| | Message from CEO | Dear Readers, May 2025 has been an eventful month for Sphere India, marked by focused action and meaningful engagement as we continue to strengthen disaster preparedness and climate resilience across the country. A major milestone this month was the successful orientation of our reconstituted Sector Committees. Four key sector meetings - WASH, Health, Food & Nutrition Security (FNS), and Shelter - were convened to induct new members, align on strategic priorities, and initiate the revision of sectoral coordination handbooks. These meetings set the stage for more inclusive and effective coordination in our humanitarian efforts. Other key highlight of this month was the launch of the Heatwave Preparedness webinar series, where we successfully conducted two insightful sessions. The rest of the series will be organized throughout June 2025, building momentum towards enhancing multi-sectoral resilience against extreme heat events. Alongside this, we advanced our anticipatory action efforts on Monsoon Preparedness and Lightning preparedness, ensuring we stay ahead in protecting vulnerable communities during the coming season. In addition to heatwave initiatives, we hosted impactful webinars centered around Accountability to Affected Populations, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity. This included a session on Inclusive Shelter as a foundation for Resilient Rebuilding, as well as a special event commemorating Menstrual Health Day 2025, underscoring our commitment to holistic and equitable disaster response and recovery. Our Inter Agency Coordination (IAC) team played a crucial role this month by actively engaging in emergency coordination and releasing timely emergency alerts and situation reports addressing the devastating rainfall events across South and Northeast India. Their efforts have been vital in facilitating coordinated response actions on the ground. We are also happy to share updates from our members, whose inspiring work we closely witness and acknowledge. Their dedication continues to strengthen our collective impact in communities across the country. It is a delight to extend heartfelt thanks to all our members and partners for their continued support throughout May. Your commitment and collaboration are invaluable as we work together to build a safer, more resilient India. Looking ahead to June 2025, we remain committed to deepening our efforts and collaboration, with several exciting initiatives lined up to further enhance disaster preparedness and resilience. Warm regards,
Vikrant Mahajan
CEO, Sphere India |
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| | - Sector committees updates
- Program Updates
- Members News
- Updates from the Government
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| | - Climate Corner
- Updates from International Humanitarian Community
- Plans and Opportunities
- Upcoming Events and Plans Ahead
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| | The Sphere India Sector Committees were recently reconstituted to enhance coordinated humanitarian response and long-term resilience. As part of this process, orientation meetings were held in May 2025 for four key sectors - WASH, Health, Food & Nutrition Security (FNS), and Shelter. These meetings served to induct newly formed committee members, introduce the scope and strategic direction of each committee, and initiate the revision of sector-specific coordination handbooks. The sessions also helped identify key sectoral priorities for the coming year. Follow-up meetings and meetings of the other sector committees are planned to be hosted soon. |
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| WASH, 6th May 2025: Members discussed revising the WASH Sector Coordination Handbook and Joint Rapid Needs Assessment (JRNA) tools, with emphasis on gender inclusion, disability access, and coordination with local authorities. The importance of school-based WASH campaigns, frontline worker training, and linking interventions to SDGs was also highlighted. |
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| Health, 7th May 2025: The orientation focused on strengthening climate-health linkages, improving coordination mechanisms, and updating the Health Sector Handbook. Emphasis was placed on preparedness for emerging health emergencies and the integration of community-based health responses. |
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| Food & Nutrition Security (FNS), 12th May 2025: The committee addressed the urgent need to improve food access and nutrition support during disasters. Key topics included aligning with government schemes, promoting community kitchens, and revising sectoral protocols to be more inclusive and responsive. |
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| Shelter, 14th May 2025: Discussions centered around updating the Shelter Sector Handbook to reflect urban and rural vulnerabilities, and integrating DRR and climate adaptation into shelter design. Members also explored partnerships for transitional shelter models and improving local-level resilience. |
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| Program Updates | Inter-Agency Coordination |
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| | The Inter-Agency Coordination team significantly strengthened emergency preparedness efforts during this period by issuing 22 timely alerts and 6 situation reports. Two major emergency preparedness workshops were conducted: a lightning preparedness workshop covering Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal; and a monsoon preparedness workshop for Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal, Telangana, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh. Sphere India also facilitated emergency coordination meetings with IAG Manipur, to stocktake the ongoing rainfall and flood situation, and with IAG Jammu & Kashmir, focusing on emerging humanitarian needs. These collective efforts ensured timely, coordinated, and region-specific preparedness across multiple high-risk states. |
