About Global Network for Disaster Reduction (GNDR)

We’re a Global Network of Civil Society Organisations committed to working together to improve disaster risk reduction policy and practice at every decision-making level. Our strength lies in the commitment, diversity of skills and experience and extensive reach of our membership, particularly at the local level across virtually every region of the world.

History of GNDR

Disaster Risk Reduction is a model of disaster management which emerged in the 1970s. Many of those who would become the Global Network’s founding members were present at the UN ‘World Conference for Disaster Reduction in Kobe, Japan in January 2005 ; which established the present ten-year plan for action on Disaster Risk Reduction – the ‘the Hyogo Framework for Action.’ They were representatives of civil society organizations, present to observe and to advocate on behalf of the communities around the world who are most at risk to the impact of disasters.

An underlying concern of these civil society representatives was that the high level policy statements of programmes such as this would not be translated into effective implementation and change at the ‘frontline’ – where communities vulnerable to disasters live and work. In expressing this concern they had history on their side, as the review of the preceding ten-year programmes, the ‘Yokohama Strategy for Natural Disasters’ had concluded that intentions still needed to be turned into actions. It became clear that by working together they could increase their effectiveness in advocacy and campaigning. As a result, over the following two years discussions and meetings let to an agreement to form the Global Network for Disaster Reduction in 2007.

The network was initiated with the close support of the UN-International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN-ISDR) Secretariat in collaboration with the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation, United Nations Development Programme. The network was officially launched in Geneva during the first session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in June 2007.

Throughout 2007 and 2008 the UN-ISDR supported the development of the network in various ways, including the publication of an annual compilation of “Good Practices and Lessons Learnt” by NGOs in DRR. Now, the Network’s activities complement the UN-ISDR’s work programme. For more information on these activities click here.

The network is currently hosted by the INGO Tearfund in London under the leadership of its chairman (Marcus Oxley) and its Steering Group. Internal management procedures and core objectives have been agreed, seed funding secured and related work packages initiated, including the ground breaking “Views from the Frontline” project designed to establish a global architecture to independently measure progress towards implementation of disaster risk reduction at the local level. An independent Global Network website was launched in December 2008.

In line with its mandate, the UN-ISDR Secretariat continues to support the facilitation of the Global Network and other civil society networks through the promotion of NGO partnerships within the inter-governmental system and the ongoing sharing of information and knowledge on DRR that is relevant to civil society organisations.