to strengthen their capacities to build resilient and inclusive infrastructure."
"Such infrastructure is mainly public goods that help societies and economies manage the growing threats faced from climate change and related natural disasters."
Amit Prothi, CDRI Director General, said: "CDRI's expertise in supporting Small Island Developing States, combined with the Commonwealth Secretariat's engagement across its diverse membership, creates a strategic opportunity to advance infrastructure resilience through knowledge sharing, capacity building, partnerships, and innovation."
"This MoU establishes a robust platform for practical cooperation, ranging from technical exchanges and training programmes to nature-based solutions and risk-informed infrastructure planning, enabling countries to develop infrastructure systems that are resilient to climate and disaster risks while sustaining long-term development outcomes."
The MoU will remain in effect for an initial period of three years, providing a flexible, non-financial framework for cooperation.
The Commonwealth Secretariat will be participating in London Climate Action Week (LCAW), from June 20-28, hosting several events at Marlborough House.
CDRI, an international Organisation, is a global coalition dedicated to enhancing the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks.
With 69 members, it includes national governments, international organisations, and businesses collaborating to share knowledge, conduct research, and invest in disaster resilient infrastructure.
Members benefit from access to global expertise, funding, technical support, research opportunities, innovative solutions, and international best practices.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Honestly, while this sounds good on paper, I hope the CDRI's work actually reaches the ground. We have so many infrastructure projects in India that collapse after every heavy rainfall. Building resilience isn't just about MoUs—it's about implementation.
Being from a coastal state, I can vouch for the importance of disaster-resilient infrastructure. Every cyclone season, we see the same roads washed away and ports damaged. This partnership with the Commonwealth (25 SIDS!) could bring much-needed technical expertise. Good news! 🇮🇳
Interesting development from London. I wonder if this will lead to tangible outcomes like joint funding for green infrastructure projects. The mention of nature-based solutions is encouraging—we need more of that in both developing and developed nations.
Finally, an international agreement that doesn't just talk about reducing emissions but also addresses adaptation. As a civil engineer working on urban infrastructure, I can't stress enough how important capacity building and technical exchanges are. Let's hope this MoU translates into real skill transfer.
I appreciate the intent, but we need to question why CDRI's headquarters is in Delhi and yet our own cities like Mumbai and Chennai flood every monsoon. Maybe we should first fix our drainage systems before advising other nations. Just a thought.
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