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| Lightning Preparedness Workshop |
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| | | In collaboration with the ICARS, IIT Roorkee, facilitated a Lightning Preparedness Workshop on May 5th, 2025. The workshop brought together stakeholders from government departments, national NGOs, technical institutions, academic institutions, and community leaders. It served as a platform to review the previous year’s trends, assess existing gaps, and co-create strategic interventions to prevent further avoidable loss of life and enhance community preparedness against lightning-related disasters. Watch here>> |
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| Monsoon Preparedness Workshop |
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| A Monsoon Preparedness Workshop was organized, bringing together key stakeholders including government agencies, disaster authorities, NGOs, community leaders, and technical experts. The session reviewed 2024 monsoon impacts, shared state-specific lessons, and showcased community-led resilience initiatives. It focused on building actionable, inclusive strategies for the 2025 monsoon. The workshop reinforced the importance of coordinated efforts and localized planning to reduce future risks. Watch here>> |
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| Accountability to Affected Population |
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| From Relief to Recovery: Inclusive Shelter as a Foundation for Resilient Rebuilding |
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| | | A webinar was organized on Inclusive Shelter, which aimed to promote inclusive shelter as a critical foundation for resilient post-disaster recovery by highlighting the importance of universal design, sharing practical experiences, and fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration for inclusive and accessible rebuilding. Additionally, the webinar emphasized the role of community participation and policy integration in ensuring that shelter solutions meet the diverse needs of all affected populations, including vulnerable and marginalized groups. Watch here>> |
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| | Menstrual Health in Emergencies: Towards a #PeriodFriendlyWorld |
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| The Sphere India Academy organized a webinar on the topic "Menstrual Health in Emergencies: Towards a #PeriodFriendlyWorld," held on 28 May 2025, from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM. The session highlighted the critical importance of menstrual health in emergencies, shared challenges, and innovations from the field, and promoted inclusive strategies to integrate Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) into disaster preparedness and response—contributing towards a #PeriodFriendlyWorld. Watch here>> |
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| Knowledge and Capacity Sharing |
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| Heatwave Preparedness: Multi-Sectoral Approaches for Resilience |
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| Sphere India, in collaboration with Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital (VMMC & SJH) and the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), has launched a webinar series titled “Heatwave Preparedness: Multi-Sectoral Approaches for Resilience.” As climate change intensifies the frequency and impact of heatwaves, this series aims to spotlight the urgent need for inclusive and evidence-based strategies - especially for vulnerable groups like pregnant women, persons with disabilities, infants, and children - who face heightened health risks during extreme heat events. |
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| | Understanding Heatwaves: Identification, Early Warning & Preparedness The first session in this series, titled "Understanding Heatwaves: Identification, Early Warning & Preparedness" was held on 15 May 2025. It brought together experts and practitioners to delve into the science of heatwaves, existing monitoring and forecasting mechanisms, community-level preparedness strategies, and replicable best practices. It also explored cross-sectoral coordination and inclusive planning approaches to build heat-resilient communities. Watch here>> |
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| | Safeguarding Health in Extreme Heat:Strategies for Medical Preparedness and Community Resilience The second session in this series, titled "Safeguarding Health in Extreme Heat: Strategies for Medical Preparedness and Community Resilience," held on May 23, 2025, aimed to bring together experts from health, disaster management, and community resilience fields to share actionable strategies for safeguarding public health during extreme heat events, while also emphasizing the importance of early warning systems and community awareness programs. Watch here>> |
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| | United Way Mumbai's Empowering Women Entreprenuership Program |
