Historically the world has seen significant human suffering and severe disruption of social and economic development as a result of disasters. The threat of climate change has increased the level of risk and vulnerability of many of the world’s population to climatic hazards, adding to the urgency with which these issues must be addressed. Over the past couple decades there has been increasing awareness of the negative socio-economic impacts of disasters and concerted efforts have been made to both respond to and mitigate against these impacts.

The global efforts at Disaster Risk Reduction are underpinned by a number of international strategies and agreements including the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, The Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action for a Safer World, The Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 and Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. These agreements reflect the evolution of the awareness that disaster management must become an integral part of a country’s development policy.

Building on the Hyogo Framework for Action, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 aims to achieve the following outcome over the next 15 years: The substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries. To attain the expected outcome, the following goal must be pursued: Prevent new and reduce existing disaster risk through the implementation of integrated and inclusive economic, structural, legal, social, health, cultural, educational, environmental, technological, political and institutional measures that prevent and reduce hazard exposure and vulnerability to disaster, increase preparedness for response and recovery, and thus strengthen resilience.

Within the frame of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 following four Priorities for Action have been agreed:
1.     Understanding disaster risk
2.     Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk
3.     Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience
4.     Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction. 

CADRI is an inter-agency DRR capacity development platform with Secretariat hosted by UNDP in Geneva, Switzerland. CADRI has conducted number of engagements in ECIS region since 2008. New methodology of CADRI and digital assessment tools allow for partners of initiative (over 22 UN and non-UN partners) to offer more timely and relevant services to the UNCTs and Governments in the region.

In the area of DRR capacity assessment and development, UNDP is working with its partners under the umbrella of CADRI. UNDP co-leads the regional group of agencies under the CADRI initiative in the Europe and Central Asia region. UNDP and partners have agreed on the 2021 workplan, which requires additional support, and this is where the internship comes in.