Underneath the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE has introduced the allocation of US$10 million to reinforce the resilience of communities throughout Asia and the Pacific to take care of pure disasters.
The initiative, launched by way of UAE Assist Company, will help the Emirates Nature Society, in partnership with the World Broad Fund for Nature (WWF), to implement the “Neighborhood Resilience to Pure Disasters Programme.”
The announcement was made on the fourth day of the 2025 IUCN World Conservation Congress, hosted by Abu Dhabi.
The Neighborhood Resilience to Pure Disasters Programme is a joint initiative between WWF and the Worldwide Federation of the Pink Cross and Pink Crescent Societies (IFRC). The programme goals to harness nature-based options to strengthen communities’ skill to resist and adapt to pure hazards, improve catastrophe preparedness, and promote sustainable sources of revenue.
The UAE’s US$10 million contribution will help the primary part of the programme, designed to draw extra co-financing from private and non-private sector companions and donor establishments. The aim is to increase the programme’s attain and guarantee long-term sustainability by way of shared accountability and collaboration.
Dr. Tareq Ahmed Al Ameri, Chairman of the UAE Assist Company, reaffirmed the UAE’s pioneering world function in advancing worldwide cooperation for the advantage of folks and nature.
Dr. Al Ameri stated, “This initiative embodies the imaginative and prescient of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to put money into preventive motion and improve the adaptive capacities of native communities in going through pure disasters.
The strategic partnership between Emirates Nature and WWF displays the UAE’s dedication to shifting from disaster response to readiness and resilience, empowering communities to adapt and get well successfully.”
Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, Director Common of Emirates Nature–WWF, acknowledged, “This dedication displays the UAE’s perception that resilience begins inside communities. For 25 years, Emirates Nature–WWF has labored hand in hand with the nation’s management and native companions to empower folks and defend nature. Extending this ethos, by main this programme throughout Asia-Pacific permits us to collaborate with communities in strengthening their pure defences, securing livelihoods, and shaping resilient, thriving futures collectively.”
Kirsten Schuijt, Director-Common of WWF Worldwide, stated, “Nature is one in every of humanity’s strongest allies in decreasing catastrophe danger. By this initiative, companions will help communities main the restoration and stewardship of the ecosystems that defend them – from mangroves to mountains – whereas laying the inspiration for safer, extra resilient societies. This can be a collective funding in each environmental integrity and human safety.
Nena Stoiljkovic, IFRC Underneath Secretary Common for Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalisation, acknowledged, “The frequency and depth of pure hazards are growing, and one of the simplest ways to guard and save lives is to construct resilience earlier than they strike. This initiative focuses on preparedness, adaptation and the mitigation of catastrophe danger – making certain that hazards don’t change into disasters. By working with nature as our first line of defence, along with WWF, we will strengthen communities, safeguard lives and livelihoods, and scale back the human and financial price of future crises.”
The Neighborhood Resilience to Pure Disasters Programme focuses on three key pillars: the restoration of pure protecting methods, together with mangrove forests and coral reefs; the promotion of sustainable livelihoods, supporting farmers, fishers and small enterprises by way of eco-tourism and revenue diversification; and strengthening neighborhood preparedness by way of early warning methods and danger discount frameworks developed with native communities.
The programme’s first part might be applied within the Philippines, Indonesia, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands, establishing a scalable mannequin for future regional growth.
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