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| | | The United Way Mumbai's Empowering Women Entrepreneurship Program, funded by VISA, has significantly impacted over 11,000 women in low-income communities across four Indian states. In Assam's Kamrup district, 41 women entrepreneurs received 123 ‘Lor Large Black' cross-breed piglets in |
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| March 2024. Coupled with rigorous livestock care and disease management training by partner organisation, Srishtidhara Foundation and meticulous monitoring of piglets by the project team in collaboration with the Department of Animal Husbandry, the project team was able to reduce the mortality to 15.4%, which is half of the national age related mortality rate among pigs which is 37%. Scientific practices like vaccination (117 piglets), deworming (80 piglets), and artificial insemination led to 169 births. By March 2025, the herd size increased by 217% to 267 pigs. The current asset value is ₹19,22,500, and income from sales reached ₹1,90,700. A few impact indicators of this intervention has been that in Assam, women entrepreneurs, who previously earned an average of ₹15,000 annually, now generate ₹92,448 per year (₹7,704 per month) through their nano-enterprises. As per the endline assessment conducted in March 2025, it was observed that in Assam, household incomes grew to ₹1,00,008 annually (₹8,334 per month), reflecting the beneficiaries’ pivotal role in supporting their families financially. In Assam, women's individual income contributes the highest percentage (92.44%) to household income, reflecting a heavy reliance on their earnings. This impactful initiative received the Jury Choice Award at the ICC Social Impact Awards 2023-2024. Watch her>> |
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| Plan India's Humanitarian Response |
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| A Beacon of Strength: Shanti’s Story of Resilience |
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| In the flood-ravaged village of Phatepur, Siddharth Nagar, Shanti, a widowed matriarch, bore the weight of caring for her large family of 14- including her sons, daughters-in-law, and eight grandchildren. The relentless floods swept away everything they depended on—crops, livestock, and the precious reserves of food grains. As their home was engulfed by rising waters, so too was the children’s education, replaced by the immediate struggle for survival. With their livelihood destroyed and no resources to rely on, despair loomed large over their future. Amid this crisis, Plan India’s timely intervention brought a glimmer of hope. The Non-Food Items (NFI) |
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| kit they received contained vital supplies that enabled them to regain stability. For Shanti, it was more than just a kit - it was a turning point. She calls the support a lifeline that rekindled their strength and gave them the courage to begin rebuilding their lives with dignity and determination. |
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| Reclaiming Life: Sheela’s Path Forward |
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| In Gaighat village, Siddharth Nagar, Sheela’s world crumbled overnight when the 2024 floods struck with brutal force. Her family of seven—her husband, three sons, and two daughters—lost everything. Their fields lay submerged, their livestock gone, and their precious food grains washed away. Most heartbreaking of all, the children’s education came to an abrupt halt as survival took precedence over schooling. With no income, no possessions, and no certainty, the family stood on the edge of despair. Then came a lifeline. Plan India reached their village with Non-Food Item (NFI) kits, offering more than just supplies - they brought hope. The kit |
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| provided essential items that helped Sheela’s family regain footing and face the future with renewed strength. For Sheela, the support was more than material relief—it was a symbol of care and solidarity. With deep gratitude, she credits this timely help with restoring their dignity and lighting the path toward recovery. |
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| Updates from the Government |
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| Scaling Up Heat Resilience in Indian Cities | In April 2025, the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), in partnership with the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA), launched Heat Action Plans (HAPs) for 10 heat-prone cities in Gujarat. This included the Surat Heat Action Plan, which aims to build on Gujarat’s existing heat management strategies by strengthening early warning systems, improving inter-agency coordination, and reducing heat-related health impacts. On 30 May 2025, in Bhubaneswar, CEEW submitted HAPs for 10 heat-vulnerable cities in Odisha to the respective city authorities. These plans were developed in collaboration with the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) and are designed to integrate heat resilience into city planning processes. The Bhubaneswar HAP, for instance, supports the city’s broader smart city agenda by outlining targeted actions to mitigate the impact of extreme heat through public outreach, preparedness measures, and responsive governance. All city-level HAPs will be made publicly available online to enable timely and effective implementation. |
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| | Ministry of Finance's Draft Framework of India's Climate Finance Taxonomy |
