India’s Statement at the Ministerial Roundtable on Disaster Risk Reduction Financing
4 June 2025, 15:30 hrs | Permanent Mission of India, Geneva

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

• India commends the UNDRR and its partners for convening this timely and important Ministerial Roundtable on Disaster Risk Reduction Financing. 
• We also appreciate the efforts made by Brazil and South Africa in continuing the global dialogue on this vital subject through their G20 presidencies.
• DRR financing is not a peripheral issue—it is central to the effective functioning of national disaster management systems and to the protection of development gains in an era of escalating climate and disaster risks. 
• India believes that a robust and responsive DRR financing architecture is a cornerstone of resilience.
• This journey is not new for us. It has evolved steadily and purposefully. The early Finance Commissions of India began with an allocation of INR 60 million (approximately USD 0.7 million). Today, the cumulative outlay under the 15th Finance Commission exceeds INR 2.32 trillion (approximately USD 28 billion). 
• With inflation adjustments and anticipated expansions, this could rise to over INR 3.5 trillion (approximately USD 42 billion) under the 16th Finance Commission. What began as a modest effort has grown into one of the world’s largest nationally anchored DRR financing systems.
• India's experience underlines the importance of pre-determined, rule-based allocations that flow from the national to the state and district levels, backed by a strong legislative foundation—the Disaster Management Act of 2005. 
• This transforms disaster financing from a reactive mechanism into a structured and predictable system.
• At the heart of our approach are four essential principles:

1. Differentiated functions—covering preparedness, mitigation, relief, and recovery—must each have dedicated financial windows.
2. The system must prioritize the needs of affected people and vulnerable communities.
3. Financial resources must be accessible at all tiers of government—central, state, and local.
4. Accountability, transparency, and measurable outcomes must guide all expenditures.

• Disaster risk financing must be nationally owned and driven, but supported through meaningful international cooperation. 
• Each country must design its own system, rooted in its governance structure, fiscal context, and risk profile. Yet, there is a clear need for shared benchmarks and global guidance.
• While public finance remains the backbone of DRR financing, a diverse mix of instruments—including risk pooling, insurance, and innovative financial tools—can supplement national systems. 
• These must be developed in line with local affordability and fiscal sustainability.
• At the global level, we see a critical gap. While much has been said, there is no dedicated international financial mechanism today to support countries in establishing or strengthening their DRR financing systems. 
• There is no blueprint for developing a national system of DRR financing. 
• India calls for the creation of a global facility—supported by the UN system and multilateral financial institutions—that can offer catalytic funding, technical assistance, and a platform for knowledge exchange.
• We believe that this Ministerial Roundtable must not stop at statements of intent. It must lay the foundation for concrete, time-bound outcomes. 
• India remains committed to extending its leadership and partnership in this area, and we look forward to working with all of you to develop a system of DRR financing that is nationally driven but internationally supported. 
• Thank you.