With the increasing magnitude and frequency of various climate related disasters such as floods, cyclones, and droughts, India faces recurrent damages and impacts on livelihoods and assets. The poor are being further marginalised and there is a huge financial burden on the government. Districts are very important agents in disaster management in India, having the legal mandate, budget and institution (DDMA) required to take action. However, capacity remains very low, including the level of understanding of root causes of vulnerability and a lack of relevant and appropriate information on specific climate and disaster impacts for the disaster.

In 2012, CDKN supported a research project to explore the connections between adaptation to climate change, DRM and development planning in Gorakhpur District , in Uttar Pradesh. The policy uptake and ownership were such that it resulted in the District Government producing a new and effective climate-compatible District Disaster Management Plan (DDMP). The project team including , GEAG and ISET and the National Institute for Disaster Management (NIDM) have written up the approach (‘Process Document’) and produced a training module are training district officials from across the country on it. The Utter Pradesh Government has directed all 75 Districts in the State to follow Gorakhpur’s process and output.

Outputs and publications from the project:
CDKN Inside Story
Policy Brief

CDKN Funding: £295,000