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| | | The Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, has released the Draft Framework of India’s Climate Finance Taxonomy and is inviting suggestions from experts and the public by 25 June 2025. This taxonomy aims to enhance the flow of finance toward climate-friendly technologies and activities, supporting India’s goal of achieving Net Zero by 2070 while ensuring reliable and affordable energy access. The draft framework, developed as part of the Union Budget 2024–25 announcement (Paragraph 104), outlines the guiding principles, objectives, and methodology for classifying climate-aligned projects and activities. It will form the basis for upcoming sectoral annexures that identify climate-supportive and transition-focused actions across key sectors. Inputs may be shared via email to aditi....@gov.in with the subject “Comments on the Draft Framework for the Taxonomy.” The final framework will be released after considering feedback received through this consultation. Read here>> |
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| The Department of Telecommunications and CDRI Launch Framework to Boost Telecom Sector Resilience |
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| The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), released a Disaster Risk and Resilience Assessment Framework (DRRAF) for the telecom sector. With over 58% of India’s land vulnerable to earthquakes and other hazards, and with telecommunications forming the backbone of essential services and digital connectivity, resilience in this sector is critical. The framework presents a system-scale approach to strengthen telecom infrastructure across mountains, plains, and coastal areas—ensuring uninterrupted service even during disasters. It outlines measures across five areas: technical planning and design, operations and maintenance, policy and institutional processes, financial arrangements, and expertise. These aim to reduce service disruptions, financial losses, and physical damage, while improving emergency connectivity, sectoral coordination, and knowledge sharing. The DRRAF sets the stage for an actionable roadmap to enhance disaster resilience across India's growing digital economy. Read here>> |
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| National Workshop on ‘Health Sector Disaster Preparedness and Response’ and ‘Fire Safety in Healthcare Facilities’ |
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| | Union Health Minister Shri J. P. Nadda inaugurated the 2nd National Workshop on ‘Health Sector Disaster Preparedness and Response’ and ‘Fire Safety in Healthcare Facilities’ in New Delhi. The event, organized by the Ministry of Health’s Disaster Management Cell, focused on improving disaster readiness in both public and private healthcare facilities. Shri Nadda emphasized the importance of capacity building and practical training for all healthcare workers to ensure effective disaster and fire response. He highlighted the need for regular fire safety audits, quoting Prime Minister Modi’s call to prevent disasters before they occur. The Minister also stressed that complacency and lack of sensitivity can lead to serious accidents. Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava underlined the importance of fostering a culture of fire prevention and preparedness beyond just regulatory compliance. The workshop included the launch of an iGOT course on ‘Fire Safety in Healthcare Facilities,’ and felicitated the best-performing States and UTs during Fire Safety Week. Senior officials from various disaster management and health institutions attended, reinforcing the collaborative effort to strengthen health sector resilience. |
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| India Sets First-Ever GHG Intensity Targets Under Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) |
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| India has taken a landmark step in operationalising its domestic carbon market by setting mandatory GHG emission intensity targets for 282 industrial units across four sectors - aluminium, cement, chlor-alkali, and pulp & paper -under the new Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS). Announced by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) on April 16, 2025, these two-year targets (2025-26 and 2026-27) follow a “baseline-and-credit” approach, where industries exceeding reduction goals can earn carbon credits, while laggards must buy credits or face penalties. Compared to the earlier PAT (Perform, Achieve and Trade) scheme, the new targets are modestly ambitious - with cuts averaging 2-3% in the first year and rising to 3.3-7.5% in the second. While cement faces the least stringent reduction goal (3.4% over two years), chlor-alkali and pulp & paper sectors face the steepest cuts. These targets mark a critical move towards establishing a credible carbon price in India. However, challenges remain: floor price setting, offset management, market volatility control, and robust monitoring will be key to success. Sectoral roadmaps and capacity-building support will be vital for industry compliance. This is a pivotal milestone in India’s climate policy landscape - setting the foundation for a compliance carbon market aligned with the nation’s net-zero ambitions. |
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| Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change launches campaign to mark World Environment Day 2025 |
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| | | To mark the World Environment Day 2025, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has launched a nationwide campaign titled “One Nation, One Mission: End Plastic Pollution.” This initiative aligns with India’s Mission LiFE and focuses on moving from awareness to action by promoting sustainable living and eliminating single-use plastics. Union Environment Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav urged citizens to embrace eco- friendly practices, stressing the importance of |
