India Universities and Institutions Network for Disaster Risk Reduction (IUIN-DRR)

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India faces an estimated annual economic loss of $9.8 billion, with over $7 billion due to floods (GAR 2015), a recurring issue across many states. Key drivers of these losses include a lack of hazard knowledge and risk information, alongside increasing exposure to hazards from risk-insensitive planning, ecosystem degradation, population growth, and poverty. Climate change adds further complexity to India's disaster risk profile.

Despite uncertainty about climate change impacts, visible shifts in climate conditions and increasing extreme events have aggravated economic losses. India's growing economy leads to high infrastructure investments that often ignore hazard exposure, thereby increasing risk. The 2018 Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction emphasised integrating disaster risk reduction (DRR) education at all educational levels and professional training, partnering with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) for innovative technology, research, capacity development, and decision-making for local risks.

The hon’ble Prime Minister of India has given a 10-Point Agenda on disaster risk reduction. In order to address capacity, skill, and knowledge gap, the Agenda 6 stresses on the need to ‘Develop a network of universities to work on disaster issues in India’. Furthermore, the Agenda 6 envisions enhancing global and regional level actions under Priority 1 (d) in order ‘To promote common efforts in partnership with the scientific and technological community, academia and the private sector to establish, disseminate and share good practices internationally’.

The National Disaster Management Plan (2019), aligned with the Sendai Framework, underscores the role of education and integrating DRR into curricula, positioning universities as technical resource centers. By 2030, India aims to minimise disaster impact, fulfilling its global commitments under the Sendai Framework. Achieving this requires building partnerships and leveraging universities' roles in education, research, and policy advocacy.

India has about 903 universities and 39,050 colleges, with 27 universities actively involved in disaster management. Approximately 10,011 standalone institutions engage in capacity building and research, with 23 institutions running disaster management courses. Engaging research-based organizations is crucial, as seen with global networks like ANDROID, AUEDM, PERIPERI, APRU, AUN, and ASEA-UNINET. India has established the India Universities and Institutions Network for Disaster Risk Reduction (IUINDRR) through NIDM, involving universities/institutions as well as national-level bodies UGC, AICTE, and the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) to share knowledge and resources on disaster risk management.

Vision & Objectives

Vision of the IUIN-DRR is to build nation and communities safe and resilient to disasters, through education, knowledge creation, research, technology and dissemination.

Objectives

1. To enhance recognition of the vital role of universities in implementation-oriented education and research in disaster risk reduction and related field
2. To provide a platform for interface between academia and policy across the country in different states
3. To enhance the growth of young professionals and practitioners in disaster risk reduction
4. To document, develop and disseminate knowledge products in the field of disaster risk reduction
5. To share and work together (bilaterally or multilaterally) in promoting disaster risk reduction in higher education (focusing on, but not restricted to, post-graduate education)
6. To collaborate on field-based and policy oriented research focusing on different aspects of disaster risk reduction and related fields
7. To broaden the scope of education and learning in disaster risk reduction field through collaboration with diverse stakeholders including NGOs, private sectors, media and local governments
8. To provide a forum for consultation, information sharing and cooperation among universities on matters and themes of common interest

Activities

• To promote effective partnerships among universities across the country, in specific, and all regions of the world, in general, through education, research, dialogue, forum, project implementation, conferences and publications
• To generate, collect, coordinate and disseminate information to people, governments, intergovernmental and non-government organizations and international and bilateral agencies
• To facilitate and coordinate national and international advocacy on issues of major concern to IUINDRR-NIDM and its member organizations
• To facilitate the establishment and strengthening of national professional councils and societies or other groupings of universities and research organizations with views similar to that of IUINDRR-NIDM
• To maintain liaison with the designated bodies engaged in DRR at the national, state, and local levels
• To organize meetings, forums and conferences to meet the objectives of the network

Membership

The following organizations can be members of the IUNDRR-NIDM:

1. National and International Universities / institutes conducting education/research and extension programs in disaster risk reduction and climate change.
2. Individual which includes young scientists and professionals working in the field of disaster risk reduction- (to be opened at later stage)
3. The membership will be initially open to selected/ select organizations as determined by the Executive Committee.
4. Universities/ Institutions engaged in disaster risk reduction and climate change activities based on the criteria to be decided separately.
5. Member universities retain their autonomy, including the right of withdrawal from the network. The Executive Committee shall decide the membership of the network. Each member university needs to submit a signed membership note with a validity of three years, along with the name of the focal person for the network. The Executive Committee can invite universities to become members.

