The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) will sign two key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and CivicDataLab on September 2, 2026, to strengthen disaster risk assessment, data management, digital infrastructure and data-driven decision-making in the state.
The proposed partnerships are aimed at building a more data-driven, coordinated and risk-informed disaster management system in Odisha.
OSDMA-UNDP MoU for risk assessment across 30 districts
Under the MoU between OSDMA and UNDP, a comprehensive Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (HRVA) will be undertaken across all 30 districts of Odisha.
A major objective of the initiative is to develop a state-owned, GIS-enabled HRVA platform for OSDMA. The platform is expected to facilitate data-driven assessments of different hazards across the state.
It will provide a clearer picture of hazards, exposure, vulnerability and overall disaster risk, helping authorities at different administrative levels use evidence and data for planning and decision-making.
The initiative is expected to strengthen Odisha’s ability to identify areas and communities facing greater disaster risks and support more targeted preparedness and mitigation measures.
OSDMA-CivicDataLab MoU to focus on digital public infrastructure
The second MoU, between OSDMA and CivicDataLab (CDL), will be a non-financial agreement focused on developing a framework for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Odisha.
According to the proposed framework, the objective is not to create another standalone digital platform. Instead, the partnership will focus on creating an integrated and interoperable data ecosystem for disaster management.
The ecosystem will seek to improve how disaster-related data is collected, managed, shared, integrated and used by different stakeholders.
The approach is expected to help different systems and sources of disaster-related information work together more effectively, thereby supporting coordinated planning and data-driven decisions.
Partnerships to strengthen risk-informed governance
The two initiatives are expected to complement each other and provide a stronger foundation for risk-informed governance in Odisha.
Together, they are aimed at supporting anticipatory action, disaster preparedness, mitigation and resilient development planning.
The initiatives are also expected to improve the availability and use of reliable disaster-risk information, enabling authorities to make more informed decisions before, during and after disasters.
UNDP’s experience in disaster management
UNDP has been working in India since 1951 across various areas of human development, including disaster management.
The organisation has extensive experience in Disaster Risk Reduction and Community Based Disaster Preparedness. It has also maintained a long-standing partnership with the Odisha government.
In Odisha, UNDP has supported initiatives related to disaster preparedness, resilient housing, climate resilience, community-level capacity building and strengthening community resilience through local interventions.
UNDP has also undertaken an HRVA study in the area under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Drawing on this experience and expertise, OSDMA and UNDP will collaborate on a comprehensive HRVA covering all 30 districts of Odisha.
CivicDataLab’s role in data-driven governance
CivicDataLab is a research organisation that works at the intersection of data and technology to strengthen data-driven governance and public welfare.
The organisation has experience in Disaster Risk Reduction and Digital Public Infrastructure. It has previously worked with the Assam State Disaster Management Authority.
Its Intelligent Data Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDS-DRR) initiative integrates hazard, vulnerability and other critical datasets to support data-driven disaster management planning and decision-making.
The experience will inform its proposed collaboration with OSDMA to develop a coordinated digital data ecosystem for disaster risk reduction in Odisha.
The two MoUs are expected to mark a significant step towards strengthening Odisha’s data and technology-driven approach to disaster management and building greater resilience against future risks.