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| collective responsibility in tackling plastic waste. The campaign emphasizes reducing plastic use, improving waste management, and promoting sustainable alternatives. A wide range of activities—including clean-up drives, street plays, school competitions, workshops, and public pledges—will be held nationwide involving ministries, state governments, schools, communities, and industries. All stakeholders are encouraged to align their efforts with the campaign and report activities through the ‘Meri LiFE’ portal. This movement aims to spark community-led change and create a greener, plastic-free future. |
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| Nari Shakti Leads the Way: India Launches High-Resolution Bharat Forecast System |
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| In a major stride for Indian science and self-reliance, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the Bharat Forecast System — one of the world’s first indigenously developed high-resolution weather prediction models — on May 26, 2025. What makes this achievement even more inspiring is that it has been spearheaded by four women scientists from IITM Pune, showcasing the true spirit of ‘Nari Shakti’. The system boosts forecast resolution from 12 km to 6 km, offering village-level weather forecasts across the country. With a 30% |
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| improvement in extreme rainfall predictions and a 64% enhancement in core zones, it is poised to transform agriculture, disaster preparedness, and economic planning. Developed under the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India missions, the model uses the advanced Triangular Cubic Octahedral Grid and reflects a strong collaboration among IITM, IMD, ISRO, and others — a “Whole of Government, Whole of Science” approach. Dr. Singh also launched Indradhanush, IITM’s Hindi science magazine, promoting inclusive science communication. With women scientists leading the charge, Bharat Forecast System sets a new benchmark in India's climate resilience and scientific innovation. |
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| Mahavistaar-AI: Empowering Climate-Resilient Farming in Maharashtra through Innovation and Collaboration |
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| | | In a major step toward climate-resilient agriculture, the Government of Maharashtra has launched the Mahavistaar-AI App—a digital tool designed to equip farmers with real-time, location-specific agricultural intelligence. The app was officially announced during a Kharif season review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and is part of the state's broader effort to address the growing challenges of climate change and ensure sustainable livelihoods for its farmers. Mahavistaar-AI offers tailored agro-advisories, early warnings on pest and disease outbreaks, |
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| weather-based alerts, and guidance on climate mitigation and efficient fertilizer use. What makes this initiative especially impactful is the strategic collaboration behind it. WOTR, in partnership with the PoCRA: Nanaji Deshmukh Krushi Sanjivani Prakalp, played a key role by contributing critical datasets and enabling seamless data integration through APIs. Crucially, insights and tools from WOTR’s FarmPrecise App, supported by Qualcomm Wireless Reach, have been embedded into Mahavistaar-AI, expanding its usability and accessibility across farming communities. This collaboration bridges government action with field-tested innovation, creating a robust platform that puts climate-smart farming into the hands of those who need it most. At WOTR, we are proud to support this pioneering initiative to enhance agricultural resilience, promote sustainable practices, and empower farmers with the information they need to thrive in a rapidly changing climate. |
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| Green Hydrogen Standards and Approval Systems in India |
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| The Government of India is fast-tracking the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), launched in January 2023, to establish India as a global leader in green hydrogen production, use, and export. This report outlines the regulatory frameworks, standards, testing infrastructure, and approval systems essential for advancing green hydrogen projects in India. Currently, 87 green hydrogen-related standards exist in India across production, storage, transportation, end-use, and safety, with 59 more under development and 52 global standards potentially adoptable. These standards are developed by five key Indian bodies including BIS, OISD, PESO, PNGRB, and MoRTH, with collaboration from international organizations. However, India’s testing infrastructure is limited, with recognized labs available for only six standards, highlighting a critical need to expand testing capabilities. Green hydrogen projects require a complex approval process |
