When Cyclone Winston hit Fiji in 2016, it didn't just destroy homes—it knocked out power grids, severed telecommunications, and damaged hospitals. The storm cost the nation 31% of its GDP. These aren't isolated tragedies. They're warnings of a future where infrastructure built for yesterday's climate faces tomorrow's extremes.
The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure emerged from this reality. Launched in 2019 at the UN Climate Action Summit by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CDRI began with a straightforward proposition: infrastructure that collapses during disasters doesn't just cost money—it costs lives, disrupts essential services, and sets development back by years. Today, this global partnership connects 60 members, including national governments, UN agencies, multilateral development banks, and private sector leaders, all working toward a shared goal.
CDRI's numbers tell the story. With 183 projects underway and $21.84 million in funding already disbursed, they're not producing reports that gather dust. Their work ranges from mapping 0.77 million telecom towers across India's high-risk states to helping Tonga develop a national infrastructure resilience roadmap. In Sikkim, their collaboration with WHO created a framework that guided effective response when glacial floods struck in 2023. Across 25 Small Island Developing States, their IRIS programme tackles the unique challenges of nations where 80% of critical infrastructure sits within coastal zones.
The coalition operates through two complementary roles. As a partnership platform, it creates space for countries to share experiences, align investments, and ensure vulnerable regions have a voice in global policy discussions. As a centre of excellence, it generates practical solutions—from developing India's first resilience cost-benefit analysis dashboard to establishing Communities of Practice on everything from heat-resilient schools to hospitals that stay operational during disasters.
Meet the team
CDRI, on LinkedIn
Amit Prothi, Director General
Ramraj Narasimhan, Senior Director
Alpana Saha, Director
Their research reveals stark realities: 14% of global GDP growth remains at risk annually from infrastructure losses, with 80% concentrated in power, transport, and telecommunications. But CDRI also demonstrates solutions work—resilient infrastructure returns $4 for every dollar invested whilst reducing losses and limiting service disruptions.
Working across critical sectors and aligned with the Sendai Framework, Sustainable Development Goals, and Paris Agreement, CDRI has launched initiatives including a Fellowship Programme supporting 56 researchers across 12 countries, a global data hub for Small Island states, and comprehensive risk assessments spanning continents. They're proving that infrastructure resilience isn't a luxury for wealthy nations—it's essential for protecting communities everywhere from an increasingly volatile climate.
