The Commonwealth Secretariat and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation on climate- and disaster-resilient infrastructure across Commonwealth member countries.
The agreement was signed by Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General (Programmes) Tanmaya Lal and CDRI Director General Amit Prothi at Marlborough House in London ahead of London Climate Action Week.
The partnership aims to supportย Commonwealth countries, particularly Small Island Developing States (SIDS), in building infrastructure capable of withstanding increasing climate and disaster risks, including extreme weather events and sea-level rise.
Under the MoU, the two organisationsย will collaborate on capacity building, training programmes, technical exchanges, thought leadership initiatives and knowledge-sharing platforms focused on resilient infrastructure development.
The agreement aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. It also supports the Commonwealth Strategic Plan 2025-2030 and CDRIโs global mission to strengthen infrastructure resilience.
Speaking on the occasion, Tanmaya Lal said the partnership would help member states, especially vulnerable countries and island nations, strengthen their capacity to develop resilient and inclusive infrastructure systems that support long-term economic and social development.
Amit Prothi said the collaboration would combine CDRIโs expertise in disaster-resilient infrastructure with the Commonwealth Secretariatโs extensive engagement across its member countries, creating opportunities for knowledge sharing, innovation and practical cooperation.
He added that the partnership would focus on areas including risk-informed infrastructure planning, nature-based solutions and technical training to help countries enhance resilience against climate and disaster-related challenges.
The MoU will remain in force for an initial period of three years and provides a non-financial framework for cooperation between the two organisations.
Headquartered in New Delhi, CDRI is a global coalition comprising 69 members, including national governments, international organisations and private-sector entities working to strengthen infrastructure resilience worldwide.
The Commonwealth comprises 56 member states with a combined population of 2.7 billion people and includes 33 small states, many of which are among the most vulnerable to climate change impacts.