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| involving 73 permissions from central, state, and local governments, covering legal, renewable energy, fire safety, pollution control, labor, and land use aspects. To accelerate NGHM, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) plans to fill gaps in standards through indigenous development or global adoption, rapidly enhance testing infrastructure, form sub-groups for emerging applications (like shipping and aviation), expand regulators’ mandates to include green hydrogen, and create an online portal consolidating all standards-related information. This coordinated approach aims to streamline the regulatory landscape and support India’s green hydrogen ambitions. Read here>> |
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| | Disaster Losses and Damages Data |
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| | | Accurate, comprehensive data on disaster losses and damages is key to effective preparedness, response, recovery, and long-term resilience planning. It enables countries to understand vulnerabilities, assess risks of cascading impacts across hazards, and assign economic value to losses—ultimately informing smarter decision-making. However, many countries still face challenges in collecting and using disaster data systematically. To bridge this gap, UNDRR, UNDP, and WMO are collaborating on an enhanced disaster tracking system to help national stakeholders institutionalize and upgrade their tracking capacities. This initiative also offers a repository of real-world case studies showing how better data leads to stronger, more informed actions on the ground. Read here>> |
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| Engeging the private sector in climate action |
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| | | The SCALA programme - Scaling up Climate Ambition on Land Use and Agriculture, co-led by UNDP and FAO, offers valuable lessons on how the private sector can drive climate action in agriculture and land use. This new brief highlights practical solutions, challenges, and opportunities that emerged from SCALA’s implementation across 12 countries, showing how businesses can support countries in achieving their climate commitments. By fostering stronger government-business collaboration, reducing investment risks, and strengthening the case for sustainable practices, SCALA is turning climate goals into real-world actions for more resilient and sustainable agrifood systems. Read here>> |
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| Women, Resilience and Climate Change |
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| | | This flagship UNDP publication spotlights how integrating gender equality into climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction can drive more inclusive, resilient outcomes. Drawing on real-world cases from Europe and Central Asia—alongside insights from South Asia and the Caribbean—it illustrates how women are not just climate victims but also innovators, leaders, and change-makers. Whether it’s STEM entrepreneurs in Tajikistan, agripreneurs in Moldova, or local responders in Armenia, the report shares concrete tools, strategies, and lessons to inform policy, programs, and partnerships aimed at inclusive climate action and long-term sustainability. A must-read for policymakers, practitioners, and civil society actors seeking practical, gender-responsive solutions. Read here>> |
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| Gender Equality in Climate Action |
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| | | Climate change affects women and men differently -and addressing these disparities is key to building resilient and inclusive societies. A new report from UNDP’s NDC Support Programme highlights how countries are embedding gender equality into their national climate plans, transforming them into platforms for inclusive and sustainable development. Through gender analysis, institutional strengthening, and integrated policy frameworks, the initiative has promoted gender-responsive climate action across the globe. The report captures important progress and practical lessons that can guide more equitable climate governance and implementation in the years ahead, making climate action more inclusive, fair, and effective. Read here>> |
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| Resilience Maturity Assessment (REMA) tool |
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| | | As disasters intensify and risks grow more interconnected, insurance alone can’t ensure resilience. The new Resilience Maturity Assessment (REMA) tool helps organizations of all sizes benchmark and improve their resilience across six key operational areas. Developed by Syngenta and the UN’s Disaster Risk Reduction office, this free, browser-based tool offers instant self-assessments, maturity scores, and tailored resources to strengthen shock absorption and recovery. REMA addresses critical data gaps and promotes collaboration across supply chains, enabling businesses to adapt in a changing risk landscape. Its official launch at the UN Global Platform this June will support resilient economies worldwide. Read here>> |
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| Global State of National Urban Policy 2024: Progress and Challenges |
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| | | The latest Global State of National Urban Policy 2024 report by UN-Habitat highlights how National Urban Policies (NUPs) are shaping resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities worldwide. Over 80% of countries now have a NUP, with 93% including measures to strengthen urban resilience and a growing focus on adequate housing aligned with the SDGs and New Urban Agenda. Despite progress, financing gaps and weak urban-rural linkages remain key challenges that need urgent attention. The report credits policymakers, experts, and local governments for driving these vital changes. Continued collaboration and innovation will be essential to meet future urban development goals. Together, these efforts pave the way toward safer, more inclusive, and sustainable urban futures for all. Read here>> |
