About ADRF

Empowering local disaster preparedness

The Asian Disaster Readiness Fund (ADRF) is a pivotal initiative under the Asian Preparedness Partnership (APP) to empower local actors to prepare for disasters, leading to improved emergency response and recovery. Institutionalized within the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), the ADRF mobilizes, manages, and allocates flexible funding to support multi-sectoral partnerships and enhance locally-led disaster risk management across Asia.

Why ADRF?

Along with a critical gap in funding reaching directly to the local actors, disaster funding has been traditionally skewed towards emergency response and recovery, with minimal emphasis on preparedness and mitigation.

Despite this critical funding gap, there is a growing recognition of the essential role local entities play in disaster risk management. The ADRF addresses this disparity by providing crucial funding to local actors who often struggle to access sufficient resources within the current international donor and aid ecosystems. By mobilizing, managing, and allocating flexible funding, the ADRF aims to facilitate the localization process, promoting “safer and well-prepared communities through locally-led disaster risk management in Asia.”

Objectives

“To strengthen the preparedness of the local actors to anticipate risks and enhance emergency response and recovery through multi-stakeholder approaches.”

Inclusive and Equitable

The ADRF’s successful operationalization and implementation will exemplify approaches that “leave no one behind.” By focusing on locally-led actions, the fund will build a strong case for donor agencies to augment accessible funding for preparedness and readiness for emergency response and recovery, reaffirming its commitment to inclusivity and equity in disaster management.

Key Principles, Approaches, and Cross-cutting Themes of the ADRF

Governance and Management

The ADRF will be co-governed by the ADRF Committee, a decision-making body of nominated representatives from the ADPC/APP Secretariat and APP member countries. This committee will offer strategic direction for implementing and managing the ADRF, providing strategic recommendations to the APP Secretariat. The APP Secretariat will be responsible for the day-to-day operationalization and management of the fund, as well as providing the secretariat and coordination support to the ADRF Committee.

 

At the country level, the National Preparedness Partnerships will ensure partners’ accountability in utilizing the ADRF, including monitoring activities and sharing key learnings.

  • Composition:
  • Representatives from each founding  and member country share responsibility

  • Leadership:
  • The committee is headed by a chairperson

  • Tenure:
  • Members serve a two-year term, with a possible extension of an additional two years.

  • Guiding principles:
  • The committee operates based on imperially, neutrality, independence, transparency and inclusivity.

Call for Proposals

The first “Call for Proposals” of the ADRF launched on 30 July 2024. Click the link below for information on the ADRF Funding Cycle 2024 and to access the application platform.