APDIM: A Pillar of Disaster Risk Management in Asia-Pacific

Asian and Pacific Centre for Development of Disaster Information Management

Recently, the 10th Session of the Asian and Pacific Centre for Development of Disaster Information Management (APDIM) on Inclusive Disaster Risk Data Governance was held in New Delhi.

About APDIM

The Asian and Pacific Centre for Development of Disaster Information Management is a regional institution of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

Vision: To ensure effective disaster risk information is produced and used for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific.

Mandate: Its primary goal is to reduce human and material losses due to natural hazards while contributing to the effective design, investment, and implementation of disaster risk reduction and resilience policies.

Governance: The institution is governed by a Governing Council consisting of eight ESCAP member countries elected for a period of three years. India is one of the members for the term from 2022 to 2025.

Headquarters: Tehran, Iran.

Functions of APDIM

• Risk Information and Knowledge Repository: APDIM serves as a regional facility that strengthens the science-policy interface.
• Information Capacity and Application: The centre facilitates the exchange of expertise, experiences, and knowledge in disaster information management among the countries within the region.
• Regional Cooperation and Coordination: APDIM promotes effective regional cooperation and facilitates dialogue on disaster risk information.

Through these functions, the Asian and Pacific Centre for Development of Disaster Information Management plays a crucial role in enhancing the resilience of nations against disasters, ensuring that they are better prepared and equipped to handle emergencies effectively.