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| Regional Policy Brief:Addressing Climate-Related Security Risks, Europe and Central Asia |
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| | | The Regional Policy Brief highlights how climate change impacts—such as recurring droughts, ecosystem loss, and land degradation—pose growing threats to peace and security across Europe and Central Asia. By reviewing key national climate documents like NDCs, NAPs, and National Communications, the brief reveals how these impacts can weaken social cohesion and increase socio-economic instability. Combining climate and fragility risk scans, it identifies the regions most vulnerable to climate-related security risks. The brief calls for stronger integration of climate, peace, and security considerations in future strategies, urging stakeholders to conduct security risk assessments and align climate actions with efforts to protect livelihoods and promote lasting stability. Read here>> |
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| New Cross-sectoral Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion Self-Assessment Tool |
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| | | The revised GEDSI Self-Assessment Tool is a cross-sectoral facilitation guide designed to support climate resilience and development programs in assessing and improving their GEDSI practices. Evolving from the original WASH-focused SAT developed by Water for Women and the Sanitation Learning Hub in 2021, the updated 2025 version features a stronger emphasis on climate resilience, locally led approaches, and deep reflective learning. It includes step-by-step facilitation guides for both in-person and virtual settings, printable templates, a GEDSI glossary, and an action plan format. The tool has been shaped through years of field application across Asia and the Pacific, and refined through iterative consultations with GEDSI advisers, sectoral experts, and critical friends. Read here>> |
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| | | | The 2024 edition of UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report warns that without a major leap in climate ambition and delivery in the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), due in early 2025, the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target will become out of reach within years. Cuts of 42% in emissions by 2030 and 57% by 2035 are required to remain on track—but current trajectories risk locking the world into a dangerous 2.6–3.1°C warming scenario. Despite this, the report reaffirms that staying within 1.5°C is still technically feasible through urgent, system-wide action—particularly in solar, wind, and forest-based solutions. Achieving this will demand stronger government coordination, major financial reform, six times more investment in mitigation, and bold leadership from G20 countries, especially the highest emitters. Read here>> |
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| Water and climate: Rising risks for urban populations |
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| | | This report by WaterAid explores the critical link between water security and urban resilience in the face of climate change. It shows how extreme climate events—particularly floods and droughts—are increasingly disrupting water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) systems in the world’s most populated and socially vulnerable cities. Based on 42 years of data from 112 global cities, the research reveals how erratic weather patterns and “climate whiplash” are threatening infrastructure, contaminating water sources, and pushing marginalised communities deeper into poverty. The report calls for urgent global and national leadership, increased investment, and inclusive climate-resilient WASH strategies that prioritise women, girls, and other vulnerable groups. Read here>> |
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| Assessing Benefits and Costs of Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience |
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| | | This guideline by the World Bank provides practical methods for evaluating the costs and benefits of NbS for climate resilience. It highlights how ecosystems like mangroves, wetlands, and urban green spaces help reduce disaster risk while offering additional benefits such as biodiversity, livelihoods, recreation, and carbon storage. The report emphasizes that proper valuation of NbS can encourage greater investment and policy support. It outlines six analytical steps and four guiding principles for assessing NbS, including valuing multiple benefits, engaging stakeholders, addressing uncertainties, and using a tiered approach tailored to project context and resources. By integrating these approaches into project planning, developers can make more informed decisions that maximize environmental and social returns. Read here>> |
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| Climate Change Governance in India - Building the Institutional Framework |
