Stories of impact: Increasing women’s role in disaster risk management across India

This document provides a quick overview of a project led by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), along with the World Bank, to support the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) in two phases, as well as the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Coastal Disaster Risk Reduction Project (CDRRP). Together, these projects reduce the population’s vulnerability to climate and disaster risk by building their DRM capacity, in part, by ensuring equal participation of women and men in disaster planning and response. Through an innovative methodology that includes participatory processes and advanced data collection and analysis, this paper is intended to inform targeted investments from international donors.

The results of this initiative include the following: 

• More than 300 cyclone shelters have been built across 10 states (out of 900 planned), and 226 Cyclone Shelter management and Maintenance Committees (CSMMCs) have been formed at the village level, comprising both women and men.
• To provide search, rescue, and first aid support to each shelter, 149 village-level task forces were formed from youth volunteers, with about 50% participation of women in these groups.
• In Andhra Pradesh, effective models of ownership have been formed with Velugu –women self-groups that manage and maintain the planned 222 multi-purpose cyclone shelters.

In addition, the document outlines lessons learned: 

• Inclusive community engagement is critical for risk mitigation; and
• A robust, continuous communication and outreach strategy promotes a community “safety culture” that empowers both women and men. 

This document is part of a series highlighting achievements in disaster risk management.