IORA Priority Areas

IORA recognizes Disaster Risk Management (DRM) to be a multidisciplinary concept as it involves the participation of a multitude of stakeholders, including national governments, non-governmental organizations, regional and international partners, donors, civil society and the private sector.

It revolves around the development of knowledge and capacities by governments, communities and individuals to effectively anticipate, respond to and recover from hazards and emergency situations. The area of work in DRM therefore covers preparation, mitigation and recovery. 

Efforts to manage disaster risk in the Indian Ocean Region also align with the principles of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 which is a global agreement adopted by UN member states in 2015. It sets out a comprehensive approach to reducing disaster risk, aiming to prevent new risks, strengthen resilience, and enhance disaster preparedness and response. The framework emphasizes a multi-hazard approach and recognizes the importance of regional and international cooperation in disaster risk management. 

It must be noted that although the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is prone to disasters, it also has the world’s best institutes to help manage disasters and that is where proper information-sharing and coordination between IORA Member States comes into play. 

Action Plan for Disaster Risk Management 

Under the IORA Action Plan, the development of DRM in IORA has been given focused direction. 

The IORA Cluster Group Meeting on DRM held in New Delhi during February 2019 endorsed the IORA’s commitment to promoting DRM in the region by the formation of a Working Group on DRM (WGDRM) that oversees the DRM Work plan as endorsed by the Member States.  

The Terms of Reference of WGDRM provide a mechanism for engaging disaster and emergency response officials and experts across Member States to promote regional cooperation by facilitating practical coordination amongst stakeholders.  

Objectives of Working Group on DRM 
 

The following objectives were devised under the priority area: 

• Build the foundation for a Collaborative IORA DRM Framework based on the respective needs and priorities of Member States. 
• Establish an integrated policy approach on DRM in order to promote institutional capability enhancement, capacity building and DRM mainstreaming. 
• Establish a Coordinated Regional Vision for DRM in IORA to address existing and emerging issues. 

Leadership of the Working Group on Disaster Risk Management (WGDRM)   

The Working Group on DRM (WGDRM), chaired by India till October 2023, is was tasked with the aim to enhance cooperation and develop resiliency in the IOR. The Inaugural and First meeting of the WGDRM was conducted on 9 June 2022 by India.  

The leadership of the WGDRM has now transitioned to French Republic, on account of Reunion as Chair of the Working Group with Republic of Madagascar as Coordinating Country for Disaster Risk Management. 

Key Partnerships 

IORA has also partnered with the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 28th April 2022 which addresses the challenges of building resilience into infrastructure systems and development associated with it.