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| | | The paper calls for a strong, coordinated climate governance framework in India, including a national climate law and a permanent intergovernmental body to improve coordination between the central and state governments. It emphasizes empowering states for local adaptation while ensuring national alignment on emissions reduction. Key proposals include a dedicated Climate Fund, expanded fiscal roles, a dual carbon pricing system, and greater transparency through audits and tracking. Building on existing state successes, the framework aims to create a unified yet flexible approach to effectively address climate challenges and support sustainable development. Successful implementation will require strong political will and sustained collaboration across all levels of government. Read here>> |
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| Updates from International Humanitarian Community |
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| Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction |
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| The Global Assessment Report (GAR) 2025, "Resilience Pays: Financing and Investing for our Future," highlights how smarter investments in disaster risk reduction (DRR) can break the costly cycle of disasters, debt, and humanitarian crises. With disaster costs now exceeding USD 2.3 trillion annually, the report stresses that both the true costs and the benefits of risk reduction are underestimated. It shows how DRR can strengthen economic stability and accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in vulnerable areas. GAR 2025 calls for democratizing access to risk information, leveraging innovative financing tools, and integrating resilience into public and private investments to ensure a safer, more stable future. It urges global actors to move beyond the “respond-recover-repeat” cycle and instead prioritize prevention and long-term resilience building. Read More>> |
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| 2025 Human Development Report |
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| The 2025 Human Development Report reveals the slowest global progress in 35 years, with widening inequalities and stalled development, especially in low-HDI countries facing economic challenges. Yet, many people in low- and medium-HDI countries believe AI can boost productivity, create jobs, and improve access to education and healthcare. This optimism shows readiness to use innovation to overcome development barriers. With the right policies and inclusive approaches, AI could restart progress and help close global divides. UNDP urges urgent action to harness AI’s potential and ensure equitable access to avoid decades-long delays in development goals. Read More>> |
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| Guidance Note - Community-Based Resilience-Building |
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| The UNDP Guidance Note on Community-Based Resilience-Building provides a comprehensive framework to help communities enhance their resilience across multiple areas, including disaster risk management, climate adaptation, health risk management, conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and ecosystem management. It outlines essential principles and practical entry points for designing and implementing effective UNDP programs. Supported by real-world case studies and useful tools, the guidance equips practitioners with the knowledge and resources needed to develop community-focused resilience strategies that address a wide range of interconnected challenges, fostering sustainable and inclusive development. By integrating these approaches, the note aims to strengthen the capacity of communities to anticipate, prepare for, and recover from diverse risks. Read More>> |
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| Handbook for Creating places that work for Women and Girls |
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| This handbook on gender-informed urban design calls for a fundamental shift in how cities are planned—placing the lived experiences of women, girls, and gender-diverse people at the center. It highlights how urban spaces, traditionally shaped by male-dominated perspectives, often ignore the specific needs and safety concerns of others, deepening inequalities in everyday life. Through participatory approaches, gender-disaggregated data, inclusive governance, and practical design guidance, the handbook offers clear steps for local authorities and developers to embed gender-informed thinking into all phases of planning. From policy and procurement to design and monitoring, it outlines actions that can reshape cities to be safer, fairer, and more inclusive for all. Read here>> |
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| | Call for Best Practices on Urban Resilience Call to collect and share successful examples of how different cities and institutions have built resilience to disasters, climate change, and urban challenges. The aim is to document these best practices on a knowledge-sharing platform to encourage learning, collaboration, and replication of effective solutions across urban areas in India. Organization: National Institute of Disaster Management
Deadline: 15 June 2025 | More Info>> |
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| | Harry Hodson prize
The prize invites submissions from students under 30 of Commonwealth countries. , offering a £1,000 award and the opportunity for the winning entry to be published in The Round Table journal. The topic may be freely chosen by applicants, but should relate to the contemporary Commonwealth, or a region or country within the Commonwealth. Organization: The Round Table
The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs
Deadline: 31 December 2025 | More Info>> |
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| Upcoming Events & Plans Ahead |
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