The Asian Disaster Readiness Fund (ADRF) is an innovative financing mechanism established under the Asian Preparedness Partnership (APP), ADPC’s flagship localization model. Launched on July 30, 2024, the ADRF aims to support local actors in enhancing disaster preparedness and emergency response, ultimately strengthening the resilience and preparedness of vulnerable communities.

The ADRF supports the National Preparedness Partnerships (NPPs) in APP member countries—Cambodia, Lao PDR, Philippines, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka—to implement locally-led Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) actions.

Ms. Ronilda Co, Program Lead, Localization, Explaining the innovation of Asian Disaster Readiness Fund under APP.

Innovative Features of ADRF

Co-governed and Flexible Funding

  • The ADRF is co-managed by national partners – government, the private sector, and civil society.
  • Access to the ADRF is granted through a closed, non-competitive proposal process, ensuring a streamlined approach to project funding.
  • Each partner manages the ADRF grant using their own financial systems, covering both operational and indirect costs.
  • Funding is released based on predefined indicators and targets, ensuring clear goals and accountability.

Bottom-Up, Multi-Stakeholder Co-Creation and Implementation

  • The “By the local, for the local” approach empowers countries to make decisions on priorities, project scope, activities, and expected outcomes.
  • The ADRF emphasizes the inclusion of at-risk and vulnerable groups, ensuring that participation is meaningful and diverse.
  • The Fund fosters learning and knowledge exchange between national and local partners, creating a feedback loop that enhances bottom-up accountability. 
  • Monitoring and evaluation processes outlined in the grant agreement ensure accountability and effectiveness of funded actions.

Hand Holding and Mentoring Among Countries

  • Peer-to-peer learning plays a key role in building and strengthening the capacity of partners.
  • The ADRF Committee consists of two representatives from ADPC and one representative from each of the six APP implementing countries.
  • Committee members serve as mentors, reviewing and providing feedback on country proposals to ensure alignment with the Fund’s objectives, principles, and criteria. The Committee also tracks the progress and impact of funded projects, offering constructive feedback, and advocates for fundraising and resource mobilization to support the ADRF.

Each NPP has accessed the ADRF through a proposal that addresses at least two of the following thematic areas:

  • Strengthening forecast-based, locally led early warning and early action systems to reach at-risk last mile communities.
  • Enhancing multi-hazard contingency planning and emergency response plans, policies and/or strategies at the local level.
  • Integrating climate risks by strengthening locally led climate change initiatives and community-based adaptation. 
  • Enhancing community resilience through Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) approaches.

The access to the fund is through a closed non-competitive proposal submission by the member countries. On 02 October, 2024 the member countries pitched their proposals to the ADRF committee. After reviewing the proposals and providing technical guidance, revised proposals were submitted by the NPPs, indicating set target activities and agreed upon indicators. The grant agreements were signed in December 2024, with the first disbursement made to the NPPs, enabling them to kick-start locally-led activities in collaboration with their subnational/local partners within the selected thematic areas.

The respected members of the National Preparedness Partnerships of the Member countries along with the ADPC team graced the ADRF proposal pitching event.

Through its innovative funding model and collaborative approach, the ADRF is catalyzing the empowerment of local actors to lead disaster preparedness and resilience-building efforts. By providing flexible funding, fostering peer-to-peer learning, and ensuring bottom-up decision-making, the ADRF is strengthening the capacity of local actors and communities to manage their own disaster risk reduction initiatives and respond effectively to emergencies. In doing so, it is driving a shift towards more resilient, self-reliant communities across the APP member countries.