New Membership

• A university seeking membership of IUINDRR-NIDM shall submit its request letter to the IUINDRR-NIDM Secretariat, NIDM with information on its activities related to the network objectives. The Executive Committee will decide on the inclusion of new members.

Observers

1. A university or research organization that wishes to participate in, or benefit from, IUINDRR-NIDM activities, but because of constitutional constraints or reasons of principles cannot be a member, may apply for an Observer Status. The Executive Director, NIDM shall decide on such application(s), based on the recommendation from the Executive Committee.
2. Governments, intergovernmental organizations, UN, civil societies, NGO networks and other official bodies similarly interested may be invited by the Secretariat to send official observers to the meetings of General Assembly after due recommendation by the Executive Committee and approval by the Executive Director, NIDM.

Membership Fees

• At present, there is no membership fee. Fees, if any, will be reviewed at later stage.

Termination of Membership

• The membership of a university/ institute may be suspended for good and sufficient reasons by the recommendation of Executive Committee and the decision of Executive Director, NIDM.

Executive Committee

1. An Executive Committee will have a maximum of 15 members. It will be headed by ED, NIDM. One Faculty member and Secretary (Programme Director) of the Secretariat from NIDM will be part of this committee. Other members will include one each of sufficient seniority from UGC, AICTE and AIU. The remaining two to three members of high credentials and established professionals and academia will be nominated/ invited. The Committee will also have one member each, from amongst the members of the Network, representing 6 different regions of the country.
2. Representatives from International organizations/ agencies can be invited to the Executive Committee meetings based on needs and relevance. Members of the Executive Committee shall serve for a maximum period of two consecutive terms, each term consists of 2 years. Every two years not more than one-third of the members of the Committee could change so as to ensure continuity.
3. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once in every quarter, which may be held face to face or through appropriate communication media. The Executive Committee is free to co-opt members and also may utilize the services of specialists and advisors and may participate in an advisory capacity in the meetings of the Executive Committee, without vote.
4. In the event that a member university elected to the Executive Committee by the General body decides not to serve on it, or subsequently resigns, the Executive Committee has the power to co-opt an additional member university/ Institute to fill such vacancy.

Functions of the Secretariat

The Secretariat will be housed at NIDM and supported by NIDM. The Secretariat will work under the direction of the Executive Director, NIDM. It will be led and managed by the Programme Director, who will be ex-officio member secretary of Executive Committee and will be directly reporting to the Executive Director, NIDM.

The roles and responsibilities of the Secretariat are:

1. To work with the Executive Committee and member agencies to achieve the purposes of the network.
2. To facilitate organizing the General Assembly.
3. To facilitate the formulation of and implement with the authorization of the Executive Committee, policies, programmes and priorities identified by the General Assembly, the Executive Committee and other IUIN-DRR bodies, where appropriate.
4. To help define issues and recommend priorities in consultation with the membership on concerns that may warrant the attention/action of network’s constituent bodies;
5. To propose specific activities to the Executive Committee;
6. As and when applicable, to manage the programs and finance of the network and report regularly to the Committee on Finance and Administration and Executive Committee;
7. To liaise and, when authorized by the Executive Committee, represent the Council with relevant governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations as appropriate in achieving network goals;
8. To facilitate and service the constituent IUIN-DRR bodies and other network meetings;
9. To provide services to members and other organizations as authorized by the Executive Committee;
10. To develop publications and outreach materials with its member universities;
11. To host the website and update the information contained therein; and
12. To promote membership of the network

Amendments of Statutes

The Statutes may be amended in accordance with the following procedure:

1. A proposal for amendment may be submitted in writing to the Secretariat, either by a member of IUINDRR-NIDM or by the Executive Committee, at least thirty days prior to any meeting of the General Assembly. General Assembly will be announced with at least 60 days prior notice;
2. Proposed amendments shall be accepted and recommended for adoption by the members present. However, final authority of adoption of such proposals lies with the Executive Director, NIDM;
3. Amendments so adopted and approved by Executive Director NIDM will enter into effect at the close of that General Assembly.