Important Facts For Prelims
India Approves Ratification of HQ Agreement with CDRI
- 30 Jun 2023
- 3 min read
Why in News?
Recently, the Union Cabinet has given its approval for ratifying the Headquarters Agreement (HQA) between the Government of India and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
What is CDRI?
- About:
- CDRI is a global partnership of national governments, United Nations agencies, multilateral development banks, private sector, and academic and knowledge institutions that work on promoting the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks.
- Aim:
- Ensure sustainable development by supporting countries in developing policies, standards, guidelines, and best practices for resilient infrastructure.
- Members:
- Since its inception, 31 countries, 6 international organizations and 2 private sector organizations have joined CDRI as members.
- 6 International Organizations: Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank Group, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), European Union, European Investment Bank.
- Benefits of Ratifying the HQA:
- Ratifying the HQA will facilitate the grant of exemptions, immunities and privileges to CDRI as contemplated under Section-3 of the UN (Privileges & Immunities) Act, 1947.
- This will enable CDRI to operate effectively as an international organization and to collaborate with other international entities in pursuing its objectives.
- This will also enhance India’s credibility and visibility as a founding member and host country of CDRI.
- Significance for India:
- CDRI provides a platform for India to emerge as a global leader in climate Action and Disaster Resilience.
- It boosts India's soft power, but more importantly it has wider connotation than just economics, as synergy between disaster risk reduction, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate accords.
What are the Initiatives of CDRI?
- Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS):
- India launched this initiative as a part of the CDRI that would focus on building capacity, and having pilot projects, especially in Small Island Developing States or SIDS.
- Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund:
- The Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund is a fund supported by both the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).
- It is a trust fund that will be managed by the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (UN MPTFO) to help in improving the ability of infrastructure systems to withstand disasters, with a special focus on developing countries and SIDS.
