Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) announced United States of America as the new Co-chair of its Governing Council for 2022-24

 

• Samantha Power, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development will be the new Co-chair representing the United States of America
• The transition is being made from the United Kingdom, biennium 2020-2022, whose Co-chair was Rt. Hon. Alok Sharma
• Dr. P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India is the permanent Co-chair of the Governing Council of CDRI 

 

New Delhi, 23 March 2022: The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) announced Samantha Power, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), United States of America, as the new Co-chair of its Governing Council, today. The third meeting of CDRI’s Governing Council took place in New Delhi this evening where it was announced that Administrator Power will take over from the outgoing Co-chair, Rt. Hon. Alok Sharma, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, United Kingdom. The leadership of the United States will further strengthen the global discourse on climate and disaster resilient infrastructure, which is instrumental to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) targets. India is a permanent Co-chair of CDRI’s Governing Council.  

 

Rt. Hon. Alok Sharma, the outgoing Co-chair said “Real progress was made on adaptation and loss and damage at COP26, which is one of the UK Presidency’s key priorities. I commend India for its leadership of the CDRI and am encouraged to see important steps being taken through this partnership to expand membership and develop its work. The UK will continue to champion the CDRI, particularly through the IRIS facility launched by our Prime Ministers in Glasgow, and we look forward to working closely with the new Director General and incoming US Co-chair."

 

Acknowledging the immense contribution of the United Kingdom, as Co-chairs of CDRI, Dr. P.K. Mishra thanked Rt. Hon. Alok Sharma for supporting CDRI in its journey of promoting and drawing the attention of the world to the importance of resilient infrastructure. He warmly welcomed the United States as the Co-chair. He said, “There has never been a greater urgency to build resilient infrastructure, considering the devastating effects of climate change and associated disasters. CDRI acknowledges the instrumental role the United States, as the Co-chair represented by Samantha Power, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, will play to facilitate the collaborative engagement on building infrastructure resilience. CDRI is committed to prioritizing investments and advocating the building of climate and disaster resilient infrastructure.” 

 

In her opening remarks as the new Co-chair of CDRI, Administrator Power said “I look forward to supporting CDRI’s efforts in the coming years. As the climate crisis intensifies, the work of this body will be vital to saving lives and protecting economies from climate-related shocks and sustained temperature changes.” 

 

The Governing Council is the highest policy-making body of CDRI and comprises all 37 members of the Coalition. The Coalition looks forward to drawing on the expertise and experiences of its member countries and organizations to share knowledge and best practices on local, regional and global solutions to build climate and disaster resilient infrastructure. 

 

About CDRI 

The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is a partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, and knowledge institutions that aims to promote the resilience of new and existing infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks in support of sustainable development. 

CDRI promotes rapid development of resilient infrastructure to respond to the Sustainable Development Goals’ imperatives of expanding universal access to basic services, enabling prosperity and decent work.

 

About U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

USAID is the U.S. Government’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. USAID works to help lift lives, build communities, and advance democracy. USAID’s work advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity; demonstrates American generosity; and helps countries progress along their development journey. In India, USAID is collaborating with the country’s growing human and financial resources through partnerships that catalyze innovation and entrepreneurship to solve critical local and global development challenges. To learn more, visit www.usaid.gov.

 

For more information, contact CDRI’s Communication and Media team at: communication@cdri.world

 

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