India's CDRI Seeks To Expand Membership To Africa To Create Sustainable And Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure

The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeks to expand its membership to Africa — for countries seeking sustainable infrastructure that does not push them towards debt.

Africa's inclusion aligns with CDRI's aim to create disaster-resilient infrastructure.

As per an Economic Times report, the coalition which is currently addressing disaster management in South Pacific Islands, is set to include Africa in its operations.

CDRI will be in focus when the PM visits the Pacific region in the near future for a summit with small island developing states (SIDS).

The coalition works through a unique model that does not push countries into debt trap unlike China’s Belt and Road Initiative and rather focuses on capacity building and training initiatives for sustainable development.

About CDRI

CDRI is an international coalition of countries, UN agencies, multilateral development banks, private sector, and academic institutions, launched by Prime Minister Modi, during the UN Climate Action Summit in New York in September 2019.

He added, that over 40 countries have become part of CDRI and that many more are coming together.

The involvement of not only governments but also global institutions, private sectors and domain experts confirms that the CDRI — which seeks to promote infrastructure resilient to climate and disaster risks — has become an important platform.

The CDRI has introduced several strategic initiatives which includes — the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) — jointly launched with the prime ministers of India, the UK, Australia, Fiji, Jamaica, and Mauritius, at COP26 in Glasgow, UK.

IRIS is a dedicated initiative to back small island developing states in accomplishing sustainable development through an organised approach to enact resilient, sustainable, and inclusive infrastructure.

SIDS are at a heightened risk from the effects of climate change and extreme weather occurrences, such as tsunamis, erosion, coastal flooding, storm surges, and sea level rise.

In addition, these island nations typically experience development limitations that also restrict their economic growth prospects such as inadequate labour mobility, poor connectivity and remoteness from global markets.