The G20 Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Ministerial Declaration adopted in Cape Town on October 13, 2025, holds significant implications for the cooperative sector, particularly in the context of India’s engagement and leadership in disaster resilience initiatives.
Dr. P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India, led the Indian delegation at the G20 DRR Ministerial Meeting, where the Declaration titled “Resilience for All: Strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction through Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability” was adopted.
This Declaration emphasizes the importance of inclusive and community-driven strategies in disaster risk reduction, aligning with the cooperative sector’s foundational principles of mutual aid and collective action.
The Declaration highlights several key areas where the cooperative sector can play a pivotal role:
Inclusive Community Engagement: The G20 DRR Working Group focuses on addressing inequalities and reducing vulnerabilities by promoting inclusive, community-driven strategies that prioritize vulnerable populations. This approach resonates with the cooperative sector’s emphasis on democratic member control and community participation.
Local-Level Investment: Dr. Mishra’s address underscored India’s integrated approach to disaster risk reduction, which includes local-level investments. Cooperatives, being community-based entities, are well-positioned to mobilize local resources and implement localized disaster resilience initiatives.
Public-Private Partnerships: The Declaration advocates for promoting public-private partnerships for resilience. Cooperatives can serve as effective intermediaries between public institutions and private entities, facilitating collaborative efforts in disaster risk management.
Furthermore, India’s leadership through the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) extends technical assistance to 50 countries, promoting the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks. While the CDRI primarily focuses on infrastructure, the cooperative sector’s involvement in local governance and community development can complement these efforts by ensuring that resilience measures are inclusive and accessible to all community members.
In conclusion, the G20 DRR Ministerial Declaration presents an opportunity for the cooperative sector to actively engage in disaster risk reduction efforts. By leveraging their community-based structures and principles of mutual aid, cooperatives can contribute significantly to building disaster-resilient communities in India and globally.
