Bhubaneswar: In a major step to build a safer, stronger and climate-resilient system, the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) on Wednesday signed two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and CivicDataLab.
The objective of the pacts is to strengthen Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (HRVA) and advance Data-Driven Disaster Risk Reduction in the State.
Officials said the collaboration will bring together technology, data, innovation and global expertise to better understand disaster risks, strengthen preparedness and enable evidence-based planning and decision-making.
The MoUs were signed in the presence of Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, department Additional Chief Secretary Arabinda Kumar Padhee and Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, UNDP India Resident Representative Angela Lusigi, and Director and Co-founder of CivicDataLab Gaurav Godhwani. On behalf of OSDMA, Executive Director Susmita Behera signed the MoU at the Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Pujari said that disaster management today must move beyond responding to disasters after they occur and focus on anticipatory action, preparedness and risk assessment based on accurate and timely data.
“Data-driven decision-making is critical for saving lives and protecting property while also enabling more effective and far-reaching development planning,” he said, adding that the new partnerships would further strengthen Odisha’s standing at the national and international levels in the field of disaster management.
Comprehensive HRVA across all 30 districts
Under the partnership between OSDMA and UNDP, a comprehensive Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (HRVA) will be undertaken across all 30 districts of Odisha.
Data will be collected at the village level in 10 coastal districts vulnerable to cyclones and floods, while in the remaining 20 districts, the assessment will be undertaken at the Gram Panchayat level.
The data generated through the exercise will form the basis of a dynamic, GIS-enabled digital platform, which can be periodically updated in response to changing climate and risk patterns. The platform will support the preparation of district-level risk atlases and evidence-based policy decisions.
The digital HRVA system will provide a scientific and reliable evidence base for disaster mitigation, preparedness, climate resilience and long-term sustainable development planning across the State.
Digital Public Infrastructure for Disaster Risk Reduction
The non-financial MoU with CivicDataLab will facilitate the development of a dedicated Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Disaster Risk Reduction in Odisha.
Through its Intelligent Data Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDS-DRR) platform, CivicDataLab will integrate data from multiple departments and provide real-time dashboards and analytical insights to OSDMA and all District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs).
In the initial phase, the platform will focus on riverine floods, coastal flooding and heatwave-related risks, enabling more accurate assessment and forecasting and supporting faster, evidence-based decision-making.
The system will bring together data from different departments and sources, harmonise it and provide it in a standardised format. This will facilitate better coordination, analysis and informed action before, during and after disasters.
Officials said the two MoUs mark a significant shift from conventional disaster management approaches towards a scientific, data-driven and digitally empowered disaster management ecosystem.
